I need to vent...E-bay is B.S.

E-bay is a great resource .... I believe the people who buy and sell are typically solid and honest. My experiences have all been good. This is not.

I found this F355 on there 2 days ago.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4512006885&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEDW%3AIT

The owner has a freind helping sell it for him. This was a 7 day auction. The car is in Vegas..the friend is in S.F. Friend doesn't know anything about the car other than what he put on e-bay. (He really doesn't not anything...he said the car hus a TUMI exhaust)

I wanted to speak with the owner...friend was screening the calls. I spoke wth the friend for 20 minutes discussing a price and the contingency for a PPI. I check back on ebay after call with friend and the car goes from $60,000 - $74,000 with reserve met!!!! All within 20 minutes.

I tell freind I am one of the bidders but I don't want get into a bidding match if this is their intention. "oh no...the owner wants the car to go to a good home...we have never put a car on e-bay before" "The owner is a real Ferrari enthusiast...he's sick and wants the car to go to another Ferrari enthusiast"

After getting owners number I try him 4 times over 3 hours. I leave message for owner last night. Owner calls me this morning and we talk for 45 minutes. Converstion in sum is as follows:

I want the car, make a solid offer, want a PPI. I will fly out, cashier check in hand...send it to Ferrari dealer, put it in truck and send it home. Do you want me to do this on E-bay to end auction or will you cancel e-bay auction?

"No problem Mario...I want the car to go to a Ferrari guy...you sound like the owner I have been looking for. I have parkinsons..I'm not in a hurry...I have other calls on the car but no one is serious. I'm not worried about ebay..I haven't watched it."

I question who the high bidder is...has he contacted you? I don't want to keep bidding since my offer to you is almost where you want it.

"I don't know who the high bidder is. i'm not worried who that is. I'm not in a hurray."

Where do I go from here?

"I want to rest..my medicine is kicking in..i'm not in a hurry...I will call you back in a couple of days and confirm having you schedule a PPI and if the car isn't what I say it is..I will pay for your airline ticket".

How can I lock up the car now so no one slips in...I don't want a screw around E-bay experience?

"I respect that..i'm not going to do anything...don't worry...." "By the way..you can have my friend at Las Vegas Jaguar tell you about the car..he just did an oil change on it.. he said there is nothing wrong with the car but a small oil leak near the clutch housing" "Ron Tonkin did the 30K and I have done everything to it."

I respond: I trust what you are saying but I have owend 3 Ferrari's and been down road. I'm sure the car is all there but I think anyone who buys one of these cars without a PPI is a fool.

"No Mario you are right...I bought the car from Tonkin with 299 miles on it and you know what you are talking about..this car should go to you."

Are you sure I don't need to do anything? I feel like this door is still left open.?

"Mario...nothings goinmg to happen for a few days.. I'd rather keep the car then sell it quickly."

I'm back at the office and check on the auction just to see pics again. I see Auction has ended...sold to high bidder !!!! It's not me although I'm the second bidder.

I call friend because I rspect owner is lilkely sick with parkinsons. Friend is stern and business like.

"we sold the car"

How the hell did you do that.. you had 5 days left on the acution and I talked with Steve this morning.

"Oh...if you read the rules I can end the auction early"

I thought you said you never did this E-bay stuff....why are you so up on the rules?

"Your offer to Steve included too many contingencies" WHAT !!!!

Thanks for your help I'm calling Steve..."good luck"

I call Steve,

"Hi Mario..I sold the car..." How the hell did you do that????

"I had someone here in Las Vegas buy it"

I talked to you 4 hours ago and you said no one was on the car.

"I sold it to the bidder on E-bay for $75,500. He doesn't want a PPI.. he said he was going to bring a check and pick it up. "

Well that's a crock Steve...I feel screwed and back doored.

"I'm sorry..he made me an offer I coudn't refuse"

How much did you sell it for?

"$75,500"

Thats the guy on Ebay !!!! I offered you more money and asked if you wanted me to bid on E-bay..you said don't do that !!!!

"Well this is easier because he is in Las Vegas and he's not doing an inspection."

My reply:
God Bless you....happy holidays.....I hope your new owner is worthy enough for you since deceitful people seem to run in the same circle.

I'm pissed off....upset...but yet a reallist. If the guy got more money..it was easier.. I respect that. However, I was upfront with not wanting a DOG & PONY show and Ebay screw job. I got what I did not want... and did not get what I wanted.

 

I'm all for getting the most money and the least amount of hassle. I wouldn't be sharing my frustration but for the leash attached to my testicles by the seller. I was up front with friend (Mike in San Francisco) and the owner Steve. I specifically asked them both 2 times what their intention was with regard to the Ebay auction.

I specifically asked if they were strictckly going through the Ebay auction and let it run it's course or were they going to close the auction when a real buyer presented themself.

They both came back with a crock of crap about I have never done this before..i'm in no hurray...don't worry. Ultimately they did opposite of what they said. I you check the bidding I bid twice wanting to confirm I was going to win the E-bay bid should something go sideways. It did go sideways eventhough I did something and got reassurances to prevent it.

Anyway........huuuuhhhhhhhhhh

 

Daniel,

you might want to start another thread..looks like you are hi jacking the thread

although quick answer...if you or the guys in my auction would have a disclaimer that the car was also being offered for sale locally and subject to sale outside of the E-bay auctionI would not have been so surprised and I would have probably jumped on the plane 2 days ago.

 

Davehanda aka: hugh g rection.

Amen...I agree. The experience is just that an experience.

Mario

 

Dan,

I sold my spider 2 weeks ago. I want a Red/Tan Berlinetta. The 355 market has been a little tiring. As usual there are cars on the market ready for the uninformed buyer. Dealer cars that I have found have just as many issues as the private party cars. I already filed through 2 cars at Ferrari Stores that were "Certified".

A 360 is starting to sound better each time I go through one of these find car, talk with owner, car sounds good, take next step, car is out...etc.

I have had nice conversations with Armen (F-chatter)...who has his Red/Tan 355B for sale... he is the exception. But his car is not for me.

Onward I continue to go.

This is fun in way..... tiring in another. Like research in the law, after you have exhausted all means of research you start to see a cycle of the same stuff. As of Saturday, I have exhausted what appears to be at least 85% of what is out there.

Mario

 

Jeff,

In fact..this owner may have been the same guy you speak about. Steve does in fact have parkinsons... he did not allude to owning another Ferrari other than he was on the list for a 360 when he bought this car. I did not doubt the car was in great condition after talking with him about the care of the car.

The E-bay experience of selling a car in that condition puzzled me too. It was too nice of a car to be on E-bay and the shady circumstances leading up to the closing auction early and acting dumb founded when I asked what the F_CK.... was frustrating.

I think I am coming across as a whiner and I dont want to.

Hey the car is gone and went to someone else end of story.

The Ebay way of selling cars and the sellers who do not abide by some sort of profesionalism is another. Maybe my impression of a unwritten Ferrari owners code of conduct is misguided. Maybe i'm diferent and the minority when I say this...I don't dick people around.. this time...I got dicked even though I asked not to.

I share the experience only to Vent.

Thanks to everyone who is listening and posting comments. I appreciate it.

If we were all surrounded at a table..drinks would be on me.

Mario