Storage Auctions

The Storage Locker => Vehicles at Storage Auctions => Topic started by: Travis on April 14, 2014, 12:53:03 PM

Title: Bought a vehicle through an online vehicle auction
Post by: Travis on April 14, 2014, 12:53:03 PM
Thought I'd try my hand at online auto auctions. Bought a 2006 Taurus SEL this morning for $1450. Runs, drives and appears to be in decent condition. Assuming that there aren't any major hidden problems, I should be able to double my money. If this works out, I may try to do this more often. Anyone else flip cars through online auctions?
Title: Re: Bought a vehicle through an online vehicle auction
Post by: alloro on April 14, 2014, 12:59:02 PM
Make sure they don't put your name on the title or the bill of sale. If they do you will have to pay and wait for a new title before you can sell it.
Title: Re: Bought a vehicle through an online vehicle auction
Post by: Travis on April 16, 2014, 12:25:13 AM
I got burnt. Burnt bad. There was a bad hail storm that went through Dallas a few weeks ago and apparently this vehicle got pounded. Either that or someone parked it in the middle of a driving range.

The seller posted photos of the vehicle before the damage occurred and did not update the listing or disclose the damage. We're not talking about a few dings here. I'm talking about hundred of golf ball size dings over the entire car. I think the seller blatantly misrepresented the vehicle by not updating the listing & photos. What do you think.

Now I have to deal with the auction company to try to get my money back or get a significant refund.

Title: Re: Bought a vehicle through an online vehicle auction
Post by: alloro on April 16, 2014, 04:28:50 AM
I think the seller blatantly misrepresented the vehicle by not updating the listing & photos. What do you think.

Immediately print out the online ad and photos and you absolutely have a case here. I don't know if the auction site has any responsibility, it all depends on their disclaimers and the local laws. But the seller is 100% responsibly for what was posted (or omitted) and is also guilty of criminal fraud. Mention the word fraud to the auction company and they might be a lot more willing to help you out, especially if their site terms require full disclosure by the seller.
Title: Re: Bought a vehicle through an online vehicle auction
Post by: alloro on April 16, 2014, 04:30:42 AM
I got burnt. Burnt bad.

Of course you do see the irony of this happening to you...don't you? :)
Title: Re: Bought a vehicle through an online vehicle auction
Post by: Travis on April 16, 2014, 06:33:22 AM
Of course you do see the irony of this happening to you...don't you? :)

Yes, but luckily I left plenty of room for situations like this.
Title: Re: Bought a vehicle through an online vehicle auction
Post by: Alias300 on April 16, 2014, 12:16:31 PM
Seller: That's not damage.  They are aerodynamic divots like on a golf ball......



I once got a car that "runs like a chariot"...... Turns out it had no engine.
Seller actually tried to stand by his remark as being "disclosing".
I got my money back.

Car deals.  :-[
Title: Re: Bought a vehicle through an online vehicle auction
Post by: alloro on April 16, 2014, 12:53:48 PM
I once got a car that "runs like a chariot"......

1 horsepower? :D
Title: Re: Bought a vehicle through an online vehicle auction
Post by: Travis on April 16, 2014, 03:45:39 PM
1 horsepower? :D

Beats Fred Flintstone's car.
Title: Re: Bought a vehicle through an online vehicle auction
Post by: Travis on April 22, 2014, 08:11:43 AM
I put a little pressure on the seller and they ended up offering to take the car back or give a significant discount. I chose the discount and now I should be able to sell the vehicle (as is) for a slight profit.

Title: Re: Bought a vehicle through an online vehicle auction
Post by: luke on April 22, 2014, 10:11:06 AM
You should post the auction photo and a real photo... I would like to see the difference.
Title: Re: Bought a vehicle through an online vehicle auction
Post by: Travis on April 22, 2014, 03:40:38 PM
You should post the auction photo and a real photo... I would like to see the difference.

Here ya go. The seller took the photos in low light/shadow conditions and probably from a distance using the zoom to make the image grainy. He also took the photos from angles that would hide the damage.

(http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o701/travis_lane1/Car1_zpsc1949e20.jpg)

(http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o701/travis_lane1/HailDamage_zps220833d5.jpg)
Title: Re: Bought a vehicle through an online vehicle auction
Post by: alloro on April 22, 2014, 03:54:00 PM
Yeah, in looking at those pictures I can see how he tried to hide the damage. That aside...what the hell are you doing buying a Ford Taurus? Those things are throwaway cars and go for a dime a dozen around here!
Title: Re: Bought a vehicle through an online vehicle auction
Post by: Travis on April 22, 2014, 04:33:59 PM
True, they don't hold their resale value. I was just looking for a quick flip. At $1600 for a 2006 SEL with leather, sunroof, alloys, etc., I thought I could get around $3500.

For my personal vehicles, I refuse to buy anything other than Honda, Toyota, Acura & Lexus. If you ever see one of these four vehicles on the side of the road, the owner probably just ran out of gas. Don't get me wrong, I like American cars, I just can't afford the repair bills. And I refuse to buy a new vehicle. I could buy a small house in Texas for what they're charging for an average new vehicle these days.

Title: Re: Bought a vehicle through an online vehicle auction
Post by: luke on April 22, 2014, 07:54:07 PM
Yeah, dude that's total misrepresentation.
Title: Re: Bought a vehicle through an online vehicle auction
Post by: alloro on April 23, 2014, 01:57:42 AM
I was just looking for a quick flip. At $1600 for a 2006 SEL with leather, sunroof, alloys, etc., I thought I could get around $3500.

If it has more than 125K miles, then it's worth about $1600 without all of the dings in it. There's over 2 grand in body work to be done. It's more of a parts car at this point, like it sits you'd be lucky to get $300. I'd advertise it for $200 more than you paid and hope to dump it quick.
Title: Re: Bought a vehicle through an online vehicle auction
Post by: Travis on April 23, 2014, 07:43:47 AM
If it has more than 125K miles, then it's worth about $1600 without all of the dings in it. There's over 2 grand in body work to be done. It's more of a parts car at this point, like it sits you'd be lucky to get $300. I'd advertise it for $200 more than you paid and hope to dump it quick.

Out here, vehicles sell for a premium because of the military base and because we're an hour away from the nearest major city. There isn't much of a selection here, so people pay a premium for what they want. Personally, I'd rather drive a few hours Dallas or Houston and save a grand or two.

The cheapest you can find an 06 SEL within 300 miles of my city is about $2800. Most of the 06's are in the $3,000-3,500 range. 

As for the hail damage, I could always go to a salvage yard and buy a hood & trunk, Then, glaze the roof, sand it, have it sprayed, buy a ding puller and spend an afternoon getting the dings out of the side. But, that sounds like a lot of work for little reward. I'll probably just list it for 2K as is. I guarantee you there is some guy out there that just needs basic transportation and would love to have an 06 in this price range.
Title: Re: Bought a vehicle through an online vehicle auction
Post by: Alias300 on April 24, 2014, 11:09:26 AM
From a former autobody guy just trust me......you don't want to even attempt fixing that yourself. 
Hood, truck swap, yeah, easy.   You *might* even get the fenders to be passable with the right tools.  (However these tools will eat most/all profit you might make).  Paintless dent repair is part science, part art.    If you start pulling dents then your talking having paint work done.

The roof and that a-pillar?  Forget about it.   Without experience, you'd probably make it worse.
The roof and hood are the two hardest panels to fix dents due to design and how metal is supported.

And that is WAY more than just a glaze......I'd have to see it in person but by pictures that is borderline that I'd just cut it off and weld a new top on.  Easier.

(And before any body guys start disagreeing with me....I know in some places that type of damage is common and there are body guys that could fix it and fast.  But here, not much practice on that sort of damage.)

I would look at hood and trunk prices.   If cheap enough might make for an easier sell.   I've found deals on ebay or look for whole car you can part out for a couple hundred?  Worth spending a few minutes looking into.

Title: Re: Bought a vehicle through an online vehicle auction
Post by: Travis on April 24, 2014, 11:48:26 AM
I've found OEM hoods for around $140. I think you can get a new non-Oem (primered) on eBay for around that as well. There is a guy selling a matching bumper cover on Craigslist for about $50. The trunk lid should be pretty easy to find as well. The sides really aren't that bad. Like I said earlier, I probably will just sell it as is. Maybe someone is looking to save a few bucks on a car they can fix up themselves.
Title: Re: Bought a vehicle through an online vehicle auction
Post by: Travis on July 28, 2014, 01:01:08 PM
Finally sold this turd over the weekend. Barely broke even. One thing I've learned from this is experience is that people would rather have a car that looks good and runs like crap than a car that runs great and has cosmetic issues.