Buying a car on eBay

[SVT Lurch]

A coworker found a car on eBay they'd like to buy. They're local to D/FW and the car is in North Carolina. Seller says eBay holds her money in escrow for 5 days until they hear from her that the car is as expected once she receives it shipped from the seller. Once she gives the OK, they release the funds to him. If she does not like it, she ships it back to the seller at his cost.

I've never gone through eBay so my questions are: is this typical and is she truly protected?

[The King]

I've sold two cars through ebay but never had the payment held in escrow. Contact ebay to find out the true details.

[mustangguy289]

I have sold a ton of cars through ebay. Ebay does not handle the money.

I require a $500 or 1,000 deposit in 24 hours via paypal... but that is it. The rest has to either be cash, bank wire transfer, or loan check.

Even paypal lets me have access to those funds immediately. Now it does take 3 days from when I withdrawal from Paypal for the money to show up in my checking account. Most of the times I work it out with people and we skip the whole paypal thing if they are paying for the car immediately.

Sounds fishy. The buyer can always contact ebay and verify what the seller is saying.

[SVT Lurch]

I didn't think they did, but was not sure if it was a new feature. Will tell her to steer clear. Thanks guys.

[juiceweezl]

A coworker found a car on eBay they'd like to buy. They're local to D/FW and the car is in North Carolina. Seller says eBay holds her money in escrow for 5 days until they hear from her that the car is as expected once she receives it shipped from the seller. Once she gives the OK, they release the funds to him. If she does not like it, she ships it back to the seller at his cost.

I've never gone through eBay so my questions are: is this typical and is she truly protected?

Where is the car at in NC? I have family there that may be able to contact the buyer if close by.

[Forever_frost]

A coworker found a car on eBay they'd like to buy. They're local to D/FW and the car is in North Carolina. Seller says eBay holds her money in escrow for 5 days until they hear from her that the car is as expected once she receives it shipped from the seller. Once she gives the OK, they release the funds to him. If she does not like it, she ships it back to the seller at his cost.

I've never gone through eBay so my questions are: is this typical and is she truly protected?

That's a scam. Ebay doesn't touch your money.

[SVT Lurch]

That's a scam. Ebay doesn't touch your money.

I'm not sure, but thanks.

Where is the car at in NC? I have family there that may be able to contact the buyer if close by.

Yeah, she called eBay to verify and they said it's a scam.

[Chopped54]

If you pay for it 100% through Paypal and the seller is relatively new Paypal/Ebay will hold the money till the buyer leaves positive feedback or I believe 21 days.

[4king]

Dont let a woman buy a car by herself.

[Forever_frost]

You also have to figure if they just create a paypal account and you pay them and get screwed, you may not get your money back. I didn't receive something I paid for and filed a complaint and the issue was found in my favor. Seems the seller disconnected their Paypal account from their checking account and all that could be done was an email telling me that I won but wouldn't get anything.

[Chopped54]

You also have to figure if they just create a paypal account and you pay them and get screwed, you may not get your money back. I didn't receive something I paid for and filed a complaint and the issue was found in my favor. Seems the seller disconnected their Paypal account from their checking account and all that could be done was an email telling me that I won but wouldn't get anything.

You didn't get your money back? Paypal typically will give you your money back regardless of the sellers account status, their account just goes in the red....

[03mustangdude]

You also have to figure if they just create a paypal account and you pay them and get screwed, you may not get your money back. I didn't receive something I paid for and filed a complaint and the issue was found in my favor. Seems the seller disconnected their Paypal account from their checking account and all that could be done was an email telling me that I won but wouldn't get anything.

pay with a credit card always via paypal.

[01-GATOR]

Pics of said coworker

[Forever_frost]

You didn't get your money back? Paypal typically will give you your money back regardless of the sellers account status, their account just goes in the red....

Nope. I did get a neat email saying that as soon as they had an active account with money in it I'd get my money back. That was 2 years ago. It wasn't much so I didn't get too ticked but it's always something I'm aware of. Buying a car when the buyer starts with that BS? That should throw up massive red flags.

[Hobie]

lol OOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLDDDDDDDDDDD ebay scam.