Ebay Car Purchase - Recd Crash Rebuild

[zoobear]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? WA.

The Seller is located in NY. I bought a 2003 Toyota Avalon over Ebay for around $18k. The car was described as being in excellent condition and the seller had stated he does not deal in restored cars. Payment was made by transfer to his bank account.

I took the vehicle into the body shop on the day it was received and it was found to be a CRASH REBUILD. The repair had not been carried out to standards, therefore the car was unsafe and in fact should have had a branded title. At this point, I have the car and a clear (NJ) title. I have refused to take ownership of the car in this state and demanded that the seller take the car back and refund my money.

I'm trying to get some help through Ebay's Vehicle Purchase Protection Plan. However until now the seller has managed to stall and Ebay's plan only covers damage (about $8k).

All I want is my money refunded and the dealer to take back the car. Is there anything I can do to pressure the dealer/seller to take back the car and refund payment??

 

[luvbskts]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? WA.

The Seller is located in NY. I bought a 2003 Toyota Avalon over Ebay for around $18k. The car was described as being in excellent condition and the seller had stated he does not deal in restored cars. Payment was made by transfer to his bank account.

I took the vehicle into the body shop on the day it was received and it was found to be a CRASH REBUILD. The repair had not been carried out to standards, therefore the car was unsafe and in fact should have had a branded title. At this point, I have the car and a clear (NJ) title. I have refused to take ownership of the car in this state and demanded that the seller take the car back and refund my money.

I'm trying to get some help through Ebay's Vehicle Purchase Protection Plan. However until now the seller has managed to stall and Ebay's plan only covers damage (about $8k).

All I want is my money refunded and the dealer to take back the car. Is there anything I can do to pressure the dealer/seller to take back the car and refund payment??

did you run a Vehix report prior to purchasing the car. Did it show anything?

 

[dallas702]

First, do a complete title history search on this car (Carfax or other). Then contact Totyota...preferably a dealer near where the car has been owned...to get a maintenance history report. If the person who sold it to you is a "dealer" with a proper license he should have done this as a professional. If this car has had the title altered he is both civily and criminally liable. Of course, the damage claimed by your body shop should be verified by at least one more shop. If it truly was a wrecked car, bad enough to have major work done, it should show up on police or insurance records, too. If your information is absolutely correct and verifiable, contact the AG's office of the state of the seller. If he is a dealer with a commercial license he will be bonded, and will not want any investigations by the DMV, AG, or any other licensing board.

 

[teflon_jones]

Why would you send someone $18K for a car without having it inspected first?

 

[racer72]

And why would you buy a car from New Jersey, in today's paper a Puyallup dealer is selling a 2003 Avalon for only $14,999. A little research would have save you a lot of money.

 

[zoobear]

did you run a Vehix report prior to purchasing the car. Did it show anything?

Yes, I pulled a Carfax report, which showed a clean history.

 

[zoobear]

First, do a complete title history search on this car (Carfax or other). Then contact Totyota...preferably a dealer near where the car has been owned...to get a maintenance history report. If the person who sold it to you is a "dealer" with a proper license he should have done this as a professional. If this car has had the title altered he is both civily and criminally liable. Of course, the damage claimed by your body shop should be verified by at least one more shop. If it truly was a wrecked car, bad enough to have major work done, it should show up on police or insurance records, too. If your information is absolutely correct and verifiable, contact the AG's office of the state of the seller. If he is a dealer with a commercial license he will be bonded, and will not want any investigations by the DMV, AG, or any other licensing board.

Thanks. I've got the paperwork from a Toyota approved dealer. I can get it verified by another shop as well. I'm waiting to see if it can be resolved through Ebay before proceeding further. Appreciate your suggestions. I think it may have been rebuilt without a report??

 

[zoobear]

Why would you send someone $18K for a car without having it inspected first?

Clean carfax. Reasonably new car. Within warranty. Figured it would be reasonably safe. Now know better!

 

[zoobear]

And why would you buy a car from New Jersey, in today's paper a Puyallup dealer is selling a 2003 Avalon for only $14,999. A little research would have save you a lot of money.

When I did the checks for a similar car in WA, they came up around $22-23k. Thought I was saving money. Guess not!!! I wonder about that Puyallup car though. Sounds too good to be true....

 

[dallas702]

Zoobear;

Besides what similar cars may be selling for in your (or other areas) do you keep KBB on your favorites list to look up the "official" value of any car you look at? NADA overvalues most cars, so I don't recommend it. KBB wholesale values are what you want to pay for a vehicle if you think the description is accurate, the guarantee is valid, and the price with shipping is close. You can pay to have a vehicle inspected, but if you are watching 3 or 4 cars to bid on, it's pretty expensive to have them all inspected. If you are dealing with a real commercial car dealer (especially a factory dealer) you are relatively safe. Always ask for as much documentation and history as possible, and lots of pics. Even then, it is a risk. But, so is everything in life.

BTW: Has the seller refused to take the car back or compensate you for the difference in value? He can't claim ignorance of the true condition if he is a registered dealer, but he could make it a miserable fight. If he believes he will have to reimburse you for the car and shipping both ways (to avoid more potential legal problems), perhaps you can convince him to reimburse you for what the "true" value might be as a rebuilt'salvage car. Maybe that would be $2000, $3000, $5000? Your body shop and KBB value guide will tell you that. So will your insurance company who is responsibel for the value of the car.