These days it’s getting harder and harder to know what’s true. We live in a world where anyone can pretend to be someone they’re not while online, and they can lie, and that can result in people getting duped out of their hard-earned money. Case in point? Car sales via eBay or Craigslist. Should you buy a used car on those sites? Ideally, no. There are several reasons you should be skeptical about online car sales via those sites.
What Exactly Are You Getting?
First, you don’t really know what you’re going to get if you buy a vehicle online via eBay or Craigslist. The seller could be lying to you, and you may end up with a vehicle that you don’t like– perhaps one with flood damage or prior accidents that the seller failed to disclose. They might even be selling you a stolen vehicle! What are some things to look out for? Well, if they don’t have license plates for the vehicle, they insist on a cash payment, and they won’t show you the title, then those are all red flags.
Next, if an online seller can’t offer you a vehicle history report (unless you buy it yourself) then what are they trying to hide from you? What if the VIN number and title don’t match up? You have to be careful you don’t get sucked into their “great deal” that could end up involving fake wire transfers or escrows, or perhaps even fake car shipments where you don’t end up getting the vehicle, and they disappear!
Thirdly, when you buy a vehicle, you should be able to get a mechanical inspection done no matter what– it’s important that a trusted mechanic take a look for you and tell you if the vehicle is a good buy or not. With eBay and Craigslist sales, you might get that, or they might not “allow” it– again, red flag!
Finally, it can be harder to get financing for private sales through eBay or Craigslist. When you work with a dealer, like 443 Auto Sales, they can help you get the financing you need to make the sale happen.
In Lehighton, PA, you can come to 443 Auto Sales and see for yourself what vehicles are for sale, on the lot. You can test drive them and if you find one you love, have your mechanic check it out. These are all good reasons to shop for your next vehicle at a physical place, like 443 Auto Sales, rather than buy something unseen online.