@naawrote:
I have been doing a little reading and have come to the conclusion that I am incredibly, laughably, naïve about what eBay has become.
I don't know that it's Ebay (As much as they seem to be inept and unhelpful...) as much as it just is that there are a LOT of crooked people out there- and the prospect of getting good money for big-ticket items by someone who will likely be buying "blind", naturally makes them all come out of the woodwork, because it's not something they could pull-off loclally, where people would come and look first...but is easy when the potential buyer is 2000 miles away, and has virtually no recourse afterwards.
Then again, people are foolish for buying that way. They're just rolling the dice. And it's really impossible for Ebay to do anything, because unless they were to personally see every vehicle, there is no way of them knowing who is telling the truth, or if the truth is somewhere in the middle- which is why, even in real-life, vehicle sales are as-is.
The only sane way to buy is to expect the worst, and to figure that the other guy is trying to screw you. Either inspect and know what you're getting before-hand..or like Mike said, pay no more than scrap.
Funny thing is, not only can us honest people sleep good...but oftentimes, things work out better for us anyway! I listed a big, top brand toy-hauler for the guy I work for. It was burnt- gutted inside. Full disclosure and detailed pics, of course....the thing end up going for insane money, to someone who wanted to make a stealth cargo hauler! (I believe it went for like $15K or something, if memory serves!)
On the other hand, if people think you're trying to hide something or fudge the truth...even someone who might be interested in a damaged vehicle for the right price, is either going to walk, or want it for way less than what he'd normally pay.
