Online Buying Tips
How often have you bought a car online at the auction and found it had issues when you got it to your lot? I would guess that happens fairly often, and to add insult to injury, it can be almost impossible to get a quick resolution even if you do have a valid claim.
Here are some tips to reduce the amount of time you spend in arbitration and avoid some pitfalls:
Check the CR thoroughly. Check that the odometer, trim, features, and equipment match on each part of the CR and listing. Many claims fail because information was incorrect in one area, and correct in another. In the rule book, the buyer is responsible for reviewing all information prior to buying, which means if there is something on the listing that describes the issue, the buyer can be found to be on the hook even if it wasn’t obvious. As an example, a Dodge Challenger that had “V8” in the CR header, but under options & equipment and in the images, it was clear the vehicle had a 6 cylinder engine. Or in another instance, damage that is missed by the CR writer but visible in the images on the CR can result in an invalid claim for the buyer.
This may sound simple, but it’s remarkable how often buyers don’t do it - audit the line item damages using the images of the car. CRs are subjecting, and what is “repairable” to one CR writer may be “needs replacement” to another, and only you as the buyer know what your shop can do and what they won’t. Use the images for a better idea of the severity of the damage.
Take a screenshot of the listing, including announcements, before you place a bid, most especially if you plan to use Proxy Bids. They don’t need to be kept forever, but having that back up is helpful if there is a last minute announcement change and the system doesn’t drop your bid.
If something seems off or doesn’t match, don’t bid. If the online listing says guaranteed and the CR says “AS-IS,” assume the worst. Refer back to tip 1 on why.
What do you do to protect yourself from making a bad buy?
