I would never buy a used car without seeing it in person and having it checked out.

I have purchased several cars from Ebay sellers. This deal sounds like a lot of trouble (and risk) just for a car.
I would never buy something that large without being able to inspect it first.
Tell your friend to pass on this deal. The moneygram thing sounds odd to me. Most Ebay sellers would demand PayPal.

I almost listed a car for sale and found reasonable fees. But never bought. I would contact eBay about the money gram? I personally would not sent. But I would ask eBay, they would be the ones to tell exaçt. Give them a call.

Ebay specifically says NOT to send money through external routes. Buyer protection DOES NOT cover moneygram. This is a scam! Stay away!

I would not buy a car off EBay just because a purchase that large should be from a car place where you deal with a salesman face to face

Jason j I would not buy a car on ebay by paying with money gram. They will ask for another payment for shipping.The money you sent will be gone.

Sorry, I never will buy a used car without testing, and driving it.

Ok. This is the deal here... the moment someone starts telling you all these so call stories and then send money to EBAY buyer protect... DO not I repeat DO NOT buy into that... 10 years ago... I was almost a victim to this same scam... bmw was pictured at a storage in San Diego. But when I was ready to purchase, they came with this story of being in Montana and I had to come there or have the car shipped... They too, stated the car was covered by eBay protection... I could not find any such car in ebay listing yet it was showing as an eaby ad. Bottom line... if the car is listed in a real ebay listing you will have protection... If you can find the listing # at all... redflagg.
Check the listing number... they are and sometime can be faked to look like an ebay ad... By the way before that I did get scammed on a collectible barbie... bogus listing made to look like a real listing. When in doubt ask Ebay to check to see if a real listing or not. Good luck! These scammers are good and they try the same thing over and over until they catch someone slipping or a DUMMY

Ebay has constant issues between buyers and sellers, and it usually ends with someone getting slighted or having a terrible experience. Some people never get refunds over a dispute or get scammed. Ebay is not trustworthy in any regard and even manipulates discussion on their community forum to hide problems. I definitely would not buy a car on Ebay, and would NEVER consider the bizarre roundabout method you described. Any seller requesting payment outside of Ebay is a huge red flag. I hate Ebay's restrictive monopoly on payment via PayPal but they enforce it to ensure they get a piece of the pie. If someone is breaking this rule it's usually to avoid tracking and legality so they can scam a person. It's not worth it when there are so many free car searching websites that help you find something local and amazing deals. See the car in person, ask to test drive it.

Y are ebay so disloyal to there 100% feedback sellers, by not respecting the no returns agreement?

I've purchased 2 cars on ebay, one through a dealer (and had it shipped 1200 miles) and the other through a private seller and both transactions went fairly smooth. The private seller wanted me to pay him outside of ebay so he wouldn't be charged a fee but I insisted on conducting the transaction legitimately through ebay so it would protect both of us. I think we were leery of each other at first but it all worked out. I did buy the car sight unseen, flew to Chicago to pick it up and was very pleased with it so I was lucky. With that said, I did try to sell my boat on ebay but was bombarded with scammers so I sold it locally and will never try to sell anything expensive on ebay again. Trust nothing and nobody but your instincts.

Buying a car on eBay is tricky. This is not covered by the usual eBay guarantee so you're on your own.

Sorry, the largest things I've bought from ebay sellers are several metal shelves and sewing machines. Personally, cars would be one of the things I would Not buy from ebay sellers.

One word

SCAM

I did buy a Lexus off the Ebay but it was from a real dealer ( rural TX) not from a person, it is ok, easy transaction, price is lower than if I bought it here ( MD) the car got shipped to me quick but the problem is has a dent, kinda noticeable on the front, now the shipper said it was like that when I picked up, the dealer said no, it wasn't. I just have it fixed because it doesn't worth the fight and it is just a fraction of what I had been saved. But I would not do it again, too much trouble, too much time involved

Make the down payment (usually $500) via paypal if seller accepts that. Pay the balance in cash when you pick the car up. Don't use any method of payment that starts with "money". E.g., money order, moneygram.

Im in NJ... in 2003 I bought a 1969 Mach 1 for $8000 for restoration... seller delivered it to me and I paid cash... a few years later I sold it for $12K to a person in NC... he sent a certified bank check which is good as gold,,,,,,,, later he sent a transporter to pick up the car,,,,,, no problems,,,,,,,, use CASH whenever possible,,,,,,,,,,,

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