Using an auction buyer

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Sat 6 Jan 2007 21:57
Using an auction buyer - Menzies
I remember in the past seeing threads on here about using an 'auction buyer'. One chap (Joe Dowd?) was mentioned, but are there others that regulars have used and can recommend?

What happens if the auction buyer gets you a car and it turns out to be dud? After all, they get paid whatever the outcome, don't they.
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Sun 7 Jan 2007 00:25
Using an auction buyer - Quinny100
I've never used one, but my understanding is that you pay the auction house for the car, and the buyer a fee for their professional services.

Effectively you are buying a car at auction, and therefore all the potential pitfalls (eg. no come backs) still apply. You are paying the buyer for their advice and knowledge in the hope that they will weed out any dud cars, but with the best will in the world given the constraints on inspecting a car at auction there is always the potential that the car will have a defect that is not apparent until you drive the car properly.

I would hope that if the worst happened and the car was a complete dud, the buyer would waive their fee but you couldn't ask anymore than that unless they had obviously been negligent, eg. bought the wrong car or spec.. I would guess the agreement you enter into with the buyer would limit their liability in the event of defects to their fee and nothing more, otherwise they are acting as a dealer and would have responsibilities under the Sale of Goods Act.

If you are willing to buy at auction and accept what sold as seen means, then using a buyer is a good way to minimise the risk of picking a bad car and saves you trailing around auction houses. They are also not always as expensive as they seem because they will get buyers premium at trade price rather than retail, which offsets some of their fee.
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Wed 10 Jan 2007 13:14
Using an auction buyer - PW
HI Menzies- only just seen this, hence the late response.

I have now bought 4 cars through Joe Dowd, a friend of mine has (I think) bought about 10, and friends of his have bought cars through Joe too.

Out of all those only one car had a problem, which was vandalised in the auction lot in before my firend could collect the car.

I have absolutely no qualms whatsoever about recommending Joe as the service I have received has been fantastic and I have absolute trust in what he tells me.

Hope this is some help to you.
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Fri 12 Jan 2007 10:09
Using an auction buyer - Murielson
Interesting topic and having looked on the net this link may be of interest:

www.auctioncarbuyer.co.uk/AuctionCarBuyer-Home.htm
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Fri 12 Jan 2007 12:10
Using an auction buyer - CJay{P}
I second Joe's service. Having bought a number of cars during the last few years, I cannot fault him. Very honest and straight talking (Irish) gentleman.
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