Would you buy at auction ? (1 Viewer)

Charlie

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An interesting post on the AS owners club forum threw up a link to BCA auctions.. They auction all sorts of vehicles including Caravans and Motor homes... I never knew that !

But would you buy at auction ? Well I dont think I would ... I have bought many cars at auction over the ears including one or two specialist cars.. But whilst the prices may be attractive on vehicles like Motor homes surely the "risk" factor stacks up...
Price can be king but it can be crippling if one were to buy a complete pig....

There are many older vehicles listed on the auction list. Its fair to suppose that they may be dealer PXs that are to risky to sell off the forecourt. But there are also some far newer ones including in last weeks auction a Swift 620 on a 15 plate new shape Peugeot chassis.

The link below show the list so far for the January 2016 sale...


Just thought some of you might like a different from the normal subject to discuss ?
 
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Badknee

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Oooooooooo, not sure. As you I've bought cars from auctions in the past and 99% have needed jobs doing to them of some sort or other! big and small.
Do we know how much access there is to the vehicles before the sale? That might help with the evil devil that is damp and to check out fittings etc.
 

Wombles

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Bought 3 of our cars at BCA but mostly ex Motability scheme & all almost new with manufacturers warranty & very low mileage so no real risk. Have looked at the motorhomes they had listed in the past but avoided as looked like the ones that may have hidden problems or concerning histories - know that after Somerset floods lots of motorhomes ended up being auctioned :xsad: Suppose if they go cheap enough & you are prepared/able to do whatever it takes if necessary then still may be worthwhile.

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Charlie

Charlie

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Oooooooooo, not sure. As you I've bought cars from auctions in the past and 99% have needed jobs doing to them of some sort or other! big and small.
Do we know how much access there is to the vehicles before the sale? That might help with the evil devil that is damp and to check out fittings etc.

If the sales take on the usual form then the time to inspect would be rather limited. I would imagine though given the type of vehicle they would be unlocked for some time before going onto the auction block for the auction its self which typically takes no more than 3 to 5 minutes depending on the value of the vehicle, High value vehicles can take 5 minutes bangers and older stuff a minute or two at most.
 
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Charlie

Charlie

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Bought 3 of our cars at BCA but mostly ex Motability scheme & all almost new with manufacturers warranty & very low mileage so no real risk. Have looked at the motorhomes they had listed in the past but avoided as looked like the ones that may have hidden problems or concerning histories - know that after Somerset floods lots of motorhomes ended up being auctioned :xsad: Suppose if they go cheap enough & you are prepared/able to do whatever it takes if necessary then still may be worthwhile.

All vehicles are in an auction for one reason or another . They may be PX vehicles that are too old for certain dealers to retail. Main dealers dont as a rule retail cars more than a few years old.

In the case of Ex Motability well its the way the scheme disposes of those cars. My wifes wee Fiesta Automatic is an Ex motability car which I bought at auction... But its the way they sell them so there is the reason. A good and valid reason and the cars are usually low miles and have been serviced under the rules of the scheme. If they arent beaten up it would be hard to buy a wrong un !

As above the bigger portion of the MHs are older.. So maybe just not worth the agg of retailing.. But why are the newer ones there ? Could it be they are the deeply unpopular ones ? Or perhaps the dealers who take them in PX need the cash rather than more stock ? Ex demo maybe ?
 

Judge Mental

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yes i would but the usual caveats apply, buyer beware and all that :)

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Judge Mental

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Buyer be double aware given the complexity and range of things to check on even the most basic MH .....


there will be some risk def but its all about th bidding and price being pushed up, will be bidding against other dealers as well .. best stick with genuine private sales unless you know what your doing I think...

can you look at previous auctions and see what they went for? like you can with property?
 
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Charlie

Charlie

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there will be some risk def but its all about th bidding and price being pushed up, will be bidding against other dealers as well .. best stick with genuine private sales unless you know what your doing I think...

can you look at previous auctions and see what they went for? like you can with property?

So thats a yes from you followed by a no ? :D

Thing to remember at an auction these days is the auctioneer is allowed to take an item or vehicle up to the reserve by pretending he/she has a bidder. Once the reserve is met it is illegal to take the bidding higher unless there is a genuine bidder in the hall or on the internet ...

I think you can research previous auction prices but you would have to register in order to do so ..
 

magicsurfbus

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I buy a lot of stuff for resale at auction, but have never bought a vehicle. I don't think I'd bother either, having seen the various tricks and traps of the auction process.

You've reminded me of something one of my very first school pupils told me - he was driving stock cars at 12 and his dad used to buy the cars in at auctions. If he saw one he liked at the viewing he used to go under the bonnet and mix up the distributor leads so anyone else trying it would be put off. Crafty sod.
 
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Also look at the buyers Premium and vat before bidding , there is an auction house near us called john pye auctions and you have to allow nearly twice your bid in extras.

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Glandwr

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I have bought many, many times at auction, lots of things. Never a motorhome though. Can't see a big difference in principle though. If it's duff put it back in, lose the premium maybe a little more, but if it's good you have saved a shed load if you don't get carried away.

I did once, went to Prees Heath to buy a car in the 70's and ended up buying a micro light and trailer as well :xrofl:

Dick
 

ianandkath

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most finance snatch backs are ok to buy. i have seen a few that have been good and worth buying

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Abacist

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I think most of the newer ones that I have seen are finance company recoveries and the clue is in the name of the business entering the vehicle to the auction.
 

Brian and Jo

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Definately not for us .dealer only for us.:xThumb:
Brian & Jo
 
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It's what you want to do really , if you want a quiet life and just want to buy a no hassle motorhome, you don't want to be buying at auction, but if you want to take a punt on a cheap motorhome that might be a bargain to sell on or something that wants a bit of work on then the auction might be for you.
Personly I have conducted most of my buying and selling through the market system with farming and farm sales so hold no worries for me but for someone who is getting on in years with a limited budget and never been there before , I would say you are best leaving them alone.
 

TheBig1

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have bid on many repossessions at auction, always careful to research trade price and auction costs first. then allow a good sum for new keys etc. always request a viewing before, which is normally accompanied. won a few and made some cash and walked away from plenty bought by dealers with buyers looking for that particular model, as they will pay above trade prices. i also know of a couple of dealerships that get a phone call when a new or near new van is entered into the auctions. these get snapped up and put on a forecourt to sell on within a day or two

big money to be made if you are really careful and know what to look for. cut my dealing teeth travelling the country with an uncle in the trade buying at auction. on certain occasions we would take a minibus of drivers to bring good cars and vans home. many would be sold on within the trade within a few days

many people are suspicious of the motortrade and think too emotionally about vehicles. repossessions and bailiff seizures tend to put some folk off, as do unrecorded stolen recovered or damaged vehicles. but if you buy off a dealers forecourt no thought goes into who used to own it

not that i recommend just anybody should buy at auction without help. too many traps for the amateurs to miss
 

Silver-Fox

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IMHO if you are familiar with vehicles have a good eye for problems or searching out clues. You will have no problems at auction so long as you tot up as you bid the final price.

Some actions have a screen up with the final price displayed.

As said generally there is a strong reason for something to be in a auction. But look to see who has entered it and how many previous entry stickers are on the screen as the action houses are lazy and just add entries.

Personally i would have no qualms about buying at auction but then if it goes above my price i walk.
 

Brian and Jo

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If that's the case sometimes your so called jokes are personal and not funny.
Brian & Jo
 
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He is called Judgemental - he's also always going to be controversial sometimes.

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Teuchter

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I have been caravanning for 32 years but in 2014 I have"gone over to the dark side"
Many years ago, as a hobby, my mate & I bought older cars - serviced/repaired them - MOT'd them and sold them , sometimes at auction.
We also occasionally bought at auction, however in those days at a reputable vehicle for sale ground you could run the engine & drive around the compound to check the gears, brakes etc. so you paid your money & took your chance relying on your own knowledge & skill.

When engine running/ test driving was stopped then we stopped buying!!
 

Teuchter

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I have been caravanning for 32 years but in 2014 I have"gone over to the dark side"
If that's the case sometimes your so called jokes are personal and not funny.
Brian & Jo

Eddie is never really personal - slightly barbed at times maybe - but never insulting - lighten up - it is the FUN FORUM Oh Please! :xgrin:

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