written by VanBooter on 16/08/2014
I saw this business advertising on Ebay which happened to be a vehicle I was interested in. Not much info in the listing and only 2 poor quality pictures. I visited the site and the vehicle I was looking for was not even listed. Looking around not much info is available on any vehicle, here's the crunch. They want £10 a week to gain access to all data including pictures. So if you want to browse the listings you won't see much unless you don't mind paying the £10 a week. That's like having a box office to sell tickets to visit a car showroom. Don't these people make enough charging buyers and sellers or is this just greed. Well they say one is born every day, but this fool and his money are not easily parted.
As rated by our community of reviewers
Connaughtsolar's Response to VanBooter's Review
Written on: 16/02/2015
Hi
I think you have the £10 charge all wrong
I paid the £10 and got full axcess to the site, you get so much more than just axcess to the site, you have a spotter at the other end of the phone who will answer any questions about the vehicle you are interested in, send you photos by email and bid on your behalf, he even gives you guide prices for the vehicle
I bid £4500 on a vauxhall insignia through the spotter and he actually got it for me at £4300
I live in Ireland so didn't see the car in person until I collected it and I wasn't disappointed
The spotter even told me about the scratch on the door before the auction
I bought the car last November and have waited until now to postal review just in case I had any problems
Have had the car valued at €12000 by the main dealer so I'm very happy
Connaughtsolar is my company so you can check that I have no affiliation to the auction house
John
Vanbooter's reply to Connaughtsolar's Comment
Written on: 16/02/2015
You just confirmed what I originally posted so there is no wrong about it. The charge was £10 to view the details of the vehicle I was interested in at that time.
That charge only lasts 1 week I think you failed to remember that, so if I was outbid and saw another Fiesta 2 weeks later then I would be required to hand over another £10 to view the details.
So you say it give you access to the whole site, well why on earth would I be wanting to waste time looking at other lots I'm a private buyer not a dealer. If I was interested in a red Ford Fiesta why would I be wanting to look at a Renault or a Datsun or any other make?
Personally I would never buy a car on the pictures alone, neither would I use a spotter to bid on it, too many conflicts of interest, but glad you are pleased with your purchase, many who buy at auctions are not.
I just find it strange that Ebay allows advertisers to upload 12 pictures per listing and to enter as much details as they like, but these people just upload a low resolution picture adorned with graffiti which is nothing more than an advertisement to visit there website for less info.... well unless you pay up!
Wyevalleywales's reply to Vanbooter's Comment
Written on: 06/02/2018
I gave up on Merthyr Motor Auctions, after buying a few vehicles from there. Their additional fees are very high (they say the vehicles are ex-council/authority, but you have to pay an indemnity fee just in case the seller doesn't have the right to sell it) surely if the vehicles are ex-authority vehicles, there should not be an issue about needing an indemnity cover?
You can sometimes get an affordable vehicle there, but they know the values of the popular vans and minibuses, they won't let them go for one bid.
Their auction room is an L shape, and you will often find there's a 'bidder' just around the corner that you can't see, knocking the price up (but they didn't realise my brother was on the other side of the room and he couldn't see anyone else bidding!
Defraudedidiot's reply to Wyevalleywales's Comment
Written on: 04/06/2019
I agree, also they obviously fake review themselves 5* a lot while actively having poor reviews removed “like they just did with mine” by complaining.
I have lodged an official complaint with reviewcentre demanding they look into it.
Vanbooter's reply to Defraudedidiot's Comment
Written on: 13/06/2019
I know they are fake reviews but does that really surprise you knowing their auction ethics.
They tried to have my original review taken down OH YES they were not happy at all with my honest feedback.
Because I proved what I wrote was indeed the way this outfit operates so the review stayed.
But what do you know weeks later I noticed a swarm of fake positive reviews, in an attempt to smother mine, but it doesn't matter if mine stops one person from a bad experience it was worth it
Vanbooter's reply to Wyevalleywales's Comment
Written on: 13/06/2019
This is a common practice for some unscrupulous auction houses such as merthyr motor auctions it's commonly known as bidding against the wall.
It's a way of reaching their required target when the auction comes to a standstill. Their claim on ebay about buying vehicles for under market value is only obtained if you have reached it's reserve and are prepared to accept the vehicle they are offering because it will only be worth that amount because of condition, high mileage, etc.
In other words there is nothing to be gained by using Merthyr Motor Auctions, you will only get a vehicle for what it's worth, and if you are really unlucky a vehicle which you will regret buying from day1