Deadbeat Bidders are apparently still a problem for eBay Motors car sellers. It’s been 13 years since we first observed deadbeat bidders wreak havoc on vehicle sellers. And judging from this sellers warning nothing’s changed.

Today after clicking on a classic car listing in a Facebook group the first thing we saw was the below wording.

PLEASE READ ENTIRE LISTING BEFORE PLACING A BID

PRIOR TO BIDDING ON THIS ITEM YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO MESSAGE US THROUGH EBAY WITH YOUR CONTACT NAME AND NUMBER OR YOUR BID WILL BE CANCELLED AND YOU WILL BE BLOCKED FROM BIDDING ON ANY OF OUR ITEMS.

SO IF IT’S YOUR INTENT TO BID, PLEASE MESSAGE US AT LEAST 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO AUCTION END SO WE MAY ATTEMPT TO CONTACT YOU AND VERIFY YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF YOUR ACCOUNT.

WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS INCONVENIENT, HOWEVER WE HAVE MANY VEHICLES TO SELL AND HAVE LIMITED SPACE. IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS 50% OF ALL WINNING BIDDERS (LOW AND HIGH FEEDBACK) HAVE FAILED TO CONTACT/PAY US AFTER WINNING THE AUCTION. OR CLAIM TO HAVE NOT BID OR BLAME A CHILD OR FRIEND FOR USING THEIR COMPUTER WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSION.

WE RARELY OFFER 2ND CHANCE OFFERS DUE TO THE FACT THAT ONLY 5% OF THESE ARE ACCEPTED, DUE TO BIDDERS FEELING AS IF THEY WERE BIDDED UP OR THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. SINCE WE HAVE FEW OPTIONS IN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE WE’RE LOOKING INTO OTHER RESOURCES AND MAY NO LONGER OFFER “NO RESERVE” AUCTIONS ON EBAY.

We’re not mentioning the sellers name as eBay would surly throw em under the bus. We have mentioned numerous times that anyone buying or selling a motor vehicle be ID Verified. But it’s our opinion the listing fees are more important than member security. Obviously nothing has changed in that department.

Had they implemented this strategy many years ago eBay Motors would have been HUGE! Buyers and sellers could trade securely worldwide. Motors would be the number one go-to place worldwide to buy and sell cars online.