Importing FAQ Forums

OilBurner

Hi,

I'm new here, and to motorhoming, so please forgive me if these questions seem in any way stupid...

I have just successfully bid for a used motorhome on eBay and won the auction. So far, so good. This does of course introduce a few obvious little problems such as:

1) I don't speak any German
2) I need to pay in full before collecting (its a private seller)
3) The German paperwork may prove an interesting 'challenge'

So, if anybody can offer any advice or assist in any way ... I shall be
most grateful.

I'd be particulary interested for any advice on payment options (e.g. some form of Escrow as I don't especially want to use either PayPal or cash). Also, are there any other steps I can take to safeguard myself?

While I have learnt of the German burgeramt (and its limited opening hours!) to get the registration and export number plates sorted, I still have to contend with insurance. Can anybody recommend any insurers that will cover me whilst in Germany (and until I am home) on German export plates? My own insurers are happy enough once I get the UK registration sorted.

gaspode · Moderator

Hi OilBurner

Welcome to MHF.

Well, you gone & done it eh? Time to repent at your leisure then. Cool

Read all the posts in the "inporting" forum for a start.

The insurance question is the easy one. Just buy the german third party insurance from the guy who makes up your number plates. It can last up to 14 days and is a bit on the pricey side but there's no alternatives.

As for paying, either get your bank to do a "SWIFT" transfer direct to the sellers account or use a transfer agent such as Secure Currencies or similar. Both should be able to get your funds to the buyer within 48 hrs with the best commercial exchange rate. There's no way to protect yourself really, you bought on Ebay so you must pay up front and take what's offered for your cash. Rolling Eyes

The seller will probably speak some English (most Germans do) if they don't they'll usually be able to find a neighbour or similar to translate for you.

Be sure to take your seller and translator to the burgeramt to help with the paperwork and do it before lunch, most of them close at 12.00 midday. Make sure you have your passport for identification and that you have the German registration document as it is regarded as proof of title to the vehicle.

Make sure you get a proper receipt from the seller as the DVLA will want to see it when you go to register the van in the UK.

Best of luck & let us know how you get on. Wink

dreamcatcher

Hi. I was in the same position as yourself last year, and "won" a motorhome in Hungary.
Whatever you do, do not fall into the trap of sending money in a bank transfer, or anything similar.
I, in making my first purchase on eBay, was conned into sending £6000+ by bank transfer, and was told in an email, allegedly from eBay, to send confirmation of the transaction via ebay.
Needless to say, I never saw the motorhome, or a penny of my money.
I hope your purchase is legit, but please be aware of the risk.
Regards, Bob

babyrhino

Hello Oilburner

Just done this and would agree with all that Gaspode said.

We bought privately from a very friendly German who spoke almost perfect English but we definitely needed him for the plate and registration dealings. As gaspode said, it doesn't come cheap - we paid 157 Euro to Mr Number Plate for the plates and insurance (third party only so you have to go steady on the way home!) and another 33 Euro or so to the registration office people.

The opening hours were 8 to 11.30 - the mere mortals have to collect a number and wait in line whilst the dealers come and go as they please but ours was quite quick - we were in a quiet town called Usingen near Bad Homburg.

Interestingly we passed a field full of camels on the way there! Oddball local farmer keen on camels and llamas according to Dieter our vendor.

We paid cash ( ! ) so can't offer any help on the money transfer.

Brian

Rapide561

Hi

I have only ever bought and sold low value items on ebay, but does the EBAY system cover you anyway against fraud etc and non delivery of the goods?

Russell

roboughton

Rapide that would be a NO Ebay does not cover you for anything that is one of the problems ebay has

504329lt

Hi

I purchased a van from Germany over Christmas. We left a deposit with the dealer on our way to the Alps after looking at the van and then set up an international money transfer (3 working days) and picked up the van on the way back.

The dealer went with me for registration etc. and as stated previously insurance can be arranged here.

With regard to ebay, be vey careful. I saw a van some time ago, supposeldy in Budapest, but with an e-mail address within the advert. The supposed 'seller' asked that I send money, and that the van would be delivered! However, when I actually e-mailed through e-bay, the account was being used frauduently and the account owner new nothing of this transaction (he was based in Chicago).

The scam is that people manage to get hold of account details and send them a scam e-mail for them to reveal their password. They then wait until the account is quiet and 'sell' the van at a very cheap price.

In summary, I would be careful about paying upfront. I would contact the account holder through e-bay, and arrange to meet him.

I would then either pay cash or arrange an international bank transfer.

Hope this helps

OilBurner

Thanks everybody, very helpful.

The eBay member that I am dealing with has been on the system for nearly 4 years and has 100% positive feedback, albeit with only 72 trades. The last feedback was left for him yesterday.

After I sent my initial email regarding SWIFT payment (its easier for me) I got back a reply (in German) saying that *he* would prefer cash on collection, although I have subsequently received another reply from his wife (who speaks a little English) trying to provide the details for a bank transfer.

My gut feeling here is that the guy is genuine.

I have seen quite a few US-based accounts supposedly selling motorhomes at stupidly-low prices on eBay. I have even emailed questions to a few, although I have never had a reply from them. What I have had, a few days letter, is an email from eBay warning me of the fraud.