Am I entitled to a return on a good faith deposit for a car on ebay. the car was worse then described?

Question

I placed a deposit on a car from ebay, the deposit was not listed as "non refundable" After seeing the car in person, there were a lot of things wrong that were not list or misrepresented. I backed out of the sale and the seller is trying to keep my deposit. Is this covered under Pennsylvania law?

Answer 1

Firebird is exactly right. If you won the auction, you are obligated to pay for the car or forfeit your deposit (if the seller feels like letting you out of the deal). Your opportunity to inspect the vehicle was before you placed the winning bid.

Answer 2

It is the responsibility of the buyer to insure the vehicle is suitable and acceptable before placing a bid. You had the opportunity to have someone inspect it if you were not able yourself. He will need to relist it and that isn't free. In the eyes of eBay, the vehicle was sold.

Answer 3

Yes he entitled to keep your Non Refundable Deposit. You are to look, inspect,or whatever before you bid and the auction ends. Winning the auction was not the right to reject. You bought it. If he presses it you owe him for the car. If he will let you out with just loosing your deposit your lucky. He now has approx $100 in fees just to re list the car on EBAY.........................UJN

Answer 4

You have it backwards - He is actually entitled to the full price of the car.  Ebay is not a place where you bid for the right to look at a car.  You bought it.  By backing out, you broke the contract, not him.

Smart of him to ask for a deposit, certainly.  Next time, don't bid on anything that you're not going to follow through on.