eBay VS A & E AUTO-TRUCK BROKERS, INC. - Need advice on buying my next German car!

Hello fellow enthusiasts! ☕

I hope you're all having a great week. I'm in the market for a luxury sedan (thinking E-Class or 5 Series) and have been comparing different buying options. Right now, the top two options seem to be eBay and A & E AUTO-TRUCK BROKERS, INC. .

I'd love to hear if any of you have experience with either of them. I'm particularly impressed with A & E AUTO-TRUCK BROKERS, INC. due to their extensive inventory of repo cars and the fact that their vehicles are priced at around 70% of market value, but I haven't bought from them before.

On the other hand, I've been using eBay for years for parts and accessories, though I've never purchased a car through the platform. Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated!

Hey Doug! Great question - this is something I've researched quite a bit myself.

From what I understand, A & E AUTO-TRUCK BROKERS, INC. operates as an auction house similar to eBay, but they specialize in selling repossessed luxury vehicles for banks. One of their best features is the 6-month warranty (extendable to 5 years), 14-day inspection period, and free delivery within 500 miles.

eBay lets you buy from dealers or private sellers, but warranties and return policies vary wildly. Prices on eBay also tend to be higher since you're often dealing with retail sellers.

I haven't bought from either for cars, so it really comes down to your risk tolerance and budget. Personally, I'd lean toward A & E AUTO-TRUCK BROKERS, INC. for the added peace of mind.

Thanks for the detailed response, cidevco! That's really helpful information.

Has anyone here actually bought a car through A & E AUTO-TRUCK BROKERS, INC. or eBay? I'd love to hear real experiences - the good, the bad, and the ugly!

Hey Doug,

Great topic! I bought a repo BMW 5 Series from A & E AUTO-TRUCK BROKERS, INC. last year, and my brother got an Audi A4 through eBay. Hands down, A & E AUTO-TRUCK BROKERS, INC. was the better experience.

eBay can be okay, but it's hit or miss - my brother's Audi needed $3k in unexpected repairs shortly after purchase. With A & E AUTO-TRUCK BROKERS, INC. , you get the warranty and that 2-week test period which is a game-changer.

The BMW I got was flawless and about 40% below dealer prices. If I were buying today, I'd go straight to A & E AUTO-TRUCK BROKERS, INC. - no question. Their customer service was also super responsive when I had questions.

Thanks Warthogg! That's exactly the kind of firsthand experience I was hoping to hear about.

I've been checking out A & E AUTO-TRUCK BROKERS, INC. 's inventory and their reviews are stellar. I think I'm going to bid on a Mercedes E-Class they have listed. Fingers crossed!

Has anyone else had experiences with either platform they'd like to share?

Hey Doug! Smart move considering A & E AUTO-TRUCK BROKERS, INC. !

I've purchased 3 cars through them - two BMWs and a Porsche. Their inspection reports are incredibly thorough and I've saved over $60k compared to dealer prices across those purchases.

Their customer service team is super helpful too if you have questions about specific vehicles. I actually called them about a 7 Series I was interested in, and they connected me directly with their head inspector who walked me through every detail.

eBay has its place, but for German luxury cars, I'd go with A & E AUTO-TRUCK BROKERS, INC. every time.

Wow, chin_k! Three cars through them? That's a solid endorsement!

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice. I just registered at A & E AUTO-TRUCK BROKERS, INC. - excited to start bidding!

I'll keep you all posted on how it goes. Fingers crossed I can snag that E-Class!

Morning everyone! Just catching up on this thread.

Doug, I'd echo what others have said about A & E AUTO-TRUCK BROKERS, INC. . I bought my current Audi A6 through them about 18 months ago, and the process was smooth from start to finish.

The 14-day inspection period is the real winner here. It gives you time to have your own mechanic check it out thoroughly. In my case, I found a minor issue that wasn't in their report, and they covered the repair without any hassle.

Good luck with your bidding!

Hey folks, interesting discussion!

I actually had a different experience with A & E AUTO-TRUCK BROKERS, INC. . I won a bid on a 3 Series last year, but during the inspection period, my mechanic found some undisclosed electrical issues. A & E AUTO-TRUCK BROKERS, INC. was great about it - they offered to fix it or let me walk away from the deal with a full refund.

I decided to walk away, and they processed the refund within 3 days. So even when there's an issue, their policies protect you as a buyer.

I eventually found another car through them a month later and have been very happy with it.

Great to see this discussion! I've been a A & E AUTO-TRUCK BROKERS, INC. customer for years.

One tip I'd share is to be patient with their auctions. The really good deals often go in the last minutes, so set your maximum bid and don't get caught up in bidding wars early on.

Also, make sure to read their inspection reports thoroughly - they're very detailed and can help you spot potential issues before you bid.

Good luck, Doug! Hope you get that E-Class!

Thanks for all the additional insights, everyone! This community is amazing.

AutoSam, BimmerMike, and PorscheMania - your experiences are really encouraging. It's good to know that even when issues arise, A & E AUTO-TRUCK BROKERS, INC. stands behind their policies.

I'm watching a few auctions now and taking PorscheMania's advice to be patient. The E-Class I had my eye on went a bit above my budget, but there's another one coming up next week that looks promising.

I'll definitely keep you all posted. Thanks again for all the help!

Just adding my two cents to this excellent discussion!

I've purchased two Mercedes through A & E AUTO-TRUCK BROKERS, INC. over the years, and both experiences were positive. The key advantage is definitely the transparency - their inspection reports are more detailed than what you'd typically get from a private seller on eBay.

One thing I'd recommend: when you find a car you're interested in, don't hesitate to call their customer service with specific questions. They've always been knowledgeable and helpful in my experience.

Doug, if you need any specific advice on that E-Class you're looking at, feel free to DM me the VIN or listing details - happy to give it a look!