Out of interest

[Dippydog]

While I realise a 27yr old Volvo is not their usual fare I put the reg. number of my 960 saloon[135,000 miles] into WBAC site to see what they'd come back with.I,m not particularly looking to sell it[but of course everything apart from my dog is for sale if someone comes up with a high enough number to tempt me]it was just curiosity anyway WBAC came back almost instantly with a valuation-without having seen the car obviously-of.......£150

[MiniNinjaRob]

Thats all its worth to them as the really cheap cars just get punted to auctions so they have to offer very little to make it worth their while. Their business is built round people trading in half decent cars with them rather than the dealer who they are buying their next car with.

As an aside I sold a car to WBAC recently and they were very fair when I got to them, would recommend. I was chatting to their staff and they said they have a target amount of vehicles they have to buy each period - I think they said 50%. So they said they always try to keep to the online valuation as they know the customer will probably sell it to them if they do - but a lot of cars come way more worn out/damaged etc than the customers declare which doesn't help.

Seemed a decent run company and I would use again - but to get most money I would probably sell privately if it was worth it but I know a lot of people don't want the hassle of doing that.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by MiniNinjaRob

Thats all its worth to them as the really cheap cars just get punted to auctions so they have to offer very little to make it worth their while. Their business is built round people trading in half decent cars with them rather than the dealer who they are buying their next car with.

As an aside I sold a car to WBAC recently and they were very fair when I got to them, would recommend. I was chatting to their staff and they said they have a target amount of vehicles they have to buy each period - I think they said 50%. So they said they always try to keep to the online valuation as they know the customer will probably sell it to them if they do - but a lot of cars come way more worn out/damaged etc than the customers declare which doesn't help.

Seemed a decent run company and I would use again - but to get most money I would probably sell privately if it was worth it but I know a lot of people don't want the hassle of doing that.

"we buy any car" is owned by "British Car Auctions" they sell the best of the pick via "Cinch" which they also own , the mediocre stuff they sell at their auctions .

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Clan

"we buy any car" is owned by "British Car Auctions" they sell the best of the pick via "Cinch" which they also own , the mediocre stuff they sell at their auctions .

A little extra info from an ex-employee of WBAC that i know is they aren't good to work for.

Basically WBAC are just "behind the scenes" car dealers.

[Challo]

Originally Posted by Dippydog

While I realise a 27yr old Volvo is not their usual fare I put the reg. number of my 960 saloon[135,000 miles] into WBAC site to see what they'd come back with.I,m not particularly looking to sell it[but of course everything apart from my dog is for sale if someone comes up with a high enough number to tempt me]it was just curiosity anyway WBAC came back almost instantly with a valuation-without having seen the car obviously-of.......£150

A 27 year old Volvo isn't worth anything to them, and would probably cause them more headaches. They want standard run of the mill cars that can be sold on quickly either via the trade or retailed out to Cinch.

I have sold cars with them before and its a painless process. People only get annoyed because they fail to mention the scratches, dents, missing history and wonder why they get chipped down on the price.

If you want to get rid of a car, avoid the usual tyre kickers then its a good platform to use. There are a few other companies doing the same as WBAC as well.

[Bunny55]

When I sold my car to WBAC, I had a friendly chat with the guy.

Asked him what the cheapest car he had bought - loads at £40.

Most expensive - £78,000.

Also said that cars not good enough for Cinch or auction, get shipped to Africa in containers.

[Forrest]

I wonder who sells their car for £40. I’d have thought you’d make more than that just weighing it in.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Forrest

I wonder who sells their car for £40. I’d have thought you’d make more than that just weighing it in.

I sold a Fiat Panda at auction once for £40 - barely covered the new MoT i'd put on it!

Also sold a Vauxhall Carlton for £40 twenty minutes after buying it for £20 but both of those were a long time ago.

At the time, scrapping them would have cost me money, even if i'd driven into the scrappy!

[GingerMagic]

Ah, the good old days.....

I remember buying a Rover 620 with no tax or MOT off a guy at work for £30 - I then drove it to the scrapyard 100 yards down the road and got £90 for it...

Pre ANPR I used to buy cars from the auctions for as little as £10 and just drove them as a daily until they broke down - then just blag a lift home and buy another car from the auctions later that week.
Bargain motoring back then

[MiniNinjaRob]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

I sold a Fiat Panda at auction once for £40 - barely covered the new MoT i'd put on it!

Also sold a Vauxhall Carlton for £40 twenty minutes after buying it for £20 but both of those were a long time ago.

At the time, scrapping them would have cost me money, even if i'd driven into the scrappy!

Scrap metal prices have been so low in recent times you're lucky to get them to pick up some cars for free.