The news on auction SG cars for $1?!

last SG · 2006-01-28T15:48:44+00:00

i dun think convetional law textbooks would have topics on online auctions.

tomsss SG

anyone saw the news just now? some guy won a bid for a 2nd hand WRX for $1…. man if he sues, wins the lawsuit and really gets the car for $1…. jealous man! yahoo auction they say… must go see lol

alwaysdisturbed SG

since when auctions r governed by the law?

[email protected] SG

in effect when he won the auction to buy the car for $1, that is a business contract, so while no law really governs it, he has the right to sue and will likely win. I remember cases in the past where people have sued and won the right to buy products at prices advertised, even though the company put the wrong price to it.

tomsss SG

yahoo auction hunting time!!!!! Mr. Green

MobyDog SG

But this time the seller did not put any limits to it... and not quoting incorrectly.

Anyway, there are perhaps another 20 in the auction page now... everyone ! auction now..

Theatre Of Dreams SG

this is a common practice for some sellers who are using the auction site for advertising purpose rather than for auctioning. the $1 tag is to attract attention i believe. normally they’ll say, no bidding, contact seller straight. well, nobody in the right mind would assume he can buy a car for $1 right?

sunnyMAN SG

there are so many bidders in such online auctions who arent serious abt sellling/buying...these are the ones who have bad ratings..

In the 1st place, thats wat these ratings are for..to allow users to have some sensing to the credibility of the poster of the item..i doubt that ang moh can do anything to win his case...its jus another gimmick..jus that now they use a car as gimmick, if its a book or some training courses..ppl wouldnt give a damn

browniebaobao SG

depends.. whether there's any condition etc..

advertisements are usually invitation to treat.. unless it is offering to anyone capable of taking up that offer..

Ito_^ SG

than they are plain stupid. even though its an online auction, they don't have the right to take it like a joke, it is not only a contract bound between the seller and buyer but also between the site and the parties involved. when the buyer sues, the seller could also be charged under criminal charges if he is found guilty of fruad on top of all the civil crap. yahoo will certainly take the side of the buyer.

nobody in his right mind would post a car for $1, nor anyone sue because of that though.. but they can, and who knows this siao ding dung decides to press for it, he is screwed.

tofushop193 SG

so did that guy got his car??

LRRP SG

No..all of you are wrong. The buyer wont get the car if the seller refuses to sell. Its a mere " invitation to treat". No contract is entered.

There was a precedent court case before. One of the printers distributor displayed a wrong pricing on their web site resulting in hundred of orders for the printers. High court rule that right to sell remains with the seller.

Ito_^ SG

but this is auction leh.. same thing?

Master -_- SG

There is acceptance of contract wat. Unless, payment is made, then he is legally bound. You can always reject bids wat. However, for those advertisements that display wrong prices, they made orders using their credit card. Payment is made, and thus, the seller have to honour the contract

gentlerock SG

I thought there was a part in contract law which states fair price. That means if the courts determine that the price is too unreasonable, they have the right to make the contract null and void right?

(This law was probably formed to avoid people cheating on duties and taxes.....like when people claim to buy big ticket items like houses for S$1 and thus pay stamp fee of just a few cents).

Oh yah, forgot....this is Singapore, so it also depends on whether its angmoh or not. If the buyer was just some ah beng, this might not even make it to the news.

Theatre Of Dreams SG

http://page.auctions.yahoo.com/sg/auction/90726340

browniebaobao SG

the law also says.. the price may not be adequate, but it is sufficient. Idea

tofushop193 SG

so did that guy get the car???can anyone say

Dounut SG

Well, according "Contract", if the Buyer get a lawyer to sue the Seller, Seller has to sell this car at S$1. t's a legal tender.

I am stupid enough not to bid for it ! ! Evil or Very Mad

the Bear SG

go bid... according to the news report, there are hundreds in there for $1.. and if no reserve, you get it for $1 if you bid..

and after this news report, which was on national tv and i would think it would make the newspaper also, those who post the auctions, cannot claim that there was mistake involved...

nightzip SG

I think he wont get the car. Most probably he will even get scolded by the judge for his unscrupulous greed and capitalising on people's error.

Anyway you also dont know if the person who posted the bid is from the car warehouse. This is first.

Secondy, whether the person who post the bid for the car has the ownership of the car in the first place? i.e. he is not a small employee of the car warehouse, but manager or general manager etc who is deemed to have authority to sell the car at the stated bid.

Thirdly, we dont even know if the person who post the bid IS from the car warehouse. He could be someone who impersonate people in the car warehouse due to past grudges or bad relations before at the warehouse, who wants to get back at them. This will then NULLify the contract anyway.

Fourthly, the court has laws that protects the property of people which gives values (commercial) to them at appropriate prices. $1 is NOT an appropriate price for a car. And those previous cases where computers, laptops, processor chips, etc etc who accidental sell at $1 due to wrong posting, its the GOOD-WILL of the people that they HONOR their deals, but they ARE NOT obliged to do so.

Just to let all know. Mr. Green