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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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GM Launches EBay Car Sales

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(Newser) – GM is hoping to boost its sales in California with a trial program selling new cars and trucks on eBay, AP reports. Most of the company's dealers in the state have signed up for the program, which will let buyers haggle over the price of new vehicles and determine online whether they qualify for "cash-for-clunkers" using a microsite designed in partnership with eBay Motors.

Customers will be able to buy the vehicles at a fixed price or submit a bid. The trial program will run for a month. Execs hope to expand it nationwide if sales take off in California. Dealers—whose participation in the program is voluntary—say the move is long overdue, while eBay spokesmen say it fits the trend of people becoming more comfortable about making big purchases online.  "New cars are like the next frontier of that," said an eBay Motors spokesman.

General Motors Corp. Chairman Edward Whitacre Jr. addresses the media during a news conference at the company's headquarters in Detroit last month.
General Motors Corp. Chairman Edward Whitacre Jr. addresses the media during a news conference at the company's headquarters in Detroit last month.   (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
This screen shot provided by eBay, Inc. shows a sample page of GM cars for sale through the eBay online auto marketplace, eBay Motors.
This screen shot provided by eBay, Inc. shows a sample page of GM cars for sale through the eBay online auto marketplace, eBay Motors.   (AP Photo/eBay Inc.)
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EBay is the only way you can buy a car on the Internet without coming to the dealership. It's about control. When the consumer is able to take back to control, that's when they feel empowered. - Nicole Easton, sales director for a California Chevrolet dealer

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9 comments
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Todd_English
Aug 11, 09 6:40 AM CDT
I would never buy a car on ebay. Reply
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Fondue
Aug 11, 09 8:31 AM CDT
Same here
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+2
Reader65069154
Aug 11, 09 9:56 AM CDT
As a bailout shareholder in GM, I disagree with this decision. Reply
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+1
Reader60610265
Aug 11, 09 10:08 AM CDT
I've herd nigthmare stories about people buying used cars on ebay .That's scarey enough ,but buying a new car I don't think that's such a good idea right now. Reply
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Yourself
Aug 11, 09 10:16 AM CDT
the only saving grace with this idea is that "Most of the company's dealers in the state have signed up for the program" and if GM is the seller, then i'm pretty sure they're gonna back this up tightly to make sure shit doesn't hit the fan. this could prove to be an interesting concept really and could possibly change a segment of the car-buying experience. Imagine just bidding on a price and finding out directly your final payment instead of dealing with the car dealerships we have now... just thinking of it sounds interesting! Reply
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