There is nothing more exhausting than wandering through a lot full of used cars with a hungry salesman pouncing behind you. Since you can never be certain that the salesman is giving you the complete truth about a vehicle, the fear of paying handsomely for a lemon is always at the back of your mind. If this process has left a sour taste in your mouth in the past, make lemonade by placing car bids online.
JCH Auctions allows you to shop for used cars from the comfort of your own home. You can view pictures of each vehicle going up for auction along with informative descriptions of each vehicle’s condition. There are no hungry salesmen, no misleading sales pitches, and no marathon hikes through hot parking lots.
Once you realize how convenient online car auctions are, you may get that adrenaline rush that sends you frantically searching online for the perfect car at the best price. That excitement is part of this fun shopping process, but make sure to work your way down this checklist so you place your online bids safely.
1. Determine your preferred budget and your maximum budget.
There is no way to stick to your budget if you don’t know exactly what it is. Before you even start looking at vehicles, look at your bank account and determine two figures: the amount you prefer to pay for this vehicle and the maximum amount you can afford to pay. If an auction goes beyond the preferred number, you know your bid has to stop when you reach that maximum number.
You will need a credit card to participate in the bidding process, but JCH Auctions allows you to pay in cash when you pick up the vehicle or through wire transfer. Checks are sometimes accepted but must be preapproved.
Make sure to study the auction fees. The maximum amount you bid will be your maximum bidding allowance minus the expected fees.
2. Determine what type of car you want to purchase and what features you must have.
Will you only purchase cars that that have air conditioning? Are you more concerned with how the car runs than how it looks, or are you interested only in cars with decent exteriors? Write down your needs, but be prepared to adjust the list if you come across cars that meet other needs you didn’t think about in advance.
3. Find a public online auction where the inventory is located within reasonable distance from your home. Alternatively, find an auction system that will help you secure delivery of your new vehicle when you win your auction.
It makes no sense to place car bids online if you cannot pick up your vehicle or have it delivered within the time limit set by the auction company. For instance, JCH Auctions is located in the New England region and holds auctioned vehicles at a Massachusetts lot, but you don’t have to live in this region to participate in the auctions.
You can arrange to have your new car transported to your location at your own expense. We can help you find trustworthy transporters if you think this option will fit your needs better than traveling to our lot.
4. Make sure your chosen auction will allow you to view a vehicle prior to the auction. Do not assume that you have to trust what you see online just because these auctions are only held online.
If you don’t live in the New England area and can’t travel to the viewing lot in advance of the auction, you can use our vehicle inspection program to get an honest description of a vehicle’s condition before you place your bid.
5. Sign up for advance warning of upcoming auctions so you can view the vehicle selection in advance. JCH Auctions maintains a mailing list to notify all interested parties of upcoming auctions. Once you receive a notification, you can go to the website to look at the vehicles up for auction and determine if they meet your needs.
6. Enjoy the bidding process in the stress-free environment of your choice. This is the most important step, so don’t skip it. Remember, you are sqeezing the lemons of shopping at local lots to create sweet lemonade with our excellent customer service, honest car descriptions, and hassle-free auction process.
Do you have additional questions about online auctions? Contact us for prompt assistance.
