If you’re in the market for a used car, or something you can break down and scrap for parts, you’re in exactly the right place. Here at RAW2K, we supply a huge variety of used cars, vans, motorcycles and scooters through our online vehicle auctions, that you can get your hands on. During our time as the UK’s premier online car auction website, we’ve dealt with our fair share of attempted ‘bait and switch’ practices, and it’s worth mentioning that if we learn that a seller is engaging in “bait and switch” or other unfair or deceptive practices, RAW2K Ltd reserves the right to deny that seller use of the RAW2K Private Auctions.
We’ve made a conscious effort to stamp out any practices that aim to deceive buyers into purchasing sub-par products. So, if you’re wondering how it is that ‘bait and switch’ tactics work to deceive you as a buyer, here are a few things that are worth keeping in mind.
What is ‘bait and switch’?
Essentially, ‘bait and switch’ is a morally suspect sales tactic that’s used by sleazy salesman to lure in unsuspecting customers with specific claims about the quality and/or price of a product. This product will then usually prove to be unavailable in order to upsell a similar, pricier item. It’s a form of retail sales fraud that can be applied to a variety of different contexts, including our online car auctions.
Understanding ‘bait and switch’ tactics
The ‘bait’ in a bait and switch either consists of an advertised physical product or service that has an attractive price or terms. Once a customer inquires about the advertised price, the advertiser will attempt to sell the customer a more expensive product (this is the ‘switch’). Fortunately, ‘bait and switch’ is classed as a form of false advertising by many countries (including the UK), and offenders may be subject to lawsuits if found guilty of this practice.
How to spot a ‘bait and switch’ scam
‘Bait and switch’ tactics can be difficult to spot, especially in the format of an online auction, but there are a few things that you can look out for that will help you to avoid getting caught in the trap. For starters, if something looks or sounds too good to be true, the chances are that it probably is. For example, if you’re seeing adverts on our site for brand new cars for sale at rock bottom prices, they’re probably misleading, and should be reported immediately. Another red flag to look out for would be a seller commenting that a product is in limited supply or out of stock. This is a warning sign that you probably won’t get what’s being offered. Moreover, confusing fine print can also be a sign that this is not an advertiser to be trusted.
A good way to avoid getting scammed by ‘bait and switch’ tactics is to privately message the seller and ask for more specific details and pictures of the product being advertised, just to make sure they actually have it. If a seller is reluctant to provide you with this information, you’re better off searching for an alternative. As a side note, we’d recommend that you get an offer of the deal in writing so that you can prove that you were under the impression you were receiving a certain thing.
If you suspect ‘bait and switch’ tactics when browsing through any of our online vehicle auctions, don’t hesitate to get in contact with us via phone on: 01226 770255, or Email us at: [email protected] and we’ll be sure to investigate. Although RAW2K Ltd cannot monitor all the vehicles posted to our website, we reserve the right (but assume no obligation) to delete, move or edit any auctions or other postings that come to our attention that we consider unacceptable or inappropriate, whether for legal or other reasons.
