A man bought a Mercedes with one yuan, but the seller refused to deliver it
On October 20th, an unusual incident unfolded in Hunan, China, where a man named Mr. Zhang managed to secure a deal for an original imported Mercedes for just one yuan, the lowest possible bid at an auction. However, instead of receiving his new car, he was informed by the auction house that they would only compensate him 5% of the winning price - in this case, five cents - and not deliver the vehicle as promised.
21 October 2023
The reason for this unexpected turn of events was attributed to a bidding qualification requirement rather than an actual flaw in the commodity itself. The auction house staff explained that Mr. Zhang had successfully bid on the Mercedes but failed to meet certain qualifications set by the seller, hence the cancellation of the contract.
Weibo users reacted swiftly and passionately to this unusual situation, expressing a mix of shock, amusement, and frustration at the seemingly absurd compensation offered by the auction house. One user shared their skepticism, stating, "Five cents are not worth even a Rolls-Royce five yuan discount voucher." Another user criticized the seller's tactics, saying, "This merchant seems unable to play by the rules and is deliberately playing tricks on customers."
Others voiced their disappointment and disbelief at the turn of events. One Weibo user questioned if it was a joke, stating, "Hahaha, I thought to compensate for the original price of the car by 5%, but I didn't expect to be compensated by 5% of one yuan. The merchant is a talent and can't play it." Another user sarcastically suggested giving him a toy car instead of compensation, saying, "It would be better to give him a toy car than compensation for RMB five cents more reliable."
Some Weibo users were also left wondering if this was an isolated incident or a common practice among sellers. One user asked the community, "Was it really true that a top-tier celebrity's career and four years of income added up to only one dollar?", suggesting a possible comparison between the value of Mr. Zhang's bid and the worth of an entire celebrity's career.
Despite some users finding humor in the situation, others emphasized that it was simply not worth bidding if you can't afford the minimum requirements. One user shared their advice, stating, "Don't play if you can't afford it." Another user seconded this sentiment, saying, "Refusal of delivery, auction company compensates 5 cents, staff explains: 'Auction qualification bidding'. Ask weakly whether there is an explicit announcement before the auction?"
The peculiar incident highlights the importance of understanding the terms and conditions of online auctions and the potential risks involved. It also serves as a reminder to be mindful of one's financial capabilities when participating in such activities, lest one end up losing more than what they intended. In conclusion, this humorous yet cautionary tale of Mr. Zhang and his Mercedes serves as a timely reminder for all internet bidders to think twice before placing their bets.
