The buyer on BAT (pmuzi) is basically the internet sales manager at Hilton Head (SC) Lexus, a guy named Phillip Muzi...here's a link:
Meet Our Staff - Hilton Head Lexus

If you look at his bid/comment history on BAT, he bids exclusively on Lexus SC's and LC's. If they paid $128K for the car, it just means they already have a buyer ready to roll at their Lexus Dealer (probably someone who missed out on their allocation and is willing to pay the price for a new one). I agree, the real winner is BAT...

 

interesting, so it may reach $150K.

 

We will probably know it when it gets listed on their web site, if at all it gets listed.
Interesting to know, that dealers are also fighting to secure a car in BAT alongside individuals.. no wonder price goes up so high at times.

 

Makes sense, kind of sets a floor to the market price. It's not just LCs that dealers seem to be scrambling to get their hands on - I recently bought a 2023 NX 350 and took it to my local dealer to sort some minor niggles and check it over. Then someone at the dealer called and asked if they could buy it off us, as it's such a nice clean example! Mind you, if they'd offered $120k for that...

 

SOLD to you guessed it PMUZI -- https://bringatrailer.com/listing/20...n=Model_Update

 

Final sale price $122K + 5% sales commission to BAT (paid by buyer) = $128,100. It was bought by Hilton Head (SC) Lexus internet sales mgr (Phillip Muzi) who owns the 'PMUZI' ID on BAT. Interesting to see if it gets listed for sale there or whether it will be sold directly to a local buyer (someone who might have missed out on getting one before production ends).

 

Wow. It actually sold for more than I thought it would.

The specs aren't really our taste, but I'm sure they are somebody's.

That PMUZI guy -- yeah, I noticed his name quite a bit and also had gone thru his history as we're always checking to see what's out there.

Did you know a buyer can back out if they won a bid?! I just found that out the other day on an SC430.

I don't know what one has to do to be able to back out, or if there's any compensation to the seller for the inconvenience of the sale falling thru and having to still sell their vehicle.

That's quite disappointing and there's nothing a seller can do about it. It has to be either there was something not disclosed / omitted to give reason for the buyer to back out.

I'm sure there's rules in place to protect both buyer and seller.

 

My understanding is that if a winning bidder (buyer) backs out once the deal is closed, they are banned from bidding on BAT for a specified period of time. Also, if the winning bidder is unable to complete the deal (due to finances), they are still charged the buyer's fee (5% of the sales price or a max of $6.5K). Of course, sellers can elect NOT to sell their car if it doesn't meet their minimum sales price (or sometimes they can choose to connect up directly with the highest bidder and work a separate deal). I monitor BAT (and Cars & Bids) on a regular basis because I believe it is a truer indicator of actual current values. Fyi - most LC 500's on Cars & Bids with the exception of the one that just sold for $130K (Aerosmith drummer owned) seem to be about 10% -15% lower, especially for older model coupes.

 

Good. I'm glad there are rules/clauses in place to protect seller and hopefully buyer too, if they find something that wasn't disclosed. Makes it harder for one to abuse the system as well.

I'm also surprised that some choose to not set a reserve, because I've seen some go for a lot less than would've expected -- but I'm sure they have their reasons.

Appreciate all your helpful info

 

Mecum has a reserve if seller wishes..On the other hand Barrett Jackson has no reserve which scares the hell out of me as a seller..also BJ get 10% from BOTH buyer and seller last I heard. BJ making out like a bandit.

 

BTW - the LC 500 convertible sold on BAT to PMUZI is currently listed on Hilton Head Lexus' website (VIN: JTHNPAAY0TA112306 but no price yet) ...

 

I agree! Both Mecum and Barrett Jackson get fees from both parties (buyer and seller) as well as other fees like placement fees (for a specific day/time), positioning in lineup, advertising on website, etc. Dana Mecum and the BJ boys aren't multimillionaires by accident, it's a BIG (family-owned) business (as well as the BAT fellas who drive significant volumes 7x24, 365 days a year). No wonder each of them own some of the finest car collections in the world...