cjj
Part of things
Posts: 275
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As per the title really. I'm looking to move on my main, not-hugely-retro, car soon enough (it's a Lexus RX400h, so not really the target market for this forum). Despite the fact that it's not retro, I imagine the question still remains the same. I mention this on the basis that there are a few places these days: - Members clubs (on forums and/or Facebook groups)
- Facebook Marketplace
- eBay Motors (Classified Ad)
- AutoTrader
- Gumtree/Motors.co.uk/others
The problem with selling some cars is that they become like catnip for weird people. If I mention it is for sale on a Facebook group, I will get (100% anecdotal, not made up) a variety of people who live on the African continent claiming to be interested. It's very strange. I'm reasonably nervous about the whole process because they're quite high up and of course prime for cat theft. So some of the above are free (e.g. Facebook Marketplace), but as ever the free stuff can attract some very odd characters. eBay motors appears to be around £19.99 for I think 30 days or so, but AutoTrader has gone a bit crazy since I last used it, with it now being £30 for a basic 2 week or so ad, up to £75 for a 'until-it-sells' ad. Ideally, I'd like to maximise the spend-per-effect, so I was wondering if anyone had any experience lately (e.g. if you've used any and how it went). I'm going to be putting it up for around the £4k mark, so obviously an entirely difference set of parameters to selling a sub-£800 banger (e.g. cheaper they are, the more suited to Facebook they get). AutoTrader seems to be telling me that thousands of people search for the model I'm selling, but then they would because they're trying to get me to buy an ad, aren't they Comments/Anecdotes welcome. (it may seem like a redundant post, but I find these things go through trends of effectiveness)
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Last Edit: Jul 4, 2020 10:50:14 GMT by MkX
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cjj
Part of things
Posts: 275
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To be honest the valuations fluctuate massively. I'm just being realistic. For example, I have the top-of-the-range spec, which is less common, and have maintained it myself using genuine parts (recently doing a full service). The exhausts are also not available off-the-shelf, so I had a standard-spec stainless with lifetime guarantee made and fitted for it. It also has the black interior, which tends to be desirable. This makes it hard to value as they aren't necessarily things that you can easily compare against those on the market. Some people are high on something and are asking twice what I am, others are selling what appear to be money-pits for around £600 less. It makes if difficult because I want to be realistic, but I also don't want to stick mine in the same box as the poorer examples. What tends to make me nervous about Gumtree is that is has previously been a bit of a scammer site (e.g. bots and scrapers). I would definitely prefer to not pay to sell though!
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To be honest the valuations fluctuate massively. I'm just being realistic. For example, I have the top-of-the-range spec, which is less common, and have maintained it myself using genuine parts (recently doing a full service). The exhausts are also not available off-the-shelf, so I had a standard-spec stainless with lifetime guarantee made and fitted for it. It also has the black interior, which tends to be desirable. This makes it hard to value as they aren't necessarily things that you can easily compare against those on the market. Some people are high on something and are asking twice what I am, others are selling what appear to be money-pits for around £600 less. It makes if difficult because I want to be realistic, but I also don't want to stick mine in the same box as the poorer examples. What tends to make me nervous about Gumtree is that is has previously been a bit of a scammer site (e.g. bots and scrapers). I would definitely prefer to not pay to sell though! A lot of people insert 'absolutely no agents' into their ads suggesting that touting for business is an issue. Also worth a try; do you have any local free / community magazines with car ads? If there is any charge it's likely to be low and a lot of people prefer to stay local. In the same vein, some supermarkets have free advertising boards for customers.
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Ironically my last two sales/purchases have been via FB Marketplace. I sold my 54-plate Bora on there within a day as had 3x genuine people enquire within the first 10 minutes of the advert going up. And I found my daily driver SLK on there too.
It's almost incredible that nearly everyone I know says that FB Marketplace attracts a bunch of utter weirdos and those trying to get the item for 1/4 of the price it's worth, yet the only issue I have had is when trying to sell a phone. Cars, no problem and various other stuff, all ok. Guess I am lucky as some are just idiots.
Auto Trader does attract a pretty decent audience but it's chargeable. And eBay can just do one. Whihc leaves Gumtree (which I have never used so can't offer an opinion), owners' clubs and word of mouth. The sticker in the window at the side of the road does still work mind; my neighbour has sold 2x cars in the past year like this. Does still attract the oddballs though...
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TessierAshpool
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 512
Club RR Member Number: 168
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I've listed two cars and a motorbike over the last year on FB and Gumtree.
In the end, FB generated a lot more "leads" but all the buyers ended up coming from Gumtree, not sure if that's representative of anything but the few contacts I got from Gumtree always seemed to be more serious (asked pertinent questions, actually turned up etc.).
On the downside, every time I list something on Gumtree I do get a few "yeah you've been involved in an accident" calls over the first few days, and a few automated bots that send identical messages from different names, and the odd nigerian scammer. So, Gumtree's a bit of a Wild West I feel, but does the job in the end.
If I was selling the Supra I'd definitely start with their forum/FB group though as it's quite tight-knit. Not so much for the other stuff I sold which was more run-of-the-mill.
Edit: approx. values in case you're interested were £2k car, £200 car, £1k motorbike.
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You get exactly what you pay for - hence if you want a free ad then you need to be prepared to accept that you will have compete with an element of the idiot / scamming variety - In the last 4 years I have never not sold a vehicle via 'Autotrader' within a week of the advert being published (4 vehicles) All genuine sales to genuine buyers and never troubled by a single timewaster / scammer
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OGDB
Part of things
Posts: 544
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eBay for me, which is saying something because I am tight.
I have only ever had one car which I had to put a second listing up for. Every other has sold within the first two weeks which is great. That said I have sold plenty of sub £1000 cars via gumtree with great success.
One time I had an astra van listed for sale on gum tree. I had viewings booked for well over a week and not a single person turned up. Put it on eBay at £50 more and it sold the same day. I think some people dismiss gumtree immediately due to some of the characters it attracts.
My usual rule of thumb is anything “uncommon” or over £1000 will go on eBay. Anything run of the mill and sub £1000 will go on gumtree.
Never used Facebook, let alone sold anything on it. That said I have bought off of it after a friend sent me a number. That was for my 60K JCW MCS Which was listed so cheaply it was somewhat alarming. I’ve had it now 4 years and it has been the best thing I’ve ever owned!
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I finally put the Sandrail on eBay Classified having had no success from here, a buggy site or my local classifieds. Had the usual dealers and chancers but it was sold with 3 days and I had another 3 follow ups saying "let me know if it falls through."
I know that negotiation is entertainment for some people (but not usually the seller). I said it's £4,750 - let's say it was up for 5K you said 4.5K and we settled on £4,750 - and that's what it sold for.
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cjj
Part of things
Posts: 275
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Thanks all
The thing that puts me off Facebook is apparent in my head currently. I've been clearing the garage and so have been listing things for free and for small amounts. I've been trying to give away baby stuff, and sell some tools.
I've had dozens of people say "Can I collect this evening, send your address" and then you never hear from them again. The last thing you want is for someone to waste a trip, so it's so hard to actually arrange who is in the queue etc. When selling a car, it can be a nightmare - especially when people ask for you to be in on a friday evening or any time on a weekend (normally 2pm) as it derails any plans you had.
Generally speaking, the first person who has turned up has often bought a car I've been selling - it's getting them to turn up that's the challenge!
I might try Gumtree first call, then Autotrader if it hasn't sold in a week or so.
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time
Part of things
Posts: 152
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I sold my old Jeep Cherokee on Facebook First person messaged me and turned up at the time he said he would and we agreed a price we were happy with and that was that. I advertised my merc ml 270 on Facebook and had address collectors and “ exxpurrrrt Mekaniks“ Messaging me constantly with silly offers and stupid questions and general abuse, maybe the type of car attracts certain people.
In the end I stuck the ml270 on gumtree and it sold the next day, an old guy turned up pressed the asking price in cash into my hand declined a test drive and said “can we sort the paperwork out quick cause I’m meeting a friend ” the deal was literally done within 10mins
I Do buy car stuff all the time off Facebook, most of the time you can tell the honest people from the timewasters
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As per the title really. I'm looking to move on my main, not-hugely-retro, car soon enough (it's a Lexus RX400h, so not really the target market for this forum). How much is it? My OH still wants another Lexus after our RX300 destroyed it's gearbox....
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cjj
Part of things
Posts: 275
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As per the title really. I'm looking to move on my main, not-hugely-retro, car soon enough (it's a Lexus RX400h, so not really the target market for this forum). How much is it? My OH still wants another Lexus after our RX300 destroyed it's gearbox.... To be honest I'd be aiming to get around £3800, but I'm vaguely away that I'm selling too cheap. I would plan to put it on for a shade under £4k and see from there, as anything near that seems to have something wrong with it, whereas mine doesn't. I love buying cars, hate selling them (mixture of one or two bad experiences of very odd people and vaguely clinical anxiety) so hate the whole concept of it. I'm surprised people buy the 300. The 400h will average 30+ mpg quite easily, but in one of the clubs I'm in the 300 owners talk about <20mpg as if that's normal and fine.
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My best selling place by a mile has been car and classic website Obviously not the place for modern cars But I’ve sold a good few cars on there to decent people And no complete morons like eBay seems to attract these days
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Last Edit: Jul 4, 2020 22:17:55 GMT by Mercdan68
Fraud owners club member 2003 W211 Mercedes E class 1989 Sierra sapphire 1998 ex bt fiesta van
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How much is it? My OH still wants another Lexus after our RX300 destroyed it's gearbox.... To be honest I'd be aiming to get around £3800, but I'm vaguely away that I'm selling too cheap. I would plan to put it on for a shade under £4k and see from there, as anything near that seems to have something wrong with it, whereas mine doesn't. I love buying cars, hate selling them (mixture of one or two bad experiences of very odd people and vaguely clinical anxiety) so hate the whole concept of it. I'm surprised people buy the 300. The 400h will average 30+ mpg quite easily, but in one of the clubs I'm in the 300 owners talk about <20mpg as if that's normal and fine. Thanks - Probably a bit dear for us at the moment. Our old RX300 was LPG converted like the rest of the fleet, used to manage around 18/19mpg towing on a run so price equivalent to maybe 30-35 mpg.
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cjj
Part of things
Posts: 275
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My best selling place by a mile has been car and classic website Obviously not the place for modern cars But I’ve sold a good few cars on there to decent people And no complete morons like eBay seems to attract these days I wish it was only eBay! As mentioned, I just cannot fathom how people socially interact these days. I had a few before, trying to sell some tools. Maybe one of them is on here (don't really care, tbh) but it was as if I wasn't really a person: Person 1:Them: Hi, is this still available? Me: Yes Them: Can I collect this evening? What's your address. Me: (gives them my address).Didn't hear off them all evening. In the mean time, a billion others message me including the below. Person 2:Them: Hi, is this still available? Me: Yes, but someone else has asked for them. They haven't collected yet.(after first person just doesn't show up) Me: Would you want to collect today? Them: It'd be tomorrow, around 2pm (insert verbose reason here)The next day, around 1pm Them: Have I bought these or what? Me: I was holding them for you, but they of course aren't sold until someone collects.Didn't hear off them again. So I held what I was selling for 2 days straight and neither thought to tell me they weren't coming etc.
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My best selling place by a mile has been car and classic website Obviously not the place for modern cars Not wishing to be pedantic Dan but it is CAR AND Classic and there's a 'Modern Cars' category. OK, like you I principally mentally associate it with classic cars as that's all I'm looking at but it wouldn't hurt to try an ad on there at the same time.
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Last Edit: Jul 4, 2020 22:56:34 GMT by MkX
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shin2chin
Part of things
Making curse word cars slightly better
Posts: 820
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Recently sold my Mk2 Golf and purchased my Beetle on Facebook. I like that it's free and that you can post to marque specific pages too. Yes you get the odd messer but I think that would be the case if it was on Ebay or Auto trader etc. I've sold and bought on Gumtree too but it doesn't seem that popular anymore for some reason.
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1977 PORSCHE 2.0na 924 1974 VW Beetle 1600
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Phil H
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,448
Club RR Member Number: 133
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At least with FB you don’t get non-paying bidders...
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cjj
Part of things
Posts: 275
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At least with FB you don’t get non-paying bidders... You do, sort of, as mentioned. People who say "I really want it, can I come get it on Friday" (thus blocking a sale to others, potentially) and then it turns out it's Friday 30 February that they plan to arrive on I think the problem with Facebook is that it tends to draw in people who aren't specifically looking for what you're selling. That can be good, but it also can be bad as it's just like Twitter - people can do whatever the heck they want without consequences, such as messing you about or sending messages, commenting on a post (if you post to a group) and so on. The amount of dreamers on there is insane. I never understood the old AutoTrader magazine "no dreamers" phrase until I went to sell a Porsche and I had all shapes and sizes of deluded middle-aged men ringing up, asking detailed and specific questions, then pulling out prior to viewing for daft reasons like "I realised I don't have a drive/garage/money/license". One guy haggled on price then asked if it would fit in his garage, which had a 12" kerb in front of it. As mentioned, I think up to a certain price a car is a white good and so is perfect for Facebook clientele who post things like "wats about for 300 cash today", but otherwise you end up with jokers who send messages like "£900 cash and I'll come now" on a £3k+ car.
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