Trying to Sell a Car

[keithaba]

I have had like 30 replies that are obvious scams. The usual, oh I will buy it with a money order, and will send someone to pick it up, what's your name, address, and bank account number. Don't forget the usual Nigerian e-mail. Here's a little gem:

"hello,

i saw your car advertise on the internet while i was browsing which im so much have

interested in buying it when you are replying back you are to tell the last price

urgent reply.."

Hmmmm........ Yeah, I'll jump right on that!

You can't even post it in the newspaper, because 90% of the adds are for dealers, and you can't even find the private sellers amonst the mass of adds.

Gawd, what happened to the old days? Remember when Auto Trader was only for private sellers?

 

[abarron576]

In this area, Craigslist has gotten to be about useless due to scammers and dealers. I guess it's gotten to be a universal problem in all the states. I really like the scam that goes "I am working in England, but. . ."

Have fun!

:angry:

 

[XHD4FJR]

The last two cars I've sold I let the dealer take in trade just to avoid dealing with all the asshats that answer the internet/ classifieds. Between no shows and fools who think I'm a bank and should somehow finance their purchase its not worth the hassle. I've had my 79 FLH sold three times since March with promises of cash and pickup and I'm still waiting!

 

[Checkswrecks]

Bought 2 cars and sold one recently on Craigslist. In selling, the spammers are clearly obvious, so I usually just hit the delete button. I did let one know that I was looking forward to his arrival with a million dollar check and a pound of meat for my dog to allow him into the car because the dog lives in it. Hmmm, he never got back to me.

Seriously, the buyers are out there and the ad is free.

Bob

 

[FlyingLow]

Sheesh. I've never had a problem selling cars or bikes using AutoTrader/ CycleTrader. Maybe it's because I don't give an email address so they have to call.

This is not to say that a few yahoos don't call, but putting up with them is part of the cost of doing business.

The Trader mags out here distinguish between private parties and dealers in their ads.

 

[ponyfool]

I've bought and sold 4 vehicles in the last 3 years successfully through Craigslist, although the most recent was a year ago. The trick, as Flying Low said is to not give an email address, only a phone number.

 

[Bob Hughes]

Put a sign in the window with the price, your phone number and anything and everything that does not work. I walked out of Walmart once with a buyer waiting for me. It felt good.

 

[keithaba]

I've bought and sold 4 vehicles in the last 3 years successfully through Craigslist, although the most recent was a year ago. The trick, as Flying Low said is to not give an email address, only a phone number.

That's a good point!

 

[Scab]

Just burn the car and collect the insurance.

I know some people that work for a flat fee.

 

[feejer222]

I have had like 30 replies that are obvious scams. The usual, oh I will buy it with a money order, and will send someone to pick it up, what's your name, address, and bank account number. Don't forget the usual Nigerian e-mail. Here's a little gem:
"hello,

i saw your car advertise on the internet while i was browsing which im so much have

interested in buying it when you are replying back you are to tell the last price

urgent reply.."

Hmmmm........ Yeah, I'll jump right on that!

You get that guy over there too?!

 

[krashdragon]

I have had like 30 replies that are obvious scams. The usual, oh I will buy it with a money order, and will send someone to pick it up, what's your name, address, and bank account number. Don't forget the usual Nigerian e-mail. Here's a little gem:
"hello,

i saw your car advertise on the internet while i was browsing which im so much have

interested in buying it when you are replying back you are to tell the last price

urgent reply.."

Hmmmm........ Yeah, I'll jump right on that!

You can't even post it in the newspaper, because 90% of the adds are for dealers, and you can't even find the private sellers amonst the mass of adds.

Gawd, what happened to the old days? Remember when Auto Trader was only for private sellers?

I just sold my RV and a bike on Craig's list...

The RV was hard especially cause it's the wrong time of year.

ended up selling it for way less than I have in itm but I just needed to get rid of it.

the Bandit I sold for way less as well.... but it was a bit wrinkled here and there...

What I did was to not put a phone number or my email addy in the listing, just used the Craig's list email...

the serious buyers put their phone numbers in their emails to me.

I also put in "Cash only, scammers, dont' bother me with your emails!"

Really cheap sells...<G>

mary

 

[rcpd807]

I just sold my motorcycle using craigslist today. I had about 5 scammers email me saying that they wanted to purchase it immediately for the asking price. They lived out of the country and would send payment, plus payment to pay their transporter. As someone mentioned earlier, the scammers are very easy to spot. Be very careful in accepting money orders. There are a lot of fake ones being passed around. By the time you get to the bank to cash it, the scammer is long gone with your goods. I got payment for my bike today in money orders, but I went to the post office and watched the guy purchase the money order and went directly to my bank and deposited them.

 

[jmdaniel]

I got payment for my bike today in money orders, but I went to the post office and watched the guy purchase the money order and went directly to my bank and deposited them.

Why didn't the guy just pay you the cash he gave the post office for the money orders? :blink:

 

[Fred W]

I've sold several vehicles on Craig's List (bikes, cars, boat) and via ads on other internet advertisement posting locations. Several of them I've sold were for more money that I had into them. Here's how:

Create a little web site and get it hosted somewhere. Most ISPs offer this as part of their package. It doesn't have to be anything all that fancy, in terms of web design. Just a good textual run down on the condition, maintenance and optional extras, an asking price and your contact info with tons of good quality, flattering pictures.

In your Craig's list ad, recreate some of the web site text and the 4 little pictures and for contact info provide only the link to your web site. Spammers will usually not bother wading through the web site to get your contact info. If they do, they won't actually read any of the info so it will be clear that they are spammers when they contact you.

Here's an example of the last web site, from when I sold my boat this summer. It ain't fancy, but it was effective. I got my full asking price.

Visit My Website

 

[Jagermeister]

Have you already written off e-Bbay? There are some drawbacks (fees, obviously), but it would minimize scammers, and certainly draws potential buyers.

 

[Fred W]

Have you already written off e-Bbay? There are some drawbacks (fees, obviously), but it would minimize scammers, and certainly draws potential buyers.

Here's my experience with eBay on big ticket items. There are a lot of dreamers. A lot of bidders with no actual intention of buying the item. The seller has to pay fees to list an item and the bidders have no skin in the game other than their "feedback" rating. All they have to do is close their account and then open a new one.

Even those bidders that are genuinely interested are typically bottom fishers. Everyone wants to see if they can get a great deal. Hey, that's what happens at auctions right? Bid at the last minute. Buy sight unseen. You take a risk that the item may not be quite as nice as it sounds or looks (in the crappy pictures), and you expect to pay less.

And then there's the whole shipping thing. Serious PITA. Sure, you can state pick-up only in your auction, but that severely handicaps the auction. Those listings are the ones that sell at really low prices.

There are the auctions with a set price format. These seem the most reasonable way to go to me unless you really, really need to unload the thing. Just set a reasonably attractive set-price and it should sell.

As a buyer of a big ticket item like a motorcycle (or car), I much prefer to go and see, touch, hear the bike before I commit to laying out the moolah. I'd therefore assume any potential sale at or near the actual value, the buyer would do the same. You can do that by searching the eBay listings and sorting on distance from your zip code. Or you can just go through the Craig's List.