Selling cars on eBay

[MikeD]

Hey all. I'm putting my tow vehicle up for sale and going through the process of getting the information out there. I've been too impressed with eBay. But you can't really not consider it when selling anything. If I get screwed on a $20 DVD, I'll live. But if I put up a $20K+ vehicle and get screwed, I am just that -- screwed. So I'd like to get an idea of what your experience has been selling on eBay. Specifically selling vehicles on eBay. Good? Bad? Would you recommend it?

Also, as a side note. This is the second time I've tried to use the PCASDR Classified application to list an ad and found that it just does not work. Is that just me, or have others had the same problem?

[kurquhart]

Also, as a side note. This is the second time I've tried to use the PCASDR Classified application to list an ad and found that it just does not work. Is that just me, or have others had the same problem?

Which browser are you using? I was having trouble with Firefox, but IE works fine.

[MikeD]

Also, as a side note. This is the second time I've tried to use the PCASDR Classified application to list an ad and found that it just does not work. Is that just me, or have others had the same problem?

Which browser are you using? I was having trouble with Firefox, but IE works fine.

Thanks for the reply.

I use Safari mostly. Sometimes Firefox. They don't make an IE for my OS, wouldn't use it if they did. I would expect something as import to our region as the Classifieds to work in all browsers.

[Zulu993]

I've bought two cars and sold four on eBay. You just have to know what the market will bare -I've never been disappointed with the results. Right now I wouldn't be that optimistic that a car would sell within the 5-7 day window. A race car / Porsche is the last thing a person is buying right now. You may want to try Pelican / Excellence as well.
Good Luck.

[MikeD]

I've bought two cars and sold four on eBay. You just have to know what the market will bare -I've never been disappointed with the results. Right now I wouldn't be that optimistic that a car would sell within the 5-7 day window. A race car / Porsche is the last thing a person is buying right now. You may want to try Pelican / Excellence as well.
Good Luck.

Thanks for the info Zulu. I'm actually selling my tow vehicle. I'll live in the Porsche before I sell that . I had been a little nervous about listing the truck, paying the listing fees, and then not getting any bites. But it looks like they only charge the listing fee when/if someone bids more than the reserve. Did you usually use a reserve, or did you get the price you wanted even without a reserve?

[Ted Myrus]

I have had good results with eBay. My recommendation is to describe the vehicle in detail. Submit lots of photographs (they only cost a little) and potential buyers appreciate seeing all aspects of the vehicle. Be realistic with the price. Set a "Buy it Now" price. That will indicate about how much you are looking to get. Set a reserve price that is lower then the "Buy it Now" price. Use a Paypal deposit. Accept only cash or a Bank check. Good luck.

[Pete Millikin]

Mike - Consider Craig's list for a fast local sale. You can also market to a wider area like Orange County, San Bernadino or Riverside very easily. I just sold a car on Craig's list and was surpised how much traffic the ad generated. I had 3 local buyers lined up and the first one bought the car. This was my tow vehicle (8 cyl Expedition) so its not like it was high demand car. Good luck

[MikeD]

Thanks for the advice Ted, good input.

Pete, I put it on Craigslist. Since it's essentially free I'd see what happens there for a few days before going to eBay. Already received one inquiry, so I'm hopeful. I have the price lower than most for a truck that's worth more than most. So we'll see.

[galis]

...Use a Paypal deposit. Accept only cash or a Bank check. Good luck.

I've heard of cashiers checks being counterfeited. If your bank clears the funds then finds out it's a fake check, they will take the funds back! I suppose you can call the issuing bank to verify a check, but I wouldn't trust the phone on the check! Be careful ...wouldn't hurt to have a contract and verify ID too.

As for ebay, I've never sold anything more than a few $100 but it's clear to me the (presumed innocent) rules favor buyers over sellers.

[ttweed]

I had been a little nervous about listing the truck, paying the listing fees, and then not getting any bites. But it looks like they only charge the listing fee when/if someone bids more than the reserve.

Mike-
I have bought cars off eBay, but never sold one there. If you do go that route, be careful of how you list it. They have changed the way they charge Vehicle listing fees compared to how the insertion fee works for other stuff. Their current policy is:
"The Successful Listing Fee is charged when you receive your first bid on a listing without a reserve price or when your reserve price is met." I would only list a car with a reserve price or an initial bid price of at least the minimum you want to get out of the car (plus the $125 listing fee). If you do not have a reserve, and you start the bidding too low and it never advances, you could end up being bound to sell the car for less than you want as well as having to pay them $125 for the privilege. Then there is always the problem of "deadbeat buyers," who bid and never close the deal.

If Craigslist doesn't work out for you, I would consider putting it up as a "Motors Local Classified Ad" format on eBay, which is free for your first 6 listings per year. It will only be available to buyers within 100 miles of your zip code, but unless you have a specialty or collector vehicle which is worth shipping to a remote buyer, the large geographical reach which is eBay's strong point is relatively useless.

Good luck on your sale,
TT

[Jad]

On a rather standard vehicle like a truck, I have had good luck with the old fashioned Autotrader. Cheap, local and fewer anonymous internet problems. Really, the $50-100 advertising fee will more than be recovered from a good buyer, so I wouldn't cheap out too much on the upfront penny's forgetting about the real money of the sale. I have also sold a couple of vehicle with the for sale sign in the window. People feel more comfortable buying that way for some reason?

[MikeD]

Thanks for the info guys. It actually is a specialized vehicle. You don't see very many non-commercial F-450's for sale. Of course in this market I'm likely going to have to sell it at F-350 prices, which blows. But I don't see the prices going back up any time soon.

Anyway, thanks again for the tips. I'm getting some pretty decent responses from my Craigslist ad. So I may not even need to use eBay.

[Brad Roberts]

Hi Mike!

Post links to ads when you get them listed. I may want a new truck soon. Was looking at 350's to pull a multi car trailer.



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