Topic ID 5380
I'm looking to sell my car and am wondering what people's experiences of selling locally are. Namely: is it worth advertising in the Mercury? I looked in last week's issue and there doesn't appear to be a whole lot in there. Also, are any of Hertford's garages known for giving decent prices for used cars?
Reply ID 75414
My experience of the Mercury, albeit some years ago was that it was a waste of time and only generated calls from Autotrader reps etc. trying to tap me up for an advert in their own publication. The last car I sold was via eBay which was much more successful. I doubt if a local garage would give you a great price if there was not a sale of another vehicle on the back of it.
Reply ID 75415
Thanks - suspicions about the Mercury confirmed, then! Local garage was always going to be a last resort - it's already listed online on a few sites.
Reply ID 75416
As with most things the answer is it depends. It depends on the value of the car and it depends on how much time, effort and money you want to put in to the sale. It also depends on whether the priority is just getting rid or maximising the return. If you want to get rid, with minimal effort and expense take it to a dealer. You'll get the best price from a dealer who will sell the car from his own forecourt. So look at his stock if it's similar to what you're selling, he's your man. Even still, don't expect a high price, you've done nothing to warrant it. To get a higher price you've got to cut out the middle man sell privately and add some value. You've got to spend time effort and money to get the car in good condition, make it clean and advertise to the widest audience reasonably possible. Forget about the Mercury, too few people look there nowadays. Place an on line ad with Autotrader or ebay. If it's an old banger then put it in an ebay auction. There are additional risks to consider ranging from accepting payment by fake cheques and cash, insurance for the test drive to the risk of the car being stolen on the test drive. You may well achieve a higher price this way but you will have earned it, just like a dealer will have to earn the mark up on his forecourt. Hope this helps.
Reply ID 75417
If I was selling a car I would go first to Ebay. In recent years I have had to sell two cars. The first was after I bought a new car and I spent eleven months trying various means to sell the old car. Whatever you do, do not use Autotrader unless you want to be constantly badgered by scams trying to get you pay them to link you with buyers. Some of those who phoned me got very aggressive. Eventually someone recommended Ebay. I could see the value of similar cars on Ebay so got an idea of what to price mine at. Then I set a reserve. Unfortunately the reserve wasn't met but within a day I had several emails from people who had watched the auction and asked what my minimum would be. In the end I had a choice of buyers and only had to chop 4% off the asking price. The second was for a neighbour who had emigrated and needed me to sell their car. They had a decent Audi S and had been recommended to go to Roman Cars in St Albans. The guy there offered me £5k, which was a joke and I knew it. So, straight on to Ebay and I set a 'buy it now' figure of £7,500. 2 days before the auction was due to end I got the £7,500 and sold it to another dealer, a really decent bloke too. So.........I could only ever recommend Ebay.
Reply ID 75421
I am wary of eBay for many many reasons, not saying it is all bad but I have heard some stories about ebay with time wasting and other such hassles. However I like Autotrader and another popular one is pistonheads. You can still get timewasters at these sites too though. I hate selling my car. One other option, depending on the type of car and condition, is on to any owners clubs websites. Of course, as a last resort there is always "we buy any car . com". [:D]
Reply ID 75423
quote:Autotrader is a farce. I was inundated with people calling me saying they were from companies with names like 'Autolink' saying that they had several customers signed up to them who were looking for a car "just like mine". All I needed to do was regitser with them for £100 and they would pass my details on to them. What nonsense. I asked the rather logical question, "Why don't your customers read Autotrader and contact the car owners directly?". Basically it is a scam and several of these companies have been closed down and the owners prosecuted. I wouldn't go any where near Autotrader again and would rfecommend that nobody else does either.
Originally posted by Kateg28
I am wary of eBay for many many reasons, not saying it is all bad but I have heard some stories about ebay with time wasting and other such hassles. However I like Autotrader and another popular one is pistonheads. You can still get timewasters at these sites too though. I hate selling my car. One other option, depending on the type of car and condition, is on to any owners clubs websites. Of course, as a last resort there is always "we buy any car . com". [:D]
Reply ID 75427
I wouldn't go any where near Autotrader again and would rfecommend that nobody else does either. I don't follow your logic here, Ewoowar. The responses were from companies not associated with Autotrader, just from companies that contacted you through the ad. I agree with you that these companies are little more than scamsters and to be ignored, but their contacting you is no reason to not recommend Autotrader. If you are implying that the only response you received from the ad was from these types, then it's more likely that the ad wording and or the asking price needed rethinking. FWIW I've used Autotrader many times and always had a good response.
Reply ID 75429
quote:Hmmmm..........it was quite simple. Eleven months on and off advertising with Autotrader with nothing but contact from rip off scumbags promising to match my car with buyers on their books. Then EXACTLY THE SAME WORDING on Ebay and sold within days without a call from a thieving rip off scumbag. EXACTLY the same wording. Ebay was recommended to me by others who had similar experiences with Autotrader. So I am not alone. One of those scumbags rang me time and time again even after I told him I knew it was a rip off. I said I would happily give him the £95 registration fee AFTER he had matched my car to one of his many buyers. That is simply logical, an honest transaction with him as the broker. But no, he wouldn't have it. So I ended the conversation. He then rang up and gave me a mouthful of expletives. SO I did a nominet check on their cr@ppy little web site and found the postal address of the person who had registered it. When Mr Scumbag phone yet again the following day I quoted the name of the person who had registered the site and asked him if he knew them. Cue embarassed silence for a few seconds before saying that he didn't. He never called me again. Probably the sham of hiding behind an 0871 telephone number and being invisible to the honest people they rip off had been taken from him. I'm sure there must be scams on Ebay too but I reiterate that I personally have had a dreadful expericne with Autotrader and two very satisfactory experiences with Ebay. I WILL NEVER, EVER USE AUTOTRADER AGAIN. EVER. AND I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND THEM TO ANYONE UNLESS YOU WANT TO GET INUNDATED WITH PHONE CALLS FROM THIEVING SCUMBAGS.
Originally posted by Enoughofthat
I wouldn't go any where near Autotrader again and would rfecommend that nobody else does either. I don't follow your logic here, Ewoowar. The responses were from companies not associated with Autotrader, just from companies that contacted you through the ad. I agree with you that these companies are little more than scamsters and to be ignored, but their contacting you is no reason to not recommend Autotrader. If you are implying that the only response you received from the ad was from these types, then it's more likely that the ad wording and or the asking price needed rethinking. FWIW I've used Autotrader many times and always had a good response.
Reply ID 75437
I've sold 20 or so vehicles on ebay and there is a winning formula. First have the car valetted. Pick a bright day and a good camera and get at least 4-6 good shots of the exterior from every angle so that every panel can be seen by the buyer. Open the bonnet and photograph your freshly cleaned engine bay. Then the boot. Photogragh the inside to show back and base of both front seats, then forward to show the dash and carpets. Repeat for the back. Write a really detailed description, not a few words, and include any details such as MOT, service records, tyre make/size/condition and whether the tax disc is included or extra. Give a reason for sale (unless it's because it's a heap of junk). Make clear that the winning bidder will be expected to pay the winning value, without haggling. Finally list with your best photos to include all of the above in large format. Make your starting price what you'd be dissapointed to accept, but just about would. DO NOT PUT A RESERVE ON IT or forbid paypal. Though you'll pay a hefty commission on paypal, excluding it will cut your bids by about 30%, as will placing a reserve. The extra bids cover the cost ten fold. Having said all that, nothing is certain in an auction. These are just my experiences.
Reply ID 75439
I have sold 3 cars on Autotrader over the last 3 years - all went very smoothly and had only one call from another website/dealer. I have no issues in recommending it. Pistonheads also is excellent and its free - its an enthusiasts website so better for performance or rarer cars. Never used EBAY but for some reason I aassociate old bangers with it !
Reply ID 75441
quote:Yep, you're right. Dreadful old banger, this one. [:D] http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ROLLS-ROYCE-20-25-OPEN-TOURER-1932-/260626999400?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3cae946868
Originally posted by Frenchie
I have sold 3 cars on Autotrader over the last 3 years - all went very smoothly and had only one call from another website/dealer. I have no issues in recommending it. Pistonheads also is excellent and its free - its an enthusiasts website so better for performance or rarer cars. Never used EBAY but for some reason I aassociate old bangers with it !
Reply ID 75446
Ebay works. You need to be organised like Shunt, and be aware that there are scumbags in the world, but it does work. Friend of mine had months of nothing from Autotrader.
Reply ID 75449
quote:What type of car were you selling? If you are also using Pistonheads am I right in assuming that it was, as you say, a more specialist car? I think the thieving scumbags that try to pick the flesh off honest/naive sellers on autotrader have been taught that sellers of more specialist cars are perhaps a bit more savvy and less likely to being ripped off. I think these thieving bar stewards concentrate their efforts on those with the more common vehicles who are less likely to be aware of their scam.
Originally posted by Frenchie
I have sold 3 cars on Autotrader over the last 3 years - all went very smoothly and had only one call from another website/dealer. I have no issues in recommending it. Pistonheads also is excellent and its free - its an enthusiasts website so better for performance or rarer cars. Never used EBAY but for some reason I aassociate old bangers with it !
Reply ID 75450
OK Ewoowar, enough of this fence sitting, what do you really think of Autotrader?
Reply ID 75461
Billy, What kind of car are selling? Make, model,colour, mileage,age etc Someone on this forum might be interested ! And the price of course
Reply ID 75462
Sorry Billy, should have been Joby !
Reply ID 75463
quote:Deliberately didn't say in order to avoid falling foul of forum rules [;)] Thanks for the advice all - eBay it is, then (and apologies to everyone else for the non-Hertfordness of this whole thread).
Originally posted by tiger.1000
Sorry Billy, should have been Joby !
Reply ID 75538
ebays cheaper than autotrader and you'll generally get the same amount of genuine interest and none of the constant scam calls you get with an autotrader ad. no brainer