What has everyone had success with? Autotrader, newspaper?

1/31/2012 10:10:50 AM

What's wrong with CL?

1/31/2012 10:19:34 AM

less than $20k = Craigslist

$21k-150k = Autotrader

$151k-5000k = Auction

1/31/2012 11:17:45 AM

$500

1/31/2012 2:07:09 PM

^^^Just trying for more exposure than just CL, but on a free type budget.

1/31/2012 3:50:57 PM

Unless it's a real niche market car, CL is prob the best bet, I think.

If it's something really oddball, then forums specific to what it is or eBay are the way to go (although even then, put it on CL, too).

Autotrader is OK, but I haven't used it in years and have bought/sold a number of vehicles.

1/31/2012 4:47:24 PM

I sold my GTI on Autotrader...and got pretty much no action off of CL over 2 months besides lowballers. It's worth $20/$40 or whatever imo to get that wider exposure, and arguably higher quality buyers. Granted my GTI was a bit of a niche vehicle, but still.

2/1/2012 12:40:32 PM

I agree with mildew

^^ that's funny I usually find the best deals at forum specific sites. The members know their own cars and keep the bull to a minimum, or they get called out pretty quick. That's just my experience.

2/1/2012 5:42:34 PM

I sold my last car on a forum, and that's the only place I posted it.

I didn't want to have to worry about seeing it around everywhere locally after I'd sold it.

Guy flew over from the midwest and drove it back with his son.

2/1/2012 6:13:36 PM

^ was this your NSX?

^^^ signal:noise ratio is the biggest thing with Craigslist...you'll get a bunch of hits, but mostly a bunch of lowballers, dumbasses, non-serious buyers, and other wastes of your time.

2/1/2012 6:33:00 PM

yup

1 tire kicker

1 lowballer, i just ignored

and 2 interested parties, sold it in about a month

2/1/2012 6:50:33 PM

Also, cars on CL don't sell too well if they're priced above $3k, in my experience

unless you REALLY have to sell it quick, i'd look to sell elsewhere

2/1/2012 6:59:05 PM

Quote :

"Also, cars on CL don't sell too well if they're priced above $3k, in my experience"

I'd have to agree with this although I don't have any specific number in mind for the cutoff. I tried selling my S2000 ($16kish) and my Wrangler ($14kish) on Craigslist for a couple months before springing for an Autotrader ad. They both sold to buyers who saw them on Autotrader despite having ongoing ads on both sites.

You need a bit of a thick skin to sell stuff like this on Craigslist IMO. You can list something for $6k and receive a half a dozen offers for $5k within a week, but list the same item for $5k and you won't see an offer over $4500. There's a weird psychology to selling on Craigslist. Those people can't seem to grasp whether something is a good deal based on the listed price and looking at comps. To a certain extent they seem to gauge the quality of the deal by how much they can talk you down rather than just looking to see if they can find it cheaper elsewhere.

So, quick question for those who sell on CL...When someone asks "what's your best price" how do you answer? I have found that you simply can't tell someone your actual best price. They will take your "best price" as the new asking price and try to start their negotiations from there. I've been telling people $100 less than my asking price or asking them what they're offering when I get these types of questions, but I haven't settled on a favorite yet. More than likely, the actual answer is that you're not going to sell it to one of those types, but I'm curious to see how others respond.

2/1/2012 8:58:05 PM

Anytime i see something for sale on CL, i just assume the seller needs the money and is looking for a quick sale. This is the mentality most of the people I've encountered on there seem to have.

Now flip that to put yourself in the seller's shoes, if you're serious about selling your item and know what it's worth, I'd look elsewhere to sell. Forums, autotrader, ebay, all seem to bring in better money, in my experience.

Quote :

"So, quick question for those who sell on CL...When someone asks "what's your best price" how do you answer? I have found that you simply can't tell someone your actual best price. They will take your "best price" as the new asking price and try to start their negotiations from there. I've been telling people $100 less than my asking price or asking them what they're offering when I get these types of questions, but I haven't settled on a favorite yet. More than likely, the actual answer is that you're not going to sell it to one of those types, but I'm curious to see how others respond."

If I get those questions, I tell them that is my best price. If they show up and show real interest, I'll negotiate in person, but an email isn't gonna get me to drop my price just because you asked. Or ask them what they think it's worth?

maybe after some more time and lackluster interest at that price, I'll consider deleting and reposting at a lower price.

2/1/2012 9:59:42 PM

Quote :

"So, quick question for those who sell on CL...When someone asks "what's your best price" how do you answer? I have found that you simply can't tell someone your actual best price. They will take your "best price" as the new asking price and try to start their negotiations from there. I've been telling people $100 less than my asking price or asking them what they're offering when I get these types of questions, but I haven't settled on a favorite yet. More than likely, the actual answer is that you're not going to sell it to one of those types, but I'm curious to see how others respond."

This is fundamentally stupid negotiating--it just isn't how it works! I roll my eyes at them being a fucking moron, and then tell them to make me an offer and we'll go from there.

If I feel like being a little snippy withthem, I laugh and say "I don't know, what's YOUR best price for me.". That helps them see how dumb that tactic is.

2/1/2012 10:06:43 PM

Quote :

"If I get those questions, I tell them that is my best price. If they show up and show real interest, I'll negotiate in person, but an email isn't gonna get me to drop my price just because you asked. Or ask them what they think it's worth?"

That's probably a good policy to weed out the flippers and folks who want something for nothing. Most of those types are not willing to invest their time to come check it out in person unless they know they're getting a steal.

2/1/2012 10:07:54 PM

^^ and ^^^what are some dead give aways for people you are not even going to reply to?

[Edited on February 1, 2012 at 10:09 PM. Reason : -]

2/1/2012 10:09:15 PM

I guess I usually respond, even if I just tell them "No, you have a ways to go", unless they're just totally absurd...like I'm asking $10k, and they offer $6k or something. Come on, get the fuck outta here.

On the flipside, I'm always doing my damndest to rob someone blind who's selling something on Craigslist. I actually mostly go for ads where it's implied (or even stated) that they REALLY want to sell, and are willing to really cut deal...then I make it a point to not either play them for a fool or come across as totally detached from reality. I'll say something like "Hey, I saw your ad; I know it's worth more than this and if you're patient you'll certainly get more, but if it gets to a point where you really want it gone, I'll give you ___."

I mean, I probably make a dozen or two offers for every car/bike/PWC that I buy, but eventually I connect and buy stuff for STUPID prices. You have to be on no particular timetable, have cash sitting around to make the deal, be willing to spend some time searching and possibly traveling to get it, and be willing to lowball people and get denied over and over again before you buy anything.

2/1/2012 10:57:54 PM

People who lowball severely, I'll delete their email altogether

or sometimes, i'll respond with a price even higher than I'm advertising


just do your research before you create a post to see exactly what similar items are selling for and you'll be able to weed out the jackasses pretty quick

you'll also be able to recognize a screaming deal when it presents itself

2/1/2012 10:58:44 PM

Yeah I'm asking $7650 for my car, and had a few calls. Right off the bat people were like " whats your bottom dollar?". One guy was like will you take $6000?

Where the hell do people get off? I mean an offer of $7000 wouldnt be so bad, but $6000?

2/2/2012 8:03:05 AM

while i totally agree with those complaining about the lowballers...and i am NOT one of those guys...i do understand their tactic

i mean, they don't know you...maybe you're desperate for the cash and you'd rather have less than the item's value NOW than wait and only POSSIBLY get your asking price...it takes very little effort to send an email and then they can go from your response (or lack thereof)

2/2/2012 8:39:13 AM

^^ I wouldn't even put your number out there. Just let the idiots email you so you're not wasting your time.

2/2/2012 9:24:25 AM

^

2/2/2012 10:27:13 AM