Problems selling privately

Problems selling privately

Author
Discussion

aussieal

Original Poster:

479 posts

161 months

Tuesday 5th May 2015
quotequote all
Morning all

I’m in the process of trying to sell Mrs Aussieal’s 2010 Mini Cooper Graphite.

Had it on Autotrader for 3 weeks and didn’t receive a single call. Checked the contact numbers were correct, kept myself in the loop with asking prices and reduced it a couple of times but still nothing.

It’s a low mileage car, nicely spec’d and in really good condition. Am now having to go down the route of the car buying companies.

Recognise it’s a buyer’s market with the volume of cars available and that they are a very personal choice with so many alternatives available.

Just interested to see if anyone else has experienced similar problems when trying to sell their mini privately, and any solutions you came up with other than slashing the price way below current asking prices.

Cheers

Alex

mike9009

7,005 posts

243 months

Tuesday 5th May 2015
quotequote all
A few years ago I had particular trouble selling a Cooper S. It was 'keenly' priced, low mileage, excellent condition, everything good.

Eventually I sold it to the MINI dealer I bought it from.

I will be very sexist now - but I think MINIs are generally bought by women and I think most MINI buyers like to have the back-up of a dealer or at least a garage. I think this is why MINIs are particularly difficult to sell privately unless your price is very keen!

However, they still depreciate less than other models....

Just my thoughts!


Mike

aussieal

Original Poster:

479 posts

161 months

Tuesday 5th May 2015
quotequote all
Interesting, similar conclusion to what I've come to.

Will see where I get to with the dealers I've asked to value it. WBAC tried to play hard ball so I walked away - mainly because of the guy's attitude rather than the price (although it was low).

alisayyah

19 posts

218 months

Tuesday 5th May 2015
quotequote all
aussieal said:
Morning all

I’m in the process of trying to sell Mrs Aussieal’s 2010 Mini Cooper Graphite.

Had it on Autotrader for 3 weeks and didn’t receive a single call. Checked the contact numbers were correct, kept myself in the loop with asking prices and reduced it a couple of times but still nothing.

It’s a low mileage car, nicely spec’d and in really good condition. Am now having to go down the route of the car buying companies.

Recognise it’s a buyer’s market with the volume of cars available and that they are a very personal choice with so many alternatives available.

Just interested to see if anyone else has experienced similar problems when trying to sell their mini privately, and any solutions you came up with other than slashing the price way below current asking prices.

Cheers

Alex
What mileage / price have you got it up for?

aussieal

Original Poster:

479 posts

161 months

Tuesday 5th May 2015
quotequote all
It's done 36k miles and had it up for £7375 which seemed about right.

limpsfield

5,884 posts

253 months

Tuesday 5th May 2015
quotequote all
It seems a fair price, although there are about 5 for less than than 7k - but £7375 does not seem ridiculous.

I would suggest try eBay. Put a reserve on (£7k?) start the bidding at £1 and see where it finishes. I have bought and sold 2 cars on EBay and all four transactions went smoothly. You may end up with a better price than webuyanycar etc. On the last one I sold I got their price +£400 for a ten year old shogun to a local buyer.

Tron1

120 posts

183 months

Tuesday 5th May 2015
quotequote all
+1 for eBay. Had my 2006 checkmate cooper s up for sale last year. 6 weeks on Autotrader and like yourself not a single call, not even from the usual "best price" merchants. Put it up for 1 week on eBay and sold straight away! Never using Autotrader again

Mcbeth

225 posts

135 months

Tuesday 5th May 2015
quotequote all
Nice photos are a must. Have you made an effort to make it look nice? I'm my experience, great photos sell the car.
Also a to-the-point friendly description helps too.

AOK

2,297 posts

166 months

Wednesday 6th May 2015
quotequote all
I've helped countless friends/family sell cars privately over the years and without fail the only car(s) I can't shift are MINIs.

There are so many out there that you really have to make sure yours is THE cheapest one out there for the phone to even ring.

Mike Holmes

188 posts

185 months

Friday 8th May 2015
quotequote all
I have just bought a mini and I had a choice of hundreds , that's the problem without doubt so many about ,

I had a 2006 ford Fiesta which I couldn't sell to so I sold it to a dealer for £500 I owner from new in Red just to get rid


eatcustard

1,003 posts

127 months

Friday 8th May 2015
quotequote all
I sold my last S on ebay in 3 hours, a trader chap rung up offered me £300 less than what I had it up on (£3800), I said yes he came gave me cash, job done.

So try selling it on ebay, its cheaper and gets more viewers, also try gumtree etc.

Price it to sell, and make sure you give a good description and offer plenty of pics.

CarsOrBikes

1,135 posts

184 months

Monday 18th May 2015
quotequote all
Gumtree can work, don't forget people will look for cars within the tlc plan more, and dealers will give a warranty, so make it cheaper than those for sure. Mini buyers look for spec too. Pistonheads too?