Selling privately - a nightmare?!

[marky999]

I'm going German I'm afraid. Needs must.
Haven't ever sold privately before but then I'd never come across Postonheads before. If I put my 06 111R on here, am I likely to get serious enquirers? Is it a fairly discerning audience?! Any tips?

I'm currently lined up to trade in the Lotus.
Thanks

[SpeedYellow]

Get ready for more time wasters than you could ever imagine.... sadly seems to be the joys of private sale.... I can now see how dealers work for their money.... :-(

But Pistonheads has always been the best way to sell, far less time wasters than trader!

[marky999]

cheers, i did wonder...i might just part ex it!

SpeedYellow said:

Get ready for more time wasters than you could ever imagine.... sadly seems to be the joys of private sale.... I can now see how dealers work for their money.... :-(

But Pistonheads has always been the best way to sell, far less time wasters than trader!

[Janitor]

Depends mate. Put in a bit effort and who knows..?

I did a PH ad linked to a webpage I put together - www.sportsracer.orangehome.co.uk

Second day up and it was 'sold' (I say 'sold' as it took a while to complete the sale due to external circumstances which delayed the actual sale, but on the up side, it gave me time to say goodbye)

I think it also helped a lot that the car and I had 'good history' amongst the Lotus Community and buyers gain confidence through that additional knowledge

All the best

[Tango7]

On the other hand, I have never had a problem with private sales either buying or selling. If you price it at a suitable price, everything sells quickly. If you have already got a trade in value and a date to do the deal, then why not stick it on Pistonheads etc. either at the same value or with a small increase and make it clear that you need to have the deal done before X date or it goes to the trade.

Maybe post the details on here with a price and see what feedback you get?

T

[hueandcry71]

Janitor said:

Depends mate. Put in a bit effort and who knows..?

I did a PH ad linked to a webpage I put together - www.sportsracer.orangehome.co.uk

Second day up and it was 'sold' (I say 'sold' as it took a while to complete the sale due to external circumstances which delayed the actual sale, but on the up side, it gave me time to say goodbye)

I think it also helped a lot that the car and I had 'good history' amongst the Lotus Community and buyers gain confidence through that additional knowledge

All the best

Superb webpage that fella.

[Janitor]

hueandcry71 said:

Superb webpage that fella.

Why thank you young man... it clearly worked too!

Well ok, the car was stunning and could well have sold itself, but the extra info never hurts eh?

Having said that, I just looked through the webpage again... sigh, I miss my Lotus

[Fidgits]

yeah, i have had a couple of timewasters on my current advertisment - and my 996 before that - though that sold quickly and i was impressed..

Though if you do sell privately, have some consideration to the buyers, as I had a seller screw me on saturday - let me waste the entire day and half a tank of fuel driving for 90 minutes each way - and called me 2 minutes before I was due to arrive to tell me he had just sold it to someone else (even though i'd arranged the viewing on the Tuesday, spent money on the HPI etc, and he'd called on Friday night and not mentioned he had anyone else looking - which would have been nice so i could have at least been prepared for that call and decided not to set off until he knew..)


Anyway, I could be interested in your car - depending on price and location - i'll send you a mail

[SpeedYellow]

Janitor said:

hueandcry71 said:

Superb webpage that fella.

Why thank you young man... it clearly worked too!

Well ok, the car was stunning and could well have sold itself, but the extra info never hurts eh?

Having said that, I just looked through the webpage again... sigh, I miss my Lotus

So Janitor, what commission do you work on to sell a car for someone else... looks like you offer a very professional service and are dam good at valeting!!!!

[miro]

Janitor said:

hueandcry71 said:

Superb webpage that fella.

Why thank you young man... it clearly worked too!

Well ok, the car was stunning and could well have sold itself, but the extra info never hurts eh?

Having said that, I just looked through the webpage again... sigh, I miss my Lotus

I saw your car today . the new owner said 'I Had to teach the car to use the secod cam' and that 'at least its now being driven properly'

[S Works]

The biggest hassle is with twunts from sales companies trying to 'help' you sell the car - all they do is help themselves to a few quid of your cash. Total wast of time, don't fall for it.

If you want a quick sale be honest about the car, price it to sell, don't entertain timewasters, insist on insurance proof for test drives and be willing to have a good haggle for a quick sale.

[Janitor]

SpeedYellow said:

So Janitor, what commission do you work on to sell a car for someone else... looks like you offer a very professional service and are dam good at valeting!!!!

Oh I always take great pride in anything I do Speedy!

Could certainly do the same for your very good self... would need all the info you have: when, where, what and how much and from there, I'd need it a full week to clean up nicely, take piccys and show it in its full glory!!! (man, that’s gonna be a tough week… dunno how I’m ever going to get through it )

[Janitor]

miro said:

I saw your car today . the new owner said 'I Had to teach the car to use the secod cam' and that 'at least its now being driven properly'

That Beak is one cheeky mother-father. Bloody nice car he has though

[robbieduncan]

S Works said:

The biggest hassle is with twunts from sales companies trying to 'help' you sell the car - all they do is help themselves to a few quid of your cash. Total wast of time, don't fall for it.

I'm trying to sell my MX-5 to buy an Elise. It's been advertised here and on Autotrader for a week now. Both sites now offer protection from these fraudsters. So far it's working: no calls from them.

[hueandcry71]

Janitor said:

hueandcry71 said:

Superb webpage that fella.

Why thank you young man... it clearly worked too!

Well ok, the car was stunning and could well have sold itself, but the extra info never hurts eh?

Having said that, I just looked through the webpage again... sigh, I miss my Lotus

The amount of times i chop and change cars we could make a very formidable team in the used car market !!

[jondude]

If you don't want the hassle of timewasters ( and the lack of manners may startle you if you have not experienced it before ), then consider e-bay....so long as you are willing to trade the lack of stress for a ( much ) lower price than you perhaps wanted.

Sure, you can get problems with e-bay too....but it is about 20 times less stressful.

The real gits are those who beg you not to invite others around, want you to tell them it is sold.....then don't even call to tell you they have changed their mind.

I was naive about that one, so don't be so yourself. Whoever gives that line, just say ' sorry mate, whoever turns up first with the cash gets it'.

Make that the only promise!

[marky999]

Really good feedback from you all, thank you! I'll miss this site when I'm driving something...er...German.

I'll be happy to get rid of it privately if it's hassle free, otherwise the dealer can have it and stick it on sale for an extra 3 grand!
(not sure where an email would go to...but i guess I must have put one of my addresses on pistonheads!)

Cheers for all the advice
Mark

Fidgits said:

yeah, i have had a couple of timewasters on my current advertisment - and my 996 before that - though that sold quickly and i was impressed..

Though if you do sell privately, have some consideration to the buyers, as I had a seller screw me on saturday - let me waste the entire day and half a tank of fuel driving for 90 minutes each way - and called me 2 minutes before I was due to arrive to tell me he had just sold it to someone else (even though i'd arranged the viewing on the Tuesday, spent money on the HPI etc, and he'd called on Friday night and not mentioned he had anyone else looking - which would have been nice so i could have at least been prepared for that call and decided not to set off until he knew..)


Anyway, I could be interested in your car - depending on price and location - i'll send you a mail

[marky999]

found your mail, just replied - cheers!

Fidgits said:

yeah, i have had a couple of timewasters on my current advertisment - and my 996 before that - though that sold quickly and i was impressed..

Though if you do sell privately, have some consideration to the buyers, as I had a seller screw me on saturday - let me waste the entire day and half a tank of fuel driving for 90 minutes each way - and called me 2 minutes before I was due to arrive to tell me he had just sold it to someone else (even though i'd arranged the viewing on the Tuesday, spent money on the HPI etc, and he'd called on Friday night and not mentioned he had anyone else looking - which would have been nice so i could have at least been prepared for that call and decided not to set off until he knew..)


Anyway, I could be interested in your car - depending on price and location - i'll send you a mail

[matc]

I sold my elise within literally 10 minutes of pressing the submit button on the P/H advert. I think the key to selling any car is being honest about the car and to advertise it at a reasonable price. I know there are a lot of time-wasters out there but just be careful and it should be pretty straight forward.

[Janitor]

marky999 said:

Really good feedback from you all, thank you! I'll miss this site when I'm driving something...er...German.

Ummmm... it has't stopped me evidently