Starting to lose hope trying to sell my car...

[Chrisw666]

Deluded said:

If someone wants to call me, they can email and ask for my number first. Not putting my number on ebay means I wont get random people phoning to ask what my lowest price is, then hanging up when it's not what they want. Had it before. Not going to do it again. If you can't be bothered to email me then you obviously aren't that bothered about the car.

Also, car is listed in Cheadle, Staffordshire. Ebay account is Listed as Stoke On Trent. Cheadle is approx 4 miles out of what most people would class as "Stoke On Trent". Not really wrong is it?

I gave my opinion, I would want to speak to someone not play email Tennis. You have already stated that you wanted to answer questions by email.

Also Cheadle may be 4 miles from Stoke on Trent but why should it be down to me to have a map at hand?

Why ask for advice and then get really defensive when someone gives you some? You obviously think you're doing everything right, but can't sell the car so clearly are doing something wrong.

Or is it that all potential buyers are dumb and can't see the bargain within?

Edited by Chrisw666 on Tuesday 17th April 14:55

[simoid]

Don't get ratty with us, OP: we're giving you possible reasons for your car not selling as quickly as you'd like.

It's all very well saying "if they want it, they'll email me" but perhaps someone willing to pay top dollar for your car, because they need it yesterday, won't have email access?

Make it as simple as possible for buyers to contact you.

[boobles]

To be fair to the OP, I have seen the advert & it does look tidy & £1300 is a very good price.

[Snowboy]

If the car was on as an auction then I take your point about not having a phone number.
But if you have it as a classified add then a phone number is a must have.
If I can’t call you to talk about the car I’ll move on to the next advert.
My suggestion would be to give a phone number but let it go to answerphone.


If the car is only 4 miles from the address on the ebay advert I wouldn’t even have bothered mentioning it.
It’s near enough that anyone driving to see it won’t be bothered so long as you give them the real address before they come and see.

[caprirob]

The fact you paid £1200 for it is only relevant in that you paid too much and have compounded the problem by spending more money on it.


Sorry but its just too expensive - a National search pulls up loads of them around the £1k mark.

This one looks very clean, similar mileage, OK a year older but with a full MOT rather than the 4 months your has got and an advertised price of £995 - so you'd probably expect to do a deal at £850 - £900.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Drop the price and you'll shift it - you can always put on the ad that you won't discuss price over the phone with people who havent viewed the car.

Ebay is full of messers - get it on Autotrader at a competetive price with some decent pics and you'll shift it

[snorkel sucker]

OP, I feel for you. Selling a car myself at the moment and it sucks. But...putting up with the dross of society is just one of the pains of selling a car privately that you have to put up with.

I'd go with the advice of putting up your number and leaving it go to voicemail - you can very quickly get an idea of the kind of person and their intent to buy the car by what they say. In my experience, those genuinely interested will leave you a voicemail. Those who are not, don't bother.

As for your location, I don't see an issue with where you are, and where your ad says you are. I honestly cannot believe how some people can call about your car and then ask where you are located, only to then sound suprised when you are the other end of the country. I always make a point of knowing where the car is located that I am interested in, and in the days of smartphones with a simple search on google maps, there is no excuse for others not to know or do the same.

Stick at it - hopefully you aren't desperate to sell - and you'll get a buyer. Just be prepared though. Even when your car is the best priced in the PH and Autotrader ads for age, spec and mileage, you still get people offering you stupid money. I can tell you that for a fact!

[JonnyO]

Looking at the completed losings on ebay makes yours look a bit over priced I'm afraid OP.
That combined with the facts that you bought at peak prices for 4x4's and are selling at the lowest point plus it could be misconstrued that the car is a pup if you are moving it on so fast makes it only worthwhile to someone taking a punt on it if it was a fair bit cheaper.
Mind you, that person could be me if it was a fair bit cheaper s I would say that
I'm also from Cheadle originally

[twazzock]

Stop dicking around starting at what you think it's worth. Put it on eBay at 99p, no reserve and let its real worth become apparent.

[twazzock]

hora said:

I've done that before and then forget to cancel the auction in the last 12hours

Why would you cancel it? As long as you've got a decent ad, listed in the right place/time etc. you'll get a fair value.

[V8mate]

twazzock said:

hora said:

I've done that before and then forget to cancel the auction in the last 12hours

Why would you cancel it? As long as you've got a decent ad, listed in the right place/time etc. you'll get a fair value.

Such an outcome is not universal across makes and models.

[Snowboy]

Meh.
Just refuse to sell it.
Just say your mate put the auction up as joke and the car’s not for sale at that price.

Ebay’s not legally binding.

[Lunablack]

Snowboy said:

Meh.
Just refuse to sell it.
Just say your mate put the auction up as joke and the car’s not for sale at that price.

Ebay’s not legally binding.

No, but it is full of idiots..

[Riknos]

Chrisw666 said:

OP, I've just viewed your advert on ebay.

you state the car is located in a different place to where your ebay account is registered.

Just to jump on this - Had my ebay account for 6 years or so, haven't sold anything in about 4 years, have moved sinced then. Have bought 100+ items since I've moved, so all my addresses have been updated etc. My ebay account 'registered address' shows my current one, yet when I listed something the other day it has item location as my old one.

Stupid fking ebay.

[Sargeant Orange]

Stop dicking around on Ebay & here. Pay the £30 or so on Autotrader and it will go

[Amateurish]

Snowboy said:

Ebay’s not legally binding.

Yes it is (at least the auctions are)

[Snowboy]

Amateurish said:

Snowboy said:

Ebay’s not legally binding.

Yes it is (at least the auctions are)

I’m pretty sure the car auctions and classifieds have different rules that other auctions.

Also, I’m fairly certain that no court in the land would enforce any sort of ebay sale.
I’d be interested to see if there is legal precedent though.

But as far as I know ebay is effectively an introduction between a buyer and seller, not a contract.

[confused_buyer]

ebay is not an auction in the legal sense, period.

[Deluded]

hora said:

Whats wrong with the car now? i.e is it using oil?

The reason why I ask is lots of people buy a car then 'change of circumstances' soon afterwards to disguise they've bought a pup. I'm NOT accusing you in anyway but it could be seen that you bought a cheque-book car and want out as you've already spent a fair bit and want to cut your losses.

Nothing wrong with it at all. The advert is as honest as can be.

Change in circumstances is that I now use public transport to commute rather than using the car, costing petrol and parking. All explained in the advert. No reason to have the car parked up on the drive 5 days a week and then get limited use on weekends.

My previous responce wasn't intended to be "ratty". Just think that the 2 points picked on are so minor it's not worth mentioning. I just cant see why anyone would get hung up on buying a good car because they have to ask for a phone number.

I take on board that yes, it may be over priced but how can it be when its the cheapest on here, also nowhere near the most expensive or highest milage on ebay. It's pretty much middle ground.

[blindswelledrat]

Living up to your name, Im afraid Deluded.

Here are the facts.
You have zero interest in teh car so far
Everyone here (who buy more cars than any other groups) say
1)Overpriced (with links to one significantly cheaper with the same description)
2)No phone number.

You seem to disagree, yet haven't had a single call.

THe problem is that it doesn't matter a jot whether you disagree, it matters what will interest a potential buyer and if I was one I would just buy a cheaper one than yours that sounds exactly the same.

[twazzock]

V8mate said:

Such an outcome is not universal across makes and models.

Think you'd be OK with something mainstream like a Honda CRV. Granted if it was a bit obscure you might be better off listing on an owners' club or similar.

Just looked at the ad on eBay and it seems well-written and whatnot, but if you look at the completed listings you can only see three that actually sold, all for well under your asking price. Don't see the point in using the classified ad listings as a guide as they're mainly trade sellers and not necessarily representative of the final sale price (if they sell at all - many just expire and auto-relist every 30(?) days).

Still think a low-start, low- or no-reserve auction is the best way. Low start generates interest, gets people bidding, seeing 'reserve met' or no reserve encourages people, and you'll typically get what the market thinks it's worth. You might take a hit on what you think it's worth but better to get it over and done with now than continually relist for weeks/months gradually lowering the price.