How do I sell my car?
Author
Discussion

Bisonhead

Original Poster:

1,596 posts

209 months

Friday 20th January 2012
quotequote all
I am looking to sell my Mazda soon and would appreciate advice on how best to word the advert. Are there generic rules to follow? Best or different angles for photographs? Do I detail the 'bad' points and let the rest of the car speak for itself? Over price by a couple of hundred and have a settlement figure in mind? Should I say that I'm a powerfully built company director?

I have only sold cars to the local dealership or friends, this is the first time I will be doing it on tinterweb.

I know you chaps will have some good advice!

forzaminardi

2,298 posts

207 months

Friday 20th January 2012
quotequote all
Bisonhead said:
I am looking to sell my Mazda soon and would appreciate advice on how best to word the advert. Are there generic rules to follow? Best or different angles for photographs? Do I detail the 'bad' points and let the rest of the car speak for itself? Over price by a couple of hundred and have a settlement figure in mind? Should I say that I'm a powerfully built company director?

I have only sold cars to the local dealership or friends, this is the first time I will be doing it on tinterweb.

I know you chaps will have some good advice!
Say it's been owned by "a mature lady doctor". Include as many mispellings and txtspk as you can. Include the phrases "drives well" "tidy motor" and "completely genuine".

Papa Hotel

12,760 posts

202 months

Friday 20th January 2012
quotequote all
Your profile says you work in sales... can't you apply some of your skills to this??

Look at a few ads, you'll know which are crap and which stand out, just copy the style of the good ones.

Include all details, even negatives, it lends your ad an air of honesty. Photos: as many as you can get, all sorts of angles. Interior shots, close-ups of any damage (which you have described honestly).

Don't over-price it, you'll get no interest. Price it favourably but let them haggle 50 quid off you.

Edited by Papa Hotel on Friday 20th January 10:11

Steameh

3,155 posts

230 months

Friday 20th January 2012
quotequote all
I always make a point of explaining all the bad points, taking good quality pictures of them and being as honest as possible and price accordingly.

Always think as a buyer when listing a car, I wouldnt want a seller to hide faults from me on an advert if I was a buyer.


Bisonhead

Original Poster:

1,596 posts

209 months

Friday 20th January 2012
quotequote all
Papa Hotel said:
Your profile says you work in sales... can't you apply some of your skills to this??
Yeah, I repair holes in yacht sales! wink

I am after advice from people with experience in selling cars, not the usual tat car salesman (as I once was) put in their ads.

SWoll

21,528 posts

278 months

Friday 20th January 2012
quotequote all
I'm sure others will have plenty to add but I would say.

1) Give it a good clean and polish (amazing how many people don't)
2) Be honest about condition/any issues
3) If you have plenty of paperwork for the car (SH, MOT's, invoices) take a photo of them all laid out, buyers love history.
4) Hold on until spring if you can as there will be many more potential buyers for your type of car.
5) Spell check your advert before posting....



Hudson

1,857 posts

207 months

Friday 20th January 2012
quotequote all
forzaminardi said:
Say it's been owned by "a mature lady doctor". Include as many mispellings and txtspk as you can. Include the phrases "drives well" "tidy motor" and "completely genuine".
Forgot to mention its "nippy" and that it "pulls like a train"

Robb F

4,614 posts

191 months

Friday 20th January 2012
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Bisonhead said:
Papa Hotel said:
Your profile says you work in sales... can't you apply some of your skills to this??
Yeah, I repair holes in yacht sales!wink

I am after advice from people with experience in selling cars, not the usual tat car salesman (as I once was) put in their ads.
Oh dear.

Do you sell yachts, or only their 'sales'? :P

But seriously, just do a bit of research, look at a few ad's and see which ones you would go a see/be interested in, then copy that style.
In a nutshell though, honest, good clarity pictures showing lots of detail, informative description.

Do not put emotion into the description, I, nor anyone else, cares you will really miss the car, that it 'runs like a dream', has a smooth ride etc

they won't believe you anyway and it makes you look like you're desperate to get rid.

Bitzer

4,542 posts

188 months

Friday 20th January 2012
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....and 'First to see will buy' smile

Hudson

1,857 posts

207 months

Friday 20th January 2012
quotequote all
Bitzer said:
....and 'First to see will buy' smile
I love that one, it almost sounds like a threat. I can imagine someone running down the road with a crowbar and the keys screaming "YOU DIDN'T READ THE ADVERT"

mike80

2,364 posts

236 months

Friday 20th January 2012
quotequote all
Just put "here we have my mazda", plus a photo taken on a phone at night.

First to see will buy!