Selling A Standard Run Of The Mill Car - Where?
Selling A Standard Run Of The Mill Car - Where?
Author
Discussion

Faxo

Original Poster:

449 posts

168 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
quotequote all
I've got a 2006 Polo 1.2 to sell, but where is best to advertise, in you guys opinion?

eBay is £10 or so, I've sold quite a few on eBay, but feel I'd need to advertise it cheaper, as everyone on eBay seems to want a bargain, and your up against 'no reserve' auctions of the same car making your look overpriced

Autotrader has 3 options...



All seem really expensive, last time I used AT, I'd also put it on Gumtree - it sold within 24hrs, via Gumtree!

Then, there's obv Gumtree. Gumtree is free, but nowhere near as much exposure as the other two?

Am I missing anywhere? Owners clubs tend to be for the more sporty versions of cars, not so much a 1.2 3 cyl Polo!

Cheers

Steffan

10,362 posts

258 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
quotequote all
Sold a fair few cars over the years and bought as many. I think AT is the most effective but as you say expensive, Gumtree does work sometimes and could sell your Polo. Pistonheads has worked for me may times very well. Ebay classified could be effective. I would try Pistonheads first and possibly Autotrader but not cheap. If you use more than one method and price the car right with photos it will go. These are popular cars.

davamer23

1,158 posts

184 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
quotequote all
Gumtree isn't free anymore for cars. Previously sold 3 cars pretty quickly through them. Last time I went to post a car as they wanted £15!

Speed addicted

6,329 posts

257 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
quotequote all
Gumtree worked for me this week, free for the first car advert.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

228 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
quotequote all
You can also sell your car on Pistonheads too

Steffan

10,362 posts

258 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
quotequote all
davamer23 said:
Gumtree isn't free anymore for cars. Previously sold 3 cars pretty quickly through them. Last time I went to post a car as they wanted £15!
Gumtree were taken over by Ebay a while ago. Unsurprisingly given the level of Ebay fees charging is going up.

Faxo

Original Poster:

449 posts

168 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
quotequote all
davamer23 said:
Gumtree isn't free anymore for cars. Previously sold 3 cars pretty quickly through them. Last time I went to post a car as they wanted £15!
You get 2 free now

AndyT77

1,755 posts

192 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
quotequote all
Neon coloured bit of cardboard with 'FOR SALE' inside the window.

Or We Buy Any Car.

davamer23

1,158 posts

184 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
quotequote all
Faxo said:
You get 2 free now
Ah that's why. Cheers
Edited :It was the 3rd car in 4months.
I'm not a trader.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

228 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
quotequote all
Steffan said:
Gumtree were taken over by Ebay a while ago. Unsurprisingly given the level of Ebay fees charging is going up.
Why were the competition commission involved?

Steffan

10,362 posts

258 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
quotequote all
Welshbeef said:
Steffan said:
Gumtree were taken over by Ebay a while ago. Unsurprisingly given the level of Ebay fees charging is going up.
Why were the competition commission involved?
I have absolutely no idea. Were they?

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

228 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
quotequote all
Steffan said:
Welshbeef said:
Steffan said:
Gumtree were taken over by Ebay a while ago. Unsurprisingly given the level of Ebay fees charging is going up.
Why were the competition commission involved?
I have absolutely no idea. Were they?
Sorry typo why were they NOT involved eBay owns the auction sites within the UK and buying up more destroys consumer choice and allows then to up costs

bigandclever

14,390 posts

268 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
quotequote all
Steffan said:
davamer23 said:
Gumtree isn't free anymore for cars. Previously sold 3 cars pretty quickly through them. Last time I went to post a car as they wanted £15!
Gumtree were taken over by Ebay a while ago. Unsurprisingly given the level of Ebay fees charging is going up.
You're not kidding it was a while ago, it was in 2005.

Steffan

10,362 posts

258 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
quotequote all
Welshbeef said:
Steffan said:
Welshbeef said:
Steffan said:
Gumtree were taken over by Ebay a while ago. Unsurprisingly given the level of Ebay fees charging is going up.
Why were the competition commission involved?
I have absolutely no idea. Were they?
Sorry typo why were they NOT involved eBay owns the auction sites within the UK and buying up more destroys consumer choice and allows then to up costs
Many years ago my favourite litigation Solicitor (we used many!!) wrote to me missing the "not" out of the latter in the line which read "The Landlord has agreed the terms of the lease" but should have read "The Landlord has not agreed the terms of the lease" which made negotiations a bit tricky!

Possibly they should have been involved. However given the pretty dire quality of the government are we surprised.

I would suggest not. smilesmile


SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

228 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
quotequote all

Ray Luxury-Yacht

8,918 posts

246 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
quotequote all
Ebay has actually been pretty good for me. There are three cars I have sold on there within the last 4 years or so.

The first two weren't worth so much, so I put them on with a 99p start and no reserve. This seems to encourage bidding.

I think the key to getting a good result is in the presentation of the advert - so, nice clean car, take it to a pretty location (I have a place I have found nearby in front of some wonderfully bright green and lovely trees) and take MANY photographs of all angles, under the bonnet, inside etc.

It REALLY helps if you wait for a clear, bright sunny day. Wait until the sun is at it's highest, so you don't get reflections from the bodywork or distracting shadows on the ground.

Then write a detailed advert. I break mine down into sections thus: Engine and drivetrain; bodywork, paint and wheels; interior; factory options and specifications; ownership and service history - with a totally honest, candid write-up on each. I describe faults but I don't make a big deal about them - just make sure they're mentioned.

I also think it's important to describe the car in your own words - but remember buyers might interpret things differently. So to avoid this, I always put 'in my opinion' as a caveat. So I might write 'the bodywork is in fabulous overall condition in my opinion, reflecting just wear and tear that would be expected from a car of this age and mileage...'


Each time I have sold a car on ebay, I have honestly been bid more than I expected to receive - and on the occasion I did a 'classified advert' with a fixed price, I placed the ad and had a phone call by the evening. The buyer came round the following day and handed over the full asking price. With the cars I auctioned, I expected maybe £500 for the first and got £680, and a grand for the second and got £1350.

I put this down to some thought and work going into the presentation and description of the adverts. Look on ebay - s many of the ads are total rubbish, bad photos in bad light, a short description full of errors and 'txtspk' - so a good advert really shines through.



Matt UK

18,084 posts

230 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
quotequote all
For the car you are selling, I'd say Autotrader standard package should be the one.

Steffan

10,362 posts

258 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
quotequote all
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
Ebay has actually been pretty good for me. There are three cars I have sold on there within the last 4 years or so.

The first two weren't worth so much, so I put them on with a 99p start and no reserve. This seems to encourage bidding.

I think the key to getting a good result is in the presentation of the advert - so, nice clean car, take it to a pretty location (I have a place I have found nearby in front of some wonderfully bright green and lovely trees) and take MANY photographs of all angles, under the bonnet, inside etc.

It REALLY helps if you wait for a clear, bright sunny day. Wait until the sun is at it's highest, so you don't get reflections from the bodywork or distracting shadows on the ground.

Then write a detailed advert. I break mine down into sections thus: Engine and drivetrain; bodywork, paint and wheels; interior; factory options and specifications; ownership and service history - with a totally honest, candid write-up on each. I describe faults but I don't make a big deal about them - just make sure they're mentioned.

I also think it's important to describe the car in your own words - but remember buyers might interpret things differently. So to avoid this, I always put 'in my opinion' as a caveat. So I might write 'the bodywork is in fabulous overall condition in my opinion, reflecting just wear and tear that would be expected from a car of this age and mileage...'


Each time I have sold a car on ebay, I have honestly been bid more than I expected to receive - and on the occasion I did a 'classified advert' with a fixed price, I placed the ad and had a phone call by the evening. The buyer came round the following day and handed over the full asking price. With the cars I auctioned, I expected maybe £500 for the first and got £680, and a grand for the second and got £1350.

I put this down to some thought and work going into the presentation and description of the adverts. Look on ebay - s many of the ads are total rubbish, bad photos in bad light, a short description full of errors and 'txtspk' - so a good advert really shines through.
Excellent detailed accurate advice. I do think Ray Luxury-Yacht has pitched his prices very well hence the pleasant surprises. Accurate detailed description with clear good quality photos are very good points. Many of the Ebay sellers are daft with their presentation and fail to find buyers. Every Ebay car I have run has gone but they were priced to sell. Using caveats like "In my opinion" is also a good idea. I always try to get buyers to view the cars because I know these cars are genuine and worth a look. Worked for me and if you follow Ray's advice this will work for you. Polo's command their own market. Go for it.