Thursday 13th March 2003

Internet is the Place for Used Sales

Dealers wake up to the internet for selling older cars

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According to Glass’s Information Services, the Internet will soon become the most popular method for selling older, cheaper cars.

"Coupled with falling prices for used vehicles - particularly older models - the overheads involved in running a second-hand car forecourt are driving an increasing number of dealers to rely on a ‘virtual’ showroom to sell their low-priced stock," commented John Glynn, Editor of Glass’s Older Car Guide.

"Internet use is still increasing here in the UK with almost 29 million of us having already accessed the net, and we have the highest buyer-to-browser conversion rate in Europe," continued Glynn. "By using the Web, dealers can cut operating costs and present their stock to a much wider audience."

Link: PH Classifieds

[v8thunder]

Only done by numpties who buy their cars as standardised white goods and only bother with a test drive if the internet advert doesn't say how many cupholders it's got. Sourcing cars by the internet is fine, but you need to go and check several examples out - Numpties wake up: cars are not fridges!

[PetrolTed]

I think you're getting the wrong end of the stick here. What they're saying is that the internet is proving very successful at getting punters into showrooms. More successful than ads in the local paper etc.

[Superflid]

Found my Subaru on the net after weeks of looking for the right one. Only bought it after an inspection and test-drive though.
Might have racked up a few miles driving round looking for Legacy estate, a bit thin on the ground!

[v8thunder]

Sorry - you're right, but ssome people do just order their cars online without even looking at them, usually from 'car supermarkets' (how 'white goods' is that?). But yeah, I often browse small ads on the internet - findit.co.uk seems to be the best for cars. (in their kitcar section at the moment is an Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante replica for £1500 - just needs headlights sorting)