I need some help with some ideas on selling a car

Perhaps you can help me with a problem I am having selling a car. Here are the details:

I was in the market for a used car. Nothing fancy. Just a reliable mini-van in a price range of no more than $5,000.

My wife and I went to a car auction and found a couple of vehicles which were possibilities. One of them, a 2003 KIA met our criteria and other one had a book value higher than what we were willing to pay but it was a nice car.

At the auction, we bought the KIA. The other vehicle was coming up in the auction about ten minutes later so we decided to stay and see what it sold for. As the vehicle was being auctioned, no one was bidding so the auctioneer kept lowering the starting bid price. When he took it down to about 40% of book value, I bid. Soon there was more bidding but I ended up getting it at a real good price.

So now, I'm trying to sell the KIA. I posted it on Craigslist but didn't get one phone call. I also have the car parked on the street with a For Sale sign on it but so far, no phone calls.

I have the car competitively priced but I can't even get any "tire kickers."

I would really appreciate any ideas on what I can do to sell this car quickly.

I don't want to consign it to the auction because of the commission and fees I would have to pay. Also, I don't want to lose money on the car and there is the possibility of it selling at the auction for a very low price there.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Chuck

One of the things I noticed during my sales on craigslist is that you can expect for people to miss your ad if it's not posted with today's date.

In some craigs categories there are so many daily posts that many people will become overwhelmed and only search today's ads or will wrongly assume that an ad from two days ago is already old or sold. I've tested this on the 7-day craigslist limit and got very poor sales, until I switched to my current method.

It's about you intersecting their path (placing an ad) with your product ( the car) at the time of their greatest need (the day they searched initially) that will get you the sale or at least a response. (a nod to Gordon's Pictogrim of Persuasion -thanks Gordon)

But cars take time..especially if you expect a large profit.

Also, design your ad for your target audience. Who is it? -Soccer mom? -Fresh college kid? -Rough and tough cowboy? -Teenager with a fresh shiny new license?.....It's like fishing, use the right hook for the right fish.

I'm sure someone here is more qualified than me to offer better advice on selling cars, but I hope these tips help.

-Shaded

[GordonJ]

Chuck,

IF you want to sell it quickly on craigslist, here's what to do.

I agree with the other poster about a daily effort.

To sell it quickly,

You'll need a video at YouTube, which goes all around the vehicle, shows the VIN number, interior, engine (running), tires and the Blue Book value too.

Then you need to have a good REASON for selling it. Give your buyer a reason they are getting a deal.

Take as many pics as you can, use Photo Bucket or some other pic hosting site to put up the pics, along with the YouTube video.

This is way above and beyond what other people do...but it is the WHY it works so well. You don't have much "marketing" competition on craigslist, so the better your car is presented, with reasons and salesmanship in play...the faster you will sell the car.

Where are you located? I may know someone in the market for that type of vehicle, send me an email, [email protected] and mention KIA in the subject header.

Gordon Alexander

Originally Posted by Chuck

Perhaps you can help me with a problem I am having selling a car. Here are the details:

I was in the market for a used car. Nothing fancy. Just a reliable mini-van in a price range of no more than $5,000.

My wife and I went to a car auction and found a couple of vehicles which were possibilities. One of them, a 2003 KIA met our criteria and other one had a book value higher than what we were willing to pay but it was a nice car.

At the auction, we bought the KIA. The other vehicle was coming up in the auction about ten minutes later so we decided to stay and see what it sold for. As the vehicle was being auctioned, no one was bidding so the auctioneer kept lowering the starting bid price. When he took it down to about 40% of book value, I bid. Soon there was more bidding but I ended up getting it at a real good price.

So now, I'm trying to sell the KIA. I posted it on Craigslist but didn't get one phone call. I also have the car parked on the street with a For Sale sign on it but so far, no phone calls.

I have the car competitively priced but I can't even get any "tire kickers."

I would really appreciate any ideas on what I can do to sell this car quickly.

I don't want to consign it to the auction because of the commission and fees I would have to pay. Also, I don't want to lose money on the car and there is the possibility of it selling at the auction for a very low price there.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Chuck

Hi Chuck,

As usual Gordon "Hit" the nail Right on it's Head...

Quick related info from a past thread...
http://techcrunch.com/2009/06/09/cis...ent-of-mobile/

Also...

Dig through... Study and Re-Engineer Jimmy Vee & Travis Miller's Unconventional Ideas and resources...
http://www.automarketingadvice.com/bio/
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&c...&btnG=S earch

Buyers, Sellers and Chatteling Consumerism is “Hot” using Video in your Marketing campaigns No matter in What you are Selling...

Innovative & Creative Video ideas/advertising or Whatever you want to Call it on Craigslist, with YouTube “Spinning”...

And on Endless other websites, related Blogs... Focused Niche Blog(s) and Forum commenting with informative comments are Selling their Prized Possessions like Hotcakes!
http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...used+cars&aq=f
https://ads.youtube.com/keyword_tool
http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/

Phil

Whenever I've wanted to sell any of my vehicles....I placed an ad in my local "Shopper" with a Photo....a brief description....phone # and mention of a FULL Tank of Gas with purchase.

Now...when I'd get calls from LOCALS....I would NOT give the price...I'd tell them to come and see it and "Make Me An Offer!"

I'd tell them to come by at 10am Sat morn.

So....they'd hang up and hop onto Google and see what my vehicle is selling for.

Now...watch this; I told EVERY caller to come by at 10am! (Usually get 4 or 5 calls)

So...here's what happens;

9:45am - first potential buyer comes by....looks at vehicle...walks aroubd it...kicks tires....looks at Mileage...ask how much I want for it. I tell him. He scratches his chin...walks around vehicle again...

9:55am - another potential buyer stops by....looks at vehicle....sees existing potential buyer....asks what I'm asking....kicks tire or two...looks at mileage....rubs chin

10:am - another potential buyer stops by.

By 10:15am...I have 3 or 4 potential buyers looking at vehicle. I then announce my price is X$ and first one who wants it....gets it.

I SELL my vehicle.

It's called "Marketing Psychology"!

Give it a try,
Don Alm