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Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: Kaplin261 on September 22, 2016, 11:21:26 AM

Title: How do I sell a car on craigslist?
Post by: Kaplin261 on September 22, 2016, 11:21:26 AM
I thought I would ask here since most Mustachians use craigslist a lot. I'm trying to sell my used car but not one single person has came to look at it. Im selling it $500 under bluebook value. The car is in immaculate condition and gets great gas milage.

It's a 2011 hyundai accent.
http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/5776479159.html

What should I change in my add to get this thing to sell? Is craigslist a good place to sell a car?
Title: Re: How do I sell a car on craigslist?
Post by: Fishindude on September 22, 2016, 11:28:27 AM
Craigslist works good, and your add and price aren't bad.
Try listing it in other communities near you with just a slightly modified headline and photos arranged a bit differently.

Might take a couple months.


Title: Re: How do I sell a car on craigslist?
Post by: Miss Piggy on September 22, 2016, 11:33:01 AM
Could you add a picture of the back with the hatch open, perhaps one without seats down, and one with seats down? I'd be interested in seeing how much space the car has. Other than that, I see nothing "wrong" with your ad. I would find it very tempting.
Title: Re: How do I sell a car on craigslist?
Post by: frugaliknowit on September 22, 2016, 11:36:49 AM
The car has no A/C and it's a manual transmission.  That translates into a long market time.

Is there a high traffic area you can park it with a sign in the window?  I really thing that because of the marketing difficulty (no A/C and manual trans.), you need to double down on exposure.  I would specify the price on the sign so you don't get flooded with calls by unqualified people who want to waste your time to try to get the car for nothing.
Title: Re: How do I sell a car on craigslist?
Post by: tralfamadorian on September 22, 2016, 11:38:32 AM
If I was looking for a car, I would be all over that!

Maybe state why you are selling it (if it doesn't have anything to do with the functionality of the car)?
Title: Re: How do I sell a car on craigslist?
Post by: mountains_o_mustaches on September 22, 2016, 11:49:18 AM
I second what frugalknowitall said.  I used to live in VA and there's no way in hell I would've ever considered buying a car without AC - I think that will keep it on the market much longer, especially in that part of the country.  You could consider dropping price again if no one bites or maybe try selling it out of state (somewhere up north where the lack of AC wouldn't matter too much).  I don't know what your tax situation is, but if it really doesn't sell you could consider donating it for the tax write-off (It did this with a  beater of a car and it worked out pretty well).
Title: Re: How do I sell a car on craigslist?
Post by: hoping2retire35 on September 22, 2016, 11:57:19 AM
Pictures of the backseat and close up of the "control area", steering wheel and radio/airheat adjusting area.

Change the title; remove the delivery message, state the trim level

start the ad description very matter of fact. "I am selling a 2011 Hyudai Accent it has a 1.9(whatever, idk) liter engine with 87k miles, no rust, smooth shifting..."  state why you are selling "We have child on the way and need a larger car.." or whatever. Don't use the word "perfect" in your description, if any thing state some small blemish, makes it seem more real "as you can see in the picture..." Say something about clutch replacement "Clutch seems fine, havent had problems..." someone will want to know that. If you have a receipt for the tires great. or just say "tires 80%...." whatevs.

save the delivery stuff toward the end;  do that hideaway thing with your phone #("text anytime XXX-XXXX), extra pictures never hurt; always repost on fridays. once you nail down the ad an start getting a few inquiries lower the price $200 every two weeks, hold firm on price.

remove your license plate in the photo.

EDIT: I sold my 2013 $30k+ pickup doing this in about 6 weeks. The first person that ever test drove in week one kept watching my ads and when I lowered to his price he paid me what I asked. redo ad, repost at least every friday maybe even every day. Someone will snag it.
Title: Re: How do I sell a car on craigslist?
Post by: Mother Fussbudget on September 22, 2016, 12:31:37 PM
...remove your license plate in the photo.

No need to blur the license plate, or remove it.  Thanks to Jim Moran, and the "Driver's Privacy Protection Act" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driver%27s_Privacy_Protection_Act). 
It's interesting sociology that many people *DO* blur/remove the license number, but in reality it doesn't really help with anything.

Everyone already SEES your license plate number every time you drive somewhere.  Has anyone EVER heard of someone having an issue with identity theft because of their license plate?  Probably not.  DMV records are too hard to access.

Unless you're a cop, lawyer, or Homer Simpson's sister-in-laws...  ;-)

- - - -

As for how best to SELL it - kick-ass photos do it every time. 
Park it someplace more jazzy than in front of your neighbor's fence. 
Pick a spot with a VIEW, or in front of a local landmark. 
Have some FUN with it!!!  (And best of luck, of course!)
Title: Re: How do I sell a car on craigslist?
Post by: newelljack on September 22, 2016, 01:41:56 PM
Having sold my car on craigslist before, I have to state the obvious: watch out for scammers. They come hard and fast on cars. One guy wanted me to run  a vehicle history report through a website he chose. It was a shell that would only take your credit card number and give it to him (no history report). No, I did not fall for it. You may also get great offers at your asking price if you just pay the shipping (they will promise to reimburse you).

I also do not understand the free delivery. Wouldn't most people come drive it away? That has always been my experience.
Title: Re: How do I sell a car on craigslist?
Post by: Mother Fussbudget on September 22, 2016, 01:46:28 PM
If you're a non-smoker, ADD THAT to your description.  That's a key thing *I* look/smell for when buying a car.
Title: Re: How do I sell a car on craigslist?
Post by: Rust on September 22, 2016, 01:49:44 PM
I thought I would ask here since most Mustachians use craigslist a lot. I'm trying to sell my used car but not one single person has came to look at it. Im selling it $500 under bluebook value. The car is in immaculate condition and gets great gas milage.

It's a 2011 hyundai accent.
http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/5776479159.html

What should I change in my add to get this thing to sell? Is craigslist a good place to sell a car?

Any manual transmission is going to have a lower population of buyers. (exp. in the RVA)

Keep the post up you'll eventually get traction.
Title: Re: How do I sell a car on craigslist?
Post by: ketchup on September 22, 2016, 02:02:20 PM
If you're a non-smoker, ADD THAT to your description.  That's a key thing *I* look/smell for when buying a car.
Ditto this for pets.  It doesn't stick like smoke, but some people have very sensitive allergies and would be encouraged by being sure of that.

Other than that, it looks like a great listing (and a great car!).
Title: Re: How do I sell a car on craigslist?
Post by: captainawesome on September 25, 2016, 05:41:25 PM
It just takes the right buyer. I had a great listing (lots of hi res photos, descriptions, car fax etc) and it still took a month or two. Manual transmissions are an immediate detractor for most people (sad but true) so you just have to be prepared to eat some time. I have taken cars to car max, and they seemed to offer decent prices and give you a baseline of how high or low you should be. Good luck
Title: Re: How do I sell a car on craigslist?
Post by: MsPeacock on September 25, 2016, 06:00:22 PM
Consider making the first photo the one of the outside of the car. I think that is more eye catching. Agree w/ other posters that manual and no a/c will make it a bit slower to sell.

Have you looked at what other similar cars are selling for on Craigslist - that may give you an indication about if your price needs to be adjusted m

Agree about reposting at least weekly.
Title: Re: How do I sell a car on craigslist?
Post by: ShoulderThingThatGoesUp on September 26, 2016, 05:15:42 AM
Also try cars.com. The listing is also free and that is how we sold our Honda Fit in ten days.
Title: Re: How do I sell a car on craigslist?
Post by: Papa Mustache on September 26, 2016, 02:17:04 PM
As the season approaches winter you might discover that A/c is not as high on people's priorities as it will be again next spring.