Car Selling Help Please! x2

Alrighty lets try this againwith me breaking any rules lol!

Hey guys, hope everyones having a good weekend! Im looking for some help here so i figured why not take a shot posting here, i always seem to learn something and appreciate everyones opinion!
Im trying to sell my truck because i need a car thats better on gas for commuting to school and bc im ready for something different. I was offered a crap deal if i traded it into the dealership so im trying to sell it myself. I made a craigslist ad for it and so far in 3 days ive only had one response which was a trade that i wasnt interested in. I have zero experience selling a car so if someone with experience could weigh in here with any tips/hints/stories id really appreciate it. Also as a potential buyer if anyone could read my ad and tell me if there is something in it that would really be turning people off from responding i would really appreciate it. Dont worry you cant hurt my feelings, if i said something stupid just tell me so i can edit the ad.

Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for your help! :)

-Mike

http://newhaven.craigslist.org/cto/3135748977.html

EDIT: and when i use the phrase potential buyer im speaking hypothetically. Im not try to sell the truck here, i know thatd be against the rules. (Just to be clear so i dont get in trouble again haha).

Try setting it out on a busy street with the for sale signs on it (obviously) lol. My brother actually just sold his in under a weak of putting it out, it was a 2002 mustang. He had his on craigslist for well over a month with no replies. So if you can I'd set it on the street for people to see. Good luck

Hey with my CL experience i've learned two things, lots of pictures and short and sweet.. i like knowing more by reading a big post but alot of people dont. Post another ad in an area close by but make it short: pictures, year, miles, the good/ bad, and contact info.. less sentences more bullet/list style

Good luck!
-S

^agreed, too long i lost interest a paragraph in right around the city inspector. No need to.start off like its an essay looking to fill word count
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X2 on the street view. I'm just gonna assume you will keep it very shiny and nice and clean to show it off (I've seen plenty of people neglect that detail.)

Also, honestly I found it a bit too much reading. Break it up into paragraphs, possibly bullet any specifics on the vehicle with *'s and 1 or 2 details per line with a * for each detail and then a paragraph above and below so that the casual reader is getting the straight detail and can still be lazy. Mention that it is a nonsmoking car. (I'm assuming it is?)


Also I would try to make it a little less wordy and more to the point where possible. Parts that I would personally reword a little:

"Im the 2nd owner of the vehicle."
*I would bullet this to: 2nd owner, previously used as a company vehicle by the City of New Haven.

"Before I got it, the vehicle was used by the City of New Haven and a city inspector drove it. There are a few bumps on it from when it was owned by the city but nothing major at all. (See pics below.)"
*I would take this part out, see above, and mention very minor dings/ normal wear, no serious damage.

"The only thing that is a common thing to go on these vehicles is the fuel pump. I had it replaced at around 65K miles so you will be able to drive this vehicle for many more miles with complete peace of mind."
*I would cut this down this to: Brand new fuel pump, replaced at 65k miles.

If you still want to mention that this is the most common part failure in them, add it toward the bottom of the ad saying something like: These are very dependable vehicles. The most common part failure is the fuel pump. Lucky for you, its brand new! (or "has already been replaced." Whichever sounds better to you)

"so please dont offer me $1,500 for it"
*I would just say "please no low-balling"

Mentioning KBB value is good! I would possibly take out the dealer listings if you are looking for close to that price bc the first thing I would think is that a dealer may offer a warranty you wouldn't get from a private seller. You could change it to "similar listings with much higher millage are priced at $xxxx."

I would also choose a price you are looking to get and put it in the title with OBRO. A lot of listings without prices mentioned are scams or dealer ads so when people search many will put a minimum price into that search field so your add may not show up. I know I do! Some people may also be discouraged without a set price to work you down from.

Does it have a sound system? Have you done any other work on it, customized anything like darkening the tail lights? Post more pics from different angles too.

Otherwise a well written ad.
That's all I can think of atm. I have sold quite a few cars via Craigslist successfully.

Good luck dude! :D

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Hey thanks for the help everyone! I was debating wether it was too wordy or not but i know i like to have all the details. Im gunna edit it when i get outta work later and make it shorter.

Also thanks Coleslaw i forgot too add customizations. It has an aftermarket headunit, bose speakers, 2 12" subs, 800w kenwood amp, and interior led's. I should list all these.

Also i do leave on a busy street so a for sale sign would be a good idea. Im not home alot so idk how many people would see it but its worth a shot!

Thanks for the help so far everyone!

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

Hey thanks for the help everyone! I was debating wether it was too wordy or not but i know i like to have all the details. Im gunna edit it when i get outta work later and make it shorter.

Also thanks Coleslaw i forgot too add customizations. It has an aftermarket headunit, bose speakers, 2 12" subs, 800w kenwood amp, and interior led's. I should list all these.

Also i do leave on a busy street so a for sale sign would be a good idea. Im not home alot so idk how many people would see it but its worth a shot!

Thanks for the help so far everyone!

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Make sure you mention that.

And get some car chalk window paint a write FOR SALE and your phone # in a window when you are driving around if you can't park it

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Everything above and also

You mention it is in good condition twice in two sentences right next to each other, you only need to say this once.

also this caught me as a little odd "I'm only selling it because I want to get something a bit smaller. Something like a toyota, scion, honda, mazda etc".... you know every auto manufacturer makes fuel economy cars right? I would just stick with "I'm only selling it because I want to get something smaller" and see what offers come your way.

you basically just want to give the main points and then "contact me for more details," you want to get people talking to you that are interested.

More pics in the ad. Remember every 2 days you can go in and "renew" your post, bumping it to the top if the list. Also, I have done a lot of vehicle trading and it really is the easiest way to get what your looking. Put for sale or trade for commuter...

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I agree it's way too long. Short and to the point is what you want. Just take a look at any auto trader ad and follow their template.

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Hey guys from all of your advice I edited my ad. Let me know what you guys think about this new one:
http://newhaven.craigslist.org/cto/3144769341.html

Also I'm gunna buy a for sale sign to put on it bc i realized even when im at work i could leave it on the truck. I work in a nursing home so alot of people are coming ang going in the parking lot all day long.

Once again thanks for all your help, i appreciate it!:)

Looks much better Mike! :D good luck to you...

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Much better! I'm so jelly of your guys' trees. So green, AZ's got nothing on that, everything here is all brown and bleh unless you go up North.
Good luck on selling your truck!!

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Originally Posted by Coleslaw007

Much better! I'm so jelly of your guys' trees. So green, AZ's got nothing on that, everything here is all brown and bleh unless you go up North.
Good luck on selling your truck!!

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You wouldnt be so jelly of my trees if you saw the ungodly amount of effing leaves they drop in the fall that i have to rake or mow and bag lmao. Its one of those things thats nice to see/ play with but you dont wanna deal with it yourself. Like a baby. I love to play with them but once they poop or get hungry they instantly become no fun. :rofl:

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Originally Posted by Zombie

Looks much better Mike! :D good luck to you...

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Thanks! Hopefully ill have it sold within a month or two before school starts again.

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

You wouldnt be so jelly of my trees if you saw the ungodly amount of effing leaves they drop in the fall that i have to rake or mow and bag lmao. Its one of those things thats nice to see/ play with but you dont wanna deal with it yourself. Like a baby. I love to play with them but once they poop or get hungry they instantly become no fun. :rofl:

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Thanks! Hopefully ill have it sold within a month or two before school starts again.

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Nah we get leaves too but they're all brown and dull and blah. If I at least got lush gorgeous green to go with them, that would make up for it. Babies have no appeal to me period, hungry/ poopy or not- unless they're baby snakes and then I love them hungry :D

Craigslist is a dreadful place to try and find a used vehicle....soooooooooooooo many scams and stupid dealer ads...even in the for sale by "owner" section...I've been looking around lately for a third vehicle and after a few days I've completely given up on craigslist...it's so shady it's just not worth the effort.

Have you tried to see what Carmax would give you? I've never dealt with them before, but I always hear that they'll give you pretty much what you'd be able to sell it for (or more). However, I'm not sure it that holds true for a vehicle that old, even though it has low miles.

As far as your ad...like I said, I've checked CL a lot lately and your ad is probably the best one I've seen...well written, good photo's, clean vehicle (although I'd lose the Pats sticker on the bumper and whatever was in the cupholder).

Are there any local "Penny saver" type of papers where you are? Or even an ad in the local paper. Those don't seem to have been taken over by scammers yet...and if you have a Carmax close I'd give that a shot as well just to see what they say...

Also...considering the recent weather...does the A/C work well? If so, I'd mention that for sure...
Good luck!

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Originally Posted by sho220

Craigslist is a dreadful place to try and find a used vehicle....soooooooooooooo many scams and stupid dealer ads...even in the for sale by "owner" section...I've been looking around lately for a third vehicle and after a few days I've completely given up on craigslist...it's so shady it's just not worth the effort.

Have you tried to see what Carmax would give you? I've never dealt with them before, but I always hear that they'll give you pretty much what you'd be able to sell it for (or more). However, I'm not sure it that holds true for a vehicle that old, even though it has low miles.

As far as your ad...like I said, I've checked CL a lot lately and your ad is probably the best one I've seen...well written, good photo's, clean vehicle (although I'd lose the Pats sticker on the bumper and whatever was in the cupholder).

Are there any local "Penny saver" type of papers where you are? Or even an ad in the local paper. Those don't seem to have been taken over by scammers yet...and if you have a Carmax close I'd give that a shot as well just to see what they say...

Also...considering the recent weather...does the A/C work well? If so, I'd mention that for sure...
Good luck!

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Yup AC works great. there is a carmax about 20min away. I should check them out. The cup holder just had a container of gum in it, i didnt even notice lol. And the pats sticker is actually a magnet i had on the back to cover up the hole lol. I just took it off for the pic so it wasnt covered up.

Post it on autotrader. I doubt I would ever buy a car, or much of anything else, off craigslist.

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Originally Posted by Wh00h0069

Post it on autotrader. I doubt I would ever buy a car, or much of anything else, off craigslist.

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Whats Autotrader?

And yea im very leery of c-list. Neither of my cars have come from it lol.

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

Whats Autotrader?

And yea im very leery of c-list. Neither of my cars have come from it lol.

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A car buying/selling magazine...or now-a-days...online...traderonline.com

Auto Trader in paper form has been around since at least early 80's...

I think you can post private party ads on cars.com and autotrader.com as well but you'll have to pay for them.

I know around here a lot of dealerships are short on cars and are buying them outright from people. You might check with some of them.

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Yep, much better! :gj: