How would you sell an old 911 nowadays ?

[Deschodt]

Let me start with "This is not a for sale ad in disguise" - I can write an add here or anywhere if I want to...

I sold an Alfa GTV on BaT a few years ago and I was very surprised with the experience. I mean the $$$ was there, but there was lots of upfront pressure on listing at low reserve, it takes a long time from submission to auction and a lot of corrective work on their "average" presentation text and comments from the peanut gallery, and post auction the company offers Zero support for sale/transfer of $, guarantees of any kind, conflict resolution (thankfully none) - I mean once the hammer drops they don't know you. They don't even reply ! Poof ! Is P-carmarket any better in that regard ?

Similarly, I just had a terrible experience in Ebay recently selling an item (cheap) that the buyer simply decided to return for no valid reason, and Ebay apparently is now costco. Returns are accepted at seller's cost of shipping, it's nuts...

So all in all those auction sites are clearly where the $ is, but kinda make me think twice, yes the exposure is good, the fees low, but early 911s are now serious $ and the financial transaction / exposure of your location to buyer / time wasters in person coming for a test drive, all that gives me pause also... Hassle and fear of getting screwed.

I contacted a reputable shop that fixes and sells, consignment is 10% of the sale... Plus a PPI fee, a photo fee, a car wash fee, $1000 all told + 10%. It's a little high too - I mean you could leave 10K on the table given prices these days, but they handle the $, DMV, visits, storage. I'm kinda leaning that way... Fantasy Junction is also near me, ironically exact same fees... Bigger groups...

These things were always $10-20K cars for me, I never gave a sale a second thought, my last 2 (912s) I sold to friends - no worries at all. Nowadays they are real assets, and I'm uncomfortable with the transaction.. Are there other options I'm not thinking of ? Carmax won't work ;-)

[T77911S]

what ever you do the more pics the better.

list it here first.

[cabmandone]

I listed mine here. I put it on facebook marketplace last fall but all that did was bring dealers offering to buy the car and make it "easy" for me.. Easy meaning they wanted my to drop my price by 8 or $9,000 so they could make a profit.

[Deschodt]

Here is fine - that's not the issue - it provides zero protection on the deal like a dealer does. I called a few and it's pretty much standard 10%, and about 2 months lead time for BaT which is where they go... Ugh, it's almost annoying that they went up in price ;-)
Are there other possibilities like sell yourself, and involve some service for the $ transaction ? (although, test drives, "people", ugh)

[cabmandone]

What protection do you need? Just like my machines, my car won't leave until the check clears. If a buyer wants the car sooner than 7-10 days, bring cash or do a wire transfer and wait a few hours until the funds post to my account.

[gregpark]

BAT wants the car to sell so they can collect their 5% from the buyer. The $99. listing fee is peanuts to them. I got pressured to set a low reserve on every car I sold car on BaT. I'm fine with that. If it's a good car it'll sell for above market. The last car I sold on
BaT more than doubled the reserve. You can't beat the exposure you get for 99 bucks. When the car sells, BaT washes their hands and it's between you and the buyer to work out the transaction. I've wondered what would happen if you refuse to sell to the auction winner. Would BaT lawyers go after you? I doubt it. You'd probably just be banned from selling again. When it's time to sell my early 911 I will definitely list it on BaT

[911boost]

Take a look at Switchcars, they are in OH but Doug may be able to point you in the right direction. I sold my 996TT to them when I got the GT3 and it was very painless.

Good luck!

[JeremyD]

I've had several good experiences on BAT - if you are an engaged seller and do some prework like an independent shop PPI before the process I think you can have a fairly reasonable transaction. In the end - you can trade some convenience for money - but having looked at several boats through brokers who are supposed to help with what you are concerned with - they did more damage than good.

It's a car - it's a transaction - there is a certain amount of risk but once the money goes up you can mitigate that risk by using an attorney or escrow service.

[Bill Douglas]

You could try it on PelicanParts for a few weeks, and if someone meets your price expectations that's all good. And if they don't look further afield at that point.

[gregpark]

Originally Posted by JeremyD

It's a car - it's a transaction - there is a certain amount of risk but once the money goes up you can mitigate that risk by using an attorney or escrow service.

I just have the buyer wire the money from his bank to mine. Once it's secure I release the car and title. No risk

[LWJ]

Here is what I did with my last two cars. I was pleased.

1) I had a CHERRY 930. I posted an ad on Pelican for about a day. I had no pictures (as I didn't want a bunch of know it all jerks to dog out any flaws - and they ALL have flaws.) I got some responses and sent a link to a private photo hosting site. Sold to the first response. I think he did exceptionally well.

2) I had a 911 SC with perfect mechanicals but original (metallic beige) paint and the occasional chip / flaw. Excellent interior. The color is something that is an acquired taste- most would call it gold. I put an advert in Craigslist with exceptional photos and description. Sold it quickly and easily.

The key I find? Is to have more data and better photos. My 930 was sold sight unseen. I bought a Boxster sight unseen as well as a motorcycle. Great ads sell things.

And, are you struggling to say "just the right thing?" I was. So I copied a bunch of well-written ads for similar cars and stole the best wording - edited for accuracy of course!

Good luck. You got this.

[KFC911]

I'll probably post mine right here on Pelican when the time comes. I found it through a Rennlist ad after searching far & wide for six months... and saw the ad immediately. Without discovering Pelican .... I wouldn't have one. With Pelican .... I won't have one either ... when .... well... I dunno .

[Deschodt]

There's 2 things I struggle with, based on my last auction experience.. I want the buyer to be 100% sure what they get (super nice car) with zero potential issues like "ooh I didn't know it had a 2mm chip here, your picture was fuzzy, take it back" - and it's now 1000 mi away. But that involves having people come over in person to my place, which I have little time for, possibly little patience (personal flaw), giving rides or worse letting a newb murder a nice 915, etc...

Two, the $. I've sold on BaT, there was zero protection whatsoever. I've heard of fake cashier's checks, I've heard of wire transfers that got reversed a few days after. it happens, maybe not to you guys but... The idea of having a dealer in between is kinda comforting, but 10%, ouch....

Maybe I just don't wanna sell it, deep down (I know that's partly true), but mostly it's the car selling BS that I wanna avoid. The punters looking for a drive, the lowball offers, the gear grinding from newbies, the worry about the money exchange.. Guess I should find a reputable place that buys cars outright - no consignment - even if I take a hit.

BTW delays on Auction sites are long - right now even the biggest classic car place near me can't put in an ad before mid june on BaT, for instance.

[Norm K]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

Two, the $. I've sold on BaT, there was zero protection whatsoever. I've heard of fake cashier's checks, I've heard of wire transfers that got reversed a few days after. it happens, maybe not to you guys but... The idea of having a dealer in between is kinda comforting, but 10%, ouch....

I'm no banking expert and have never even played one on TV, but according to the three banking institutions I've used for wire-transfer sales of automobiles, once the money is in your account it is absolutely untouchable and unrecoverable by the person who transferred it. Using wire-transfer, all of the risk is on the buyer, none on the seller.

_

[MBAtarga]

If you are apprehensive about the process - message Techweenie.
He might already have a buyer for you and can arrange the connection - you offer him some $$.

[911boost]

^That was my understanding as well. And I did a very large one for my GT3. For me, if you are stressed about it, is the extra % a broker would take worth the headache and not being stressed?

[gregpark]

Originally Posted by Norm K

I'm no banking expert and have never even played one on TV, but according to the three banking institutions I've used for wire-transfer sales of automobiles, once the money is in your account it is absolutely untouchable and unrecoverable by the person who transferred it. Using wire-transfer, all of the risk is on the buyer, none on the seller.

_

Yes, once that money is in your account that's it.
I wouldn't take a cashiers check for any amount. My buddy lost his nice Bronco taking a fake CC. He called the cops, they traced and located the vehicle. The crook had resold it for cash the same day he "bought" it from my friend. The cops said the present owner is the rightful owner. Possession is nine tenths of the law and nothing they can do. They never caught the crook, he vanished like a fart in the wind.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Norm K

I'm no banking expert and have never even played one on TV, but according to the three banking institutions I've used for wire-transfer sales of automobiles, once the money is in your account it is absolutely untouchable and unrecoverable by the person who transferred it. Using wire-transfer, all of the risk is on the buyer, none on the seller.

_

Yep.. takes almost an act of God or a mistake by the bank to reverse a wire. I saw it happen once and it was because the bank made a big mistake in my favor.

[gregpark]

^ it was an act of God for the bank to make a mistake in YOUR favor!

[Norm K]

Originally Posted by cabmando

Yep.. takes almost an act of God or a mistake by the bank to reverse a wire. I saw it happen once and it was because the bank made a big mistake in my favor.

Like two-hundred bucks big?