Is Autotrader worth the price?

[Rick Lee]

I'm not gonna bother researching the countless threads where you've gotten into a pissing match and then had to reassure people you weren't angry.

Anyway, I have acted on most of the advice in this thread - I cut the ad copy way down to basics, did not pay for an upgraded listing on Autotrader, put it back on eBay (fees be damned) and am now having to consider ending the auction early and pissing off the bidder(s) or waiting until 12 (I was mistaken, it's not 24) hours until auction end and then seeing where things are. Final listing fee is normally charged for ending an auction early that has bids on it. But you get one freebie per calendar year and I've never done it before. So, the worst that can happen is I piss off one bidder. I'll contact him anyway and explain it all to him. Again, I wasn't really planning to sell on eBay; just to generate some interest and hope folks contacted me here or on CL.

[speeder]

OK, I apologize for my lack of patience. It's not one of my virtues. As for my happiness, I don't need to convince a bunch of strangers online that I'm happy. That's silly.

You will never know what someone will bid on it or how many people already have proxy/snipe bids in on it until the gavel drops and the auction has run its course. That is the problem with the way you are doing it. You need to list it w a reserve and let it run all the way.

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by speeder

Exactly. Without a reserve, you now have an "item will sell" bid on it. Brilliant.

I see reserve not met - and move the auction to the back of my tabs behind the sellers that actually want to sell the car.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Tervuren

I see reserve not met - and move the auction to the back of my tabs behind the sellers that actually want to sell the car.

Without knowing what the reserve is?? That's a strange way of doing business. Many people "actually want to sell their car" but like Mr. Lee, want a certain minimum price for it. That would cover just about 100% of everyone who has ever sold a car on earth.

The key from a seller's standpoint is to be realistic about the value of the item if you do actually want to sell it.

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by speeder

Without knowing what the reserve is?? That's a strange way of doing business. Many people "actually want to sell their car" but like Mr. Lee, want a certain minimum price for it. That would cover just about 100% of everyone who has ever sold a car on earth.

The key from a seller's standpoint is to be realistic about the value of the item if you do actually want to sell it.

Reserves are undisclosed unless they've changed that?

Put a starting price of your minimum, any bidder above one is a bonus, sale done.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by Tervuren

I see reserve not met - and move the auction to the back of my tabs behind the sellers that actually want to sell the car.

This. Most reserve prices are unrealistic. In contrast, having no reserve makes it a legit auction in bidder's minds, and they get serious about the car, b/c this car is going to sell, and not get relisted in perpetuity.
One vote to not cancel the auction. Let it ride, you may be surprised.

[KNS]

Most guys shopping for Porsches want stock and original. When I purchased my 993 I spent a lot of time and money returning it to factory stock, but I also spent quite a bit less than your asking price to obtain it in the first place.

Little things like a crooked speedo and missing caps, while minor, are immediate turn-offs to prospective buyers. If I'm looking for a 993 one of the very first things I see on your car is missing wheel caps (remember, I'm a buyer and I don't care if you have them but like the look with them off). Did you lose them? Do you not care that they are gone? Can't afford replacements? It's a first impression thing and you've missed it. The less explaining you have to do the better.

Also... despite the other comment, Midnight Blue is gorgeous on a 993.

[sugarwood]

$40,100.

[aigel]

[speeder]

And all the action happened in the last half hour of the auction, like it usually does. Someone wanted the car and bid wisely. I hope that you are happy with this, I think it's a good price with all things considered.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by speeder

And all the action happened in the last half hour of the auction, like it usually does. Someone wanted the car and bid wisely. I hope that you are happy with this, I think it's a good price with all things considered.

I agree. It seems to be a good price for this car as it's represented in this ad.

Congratulations, Rick.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by speeder

And all the action happened in the last half hour of the auction, like it usually does. Someone wanted the car and bid wisely. I hope that you are happy with this, I think it's a good price with all things considered.

Agreed, that is exactly what I would expect this car to sell for.

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Agreed, that is exactly what I would expect this car to sell for.

+1 The 993 market has spoken.

[JavaBrewer]

I would have thought a couple K more but oh well. Rick, that's a long way off of your original asking price. Are you satisfied with the outcome?

FWIW, I sold my parents RoadTrek motorhome about 4 months ago. Local buyer offered $40K, I went online at $74K. Got some traffic with real losers wasting my time but I managed to find someone who was solid. Sold cash for $66K. Buyers felt they got a great deal cause I was willing to work the price. BTW, the final price was $3K over my bottom line. If you want it gone it has to be gone. Different ballpark entirely.

[RobertCrav]

I haven't sold a car on autotrader in probably 7-8 years... think social media... if I were you I'd pick your best picture and use a phot editor to write for sale on the pic... enter in a few details, price and contact info the hash tag the heck out of it on instagram... Also find group pages on Facebook to post it in...and of course Craigslist...remember to renew the ad every 2 or 3 days

[speeder]

Ahhhh.....errrr...he sold it a few posts up.

[Scuba Steve]

Aren't ebay "watchers" just a count of page hits within the last however much time?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Scuba Steve

Aren't ebay "watchers" just a count of page hits within the last however much time?

No, when you are shopping on Ebay you click a button that says "watch this item". It then adds the item to your watch list, which is like a favorites list. That way you can see how much it sells for or save it for bidding later.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by speeder

Ahhhh.....errrr...he sold it a few posts up.

What are the odds he doesn't do the deal at $40k ?

[speeder]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

What are the odds he doesn't do the deal at $40k ?

The guy could sue him for more than the difference between $40k and whatever he thinks more he could get and probably prevail. Since Rick let the auction run, he knew that the high bidder would win the car.