Sell, break, Ebay?
Discussion
My E30 M3 is up for sale,
Shameless plug http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/202902.htm
Thing is its not getting much response, people keep ringing up and talking sh!te and wasting my time, I want to cut down to 1 car and this will either be a 911 or E46 M3 thing is the e30 is taking up room in the garage.
I thought of Ebay but then I think of more timewasting, perhaps break the car although it would be a crime I shouldn't do to bad on the income from the bits provided there is demand. The only other thing is to crash the price for a quick sale but for what it is I think it is fairly priced anyway.
Just wanted to moan.
Gaz
Shameless plug http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/202902.htm
Thing is its not getting much response, people keep ringing up and talking sh!te and wasting my time, I want to cut down to 1 car and this will either be a 911 or E46 M3 thing is the e30 is taking up room in the garage.
I thought of Ebay but then I think of more timewasting, perhaps break the car although it would be a crime I shouldn't do to bad on the income from the bits provided there is demand. The only other thing is to crash the price for a quick sale but for what it is I think it is fairly priced anyway.
Just wanted to moan.
Gaz
Well I read the advert and was left wondering 'If' there was any bar the recent service
Condition / History / Provenance is what sells these
Derin100 minted his and sold it for a very good price (It was a top dollar car though not mega low miles) in less than 10 days
See his website www.bmwclassics.co.uk for details
Condition / History / Provenance is what sells these
Derin100 minted his and sold it for a very good price (It was a top dollar car though not mega low miles) in less than 10 days
See his website www.bmwclassics.co.uk for details
I have used the format from the site you posted, hopefully it might get a response this time. 
Crime to break it but needs must.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/202902.htm
Crime to break it but needs must.http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/202902.htm
Edited by R5Gttgaz on Tuesday 17th July 21:48
Much more informative, and sounds like its now being sold by someone that understands the carGarry
I don't contribute much here anymore but couldn't help seeing this stem via my website site meter and felt compelled to add to it:
Before anything, I want to preface anything I'm going to say with the hope that it is taken in the spirit in which it is intended i.e to help you with the sale of your car.
It is an inevitability when it comes to trying to sell an E30 M3 that you will be faced with the potential for running the gaunlet of a never ending line of timewasters, dreamers, 'wannabe experts' who 'think' they know what they're talking about...and other general dross,drivel and detritus!
So...tip number one...under no circumstances initally give the above group any means of contacting other than by e-mail. In so doing you will be able filter out a good proportion of them without having to spend endless hours of your precious time talking to them on the phone, showing them your car or waiting for them to show up and then being exacerbated when they don't! It's quite often clear from written text, within an e-mail, who is serious and who is a w$nker. Don't even respond to them!
Tip number two...I looked at your ad sometime ago and thought to myself:
"There's a potentially good sounding car".
But the important word in that sentence is: that's what "I" thought...other potential serious buyers maybe wouldn't spend the time to sit back and reflect or indeed even be aware of some of the important and common areas that you've obviously spent time and money addressing.
No near-20 year old E30 M3 is going to be absolutely perfect in all respects but you've clearly been aware and attended to many important issues. Whilst these are stated in your ad the overall impression, unfortunately, is of someone who "can't really be bothered". As stated above this is clearly not the case...but is perhaps the impression that is given by the ad?
Thirdly, I'm given further concern by something you've said in this very stem...along the lines of:
"It's all too much to list here".
Well, it probably is! But that gives the impression that you can't be arsed. Again, I re-inforce the fact that I'm not saying you haven't been arsed about the car...clearly you have been...it's just that possibly this is message that is being sent out without you being aware of it?
As an example, you may have by now read the text on my website for my car?
http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/e30_m3/index.html
Even after all the work ...organising work...financial outlay, preparation I physically did on the car myself there reamined the task of getting the photos, text and webpage together. This was a large task in it's own right. A task I didn't (and never do) relish having to do.
Indeed, I procrastinated and prevaricated for weeks until I forced myself to sit down and do it! But I did it and I sold my car.
I'm certainly no David Bailey and I did the photos of my car with a simple high-street digital camera...I don't even know how to use it really. I can see (and again I emphasise the "I"
that you've tried with your shots of the car...but you've failed on this occasion...as I often do! So try again!
You've clearly put effort into this car so, as someone else has already suggested, for God-sake do simple things like put some centre caps on the wheels! Ok...so you're missing a couple at that moment? Get on Ebay and buy another set...Yeah, I know they don't come cheap even on there but it'll be £60 well spent.
I'm not suggesting you need to go to the lengths and expense that I necessarily go to with my cars but there are simple things you can do, as suggested by others, to improve the saleability of your car.
My car drove off into the sunset this afternoon (or rather rain!). It was a sad day after six and a half years and there was a lump in my throat but I sold it to a genuine buyer, for a good price and I did this without ever even actually advertising formally via any other media other than putting the details up on my own site. Indeed, in reality it would have sold to one of the people queuing up for it before it even got as far as my website!
Now, I'm not suggesting you need to take your car to the length that I did with mine (the extra mechanical renewal, expensive paintwork, extra wheels, tyres, parts etc)...that's an entirely separate issue which ultimately made no financial sense. By that I mean I could have, in real terms, come out "quids ahead" without going to these lengths.
However, what I am saying is that it is not your car per se that is at fault at the moment in not achieving a sale...it is the presentation and marketing that is causing it to fail to achieve. Yes, it requires effort....but that's what it takes.
I don't think dropping the price is the best way forward for you at all...there's nothing wrong with the price.
I think breaking the car up for parts would be a catastrophe!
Ebay may give you wider exposure and if you stick it on there with 'No Reserve' of course it will sell. But Ebay is a two-edged sword and can be merciless....and believe me, if you use the same photos and approach it will be merciless.
Yes, it is true that I have achieved good prices for some of my cars. In the recent past 'some people'...I'm thinking particularly of this forum...actually ONLY this forum (!)...have baulked at the price of some of my cars. I'm thinking particularly the way I was laughed at and ridiculed for asking for: "Offers over £7K" for this car:
http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/e28_528i/index.html
Ultimately, I ended up with two parties fighting over it for £8K....which is what I got for it. All the detractors (there's another good "d" fell silent thereafter.
That's actually because most of them don't know what they're talking about and actually have no appreciation of the subject upon which they choose to expound. In the immortal words of the Steve Martin film: "They don't know shit from shineola!".
That's because they have no real understanding of the efforts involved (eg. the countless evenings and weekends spent on the car itself, the countless hours spent trawling the internet for parts, the efforts gone into organising third-party work and getting it to and fro....etc etc). However, Some people do....and you only need ONE of them per car. And you only need one of them for your car!
My point on this score is:
Many will not understand or appreciate what you have really done to your car and that there is an inherent 'cost' in that.
Sure there maybe still issues and things that 'could' be done...this is the inevitability of any near 20 year old car....let alone a near-20 year old E30 M3....but you need to project what has been done to this car a little better and its 'plus' points more clearly.
A lot of these 'experts' may think they can do better...and for less. Well, my answer to that it is:
"Go ahead and do it then!"
I don't sell my cars 'cheap'...not because I need the money for the cars but simply 'on principle'.
Whilst they rarely make ultimate financial sense to me it is a principle of acknowledgement from the buyer (and you only need ONE!) that they are cognescent and appreciative of the efforts that you have gone to.
Don't drop the price...Don't scrap it...DO put it on Ebay but DON'T sell it on Ebay....
And most of all don't take offence to anything I have said above. These are just my thoughts and said in an attempt to help you with you sale.
If you want anymore thoughts...please e-mail me via my website.
Best of luck!
Kind regards
Derin
www.bmwclassics.co.uk
I don't contribute much here anymore but couldn't help seeing this stem via my website site meter and felt compelled to add to it:
Before anything, I want to preface anything I'm going to say with the hope that it is taken in the spirit in which it is intended i.e to help you with the sale of your car.
It is an inevitability when it comes to trying to sell an E30 M3 that you will be faced with the potential for running the gaunlet of a never ending line of timewasters, dreamers, 'wannabe experts' who 'think' they know what they're talking about...and other general dross,drivel and detritus!
So...tip number one...under no circumstances initally give the above group any means of contacting other than by e-mail. In so doing you will be able filter out a good proportion of them without having to spend endless hours of your precious time talking to them on the phone, showing them your car or waiting for them to show up and then being exacerbated when they don't! It's quite often clear from written text, within an e-mail, who is serious and who is a w$nker. Don't even respond to them!
Tip number two...I looked at your ad sometime ago and thought to myself:
"There's a potentially good sounding car".
But the important word in that sentence is: that's what "I" thought...other potential serious buyers maybe wouldn't spend the time to sit back and reflect or indeed even be aware of some of the important and common areas that you've obviously spent time and money addressing.
No near-20 year old E30 M3 is going to be absolutely perfect in all respects but you've clearly been aware and attended to many important issues. Whilst these are stated in your ad the overall impression, unfortunately, is of someone who "can't really be bothered". As stated above this is clearly not the case...but is perhaps the impression that is given by the ad?
Thirdly, I'm given further concern by something you've said in this very stem...along the lines of:
"It's all too much to list here".
Well, it probably is! But that gives the impression that you can't be arsed. Again, I re-inforce the fact that I'm not saying you haven't been arsed about the car...clearly you have been...it's just that possibly this is message that is being sent out without you being aware of it?
As an example, you may have by now read the text on my website for my car?
http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/e30_m3/index.html
Even after all the work ...organising work...financial outlay, preparation I physically did on the car myself there reamined the task of getting the photos, text and webpage together. This was a large task in it's own right. A task I didn't (and never do) relish having to do.
Indeed, I procrastinated and prevaricated for weeks until I forced myself to sit down and do it! But I did it and I sold my car.
I'm certainly no David Bailey and I did the photos of my car with a simple high-street digital camera...I don't even know how to use it really. I can see (and again I emphasise the "I"
that you've tried with your shots of the car...but you've failed on this occasion...as I often do! So try again!You've clearly put effort into this car so, as someone else has already suggested, for God-sake do simple things like put some centre caps on the wheels! Ok...so you're missing a couple at that moment? Get on Ebay and buy another set...Yeah, I know they don't come cheap even on there but it'll be £60 well spent.
I'm not suggesting you need to go to the lengths and expense that I necessarily go to with my cars but there are simple things you can do, as suggested by others, to improve the saleability of your car.
My car drove off into the sunset this afternoon (or rather rain!). It was a sad day after six and a half years and there was a lump in my throat but I sold it to a genuine buyer, for a good price and I did this without ever even actually advertising formally via any other media other than putting the details up on my own site. Indeed, in reality it would have sold to one of the people queuing up for it before it even got as far as my website!
Now, I'm not suggesting you need to take your car to the length that I did with mine (the extra mechanical renewal, expensive paintwork, extra wheels, tyres, parts etc)...that's an entirely separate issue which ultimately made no financial sense. By that I mean I could have, in real terms, come out "quids ahead" without going to these lengths.
However, what I am saying is that it is not your car per se that is at fault at the moment in not achieving a sale...it is the presentation and marketing that is causing it to fail to achieve. Yes, it requires effort....but that's what it takes.
I don't think dropping the price is the best way forward for you at all...there's nothing wrong with the price.
I think breaking the car up for parts would be a catastrophe!
Ebay may give you wider exposure and if you stick it on there with 'No Reserve' of course it will sell. But Ebay is a two-edged sword and can be merciless....and believe me, if you use the same photos and approach it will be merciless.
Yes, it is true that I have achieved good prices for some of my cars. In the recent past 'some people'...I'm thinking particularly of this forum...actually ONLY this forum (!)...have baulked at the price of some of my cars. I'm thinking particularly the way I was laughed at and ridiculed for asking for: "Offers over £7K" for this car:
http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/e28_528i/index.html
Ultimately, I ended up with two parties fighting over it for £8K....which is what I got for it. All the detractors (there's another good "d"
fell silent thereafter. That's actually because most of them don't know what they're talking about and actually have no appreciation of the subject upon which they choose to expound. In the immortal words of the Steve Martin film: "They don't know shit from shineola!".
That's because they have no real understanding of the efforts involved (eg. the countless evenings and weekends spent on the car itself, the countless hours spent trawling the internet for parts, the efforts gone into organising third-party work and getting it to and fro....etc etc). However, Some people do....and you only need ONE of them per car. And you only need one of them for your car!
My point on this score is:
Many will not understand or appreciate what you have really done to your car and that there is an inherent 'cost' in that.
Sure there maybe still issues and things that 'could' be done...this is the inevitability of any near 20 year old car....let alone a near-20 year old E30 M3....but you need to project what has been done to this car a little better and its 'plus' points more clearly.
A lot of these 'experts' may think they can do better...and for less. Well, my answer to that it is:
"Go ahead and do it then!"
I don't sell my cars 'cheap'...not because I need the money for the cars but simply 'on principle'.
Whilst they rarely make ultimate financial sense to me it is a principle of acknowledgement from the buyer (and you only need ONE!) that they are cognescent and appreciative of the efforts that you have gone to.
Don't drop the price...Don't scrap it...DO put it on Ebay but DON'T sell it on Ebay....
And most of all don't take offence to anything I have said above. These are just my thoughts and said in an attempt to help you with you sale.
If you want anymore thoughts...please e-mail me via my website.
Best of luck!
Kind regards
Derin
www.bmwclassics.co.uk
Edited by derin100 on Tuesday 17th July 22:51
Edited by derin100 on Tuesday 17th July 22:56
Derin many thanks for your reply, it makes good reading.
Its a shame I have to sell it because it is an awesome car and is ready for many more years usage. I think I would keep it forever if I had a double garage, replacing it will be a hard task and this is why I think a 911 or E46 M3 should suffice.
I'll try get it advertised elsewhere, time is a bit of a problem as is owning a decent camera, the car is super clean and looks brand new, the pics are coming out a bit crap if I'm honest.
Thanks again.
Its a shame I have to sell it because it is an awesome car and is ready for many more years usage. I think I would keep it forever if I had a double garage, replacing it will be a hard task and this is why I think a 911 or E46 M3 should suffice.
I'll try get it advertised elsewhere, time is a bit of a problem as is owning a decent camera, the car is super clean and looks brand new, the pics are coming out a bit crap if I'm honest.
Thanks again.
It's a NICE car, but I assume that the "timewasters" have no real target on what they intend to buy. That is : They have £8K in their pocket and they are trying to see how much performance they can get for the dosh. So they might spend it on a Sierra Coswart, or a 944 or a TVR or a jap thing, and maybe the ammount of information puts them off, they're thinking "Wow complex, that looks expensive to run" or maybe they are just time wasters.
It is about the only BMW I'd even contemplate buying, but being realistic I know I'd be comparing it with all sorts of other beauties, and I know I don't know enough about them.
The only person that is going to buy it is someone who has been looking for that car alone for months and has looked at 12 lesser examples.
It is about the only BMW I'd even contemplate buying, but being realistic I know I'd be comparing it with all sorts of other beauties, and I know I don't know enough about them.
The only person that is going to buy it is someone who has been looking for that car alone for months and has looked at 12 lesser examples.
It looks like a nice car and there seams to be people looking for E30 M3's, the wheels looking dirty and the centre caps missing do let the car down in the pictures. and the exhaust also looks wonky.
These are very silly little things but stop the car looking like someones pride and joy and people may therefore give it a miss.
in my opinion silvers one of the best colours and the car is at the right sort of price so it should really sell.
Don't break it, its better than the one in my garage!
could try ebay i've sold 3 cars through ebay (E46 M3 cab, XJS and a rove), usually when people see it on there come and look at it and the deal is done outside of ebay.
These are very silly little things but stop the car looking like someones pride and joy and people may therefore give it a miss.
in my opinion silvers one of the best colours and the car is at the right sort of price so it should really sell.
Don't break it, its better than the one in my garage!
could try ebay i've sold 3 cars through ebay (E46 M3 cab, XJS and a rove), usually when people see it on there come and look at it and the deal is done outside of ebay.
A tip for derin.
First let me congratulate you on the presentation of your car. Top job.
However, An excellent way of weeding out "Time wasters" is to not waste potential buyers time in the first place and actually put the asking price in the advert.
people with under "£ the required ammount" will then know for sure that the car is not for them. You will not know for sure if that simple e-mail saying "How much mate" is from someone who has done the rounds and looked at every ill treated dog in the country and is sick of being told "It's mint" on the phone only to find out that the car is nothing of the sort when viewed. And who now is bored with typing long winded e-mails for nothing.
Not putting the price up is just like all the cars you see at the side of the road with "For sale" in the window with no price. If they had put a "£" sign with some numbers after it anyone who is capable of counting out cash will know that the "£" sign and the numbers are refering to the car in question actually being for sale, and the price being asked.
If the "Presentation" is for some sort of on line car show then all well and good but in an advert there are 2 crucial things needed. The product and the price. All the detail stuff is purely to justify/reinforce/bolster the price.
ie.
car.........E30 M3
Price.......£?????
reason for price... Blah blah blah etc.
If I was looking for an E30 M3 your advert would attract me, and if I was looking for a very tidy example I would want to know more. But unfortunately I don't know if your car is worth £8K, £10K or even £15K+. but if that car was just what i was looking for (Very tidy) then the price might not be so important, but it would be nice to know before wasting either of ours time.
I hope my post makes sense.
BTW. what was it advertised for????(Seriously)
First let me congratulate you on the presentation of your car. Top job.
However, An excellent way of weeding out "Time wasters" is to not waste potential buyers time in the first place and actually put the asking price in the advert.
people with under "£ the required ammount" will then know for sure that the car is not for them. You will not know for sure if that simple e-mail saying "How much mate" is from someone who has done the rounds and looked at every ill treated dog in the country and is sick of being told "It's mint" on the phone only to find out that the car is nothing of the sort when viewed. And who now is bored with typing long winded e-mails for nothing.
Not putting the price up is just like all the cars you see at the side of the road with "For sale" in the window with no price. If they had put a "£" sign with some numbers after it anyone who is capable of counting out cash will know that the "£" sign and the numbers are refering to the car in question actually being for sale, and the price being asked.
If the "Presentation" is for some sort of on line car show then all well and good but in an advert there are 2 crucial things needed. The product and the price. All the detail stuff is purely to justify/reinforce/bolster the price.
ie.
car.........E30 M3
Price.......£?????
reason for price... Blah blah blah etc.
If I was looking for an E30 M3 your advert would attract me, and if I was looking for a very tidy example I would want to know more. But unfortunately I don't know if your car is worth £8K, £10K or even £15K+. but if that car was just what i was looking for (Very tidy) then the price might not be so important, but it would be nice to know before wasting either of ours time.
I hope my post makes sense.
BTW. what was it advertised for????(Seriously)
Edited by Dave Dax builder on Wednesday 18th July 21:48
Dave,
Thanks for your tips....plus I do understand what your saying.
However, a couple of things...
Firstly, I've been down the route of allowing every Tom, Dick and Harry to actually speak to me on the phone in the past. It's no good!
1)It's no good for me...as I simply don't have the time to spend endless hours talking to all and sundry every evening when I at home.
2)It's no good for my wife...to have to keep answering the phone.
3)It's no good for my kids...to be woken by the phone at all hours (!) when Tom, Dick or clueless W$nker decides to phone.
Secondly, you'll notice that the 'ad' for the car never actually went public anywhere. That is, I did not personally put an 'ad' as such for the car using any media other than my own website.
I simply did the webpage and sent the link to the several interested parties who had been waiting for the car to become available (plus some other interested enthusiasts for interests sake only) and invited them to make me an offer. Links to the page ended up on this and other forums via these channels.
Again, I did this to avoid getting involved with Tom, Dick and their mates.
Although, the car was only collected yesterday the sale was in fact agreed two weeks ago. This was with the first of these parties mentioned above who actually came to view. That is, it was in reality sold within 3 days of the webpage being put together! Webpage live on Sunday night....viewed on Wednesday...negotiation and sale agreed by telephone on Thursday morning actually.
I could maybe have got more for the car by hanging out and advertising publicly but I'm satisfied that I got a fair price for the car with an easy and pleasant transaction with the car going to someone who really wanted it and appeared prepared to look after it and pay to maintain it.
I'm further relieved that at no stage did I have to deal with Tom, Dick and well, you know who!
On other occasions I have put clear and firm prices on cars. Take a look at the bottom of this page for example:
http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/alpina_b3/index.html
Now, there was a prime example of a car I learnt my lessons with! You wouldn't believe how much time I wasted on the phone and got screwed around with that car! It was only when my wife took a call and said: "He's decided not to sell it because too many people have wasted his time!" that things changed. That was when one of the people who had actually failed to turn up then almost pleaded with me for a second chance to buy it. He left his home at 6am the very next morning and was here before 9am and the car was sold.
Yet, for months afterwards even though it clearly said on the website: "SOLD" I continued to get enquiries: "Is it really sold, Mate?" Imagine that via the telephone every evening?!
On occasions I have given what might be termed a price guide.
This car was, for example, advertised at "First offer over £7100 secures".
http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/e28_528i/index.html
I don't know if you remember the...well, let's just call it "unpleasantness" now that that drew on this very forum?
No matter now...in the end I sold it for £8K to someone with whom I had no actual telephone contact until the day before he came to collect it with the cash. The other person, who was also genuine and also going to give me £8K for the car I also had no verbal contact with at all!
Coming back to the E30 M3...all seemingly genuinely interested parties were actually personally given an indication of price via e-mail contact and a telephone number at that stage and thus given the opportunity to discuss things with me, get here and ultimately buy the car if they were so inclined.
There was only one car for sale and hence there could only be one deal struck and one car bought! That happened quickly and easily.
Whilst I accept that this was always going to be a very easy car to sell and may be I could have got more...but to squeeze another couple of £K out is not what I do it for and I'm satisfied with the outcome.
But don't get me wrong....I do understand what you're saying entirely. I know your saying: "Put a clear price on it and you'll filter out a lot of Toms, Dicks and Harrys automatically."
But in my experience, Dave, that doesn't always work. I think that's because you're thinking of people acting in a generally reasonable manner as you might yourself. But many people don't.
I've had people trying to haggle with me on the phone many times before we've even got anywhere about the car itself:
"C'mon Mate, what's your best price, Mate?"
To which my answer is usually:
"Sorry, this isn't a f*c$ing kebab shop and I'm not your f*c$ing Mate. Goodnight!"
Actually, in truth, I don't say the "f*c$ing" bit...I just 'think' it in the pauses during the sentence....
It just the way I want to "work things".
Cheers
P.S Dave, you have e-mail
Thanks for your tips....plus I do understand what your saying.
However, a couple of things...
Firstly, I've been down the route of allowing every Tom, Dick and Harry to actually speak to me on the phone in the past. It's no good!
1)It's no good for me...as I simply don't have the time to spend endless hours talking to all and sundry every evening when I at home.
2)It's no good for my wife...to have to keep answering the phone.
3)It's no good for my kids...to be woken by the phone at all hours (!) when Tom, Dick or clueless W$nker decides to phone.
Secondly, you'll notice that the 'ad' for the car never actually went public anywhere. That is, I did not personally put an 'ad' as such for the car using any media other than my own website.
I simply did the webpage and sent the link to the several interested parties who had been waiting for the car to become available (plus some other interested enthusiasts for interests sake only) and invited them to make me an offer. Links to the page ended up on this and other forums via these channels.
Again, I did this to avoid getting involved with Tom, Dick and their mates.
Although, the car was only collected yesterday the sale was in fact agreed two weeks ago. This was with the first of these parties mentioned above who actually came to view. That is, it was in reality sold within 3 days of the webpage being put together! Webpage live on Sunday night....viewed on Wednesday...negotiation and sale agreed by telephone on Thursday morning actually.
I could maybe have got more for the car by hanging out and advertising publicly but I'm satisfied that I got a fair price for the car with an easy and pleasant transaction with the car going to someone who really wanted it and appeared prepared to look after it and pay to maintain it.
I'm further relieved that at no stage did I have to deal with Tom, Dick and well, you know who!
On other occasions I have put clear and firm prices on cars. Take a look at the bottom of this page for example:
http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/alpina_b3/index.html
Now, there was a prime example of a car I learnt my lessons with! You wouldn't believe how much time I wasted on the phone and got screwed around with that car! It was only when my wife took a call and said: "He's decided not to sell it because too many people have wasted his time!" that things changed. That was when one of the people who had actually failed to turn up then almost pleaded with me for a second chance to buy it. He left his home at 6am the very next morning and was here before 9am and the car was sold.
Yet, for months afterwards even though it clearly said on the website: "SOLD" I continued to get enquiries: "Is it really sold, Mate?" Imagine that via the telephone every evening?!
On occasions I have given what might be termed a price guide.
This car was, for example, advertised at "First offer over £7100 secures".
http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/e28_528i/index.html
I don't know if you remember the...well, let's just call it "unpleasantness" now that that drew on this very forum?
No matter now...in the end I sold it for £8K to someone with whom I had no actual telephone contact until the day before he came to collect it with the cash. The other person, who was also genuine and also going to give me £8K for the car I also had no verbal contact with at all!
Coming back to the E30 M3...all seemingly genuinely interested parties were actually personally given an indication of price via e-mail contact and a telephone number at that stage and thus given the opportunity to discuss things with me, get here and ultimately buy the car if they were so inclined.
There was only one car for sale and hence there could only be one deal struck and one car bought! That happened quickly and easily.
Whilst I accept that this was always going to be a very easy car to sell and may be I could have got more...but to squeeze another couple of £K out is not what I do it for and I'm satisfied with the outcome.
But don't get me wrong....I do understand what you're saying entirely. I know your saying: "Put a clear price on it and you'll filter out a lot of Toms, Dicks and Harrys automatically."
But in my experience, Dave, that doesn't always work. I think that's because you're thinking of people acting in a generally reasonable manner as you might yourself. But many people don't.
I've had people trying to haggle with me on the phone many times before we've even got anywhere about the car itself:
"C'mon Mate, what's your best price, Mate?"
To which my answer is usually:
"Sorry, this isn't a f*c$ing kebab shop and I'm not your f*c$ing Mate. Goodnight!"
Actually, in truth, I don't say the "f*c$ing" bit...I just 'think' it in the pauses during the sentence....
It just the way I want to "work things".
Cheers
P.S Dave, you have e-mail
Edited by derin100 on Wednesday 18th July 23:38
Edited by derin100 on Thursday 19th July 00:07
Car actually looks better than the descriptions suggests. You really don't to be mentioning a second of static when you turn the radio on, or that you think these cars should be driven not polished hence the bodywork imperfections etc. Terrible terrible things to draw attention too in an advert. Also its too bloody/hard to read! Cut out all the negativity and you'll probably be closer to the mark. Also clean the wheels.
All imho! Good luck!
All imho! Good luck!
Had a f'kin 'nough of these wan kar time wasters, I had someone today on their second viewing came round and said if the jacking points were ok then he was happy to purchase. I went home early jacked it up let him look all underneath I even offered a hammer to smack the car with and he still was not confident. People treating these cars as if they should have an 07 plate on and be like they rolled off the shop floor should feck off for the price its up for. Mad Mad Mad
I'm thinking of putting it up for £995 just to get rid, I don't need the money I just need the room. In fact I could just have the b'stard thing crushed. I am never selling a car privately ever again.
I'm thinking of putting it up for £995 just to get rid, I don't need the money I just need the room. In fact I could just have the b'stard thing crushed. I am never selling a car privately ever again.
Can totally understand your frustrations. I had enough grief selling an old (84) 323i, let alone something like the M3. Unfortunately these cars seem to attract the idiot time wasters or just nosey idiots. I could understand someone expecting it to be factory fresh if it was up for £15k+ but I think your asking a fair price. Someone will pay the asking price eventually its just finding the right person or more like the right person finding you. Stick with it, I know your in a rush to clear the space but you will sell it, its just when. If you do decide to sell for £995 let me know
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