Where are all the private sellers??
Discussion
I'm looking to buy a crossover SUV for my wife around £10k and I'm amazed and how few private sellers there are. On Autotrader and Ebay its almost all dealers and there is little on Facebook.
Not only that but for the very few private cars I can find, the prices they are asking are often the same or even more than the dealers.
Conventional wisdom led me to believe I should hold out for a private seller to get the car for a nice discount on what the trade is offering, but that doesn't actually seem to be the case here.
What's going on??
Not only that but for the very few private cars I can find, the prices they are asking are often the same or even more than the dealers.
Conventional wisdom led me to believe I should hold out for a private seller to get the car for a nice discount on what the trade is offering, but that doesn't actually seem to be the case here.
What's going on??
rotaryjam said:
I'm looking to buy a crossover SUV for my wife around £10k and I'm amazed and how few private sellers there are. On Autotrader and Ebay its almost all dealers and there is little on Facebook.
Not only that but for the very few private cars I can find, the prices they are asking are often the same or even more than the dealers.
Conventional wisdom led me to believe I should hold out for a private seller to get the car for a nice discount on what the trade is offering, but that doesn't actually seem to be the case here.
What's going on??
Similar position myself looking for a small SUV for the other half and there are next to none privately.Not only that but for the very few private cars I can find, the prices they are asking are often the same or even more than the dealers.
Conventional wisdom led me to believe I should hold out for a private seller to get the car for a nice discount on what the trade is offering, but that doesn't actually seem to be the case here.
What's going on??
Options are automatic 2021+ 3008, Niro and Bayon. You can count on one hand the amount of private sellers with cars that fall into the spec/budget and they're dearer than a dealer.
Could it be at that budget that many private sellers dont want the risk or hastle of a private sale compaired to wbac etc.
I have been looking for a "shed" as a run around and even anything over 1.5k seem to all be driveway traders with auction cars.
Very rarly have i seen a private sale at 2k less so 10k.
I have been looking for a "shed" as a run around and even anything over 1.5k seem to all be driveway traders with auction cars.
Very rarly have i seen a private sale at 2k less so 10k.
Not worth trying to sell privately anymore with any car of decent value because all you get is wannabe trade buyers offering half the value, or the usual "Best price for cash mate can come now"
The only cars i've sold privately in the last few years have been MOT failures I have wanted off my drive quickly and have been willing to sell for a grand or less.
I last tried selling a reasonable Volvo V60 just before the pandemic and all I got was people trying to barter me down without even asking any detail on the car or making an attempt to view it, it went to a car buying service in the end.
The only cars i've sold privately in the last few years have been MOT failures I have wanted off my drive quickly and have been willing to sell for a grand or less.
I last tried selling a reasonable Volvo V60 just before the pandemic and all I got was people trying to barter me down without even asking any detail on the car or making an attempt to view it, it went to a car buying service in the end.
I wouldn’t bother selling something around the 10k mark privately. Why would you, you can pop it in motorway on the Monday and by Wednesday it’s picked up and cash in the bank. All for maybe 500- 1000 less than selling private.
Last time I tried to sell privately, it was loads of people offering lowball offers without seeing the car, weird scam attempts and people saying they would come view then just not turning up.
You’ve said it yourself in your post you are looking for a bargain price.
Last time I tried to sell privately, it was loads of people offering lowball offers without seeing the car, weird scam attempts and people saying they would come view then just not turning up.
You’ve said it yourself in your post you are looking for a bargain price.
I thought I'd pick an example to see what someone would get selling to WBAC..
Dealer selling for £11k
WBAC offer is £7,200
So to me there is an obvious private sale price of around £9k which benefits both myself and the private seller. This is how it used to work.
In that situation they are £1,800 better off and I am £2,000 better off. Seems like a no brained and how things used to work.
I did find one private seller, their original price £14,999 which they have reduced to £13,499
Equivalent dealer cars are about £12,300
WBAC offer £8,200
I offered around £10k and they laughed at me and said they could get much more trade but to me that's about bang on what it should be.
I wonder has that period of covid where people's cars were worth more than they paid warped their perception?
Dealer selling for £11k
WBAC offer is £7,200
So to me there is an obvious private sale price of around £9k which benefits both myself and the private seller. This is how it used to work.
In that situation they are £1,800 better off and I am £2,000 better off. Seems like a no brained and how things used to work.
I did find one private seller, their original price £14,999 which they have reduced to £13,499
Equivalent dealer cars are about £12,300
WBAC offer £8,200
I offered around £10k and they laughed at me and said they could get much more trade but to me that's about bang on what it should be.
I wonder has that period of covid where people's cars were worth more than they paid warped their perception?
Tigerj said:
I wouldn’t bother selling something around the 10k mark privately. Why would you, you can pop it in motorway on the Monday and by Wednesday it’s picked up and cash in the bank. All for maybe 500- 1000 less than selling private.
Last time I tried to sell privately, it was loads of people offering lowball offers without seeing the car, weird scam attempts and people saying they would come view then just not turning up.
You’ve said it yourself in your post you are looking for a bargain price.
Do people value convenience so highly that they'd rather lose £500-1000 to avoid a bit of hassle? Evidently it seems to but to me that is a lot of cash and I'll glady take the hassleLast time I tried to sell privately, it was loads of people offering lowball offers without seeing the car, weird scam attempts and people saying they would come view then just not turning up.
You’ve said it yourself in your post you are looking for a bargain price.
rotaryjam said:
I thought I'd pick an example to see what someone would get selling to WBAC..
Dealer selling for £11k
WBAC offer is £7,200
So to me there is an obvious private sale price of around £9k which benefits both myself and the private seller. This is how it used to work.
In that situation they are £1,800 better off and I am £2,000 better off. Seems like a no brained and how things used to work.
I did find one private seller, their original price £14,999 which they have reduced to £13,499
Equivalent dealer cars are about £12,300
WBAC offer £8,200
I offered around £10k and they laughed at me and said they could get much more trade but to me that's about bang on what it should be.
I wonder has that period of covid where people's cars were worth more than they paid warped their perception?
But did you go see it and speak to them or did you just try and knock off 3.5k in your first message? Dealer selling for £11k
WBAC offer is £7,200
So to me there is an obvious private sale price of around £9k which benefits both myself and the private seller. This is how it used to work.
In that situation they are £1,800 better off and I am £2,000 better off. Seems like a no brained and how things used to work.
I did find one private seller, their original price £14,999 which they have reduced to £13,499
Equivalent dealer cars are about £12,300
WBAC offer £8,200
I offered around £10k and they laughed at me and said they could get much more trade but to me that's about bang on what it should be.
I wonder has that period of covid where people's cars were worth more than they paid warped their perception?
Tigerj said:
But did you go see it and speak to them or did you just try and knock off 3.5k in your first message?
I didn't as its a long way away, I was sounding them out and they were very clearly not entertaining anything around that mark. The point is that they shouldn't be valuing the car at that level to begin with
rotaryjam said:
Do people value convenience so highly that they'd rather lose £500-1000 to avoid a bit of hassle? Evidently it seems to but to me that is a lot of cash and I'll glady take the hassle
Thats less than a weeks wage for most and most people keep a car at least a couple years. Personally I think the convenience of having the thing shifted in a couple days instead of potentially weeks of dealing with wanabe del boys is worth it.I just sold a 16 X-Trail on Autotrader in 3 days. It wasn’t priced much cheaper than dealer cars but was well maintained/presented and a local family bought it. WBAC/Cazoo were under £8k and I got £10250 so I was happy enough. Once you get much above that for ordinary stuff I think people are more likely to want a trade in or finance etc.
The hassle factor also depends on the car you’re selling - a while back my mate had loads of hassle from dealers/chancers whilst selling his A6 Avant BE.
I do think there might be more private sales in some segments now that the online buyers are not offering great prices.
The hassle factor also depends on the car you’re selling - a while back my mate had loads of hassle from dealers/chancers whilst selling his A6 Avant BE.
I do think there might be more private sales in some segments now that the online buyers are not offering great prices.
Tigerj said:
I wouldn’t bother selling something around the 10k mark privately. Why would you, you can pop it in motorway on the Monday and by Wednesday it’s picked up and cash in the bank. All for maybe 500- 1000 less than selling private.
Last time I tried to sell privately, it was loads of people offering lowball offers without seeing the car, weird scam attempts and people saying they would come view then just not turning up.
You’ve said it yourself in your post you are looking for a bargain price.
This.Last time I tried to sell privately, it was loads of people offering lowball offers without seeing the car, weird scam attempts and people saying they would come view then just not turning up.
You’ve said it yourself in your post you are looking for a bargain price.
I’ve posted about this before, WBAC are not the whole mkt (price setters for all trade buyers).
My own car I’m selling.(offers from trade and valuation sites)
WBAC £26,000
Motorway £29,300
Franchised dealer group buyer £30,000
The dealer who sells them day in day out is offering £4K more than WBAC.
My own car I’m selling.(offers from trade and valuation sites)
WBAC £26,000
Motorway £29,300
Franchised dealer group buyer £30,000
The dealer who sells them day in day out is offering £4K more than WBAC.
Wilmslowboy said:
I’ve posted about this before, WBAC are not the whole mkt (price setters for all trade buyers).
My own car I’m selling.(offers from trade and valuation sites)
WBAC £26,000
Motorway £29,300
Franchised dealer group buyer £30,000
The dealer who sells them day in day out is offering £4K more than WBAC.
Sure, my first point of call is always the dealership that supplied the car new, or otherwise supplied it to me. If they want it, the offer is often the best one.My own car I’m selling.(offers from trade and valuation sites)
WBAC £26,000
Motorway £29,300
Franchised dealer group buyer £30,000
The dealer who sells them day in day out is offering £4K more than WBAC.
rotaryjam said:
I thought I'd pick an example to see what someone would get selling to WBAC..
Dealer selling for £11k
WBAC offer is £7,200
So to me there is an obvious private sale price of around £9k which benefits both myself and the private seller. This is how it used to work.
In that situation they are £1,800 better off and I am £2,000 better off. Seems like a no brained and how things used to work.
I did find one private seller, their original price £14,999 which they have reduced to £13,499
Equivalent dealer cars are about £12,300
WBAC offer £8,200
I offered around £10k and they laughed at me and said they could get much more trade but to me that's about bang on what it should be.
I wonder has that period of covid where people's cars were worth more than they paid warped their perception?
This is what I see too. Dealer selling for £11k
WBAC offer is £7,200
So to me there is an obvious private sale price of around £9k which benefits both myself and the private seller. This is how it used to work.
In that situation they are £1,800 better off and I am £2,000 better off. Seems like a no brained and how things used to work.
I did find one private seller, their original price £14,999 which they have reduced to £13,499
Equivalent dealer cars are about £12,300
WBAC offer £8,200
I offered around £10k and they laughed at me and said they could get much more trade but to me that's about bang on what it should be.
I wonder has that period of covid where people's cars were worth more than they paid warped their perception?
I think there a few basic reasons for the lack of private sales.
Most cars (outside of PH) are bought on finance and private sellers don't offer finance.
People want to buy cars with a warranty, how ever useless that may be. Private sellers don't offer this.
Buying a car from a dealer offers some kind of protection.
From a sellers point of view, everyone bids them at WBAC valuation so why not PX.
Dealing with Joe Public is a pain.
Most sellers need to sell before buying another and being without a car for a few weeks is a pain.
Probably dealers buying up the private sale stock that is any good, before you see it.
I would always choose PX of some kind over trying to sell privately.
Most cars (outside of PH) are bought on finance and private sellers don't offer finance.
People want to buy cars with a warranty, how ever useless that may be. Private sellers don't offer this.
Buying a car from a dealer offers some kind of protection.
From a sellers point of view, everyone bids them at WBAC valuation so why not PX.
Dealing with Joe Public is a pain.
Most sellers need to sell before buying another and being without a car for a few weeks is a pain.
Probably dealers buying up the private sale stock that is any good, before you see it.
I would always choose PX of some kind over trying to sell privately.
rotaryjam said:
I thought I'd pick an example to see what someone would get selling to WBAC..
Dealer selling for £11k
WBAC offer is £7,200
So to me there is an obvious private sale price of around £9k which benefits both myself and the private seller. This is how it used to work.
In that situation they are £1,800 better off and I am £2,000 better off. Seems like a no brained and how things used to work.
I did find one private seller, their original price £14,999 which they have reduced to £13,499
Equivalent dealer cars are about £12,300
WBAC offer £8,200
I offered around £10k and they laughed at me and said they could get much more trade but to me that's about bang on what it should be.
I wonder has that period of covid where people's cars were worth more than they paid warped their perception?
This is what I see too. Dealer selling for £11k
WBAC offer is £7,200
So to me there is an obvious private sale price of around £9k which benefits both myself and the private seller. This is how it used to work.
In that situation they are £1,800 better off and I am £2,000 better off. Seems like a no brained and how things used to work.
I did find one private seller, their original price £14,999 which they have reduced to £13,499
Equivalent dealer cars are about £12,300
WBAC offer £8,200
I offered around £10k and they laughed at me and said they could get much more trade but to me that's about bang on what it should be.
I wonder has that period of covid where people's cars were worth more than they paid warped their perception?
rotaryjam said:
Tigerj said:
I wouldn’t bother selling something around the 10k mark privately. Why would you, you can pop it in motorway on the Monday and by Wednesday it’s picked up and cash in the bank. All for maybe 500- 1000 less than selling private.
Last time I tried to sell privately, it was loads of people offering lowball offers without seeing the car, weird scam attempts and people saying they would come view then just not turning up.
You’ve said it yourself in your post you are looking for a bargain price.
Do people value convenience so highly that they'd rather lose £500-1000 to avoid a bit of hassle? Last time I tried to sell privately, it was loads of people offering lowball offers without seeing the car, weird scam attempts and people saying they would come view then just not turning up.
You’ve said it yourself in your post you are looking for a bargain price.
People don't want to deal with time-wasters, scammers, dreamers, "what's your best price bruv", "will you swap it for a Playstation 4", dodgy money transfers, groups of people turning up for a test drive and people offering 3.5 grand less than the car is up for sale at
Chamon_Lee said:
rotaryjam said:
I thought I'd pick an example to see what someone would get selling to WBAC..
Dealer selling for £11k
WBAC offer is £7,200
So to me there is an obvious private sale price of around £9k which benefits both myself and the private seller. This is how it used to work.
In that situation they are £1,800 better off and I am £2,000 better off. Seems like a no brained and how things used to work.
I did find one private seller, their original price £14,999 which they have reduced to £13,499
Equivalent dealer cars are about £12,300
WBAC offer £8,200
I offered around £10k and they laughed at me and said they could get much more trade but to me that's about bang on what it should be.
I wonder has that period of covid where people's cars were worth more than they paid warped their perception?
This is what I see too. Dealer selling for £11k
WBAC offer is £7,200
So to me there is an obvious private sale price of around £9k which benefits both myself and the private seller. This is how it used to work.
In that situation they are £1,800 better off and I am £2,000 better off. Seems like a no brained and how things used to work.
I did find one private seller, their original price £14,999 which they have reduced to £13,499
Equivalent dealer cars are about £12,300
WBAC offer £8,200
I offered around £10k and they laughed at me and said they could get much more trade but to me that's about bang on what it should be.
I wonder has that period of covid where people's cars were worth more than they paid warped their perception?
2017 Leon FR estate, 1.4tsi (150bhp), DSG, £30 VED, timing belt done, new brakes, with 93k miles and FSH.
Dealers: £9.5-12k
WBAC: £6k
Me priced: £8.5k ono, would come down to £8k if needed.
Not a sniff. No one. No views. Nada.
I think it is also a buyer concern - modern cars have so much that can be a costly fix, and few folk know what they are looking at. No one wants to buy privately without any comeback - whereas dealers we have some comeback.
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