anyone else having trouble selling cars/trucks?

I have a 95 ford cargo van that I'm helping a contractor freind sell. it has 172k on it, but the price reflects it

we listed it 2x on ebay at 1500 bucks 30 watchers no bids,
I keep listing it on CL and i've gotten a few questions but no one serious to driove out and look at it.

is everyone having trouble
is there no market for my vehicle?

 

Have you tried posting an ad in your local paper? I've learned that people really interested in used vehicles trust want ads more than ads on the internet.

 

People expect contractor vans with that age and mileage to be worn out. They keep them until they are terminal.

 

Try lowering your price. It sounds like you have had people interested but no one wanting to pay that much for it. I am not saying it is not worth what you are asking but anything will sell at the right price.

 

I would try something like this:
1995 van.
Starts, runs, goes and stops. Doors still work.
Bottom of engine and trans looks wet but does not leave large puddles everywhere.
$500.00.

 

> it has 172k on it
> we listed it 2x on ebay at 1500 bucks

Okay, first off the reality check. It is a large van and gas is $3 a gallon.

Second it is not a diesel, a club wagon, or 4x4 (otherwise you would have mentioned it) so it is basically a worn out business wreck in a salt state with no redemming features, that sucks gas, to most people that will need either an engine or tranmission sooner then later.

Add that $1500 repair to the purchase price and it is a worn out $3000 vehicle. Anyone with $3000 will buy a new vehicle.

Third, the mileage is very high for that year van, I would have to double check KBB, but would have expected under 100k for $1500. You can deduct all you want for mileage and condition, it is still a almost 200K van and gas is still $3 a gallon.

I have posted it before. Anything ten years and older, more like six, that can't be financed without redeeming features (4x4) is a $1000-$1200 vehicle, tops! Anyone with $1500 and 1/2 decent credit can get a dealer to co-sign and drive out with a new vehicle or one close to it. Dealers are used to people showig up with only $500 and consider themselves lucky to see that much cash without holding a check "until next Friday".

I sell my used cars and trucks using this rule of thumb all the time. When I buy or inherit a vehicle, if I can't sell it for $1200 or less I know I will be sitting on it for a LONG time. Unless it is a 4x4, a standard is unsaleable.

I suggest trying Craigslist if you are shooting for $1500.

Otherwise start the E-Bay off at $500 like the previous person mentioned! FWIW: If I see an auction where a "friend" is selling it and they just give a number to call and absolve themselves of all liability I may watch the item, but, I don't bother to bid or call.

One thing you should be aware of, since E-BAY changed the viewing of IDs, many people will not bid on higher priced items to avoid auction curbers.

I just sold my 4x4 van, that got crushed by a tree, on CL for $750 and I had people beating down my door to buy it. If it was not a 4x4, I would have been lucky to have the scrap dealer take it away for free.

> I keep listing it on CL and i've gotten a few questions
> but no one serious to driove out and look at it.

Out of those, if you get one person out of six that actually shows up when they say they are coming by, you are lucky.

> is there no market for my vehicle?

There is a market at $500, probably not at $1500. I would go $1200 or best offer. I don't let people test drive without seeing a license, insurance card, and a few $100 in cash first. Keeps the stiffs away.

 

rebocardo, that was great advice on selling. Good post.

 

I won't argue that they might not be the best maintained, but I found a 10 yr old 250 with 113,000 mi. ($2,500 + body was good!) and am up to 130,000+ now. Yeah, needed some stuff, but not bad. Had it over two years now.

I hung a "For Sale" sign in it for a few months last winter...nothing but bargain shoppers. I do have trouble selling anything I want to get rid of because I won't give it away. On the other hand, no one believes you when you point out the work that has been done (that they won't have to do). I keep a book on everything....they don't want to see it, just want the bargain.

 

Maybe $1,500 is high, but would the guy be better off putting it in his front lawn for $400 and selling it in the next ten minutes? That would tell me the price was too low! Guess that's why I'm not a successful salesman.

 

The low bluebook from a rust belt state is $1900, so no, the price isn't out of line. On the other hand, it's only worth what people will pay for it. If it is a cargo van, has a box instead of being a conventional van, or has racks in it, I would pay and list it in heavy truck trader. Most contractors have a copy of that sitting on their desks, and that is the market you are after.
Also post in the commercial equipment section of your local CL, if they have that. Use key words like painter, carpenter, contractor, work van, ladder racks, etc.

 

ok Rebo, What do flooring / painting guys drive in your area? hondas??

 

I think it is all about where you list it. Case in point Excursions with 150 to 200,000 km V-10 4X4 sell in Alberta for $25000 to $28000 CDN. I bought mine in Manitoba for $16000 with only 80000km on it. The fellow selling it had 3 Excursions which he couldn't get rid of for 3 months. In frustration he listed them on a Canada wide for sale site and in two days all three were sold to guys in Alberta.

You just got to figure out where your market is. Selling is like fishing; you want to catch something you got to look for a good spot and get casting !!! Good luck.

 

Good one Jake...

I think you're targeting the wrong crowd when you list on E-bay or Craig's list. E-bay is good for stuff that no one else has and Craig's list usually means a super deal. I've not had good experiences selling on either really... Just buying. Most people that have a need for a truck like this just look in the local paper or the truck trader (like someone else said). I've got a few friends that do various contract work and when they buy something, they buy it local because they need it now and they don't want to have to go far to get it. I agree something is only worth what one will pay for it. I think you're starting price is right though. Advertise local and someone is bound to at least make an offer. Good luck!

 

Tacomas and the like with camper shells have replaced the big stuff at jobsites around here. Construction workers who only carry tools and not materials are driving old Accords, etc.

Jim

 

> What do flooring / painting guys drive in your area? hondas??

Close. See #3, They outnumber all the others.

There are three types:

1) Real contractors. Usually F-350 or Dodge 3500 CC/4 doors/drw/diesel.

2) Legal Mexican contractors - Chevy window vans with ladder racks and seating for 7 which means 12. If they do rugs, they pull the seats, tie the doors closed, and everyone rides on the rugs inside.

3) MANY Mexican contractors -

S-10 or Toyota pickup with ladder racks that look like the ladders weigh more then the truck and it will tip over on an exit ramp.

Or Plymouth mini-vans, seating for 7 which means 12 with ladder racks that look like the ladders weigh more then the van and it will tip over on an exit ramp.

fwiw
Most day laborers (except the ones waiting at home depot for a job) drive Japanese cars or small trucks with ladder racks to the job site. Many now buy the double folding aluminum ladders that break down to six feet and tie them to the roof racks.