Selling a big ticket item like a car can seem like a daunting prospect, but in the modern era of information it’s actually quite a bit easier than it seems. Just by using some traditional marketing techniques and newer technology, selling expensive items online can be remarkably easy.
Being honest:
When selling my car on Craigslist, using my email account as my credibility, my first thought was “how much can I make?” Honestly, this is everyone’s first thought. But, with a ten year-old Subaru Legacy, with sky-high miles, isn’t exactly the diamond in the rough everyone is looking for. I had to research my car’s actual worth, pull out documents, and relate that information as positively as I could, to prospective buyers. This wasn’t exactly easy, when it came to glorifying 175,000 miles and a touchy engine light. But that Subaru was my favorite car, and I had to relate that to people, so that they would love it to.
Being smart:
While many people want to make money rather than friends, selling things online via email or website, many buyers want to outsmart the seller. If I say that my car is worth $3,000, and a buyer says “ok” and shows up with $1,500, I have to weigh the good with the bad. It’s half as much as I expected, but I have a legitimate buyer with cash in front of me, and who knows when that will happen again. But chances are, if they have $1,500 in cash for a $3,000 car, then they have $2,000 in their wallet. Therefore, I always make sure to look them straight in the eye and repeat my asking price. I do this a few times, until they up what they’re willing to spend. Then, and then only do I bring down my asking price. This can be done via email, but is more likely to work when in person. Via email, they can look at 100 cars, but when they finally arrive on the property, they’re ready to buy.
Doing the research:
Make sure, when selling anything online via email, or any other method, to have all the appropriate paperwork. This might mean writing up a contract for the buyer, which underlines the bottom line. “All sales are final” is a very important thing to add to any contract, because most-likely you will be selling something that is previously owned and may not be in mint condition. With cars, ALWAYS make sure to have the title signed over to the buyer, because otherwise, anything that happens will be your responsibility.
When you are the buyer:
If you should ever turn around and buy a car via email/website, ask the right questions. “Why are you selling this vehicle?” “Has it ever been in an accident?” “What work have you done on this vehicle?” Always remember to get a Carfax report, and take the car into a mechanic for a once-over. When buying something via email, the seller has little or no responsibility for the quality of their product, once sold. Therefore, MAKE SURE that you are getting a deal, or RUN!!! If you think it is a lemon, it probably is.
In conclusion, I have had a lot of positive experiences buying things via email. This includes furniture, antiques, and even finding an apartment in another state. I would recommend buying online to anyone who is computer savvy, or maybe even amateurs. Just try before you buy!
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