I have bought cars through eBay, Hemmings, and Craigslist. I have also bought two through this site. I like them all, and monitor them all, as well as a number of third-party consignment sites. I wholeheartedly agree that, above all, you need to be 100% ready to sell before you list, no matter the site. Secondly, be prepared to ‘sell’ your car. Respond to inquiries promptly and politely. Answer questions honestly and thoroughly. Be ready to tell the story of the car, as well as explain why you are selling it. Have good photos ready to send to serious candidate buyers. Also be prepared to ask a few screening questions to separate the tire-kickers and bottom-feeders from the seriously interested. Here is one experience I had (on a car I did NOT buy…)
seller: hullo
me: Hi, My name is x x, and I’m calling about the Riviera for sale on Hemmings.
seller: Oh, yeah.
me: is the car still available?
seller: Uhh, I think so.
me: Can you tell me some more about the car?
seller: Uh, it’s really my Dad’s car.
me: Oh. Can he tell me something about it?
seller. I think so.
me: Is he available?
seller: Uh, he’s not here.
me. Could I ask that he give me a call?
seller: Uh, I dunno. He’s not here
… and on and on. Eventually I tired of pulling teeth.
(Don’t be that guy.)
I’ve run into a seller who listed a car on Craigslist, then left the country for 30 days. Another seller, this one a dealer, couldn’t answer this (my favorite) question: “Does the VIN on the title match the VIN on the car?” Not only did he not know (you’d be surprised how many sellers don’t), he complained to me that he would have to go to all the way another building, unlock it, get a flashlight, and find the car in order to find out. (Do I care?).
On the other hand, I had another seller who put the car on a lift for me, and then FaceTimed live and showed me in detail whatever I wanted to see. Recently, I saw a Ford truck for sale on this site in which the seller had a link to a third website that told the whole story of the vehicle, it’s history, and the restoration, and included lots of great photos. Well done!
I think a plus ofBring-a-Trailer is that they help you present more info on the car up front, so you have less explaining to do along the way. There is also a screening of sorts built into the process because there is a charge to bid. Of course, there is an associated cost to the seller, too. Hemmings, eBay, and Craigslist are rather wide open, and you get out what you put in. The more info, photos, etc. you present up front, the fewer questions you have to answer. I think that this, the AACA, site offers an advantage in that your exposure is largely limited to enthusiasts (minus some random scammers and freaks), and it’s free. You’ll get less overall exposure, but concentrated on the type you want.
Sorry for the ramble, but as a somewhat frequent buyer, I think I can write a book on how not to sell a car.
Good luck!
