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Pricing my used vehicle for private sale
Hi,
I am selling my car and I'm very hesitant selling it to private parties only because of security reasons. What safety procedures should I apply? What's the procedure if somebody calls wanting to see the car? How do I screen callers? I'm thinking of meeting at the mall maybe, instead of my house. Expectedly, the potential buyer might ask to drive the car - how can I make sure I'll be safe inside, or if I let him/her drive alone, that the car will be returned to me? What's the SOP's between private parties?
I've been unsuccessful in selling to "safe" people (acquaintances, office, etc); my options are now strangers and dealerships.
Thanks in advance for any reply.
I am selling my car and I'm very hesitant selling it to private parties only because of security reasons. What safety procedures should I apply? What's the procedure if somebody calls wanting to see the car? How do I screen callers? I'm thinking of meeting at the mall maybe, instead of my house. Expectedly, the potential buyer might ask to drive the car - how can I make sure I'll be safe inside, or if I let him/her drive alone, that the car will be returned to me? What's the SOP's between private parties?
I've been unsuccessful in selling to "safe" people (acquaintances, office, etc); my options are now strangers and dealerships.
Thanks in advance for any reply.
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I'm selling my 4-door 2001 BMW 325i. Car has automatic trans., premium package, 19,000 miles, power everything, and is clean in and out.
How would you write up an ad to make the car appealling to the buyers?
Thanks in advance.
If you're single and female, it might help to have a guy friend record your ans machine greeting, make the initial call backs, and maybe hang around when the buyer comes to look. If you've got the car priced right (low enough), you won't need more than a day or two to sell it.
01 4dr BMW 325i, only 19k, adult driven
auto, prem pack, All service is complete,
Excellent condition, non smoker, must see - must sell -
$26,900, balance of fac warranty - call xxx xxx xxxx
If it aint true, then don't print it ..
Good luck ...
Terry.
Car_man
Host
Smart Shoppers / FWI Message Boards
Any other suggestions out there - especially on the details of having someone drive my car? I'm thinking I'll get a pic of the person (with his permission of course).
I guess I watch too many Law&Order and late-night Discover channel which shows a lot of crimes! That's why I'm too paranoid/safe.
Thanks.
My guess is you'll do the public place thing. How about asking them to meet you at the library or a Kinko's - where you can make a copy of their DL and insurance card?
I can't stress enough....be careful who your meeting and where.
Don't forget to remove credit card receipts and other personal information from the glovebox. Also, don't forget to take out your garage door opener (speaking from experience).
I can't see anyone being so stupid as to risk killing someone for a Mustang. It's just not worth it.
But a Camaro, Now were talking !
But seriously, I have sold many cars myself. If I am home I go with the driver. If it's just my wife around I tell her to just let them take the car. We'd rather lose a car (which is insured) than mess with people that we don't know.
No car is worth getting hurt over !
If you want to trim it down and keep the same info I'd suggest the following:
01 325i 4dr,only 19k, Ex. Cond,adult driven,AT, prem pack,all serv comp,non smoker,fact. warr.,must see, $26.9K,XXX-XXX-XXXX
Note that BMW is not included in the ad as I assume it will be listed under a BMW section.
Terry.
Do you really suppose that your insurance will cover theft of your car after you willingly hand over the keys? I doubt it will.
But a Camaro, Now were talking ! ..<< .l.o.l....
Terry ;-)
What there looking at is the Sizzle .. FIRM, get's you No-place in a big fat hurry, *Must Sell* gives you a sense of urgency .. always price the vehicle waaay back of dealer prices, it's a lot easier to negotiate from $28,9 to $28,0 then to try to negotiate from $31,0 to $28,0, plus dealers are always waiting for the trade to hit the deal ..
Terry.
Of course it would!! You handed over the keys for a test drive, you didn't give away the car. You don't think car dealers' insurance pays when someone steals a car during a test drive. Sheessh.
And the joke was just a joke. Lighten up.
My guess is that dealerships have an endorsement on his business ins policy because this can and does happen. In regard to a private party, it may be a different story (based on our experience.)
(PS: The bike was found abandoned at the local mall a week later. Evidently it had stalled. Never heard from the friend again.)
I still say letting someone test drive a car for a purchase is different than giving away a car.
My point is that unless you have asked you insurance if this is covered, you are making an assumption, which leads to future posts that say, "That jerk came to test drive my car, and took of with it and the Insurance co won't pay because I gave him the keys."
Don't ASSUME.
the 'joke' was really in bad taste and i hope you never get on the wrong end of a real situation.
not everyone plays by the 'nice' rules.
don't know about the 'giving someone the keys' scenario, but if you invite someone into your house, they don't have to leave. :{
I parked the Jeep on a vacant lot as several other people had done and I received calls on it immediately. It's funny how people will seem SO interested on the phone then never show up or call back. I don't think I would make a very good car salesman because things like that would drive me crazy.
I realize now how dangerous it could be selling a car yourself so I'm not sure how I would react if a "bad" person (my perception) came to look at my vehicle. I like to be nice and fair to everyone no matter what they look like. I guess I've been lucky in the past and have never run across such a person. I'm sure women would really need to be careful.
Mark156
Mark
Here's a couple of suggestions:
1) Take the car back to the dealer where you bought it. Have your hat in your hand and just maybe someone they will take pity on you and give you a little more than you owe on it.
2) Try to sell it yourself. However as I discovered a few years back, there isn't a big market for brand-new used cars from a private party. It may take some time for you to find a buyer.
Either way, expect to take a big hit on the value that you can sell it for versus what you paid.
But anyway, this should be a quick and easy sale .. a Great Ad should do it, it won't last a week ..
2003 Ford Focus SE 4dr, must sell,
family loss, auto, all power options
like new, must see, 800 miles.!
$10,900 call XXX XXX XXXX.
Probably see $9,5/$10,500 for it ...
Sorry for the conditions ..
Terry.
I would have got one but our financial situation dictated payments<160/month and I didnt want to stretch it to 6+ years. The reliablility issues of earlier years would not worry me to a great extent, I believe the isses have been addressed. I might look for a low mileage '04 with the new timing chain engine when my Saturn turns over 100k in 4 years or so.
-Scott
...then you would have a WRX...
Regards... Vikd
jwhitlaw - a guy at work complained that the a/c compressor ran even with just the heat or vent on, hurting his gas mileage. don't know if this is true.
-Scott
Regards... Vikd
Have a good weekend,
-Scott
http://www.ford.co.uk/ie/focus/foc_overview/foc_rs/-/-/-/-
Regards... Vikd
BTW: Angelina Jolie is my best friend and she never hooked up with him, I just spoke with her yesteryear. :P
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
>it stays at my house while they take my car around the block.
(from rivertown Aug 3, 2003 11:03am )
When he was on The Tonight Show, John Kerry told Jay Leno that once when he was selling his motorcycle, a guy drove to his place to test ride it, and made off with it. It turned out the car the guy left behind was stolen.
The first question they will ask..." How many miles?"
" Well...155,000 but they are ALL freeway miles and I've changed the oil every 3000 miles"
"Thank you"....click.
If you state the miles the people that do call will be a lot more serious.
And I wouldn't fiddle with a "Recycler" type of ad. Use the local newspaper for better results.
155,000 miles on a four year old truck? WOW!!!
Good luck!