[gtron]

i've decided to sell my f10 550i and thought i would ask for some tips on here. this is the first car i'm selling retail so it's somewhat new to me.

i posted it on here, CL, and ebay motors to test the waters but that's it so far. any suggestions before i step it up and start paying for listings on autotrader?

[Joekerr]

Never done so, but I'm sure you'll get some good feedback.

I guess just the usual stuff when you sell online - done that before? You know, watch out for foreign buyers, requests to ship the car, don't use something like Paypal (presumably you wouldn't, but just in case), etc.

Just make sure you protect yourself - that's a significant amount of money / car, and there are lots of individuals out there who would dearly love to rip you off (and will try).

Good luck!

[MisterSkiMask]

I've had good luck on CL, but I'm in Nor-Cal with all the tech geeks that look on CL first.

If the price if right it will sell...

[PINeely]

You'll get a lot of emails from craigslist from people who are going to buy your car for $2000 over your list price but they work on an oil rig and have to send a buyer but they will wire you the money through western union as soon as the condition is confirmed... well, you see where this is going.

Craigslist is a great place to sell but probably 80% of your offers are going to be scams like these or severe lowballs.

[Templar]

Posted my old 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse on CL and had success. Not a big sale but a sale nonetheless.

[gtron]

yea, i've got several low ball offers for for more than $10k less than what i'm asking. they're dealers and scams. if i wanted to do that then i would just bring it to a dealer and they would cut me a check on the spot for that amount.

[Maestro]

Originally Posted by PINeely

You'll get a lot of emails from craigslist from people who are going to buy your car for $2000 over your list price but they work on an oil rig and have to send a buyer but they will wire you the money through western union as soon as the condition is confirmed... well, you see where this is going.

Craigslist is a great place to sell but probably 80% of your offers are going to be scams like these or severe lowballs.

Have to agree, ever car or expensive item I cold on CL attracted lots of scammer. I have a few big Cashier Check I have collected over the years where the bank some how issued the wrong amount and the scammer asked for the over payment back.

You can spot these people pretty fast, their English language suck, they are in a hurry and usually do not even reference what you are selling but they are willing to pay what ever you are asking.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by Maestro

You can spot these people pretty fast, their English language suck, they are in a hurry and usually do not even reference what you are selling but they are willing to pay what ever you are asking.

lol

[KingOfJericho]

I've sold four cars online. One on eBay, one on Autotrader, one on Craigslist, and one on a forum. The scammers are generally easy to spot and I never even bother to respond to them. I sold my '08 GTI in 24 hours on CL for my full asking price. I'm going to list my S4 this weekend and will probably do so on Autotrader and Craigslist.

[davis449]

I sold two of my previous cars on CL. First time the buyer drove down to SA from Austin and loved the car so much that he gave me some up-front cash without taking the car to hold it (it was after banking hours) and I agreed not to drive it for 24 hours. He showed up the next evening with the rest of the cash in hand and verified the mileage was unchanged. Second time I accepted a cashiers check for partial payment and the rest from a bank issued check in my name from a loan the buyer received from the bank. Both times I did not release the car and title without full payment deposited in my bank account. Typical, should-be-common-sense applies here. If anyone a stranger to you wants to see the car, a neutral and public location is a requirement. Payment: Cashier's Check\Bank Check in your name\Cash for the exact amount of agreed sale price. Only accept payment in certified funds or cash is the bottom line. Any bullshit, let 'em walk. Also, what everyone else said about the keys to watching for scammers.

[gtron]

^^ all useful information. thanks.

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

I've sold four cars online. One on eBay, one on Autotrader, one on Craigslist, and one on a forum. The scammers are generally easy to spot and I never even bother to respond to them. I sold my '08 GTI in 24 hours on CL for my full asking price. I'm going to list my S4 this weekend and will probably do so on Autotrader and Craigslist.

which ad type do you go with on autotrader? there's too damn many to choose from.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by gtron

which ad type do you go with on autotrader? there's too damn many to choose from.

It was 11 years ago so a lot has changed but I remember it being a pretty basic ad and it cost me like $45.

[Templar]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

lol

I laughed as well.

[Maestro]

Originally Posted by davis449

I sold two of my previous cars on CL. First time the buyer drove down to SA from Austin and loved the car so much that he gave me some up-front cash without taking the car to hold it (it was after banking hours) and I agreed not to drive it for 24 hours. He showed up the next evening with the rest of the cash in hand and verified the mileage was unchanged. Second time I accepted a cashiers check for partial payment and the rest from a bank issued check in my name from a loan the buyer received from the bank. Both times I did not release of the car and title without full payment deposited in my bank account. Typical, should-be-common-sense applies here. If anyone a stranger to you wants to see the car, a neutral and public location is a requirement. Payment: Cashier's Check\Bank Check in your name\Cash for the exact amount of agreed sale price. Only accept payment in certified funds or cash is the bottom line. Any bullshit, let 'em walk. Also, what everyone else said about the keys to watching for scammers.

Just so you know Bank Checks and Cashier Check can be faked these days, if you do not believe me I have a few to show you.

Unless the bank check is drawn on the same bank you do business with it can be hard to verify if it is valid until you cash it and the bank try to clear the check. Sometime your bank can verify if the check is valid prior to it being deposited. Believe it or not a personal check some time is better since you can call the bank with the person on the phone and get the bank to verify the funds are in the bank account to cover the check. Beyond this cash is king.

[davis449]

Originally Posted by Maestro

Just so you know Bank Checks and Cashier Check can be faked these days, if you do not believe me I have a few to show you.

Unless the bank check is drawn on the same bank you do business with it can be hard to verify if it is valid until you cash it and the bank try to clear the check. Sometime your bank can verify if the check is valid prior to it being deposited. Believe it or not a personal check some time is better since you can call the bank with the person on the phone and get the bank to verify the funds are in the bank account to cover the check. Beyond this cash is king.

Read:

I sold two of my previous cars on CL. First time the buyer drove down to SA from Austin and loved the car so much that he gave me some up-front cash without taking the car to hold it (it was after banking hours) and I agreed not to drive it for 24 hours. He showed up the next evening with the rest of the cash in hand and verified the mileage was unchanged. Second time I accepted a cashiers check for partial payment and the rest from a bank issued check in my name from a loan the buyer received from the bank. Both times I did not release the car and title without full payment deposited in my bank account. Typical, should-be-common-sense applies here. If anyone a stranger to you wants to see the car, a neutral and public location is a requirement. Payment: Cashier's Check\Bank Check in your name\Cash for the exact amount of agreed sale price. Only accept payment in certified funds or cash is the bottom line. Any bullshit, let 'em walk. Also, what everyone else said about the keys to watching for scammers.

I definitely had the funds verified.

[P1]

I sold my truck online last year, and I'm a slightly paranoid person when dealing with transaction where you could be scammed. I had zero success with CL, but Autotrader was great. I chose the "run til it sells package". I listed the truck for $25K (it was a 2004) and ended up getting quite a few calls until a man from
Idaho said he would drive down to Texas to come check it out. He said he was a cash buyer also. I told him I had the title in hand. He drove for two days, test drove the truck, we took it to a dealership to have it be looked over there, I handed him
all the paperwork regarding to service history, then headed to the bank to have the money counted and verify there were no fake bills. Once deposited, I signed over the title and popped into the DMV so say the car was no longer in my name and called my insurance company to cancel insurance on the truck.

Oh: I also wrote a letter saying the truck would be sold as-is with no warranty expressed or implied.

My tip is to find a cash buyer. I turned down other interested parties who had cashiers checks etc.

[wrickem]

I've also had good success with Autotrader and have sold all 3 cars I've posted there quickly. I sold my '04 M3 to a soldier who was coming home to NJ that was in Afghanistan when he saw it online. They seem to have a very broad reach.

[Boostin FD]

I usually post it on Autotrader, craigslist and various forums. Never enough advertising Most of the emails come from craigslist and they are usually scams.

[rjpeaks]

i just sold my B7 S4 Avant a bit ago.

I only listed it on Audi forums - did not list anywhere else.

b/c of the rarity of the car - i was catering to a particular crowd.

it sold for what i wanted in about 3 weeks.

guy flew out from SLC, we took my car to my boys at AUT her in socal, oil changed and vag-com'ed it - and he drove back to SLC.

for reference - i had a dealer and carmax give me quotes.

b/c of the scams - buying a car private party is much different now. anyone who recently have done this will attest.

g/l OP

[davis449]

Originally Posted by rjpeaks

i just sold my B7 S4 Avant a bit ago.

I only listed it on Audi forums - did not list anywhere else.

b/c of the rarity of the car - i was catering to a particular crowd.

it sold for what i wanted in about 3 weeks.

guy flew out from SLC, we took my car to my boys at AUT her in socal, oil changed and vag-com'ed it - and he drove back to SLC.

for reference - i had a dealer and carmax give me quotes.

b/c of the scams - buying a car private party is much different now. anyone who recently have done this will attest.

g/l OP

What's up peaks? Good to see you here.