It's a lot harder to buy/sell cars when you live in a remote location. Tips?

I live halfway between Joplin and Kansas City, so while I'm not hours and hours away from civilization, it isn't quite the same as living Tulsa or Oklahoma City when it comes to buying and selling cars. Craiglist takes a back seat to side-of-the-road finds and bulletin board ads in the laundromat.

I'm buying a truck locally that I'm not going to want forever, but it's what I need and can afford right now. However, I'm having difficulty convincing myself that I'll be able to sell it again for a reasonable price once I'm done with it. There's a few things I can think of that could make a potential buyer want to travel to buy something I'm selling, but I hope I can get more tips from GRM. Y'all buy and sell like crazy, it seems...

-Professional photos of everything -Video walkaround, startup, maybe ride down the road? -Delivery incentives?

Is there a way to get a shop to inspect it and give it a mechanical A-OK without looking like you paid off a buddy to do it?

I'm a hundred and fifty miles south of you. Just buy what you want and when it's time to sell it, list it at the various places and don't worry about it. Making money doing this is a pipe dream.

Dr. Hess wrote: I'm a hundred and fifty miles south of you. Just buy what you want and when it's time to sell it, list it at the various places and don't worry about it. Making money doing this is a pipe dream.

I'm not worried about making money. I'm probably overthinking it...

I'm blaming it on the coffee.

I think these are all good ideas, but the bottom line is that very few people are going to drive to buy a car. When the time comes you're going to have to find a local or attract someone from Joplin or KC with a really good price. Your English skills (I can tell from your post that you're in the 99th percentile for craigslist) and ad ideas will help, but just make sure you're pricing that middle-of-nowhere discount into what you pay up front.

I would skip the mechanic inspection, regular people don't have mechanics look over used cars before they buy them, so the suggestion might just make people suspicious. The video is a good idea though, especially if this is going to be closer to the bottom end of the market. I know I would be more willing to drive an hour to look at a $2-3k truck if I'd seen it run and drive on youtube first.

Title your Craigslist ad " truck for sell ".

If nothing else it will end on on the $2013 classifieds.

fujioko wrote: Title your Craigslist ad " truck for sell ". If nothing else it will end on on the $2013 classifieds.

"NICE TRUCK LOOOOOK$$$$$$$"

custum truk for sell no title ran good whn parked ten yrs ago no low ballerz plz thnx

$5000 firm obo

OSULemon wrote:

fujioko wrote: Title your Craigslist ad " truck for sell ". If nothing else it will end on on the $2013 classifieds.

"NICE TRUCK LOOOOOK$$$$$$$" custum truk for sell no title ran good whn parked ten yrs ago no low ballerz plz thnx $5000 firm obo

oh, so you've been around CL a while...