Ok, I just don't get it. I have a 24' box truck that I've been trying to sell since October. I get lots of people coming to kick the tires and say they want it, but they never buy it.
Its priced about $2000 below what it should be, its in nearly flawless mechanical and cosmetic shape, it only has 95k, and it has a Cummins ISB 6BT.
Its even on Ebay right now as "best offer." In two weeks, not a single person has made even a lowball offer.
< /rant >
Details? Or at least a link?
Price it where it should be. Seriously. I once listed a small hatchback, it sat for months. A bargain at $600. I raised the price to $1500 and the phone rang off the hook. It was gone within a day, and people still called about it. No one trusts something that seems to good to be true.
I like Cummins motors!
There is only ever 1 reason why something doesn't sell, and that's price. Different things affect the price, but price is always the reason.
I think most stuff that doesn't sell is overpriced, but Lesley makes a valid point. I've had people take their stuff to shops that were obviously trying to scam them, becaue my repair estimate was too low, and they didn't trust it.
People are funny. Not always in a good way.
I'll echo Leslie's idea. Hell, go higher.
When we were trying to sell kind of obscure bikes on eBay at my old shop, rule of thumb was: list it twice, if that fails, raise the price.
Eighty percent of the time, it works every time...
I learned a lesson like this...
I was selling a truck and listed it with in the most honest way possible, detailing every single thing wrong with the truck, no matter how small. Noone wanted it.
I relisted it with a simple add that said, "Runs great, A/C needs a charge, 4x4 works awesome, good MPG".. and it was sold in 2 weeks.
Marketing is key...
Lesley wrote: Price it where it should be. Seriously. I once listed a small hatchback, it sat for months. A bargain at $600. I raised the price to $1500 and the phone rang off the hook. It was gone within a day, and people still called about it. No one trusts something that seems to good to be true.
It's odd but true. The person buying the truck is probably going to use it for work. Most have already learned that buying a cheap truck is like buying a cheap Porsche and you can run a business with down time like that.
alex wrote: Eighty percent of the time, it works every time...
So it works... eighty percent of the time?
Jay wrote:alex wrote: Eighty percent of the time, it works every time...So it works... eighty percent of the time?
Ever seen Anchorman?
huge-O-chavez wrote: I learned a lesson like this... I was selling a truck and listed it with in the most honest way possible, detailing every single thing wrong with the truck, no matter how small. Noone wanted it. I relisted it with a simple add that said, "Runs great, A/C needs a charge, 4x4 works awesome, good MPG".. and it was sold in 2 weeks. Marketing is key...
This too. Year, make model, mileage, "good shape," and you'll get more calls than you know what to do with.
Gotta remember: we're odd people. Most folks don't buy cars the way we do, so we can't write ads for ourselves.
Reminds me of the old story:
"I put our old clothes dryer at the curb with a sign 'Works Great. FREE to good home.' It sat there for days until I changed the sign to 'For Sale $50.' It was stolen within the hour."
That story would not happen in my neighborhood. I'd have gotten it for the sheet metal as soon as I saw 'FREE'
I market used commercial equipment. The guys that I deal with would probably insult you with a low-ball offer though. I have a database of previous customers nationwide...would be glad to help you if you'd like.
friend of mine built a spec house (several yrs ago) priced it to sell... no go.. dropped the price.... no go... took it off the market for 2 mo... re-listed it at almost twice the original price... sold in less than 2 mo.. go figure
JoeyM wrote: That story would not happen in my neighborhood. I'd have gotten it for the sheet metal as soon as I saw 'FREE'
Between using the free metal on the car, and tuning in whats left for scrap you may be the first person to come out ahead on a car
mtn wrote:Jay wrote:Ever seen Anchorman?alex wrote: Eighty percent of the time, it works every time...So it works... eighty percent of the time?
yep, right in the uterus
I used to rep for a cosmetics company and they released a budget perfume at about $15 a bottle - no one wanted it but it smelled great as far as perfumes go. They re-released it under a new name and raised the price to $50 a bottle and it sold like crazy. It's all in the marketing man. 
Just sold the SO's 93 Sable for $500 with about 6 interested parties waiting to buy it in less than 24 hrs with a solid "This car is what it is, a $500 car that runs", go figure.
*Edited twice now for bad typing in the pitch black dark! maybe I need to turn on some lights.
But seriosuly tell us more about this box truck with a Cummins. I now have $500 at my disposal.... sorta.
huge-O-chavez wrote: I learned a lesson like this... I was selling a truck and listed it with in the most honest way possible, detailing every single thing wrong with the truck, no matter how small. Noone wanted it. I relisted it with a simple add that said, "Runs great, A/C needs a charge, 4x4 works awesome, good MPG".. and it was sold in 2 weeks. Marketing is key...
While I was selling my '99 9-3 last year, I ran two ads (based on that advice).
The first was my way. Detailed list of everything I knew to be wrong with the car (a lot), lots of pictures, etc. The second was very, very basic with one mediocre picture.
Not a single response to the basic ad, my inbox was filled with responses to the detailed one. First person showed up and paid my full asking price ($1400) in cash and drove away.
EastCoastMojo wrote: I used to rep for a cosmetics company and they released a budget perfume at about $15 a bottle - no one wanted it but it smelled great as far as perfumes go. They re-released it under a new name and raised the price to $50 a bottle and it sold like crazy. It's all in the marketing man.
Because no woman (at least that I've ever met) wants to be known for wearing 'cheap perfume'?
I didn't post details because I was afraid that the forum gods might think I was trying to sell it here. As long as they know I'm not... some details:
Its a 97 F700/F80 24' box truck. It has 95k original on it, Cummins 5.9, Road Ranger 6 speed manual. I have identified TWO problems:
1) I just learned that Ryder recently redid their whole fleet, meaning that the market is flooded with supply and demand has dropped.
2) I have an oddball truck - its "old" but it has super low miles. Most commercial truck buyers either want newer and low miles or their looking to save coin with an older high mileage truck (knowing that they run forever). A 15 year old commercial truck with under 100k is unheard of.
I paid a very fair price for it, about $10k two years ago and 6000 miles ago. The best offer I've had so far is $3000. Seriously. I could yank the engine and sell it for more than that. For that matter, I could take the aluminum box to the scrap yard and get more than that.
Is it one of these?
Googling the thing says $2k is a wicked fair price!
Dan
Does it have a lift gate?
curtis73 wrote: I paid a very fair price for it, about $10k two years ago and 6000 miles ago. The best offer I've had so far is $3000. Seriously. I could yank the engine and sell it for more than that. For that matter, I could take the aluminum box to the scrap yard and get more than that.
Honestly, I don't think you'll ever see close to $10k. The $3k might have been a bit low-ball, but I think that's the neighborhood you're looking at.
If you're really looking at a $3k box and a $3k drivetrain, I'd part it. I don't think you'll get $6k out of it.
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