Cobras on eBay
 

Dear eBay/Cobra Veterans,

We all have studied and watched those beautiful Replica Cobras put up on the auction block at eBay. Writing great descriptive copy, well composed and well lite photographs and possible a link to a site that goes into even greater detail concerning the car for sale, all lend to answering all of the questions. What I am looking for are more tips for selling on eBay, hearing some pros and cons of dealing with a customer, transfer of funds, and so on. Sucess and failure stories, [no names] great tips that I can utilize in selling my cars on eBay.
I will be glad to compose all the tips I get into a Word Doc and email it to folks who are interested in receiving it. Email me [address below] your request.

Thanking you in advance for your assist,
Byron

screwed by ebay motors
 

My advice- don't do it. I just had an auction end last night for my Nissan 300 ZX twin Turbo. The car was on for 10 days. The high bidder backed out at the last minute, (even though bid retraction is not allowed except under certain circumstances), he sent me an email apologizing with his excuse, then lied about it to ebay to get out of the deal. So, it fell back to the next bidder, who had put in the previous 6 bids. He backed out, because , since he had been out bid, he went and bought something else. So, now, time was running out, it was late in the evening (the auction was to end at midnight) so not too many were going to see the item, it was a no reserve sale, so I pulled the auction off line, having to lie myself as to why I ended the auction early. I spent 10 days replying to email for more information, only to end in maddening frustration. She selling prices are really really low, too. My whole car was going to sell for less then the price of a 300 hp twin turbo engine alone.
If you do do it, don't enter your ad at midnight, because the auction will end at midnight- no last minute fervor....
regards,
Brett J. Bolte

Brett's right...time your auction to end in prime time.

In fairness, Brett, I think you gave too much personal info in your ad... plus, it sounded like you were trying to get rid of the car quickly and price didn't matter.

Write the ad copy in a clear and complete manner. It is not hard to do. Having a link to a more complete web page of pictures and specs is a big plus. Be clear about the condition, the specs and your terms of sale. Make sure the photos are clear and attractive... and show the attributes of the car.

Thanx Brett and Ron, all is helpful. More.....?

I have also sold and bought many things on eBay. I sold a whole lot of parts successfully. I tried to sell one car and two motorcycles. I had low starting bid prices with a reserve. The low starting bid price is important when you have a reserve so that it invites anyone to bid. If you are offering it as a no-reserve auction. then the starting price should reflect close to the absolute minimum you could live with. If no one bids, you have priced yourself out of the market. In all three cases these were rare vehicles with no others being put on the auction at the same time. I carefully chose my reserve price to be slightly south of what the market value was except for the car which I spent more than three times what the value was. I chose 7:00pm pst so that those on the east coast still had a chance to bid and those on the west coast were back from work. My photos were detailed and an honest description of the condition and any known flaws were given. More than twenty bidders bid on each of the vehicles. Yet, all three only reached 80% of my reserve price when the auction ended. I really did not want to sell it at less than that, so I did not re-list it. Perhaps if I was really in a hurry to get my money I would have sold it at that. More than five bidders came to actually look at the vehicles. I also got a deluge of e-mails from bidders and cyber tire kickers asking me for more photos and information including what my reserve price was, which I did not disclose. If anything, I proved to myself that I owned vehicles that were of interest to someone but not at what I was asking at the time. I view the Shelby section in eBay Motors everyday. I am surprised at how many new cars come up for auction as well as the many bids each one gets, but you can see that those with a high starting bid or high buy-it-now prices have few if any bids unless you have something very special and in concours condition. Good luck!

Shin

How to sell on Ebay:

1: List the facts, little to no hype is needed in order to sell something if it is truly worth the price your asking.
2: Be truthful when someone asks questions. Lies or half truths told will get you in to trouble.
3: Take lots of pictures and use them in your advertising.
4: Make sure to price your item(s) carefully, comparing apples to apples (so to speak)
5: Know your market.
6: Details, it's all in the details.
7: Click HERE and HERE for the basics of what an automotive ad should look like.


Bill S.

PS: (insert sarcasim here): But what would I know about selling things on Ebay.

Nice Daytona Coupe!!!!!!!!!!

I have had great success with ebay,a couple guys gave good advice on listing.
the three most important thinhs I belive are:
1 GREAT pictures
2 Low starting bid
3 if it is a reserve auction,a amention in your listing as to the price range you expect to get,or will sell outright for,this will let a buyer know if it is worth his time {or in his budget}to bid ,the same concept as a buy it now price,but this way keeps some guy with a couple beers from ending your action only to back out in the am,I have had that happen a few times..
Other wise good luck,and dont ship/deliver your car until all monies other than cash have cleared the bank, Tim

For big ticket items, have the auction end between 7 and 9 pm EST. 9 pm is better, you will catch the west coast.

Have it end on a friday or saturday.

Avoid over-kill on pictures. half a dozen is good, fifty is way to much.

Just my $0.02

.... except with the latest Kirkham auction, when 180+ pictures was just about right **)

Kirkams are an exception. Like horse power, to much is just about right for them!

Ernie

MrMustang...An observation if you will. I don't know you and haven't many posts here but have been lurking in the shadows for months. I have noticed that you offer lots of advice on how to sell cars be it on eBay or whatever. I saw the ad for your car on eBay and the thing that I noticed most was your frequent use of "I have nothing to hide with this vehicle". Whether true or not, as a buyer I would shy away from someone who kept repeating that mantra. To me it screams "I'm hiding something but you won't find it". Not meant to be a criticism, just an observation from a potential buyer. Of course this is just my opinion, others may vary.

Best way to sell a car on EBay is NOT to sell it on Ebay.

If it is Cobra, put it on Cobra Country, let Curt Scott help you with the photo tips and posssibly help you write the ad-copy.
I do have a LOT to hide!!

TURK

Everytime you put a car on ebay, you are allowing others with similar goods to contact your bidders with a similar or a better offer. No biggie on $4.99 lampshades. It doesn't pay for them to solicit your bidders. However on big ticket items, ethical or not that is exactly what others do.

Terrible place to buy and sell a car is anywhere on the Internet Auctions.

Actually, in regards to the "I have nothing to hide" line, it's gotten me more business. I've sold collectible cars on Ebay since 1998 and don't mix words, I stated it just the way it is.....no hype, no fluff, just the well written facts. leave the fancy templates to the dealers. Leave the one and two line descriptions to those who have something to hide, or are not being 100% truthful with their descriptions............I'll continue to state it just the way it is, if it makes you sit back and think I have something to hide by using it, then I most likely would not want you as a potential bidder, as you just don't get (no offense) that there are still honest people out here that do business on a handshake and a persons word......


Sincerely,

Bill S.

I can see where PGreen is coming from AND Bill S.

A healthy dose of skepticism is a good thing. A great reputation overcomes that! I always took Bill (and Turk :D ) at their word!

Really Turk, I know you aint got nothing to hide! Welll,,,,,,maybe that Porsche. ha ha

Ernie