Bye Bye Percy

Post by **Jay-Minor** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:22 pm

tomorrow Percy the police car is going to a new owner,

no here's a funny thing, a week or so ago some of you will remember i had it on ebay and it failed to reach it's reserve of £2,500 it only went up to £1,500 and no way was i letting it go for that,

last sunday i took it to wessex classic car show put up a for sale sign and got £2,900 for it.

this is the second time now i have failed to reach the reserve on ebay (last time was with a van i had for sale) and on both occasions have sold them a week or so later at a show above the reserve price

so it seems to me that selling outside of ebay at classic shows is a far better option, maybe it's because the buyer can see it in the flesh?

although no-one came to view the police car whilst on ebay i felt sure that if they did it would have reached it's reserve due to the fact that it's a lovely car

Post by **aupickup** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:37 pm

thats the way ebay is
mind you description is all important
i have had success selling vans and pick ups on ebay, so its there
mind you there is no ryhme or reason to the ebay outcome

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:11 pm

completely agree - on a decent car, ebay is a pure gamble. Very few buyers willing to pay top prices and even less willing to pay that for a car they've not seen in the flesh.

Classic car shows - these can be useful but so can the non-marque specific classic car mags.
Put yourself in the shoes of someone looking for a Minor - you're extremely unlikely to see any of the adverts in the club mag because you're not yet in the club. Where would you look for a REALLY good car?

I've found ebay really good for selling cheap tatty cars. I've never sold a Minor on ebay to someone who asked a question and nobody has viewed any of them. They tend to sell to someone who bids at the last minute who I've not had contact from.

If I was buying a top class classic car I may look on ebay (but would go and see the car and try and buy privately -It's a bit high risk just to bid! ) and would also check other car mags.

Post by **overider** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 7:49 pm

I agree with ray People that are looking for a barging look on E-bay. In addition, people wanting a quick sale sell on E-bay.
The people that want a top condition Classic will be prepared to pay a premium price and look in the classic mags and go to dealers.

Post by **aupickup** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 7:55 pm

well i can disagree there

a top notch van fetched £7000.00 on ebay, and yet was advertised in mags and did not sell

also looking at mags etc possibly 2 vans and pick ups for sale

on ebay normally 2 to 3 a week

Post by **picky** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:11 pm

I saw a minor for sale on ebay, it ended below the reserve price, I then contacted the seller, and we arranged to meet and see the car, and we bought it from them off ebay. So although the car didnt sell if you look on ebay, it often generates interest in the car, and it does actually sell.

Picky

Post by **aupickup** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:17 pm

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:40 pm

it often generates interest in the car, and it does actually sell.

yup - just sold my last 2 cars that way. One did make reserve but I sold it to someone who came to look at it before the auction ended.

Regarding really good classic cars, there are many exceptions where they go on ebay and sell for good money. Many car mags also copy their car adverts online to their website otherwise they know they know advertisers would go elsewhere.
Maybe if/when the MMOC caught up with the times regarding online car advertising for all classifieds, ebay would loose a few Minor adverts?