Sell Your Car or Boat on Ebay...
Selling cars, boats and other vehicles such as
motorcycles, trailers and RVs can be a pain in the neck. Not
only is it expensive to advertise in newspapers and specialty
trader type magazines, you have to deal with looky-loos and
no-shows. And if you're in an out of the way location, it's
even harder to convince a buyer to come take a look.
Thanks to eBay and eBay motors, selling cars and other
vehicles has never been easier. First you must register as an
eBay seller if you are not already one. The process is simple,
a one time step that is both free and secure. You will need to
provide eBay with your credit card and checking account info.
They charge $40 to list the vehicle with additional options
available as upgrades. A secondary fee kicks in if the vehicle
sells, meets the reserve price or receives a bid.
Next, print out the "Sell Your Vehicle Checklist".
Take this checklist out to your car and fill in the details
such as the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), mileage and
any special equipment such as sunroof, CD player, four wheel
drive and so forth.
Take photos, preferably digital photos, for uploading to eBay.
It?s important to show as much as possible about the car so be
sure to photograph all four sides of the exterior, the
interior, the engine, the odometer and close-ups of any dents,
stains or other damage. Whether your photos are shot digitally
or scanned in with a scanner, choose a small file format
appropriate for the web.
Once you have all your information handy and your photos ready
for uploading, it is time to create the listing. Make sure to
provide as much detail as possible, the terms of the sale and
an appropriate price. When listing details, include the year,
make and model, engine type and transmission, condition of
interior and exterior, options and packages, interior features
such as leather seats, any other notable features or
modifications. Let the buyers know as much as possible about
the cars history and service and maintenance records. If the
vehicle is still covered under any factory warranties, list
that information as well.
Some cars qualify for a free short term warranty that eBay
offers through the Aon Warranty Group. As you go through the
process, this option may be available to you.
Next, fill out the pricing information and determine if you
want to set a reserve price or a "buy it now" price.
Set the terms of the sale such as the deposit amount and the
payoff amount. In addition, financing is available through
eBay?s financing department and eBay has partnered with an
escrow company to make higher purchase prices easier to deal
with.
Buyers are typically expected to make their own shipping or
vehicle pickup arrangements. Be sure to specify who will pay
for shipping and how the vehicle will be delivered. Let the
buyer know your city and zipcode so they can make appropriate
calculations. It is not uncommon for buyers to travel from far
away for the right vehicle.
Now that your vehicle is listed for sale on eBay, pay
attention to your email for questions from potential buyers.
Answer promptly, professionally and honestly. Most
transactions take place "sight unseen" so you must
give as much detail as possible. No one wants to travel
hundreds of miles to find out they were deceived.
If the vehicle did not sell, you can offer a "second
chance" offer to other bidders for a lower price or
re-list the vehicle with eBay.
Once you have closed the deal, all you need to do is collect
payment, arrange for pickup/shipping as negotiated with the
buyer and transfer the title. These final steps are the same
as in any offline sales transaction.
Good luck and happy selling.
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