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Smart Shopper AutoTrader Experiences
85 messages, Last post on Feb 09, 2008 at 9:39 AM
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...to 75 miles. I was looking for a Corvette, and there weren't many locally in the price range and age I was looking for. I ended up buying one from someone who had ONLY advertised in AutoTrader. I got the feeling it had been on the market for several months, and the seller told me he had gotten very few calls and no lookers. Still, he optimistically proclaimed "the car is so nice, all I need is to get one person to see it and drive it, and they will buy it." I saw it, I drove it, I bought it! |
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| I had been checking Autotrader for the car I would like to buy, but I became annoyed with dealerships that continue to post ads for cars they no longer have. I've had this happen twice and the ads are still online (over a month later). | |
| as well, and find that they are very slow to update their listings. Its frustrating from a seller's point of view, that's for sure. | |
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I sort of fished my 89 VW Golf with a free 'basic' ad, got a few calls but no buyers. I think an ad with a picture makes all the difference. I just bought my second or third car by using autotrader, I think the site is great. I do wish they would: -list the VIN of all cars -require that seller list mileage and transmission type on all 'pay' ads (this would reduce everyone's bother) -list the city/state of all ads (doing a search on an area code is an extra PIA) -remove the ad PROMPTLY when the car sells (I've called about MANY cars on AT that sold weeks or months ago) That said, I haven't seen another venue that does a better job than they do. I live in a big used car market (Chicago) and our local newspapers and other websites with similar missions don't compare. |
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-Have it required that the owner list the engine type (4-cyl, V6, V8, etc...), especially cars like Camry, where 4-cylinder and V6 engines are available. (ie if someone doesn't want a 4-cylinder Camry, he or she can skip over the ad) -If it's a truck or SUV, have it required to list 2WD or 4WD (and if possible, put those options (4WD, V6, etc...) in the search, too) It would save alot of time for Auto Trader viewers and buyers in finding the right car. Otherwise, AT is pretty good. -RAVvie4me |
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| If you are REALLY trying to sell your vehicle, for heavens sake, pay the $30-50 and advertise the thing right. Those freebie listings are a total joke. I can't believe that there are people are there tring to sell $15,000 vehicles and don't won't to spend $40 to advertise correctly. Talk about cheap.. | |
| Can you tell me what the "correct" way is? Cause I've tried every avenue in my 12 years and 20+ cars of experience and have yet to find one way that works better than any other (including spending money on ads). My best results have come from parking it near the street. And that costs me nothing aside from the paper I printed the sign on. | |
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That would depend on what kind of street you live, lol. corrrectly to me means local paper, Autotrader magazine(or similar mag. in your area), internet, word of mouth, flyers, ect ect. Basically, if you really want to sell a vehicle...get the word out there in as many places as possible.....and most important, price the car right, don't list at what the dealers are listing at. Listing solely in the freebie section of autotrader.com is not going to get the job done. IMHO |
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........ The biggest problem is -- people don't "Present" their vehicle. They just run a little 2 or 3 liner, it looks like everyone else's, the buyer's get bored into a coma after the 2/3 line, and off they go to the Vegas style ad by ABC Dodge .... This is what -0- bucks gets you: -0- This is what 15 bucks gets you: 1997 Buick Regal, low miles, all power. $7,900 call Bob. XXX-xxx-xxxx This is what $40 bucks gets you: *1997 Buick Regal LS*, 39,000 original miles. V6, power seats, power windows, cruise, tilt, CD Adult driven, garaged and professionally Maintained, looks new, drives new. *Must see must sell* $7,900 call Bob. XXX-xxx-xxxx Call me silly ... Call me stupid, but I think one ad, in the major newspaper, will do volumes more than hanging signs or waiting for the next "phone book" from the Auto-trader. But, it's your dime ... Terry.
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I agree with Terry. Back in 1985 I put an 81 Toyota Celica in the autotrader. It sat there for 3 weeks, in the meantime my ordered 85 Toyota Mini-van was due in. I got on the phone and called the San Diego Union/Tribune and placed an ad that read something like this: Beautiful silver blue Celica in excellent condition. 5spd manual transmission, a/c, am/fm cassette, alloy wheels, 39K miles, one owner, all service/maintenance records. New baby forces sale! $xxxx or best offer. Call xxx-xxxx up to 7pm. I placed the call on a wednesday, ad came out friday morning, car was sold Saturday morning. Best $39.95 I've ever spent. : ) Mackabee |
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