Why Can't I Sell on Craigslist? Help!

I've been trying to sell my Saturn on Craigslist for months. See listing here. I think the pricing is reasonable (although if you have hard data showing otherwise I'll consider it). My perception is that this should be an easy car to sell and is priced attractively. I have concluded I must be doing something wrong with the listing. As the listing nears expiration I repost it; I've dropped the price from $3,900 to $2,995 as well. I've gotten maybe two calls in six months.

Do I need to make a new listing every Thursday for it to be "recent?" What am I doing wrong?

Thanks for your help!

David

At 144k miles, 3g is a bit much for my liking. I would pass it right up. Its a good looking car, but there just aren't many Saturn fans.

I'd be comfortable paying $2k all day long for it, 4k, and now 3k, still seems too much for an 01 saturn, though it is a very clean example. I think if you'd list it at 2400 you would probably have a little more luck with people contacting you, and the lowest someone would offer would probably be $2k IMO. I have no hard data or recent sale prices to back that up, but to put your price in perspective, ions sell in the same price range you're in right now. Much newer and (arguably) more attractive and, again, arguably, better overall car/investment.

Around here, Saturns exactly like that sell for $2k or less all day long.

Not a bad looking car but $1800 is coming to mind. Sorry.

GLWS Paul B

+1 on that's a $2k car. Maybe $2500 OBO.

I know I'm in a very different market, but 4 years ago I was on the verge of buying a similar SL1 with under 100k for $2800, and that was at a dealership.

KBB and edmunds both list that as a $2k private sale car in your area under the best condition. NADA doesn't list private party value. I'm not saying everything goes for book value, just something to consider.

i'm with the price guys... while it looks like a clean little car that I wouldn't mind buying for the family it's a little pricey based on what i'm seeing around here... granted i'm in houston and it's a HUGE car market

I have a friend who live near Chandler (in Queen Creek). Nothing helpful to add though.

Any car will sell quickly, if it's priced right. The hard data you seek is the fact that it's still there. I don't think I've ever had a car for sale for more than 14 days, usually it's 3-5 days before it's gone. It's always within 10% of my asking price.

In reply to DrBoost:

My escort stayed a few weeks until someone called and gave me a price above my minimum.

N Sperlo wrote: In reply to DrBoost: My escort stayed a few weeks until someone called and gave me a price above my minimum.

I'm talking in generalities. There are exceptions to every rule. If I put my mini on CL, it wouldn't sell for the fair price very soon because it's a specific market. But usually, if it's priced right it'll sell pretty quick. Especially at the sub $4,000 point.

Lot of mola. Sold two low mile 02 Proteges this last year, and all they would fetch from trade was $300. Gave them away to friends.

Saturn is a dead brand and people are going to be reluctant to buy a car that they worry about finding parts for (real or imagined).

Normally, on CL you would have at least a steady stream of time wasters.

Have you looked to see what comparable cars are selling for?

don't worry... I've had the Corvette listed for over a month and have gotten two trade requests and a crap load of spammers.

Believe it or not, someone thinks a 1989 Camaro "irok-z" is worth an even trade of an 88 Corvette.

DrBoost wrote: Any car will sell quickly, if it's priced right. The hard data you seek is the fact that it's still there. I don't think I've ever had a car for sale for more than 14 days, usually it's 3-5 days before it's gone. It's always within 10% of my asking price.

Priced too high or it would already be gone. Nice car my local STL CL has similar cars for $1700 to $2200

Bobzilla wrote: Believe it or not, someone thinks a 1989 Camaro "irok-z" is worth an even trade of an 88 Corvette.

It is newer!

Price, and no one's specifically looking for a Saturn. The brand itself doesn't help, say Saturn and the first two things that come to mind are "oil consumption" and "company no longer exists." I like Saturns, but that's the reality. You're not targeting a Saturn enthusiast with that car, you're competing with every other sub $2k econobox out there on Craigslist.

People shopping in that market are looking at the Civic, Corolla, etc. so you have to give them a compelling reason to go with a Saturn over those two. Price and condition are usually your only leverage, and price is by far the biggest lever. Making your car the best deal out there will generate interest and get it sold.

I was in a similar situation a few months back selling my wife's 95 year old grandmother's car. It was a '93 Ford Tempo in immaculate condition. Even the teal blue/green paint was perfect (a rarity for Fords of that era). It had been garaged and well-maintained it's entire life, and had 40K on it. I checked out the competition on CL, and realized that the only way I was going to sell it was going to be to price it right from the get-go. We priced it at $1200, and sold it before it even hit the market (friend of a friend heard about it). I would guess it was a far better car than what you'd typically buy for $1200, but I never would have gotten any more for it.

I've found that looking at your car through the eyes of the potential buyer is the best way to get it sold quickly.

Marketing guy here. Brown 4 door with an automatic and wheel covers. This is not going to appeal to a car enthusiast (sorry). Your best target audience are people who know little about cars but are looking for an appliance. I would include details like "great first car for your teenage daughter" and "any GM dealer can service" and "super reliable, will get you to Church every Sunday".

Think about your target audience, what they are looking for in a car, and tell them in plain English that this is the car that will do that for them.

That would be a $1500-2000 car around here. Sorry.

Value is why some friends have held on to their L series wagon. Despite the annoyance of dealing with a 5th car in the fleet, it's value as a "family truckster" for hauling crap they don't want to put in their newer cars outweighs the minimal amount of money it would bring in.

Out of curiosity, I checked Blackbook and Manheim to see what we would expect it to fetch at auction. Probably about $1500, best case scenario. Dealer puts a $1000 markup on it, that is a $2500 car at a dealership.

You're too high

To put things in perspective, I just sold an '05 Ion Redline earlier this year in about the same shape with 103k miles on it for $5000, yea.....you're way too high. In my area, thats a $1000 car all day on the CL.

KBB.com shows the car at $2,112 in 'excellent condition' for a private party sale so.... yeah, pricing is too high.

amg_rx7 wrote: KBB.com shows the car at $2,112 in 'excellent condition' for a private party sale so.... yeah, pricing is too high.

And as I tell people I buy from, KBB is an estimate suggested value. It isn't made for our current market. People are less willing to pay near KBB when they haven't had a raise in 10 years. Others are happy to buy new.

N Sperlo wrote:

amg_rx7 wrote: KBB.com shows the car at $2,112 in 'excellent condition' for a private party sale so.... yeah, pricing is too high.

And as I tell people I buy from, KBB is an estimate suggested value. It isn't made for our current market. People are less willing to pay near KBB when they haven't had a raise in 10 years. Others are happy to buy new.

And others are happy to buy used for $5000 more than KBB........people are stupid sometimes.

To the OP, the price might sell if it were tax time, but I doubt anyone will be looking for a decade old saturn as a christmas gift.....