Autotrader or Ebay Motors

Im trying to sell my 1994 Miata. I have it on Craigslist and no success yet.

Which should i try next

Ebay motors or Autotrader.

Im leaning towards Autotrader (online) cause it seems more straight forward.

Thoughts ideas or .02 cents?

Thanks

AutoTrader

eBay works best if you have a low or no reserve. If you have to have $5k for your car, don't list it for $4,995 because no one will bid unless they want THAT car. If you start lower, say $2k reserve, you can get people to bid who then get caught up in the auction and will wind up paying more then they would have in the first place. They talk themselves into the car over the course of the auction.

The problem is the eBay fee is $125 - "The Successful Listing Fee is charged when you receive your first bid on a listing without a reserve price or when your reserve price is met. There's no additional fee charged after the vehicle sells."

GRM Classifieds

Other than Craigs List, I'll look at Cars.com, rarely, however. Craigs list satisfies most of my car A.D.D. urges.

If you do go with ebay, take the longest running auction that you can get which I think is 10 days.

If you go with autotrader pay the extra for the option that runs until it is sold.

I have not listed a car on either ebay or autotrader in years but that is how it use to work. My more recent car sales have been done through craigslist but they were less than $2,500 type cars.

My experience with eBay was expensive... and IMO worth the cost. $125 + some extras. I sold the car for just over what I wanted to get out of it in 7 days and was done. It was a $5500 sale so $125 isn't that bad - I'd do it again to avoid the hassle of craigslist no-shows. Now... if it was a $600 car I'd do all free options first. I think my personal tipping point is going to be 10% or so of the sale to advertise - only if it provides a no-hassle sale. If I have to do work then I don't want to pay.

I like to sell cars on e-Bay. Lots of people see it, potential buyers know that they're working within a known window of time and even if it doesn't sell, within a week you get a pretty solid idea of the car's market value. Set a reserve and you won't mind paying the $125 if it sells.

If you want to get more money for it, go with AutoTrader. Run it til it sells option, add LOTS of photos.

I have to say it depends. I use eBay for more "specialized" or rare cars that you need to cast a wider net for, and Autotrader for more standard, average cars that are likely to sell locally. For instance, when I got to sell my F-150 in a few months, I'll probably use Autotrader, because it's just an F-150.

But I give Craigslist, GRM classifieds, and make-specific forums at least a couple of weeks before I do either, since all those are free and Autotrader/eBay cost money.

I have found AutoTrader gets me fewer flakes and more money than either Craigslist or ebay. I also tend to get much more reasonable offers from AutoTrader than Craigslist.

Most Recent Example: When I sold my SVT Focus a few months ago, I got nothing but crackpots offering $2k less than my (reasonable) asking price from Craigslist. The ebay auction didn't meet my reserve, and the high bidder didn't accept a second chance offer of his highest bid (which was within $100 of my reserve). The next day, a guy responded to my AutoTrader ad and bought the car for $1k more than the highest bid/second chance offer on ebay.

YMMV.

I've bought 2 cars off www.kijiji.com this year. It's free.

I pretty much only look at craigslist for cars for sale. One suggestion though, no matter how frustrated you are with stupid things people do, just leave it out of your add. All of the things like no scammers, no lowballers, price is firm, serious buyers only, etc make people just click the back button and look for another add.

Doesn't eBay own kijiji?

Well, still trying to sell my miata. Autotrader has had it up since ummm october and no hits yet.

Looks like im gonna ebay this thing.

Any final tips?

oops bouble post

In reply to CarKid1989:

Lots of decent size pics and a comprehensive description go far IMHO. Although the latter does still mean you'll be answering questions that you already answered in the listing; it does however help with future discussions as to if a vehicle was as described or not.

I looked up your ad.
I recommend pricing in the $3k range rather than the $5k range.
If you do go with ebay, consider a reserve in the $2k range.

your price may not be correct for the market. In April I cleaned house by selling a 99 Miata, a 2004 Audi A4, a 2004 F150 and a 2001 CBR600. The first person who drove each car bought it. The motorcycle sold to the second person.

All items were sold on craigslist. didn't cost me anything. Just make sure you have lots of info and lots of pictures.

Link your autotrader ad so we can see how your ad looks.

My miata,

May be a bit over priced, but my logic has been if i start over priced, the buyer will talk it down. In the end he feels good for getting the price down and i still get my money that i want.

I have had 3 people look at it when it was listed for 6000$ on a whim

CarKid1989 wrote: My miata, May be a bit over priced, but my logic has been if i start over priced, the buyer will talk it down. In the end he feels good for getting the price down and i still get my money that i want. I have had 3 people look at it when it was listed for 6000$ on a whim

Good call on the pricing. Are you in a hurry to sell it? If not, just wait because the right person will find it. I had some guy buy my wife's car after it was on AutoTrader for 3 months. He needed the car NOW and paid me what I wanted. I only had one flake call me and he got ticked when I told him I would only discuss lowering the price in person.

I'm always looking for cars and I never even think of looking at Autotrader.

Nice ad, but lose the pic of the Lotus. I was just thinking that I need to get another Miata when I sell my Ducati, then that Elise popped up and I lost intrest in the Miata.

I have been a car dealer for 17 years and have very mixed results with ebay motors. Take a look at their "completed items" and you will see that very very few cars sell.

Updated my ad.

Lower price=)