Rubbish at selling things - help please!

downshifter

I'm completely rubbish at selling stuff. I'm so concerned people might think I've ripped them off, or else I worry that I haven't told them about various faults with it. I recently sold a desk on gumtree but dropped the price for the people (then ended up giving the money to charity I felt so guilty!) and very nearly rang them to see if they liked it or did they want to give it back. There wasn't anything at all wrong with it that I knew of but I thought it might not be what they were expecting. I lost my nerve with another similar item so gave it away - and still I was worried they might not like it etc etc.

I now need to sell something else on behalf of a family member, closely followed by my own car but am putting it off and off. What do other seasoned sellers do? Do you list the faults with it (but then I'd be worried they'd find more or I'd missed something?) or say nothing and hope the buyers don't mind? Or what do you do? I understand about 'buyer beware' but I don't mind at all if I have to give money back, or if they're laughing at me cos they've got a silly bargain etc but just don't want to feel that I've ripped people off or that they're disappointed.

I realise I'm not cut out for this but have to sell these 2 items. How do you go about pointing out faults or even setting a good price for less than perfect items? Do you ever contact buyers to see if it's ok for them once they've got it home or just leave it to them to get back to you if they don't like it? Or how do I harden up!!!

Yours pathetically,

DS

soolin

downshifter wrote: »

I'm completely rubbish at selling stuff. I'm so concerned people might think I've ripped them off, or else I worry that I haven't told them about various faults with it. I recently sold a desk on gumtree but dropped the price for the people (then ended up giving the money to charity I felt so guilty!) and very nearly rang them to see if they liked it or did they want to give it back. There wasn't anything at all wrong with it that I knew of but I thought it might not be what they were expecting. I lost my nerve with another similar item so gave it away - and still I was worried they might not like it etc etc.

I now need to sell something else on behalf of a family member, closely followed by my own car but am putting it off and off. What do other seasoned sellers do? Do you list the faults with it (but then I'd be worried they'd find more or I'd missed something?) or say nothing and hope the buyers don't mind? Or what do you do? I understand about 'buyer beware' but I don't mind at all if I have to give money back, or if they're laughing at me cos they've got a silly bargain etc but just don't want to feel that I've ripped people off or that they're disappointed.

I realise I'm not cut out for this but have to sell these 2 items. How do you go about pointing out faults or even setting a good price for less than perfect items? Do you ever contact buyers to see if it's ok for them once they've got it home or just leave it to them to get back to you if they don't like it? Or how do I harden up!!!

Yours pathetically,

DS

Personally if you are that nervous I would rethink this.

The item your relative wants you to sell- tell them to do it themselves. As for the car, try a local dealer or at a push one of those 'we buy your car' places, yes you'll get less for it but won't need to worry.

Pun

As you say, you aren't cut out for this - so don't do it! Just because ebay, gumtree etc exist doesn't mean everyone in the world has to become an overnight trader.

You'll just make yourself miserable if you feel this way. Follow Soolin's advice, which as usual is spot on.

downshifter

Unfortunately the other person can't sell it themselves, elderly, doesn't want strangers at her door etc etc. I may just buy it myself so they get the money then think what to do with it. Not sure about the car, one dealer said they wouldn't take it on part ex as it's an import and unusual and they didn't think they were in the right marketplace, advised me to sell it on ebay!

So I take it that nobody else feels like this and has managed to get over it? Oh dear, how sad am I!!

Thanks for the advice.

DS

soolin

downshifter wrote: »

Unfortunately the other person can't sell it themselves, elderly, doesn't want strangers at her door etc etc. I may just buy it myself so they get the money then think what to do with it. Not sure about the car, one dealer said they wouldn't take it on part ex as it's an import and unusual and they didn't think they were in the right marketplace, advised me to sell it on ebay!

So I take it that nobody else feels like this and has managed to get over it? Oh dear, how sad am I!!

Thanks for the advice.

DS

It's not a reflection on you at all, some people can sell and some can't, it's just the way we are. For instance, I see mentions of matched betting (there is a dedicated MSE board) , people say it is easy to learn - but I just wouldn't even attempt it as the idea makes me nervous.

Try Schpock both for the car and the item you have, it is much more anonymous than other venues , you can put an ad up and then vet the replies to see how comfortable you are. If you feel nervous you can just delete the ad and that's the end of it. The only issue is it doesn't allow for negotiation - so you put up the info - and then someone makes an offer (sometimes at asking price and sometimes below) and you can accept or counter offer. If buyer chooses to buy then you get a dialogue box to talk to them, until that point all they have is your postcode.

Personally I wouldn't be looking to sell a car on ebay without more nerves and a very good understanding of what you are doing. Wherever you sell it make sure you know all the usual scams, know the regs about tax and the V5 - the motoring board here on MSE will be able to help.

RFW

soolin wrote: »

It's not a reflection on you at all, some people can sell and some can't, it's just the way we are. For instance, I see mentions of matched betting (there is a dedicated MSE board) , people say it is easy to learn - but I just wouldn't even attempt it as the idea makes me nervous.

I'm a professional online seller and wouldn't like to put a car on Ebay to sell. I did it a few years ago and it was mostly low offers and a bit of a pain. I ended up selling it to a we buy your car company, actually ended up with a better price than I was offered.
I also went to a cash exchange place to sell a mobile phone, as I didn't want to do that online either.
If it is specialist, try Googling it and see if anywhere nearby has sold something similar, you may find a local dealer who could give a good offer.

FatVonD

If you aren't in a great rush to sell your car get a quote from we buy any car and then just sit on it for a few weeks and in a couple of weeks you'll get another email increasing the amount they offer you.

theonlywayisup

I too am a professional seller and sell online with Amazon and EBay.

We privately once sold a car and I don't want to make your toes curl but it was a nightmare.

It was an old Mercedes 3 litre worth only a thousand or so. It was a fast car and it was a great car as we'd had it since new but we had no need for it.

Imagine I am in Lands End and the buyer was in John O'Groats. He bid, he bought and won, he bid nearly 6k for it. I was astonished.

He emailed and asked me to meet him at the railway station (an hour away from us) at x time on x day. I did. My OH had followed behind me in another car.

The buyer stood at the station exit and when I made myself known he bundled the 6k of notes in my hand and asked for the keys before he even saw the car - I walked him to the car, he threw in his rucksack and drove off.

Blimey. That was the easiest sale ever.

Not.

It turned out the buyer drove about 50 miles and robbed a bank. He escaped* but left the car and his rucksack, containing a gun.

By the time my OH and I drove home we'd somehow become persons of interest to all police forces in the area!

Needless to say, the situation was resolved but it was hair raising.

I never sold a car on eBay ever again.

*He was arrested half way to London.

adonis

But did you get to keep the 6 grand?

hollydays

Quite exciting!

I love selling but I hate selling cars .
It’s problematic -They are the rudest buyers and keep
Ringing you , first question” what’s the least you’ll take for it”
Then they’ll get another few of their friends to ring and make you feel like you’ve overpriced it when you haven’t.
Don’t do it!

RFW

theonlywayisup wrote: »

I too am a professional seller and sell online with Amazon and EBay.

We privately once sold a car and I don't want to make your toes curl but it was a nightmare.

Well that trumps my half a dozen numpties who offered £50 on a three grand car!