Need some help selling my truck??????

[lofsfire]

1998 F150 4x4 XLT Super Cab 4x4 Off-Road Package $5,600 (Crown Point, IN)
(click above this match my CraigList add)


Well I'm guessing no one on here is looking for a truck like this b/c I have not gotten one call or email. The only calls I'm getting are people from CraigList that just want to talk. They set appointment times and are no shows.

I had one guy start calling me on a Tuesday, said he could not come see it till Saturday. Call me on Thursday to ask a few more questions. Then on Friday to confirm our time and place for Saturday. Then calls me on Saturday says he is on his way and want direction. I ask where he is coming from, offer two routes, he say his past the one turn already and I would see him in 1/2 hour. Then a no show, call him back to make sure hes not lost and no answer. WTH!

As of Thursday I dropped the price to $5,100 on CL but nothing. The truck is real clean for its age it does have some issues but nothing that out of the norm. A rust under the rockers (see below), rear breaks squeak only b/c they are Autozone pads, I wont do that again! Header bolts will eventually go, I can hear a exhaust leak starting and that is common for these. It does make it 3,000mi with out adding oil.

KBB puts it at a high of $6,143 and a low of $5,043 and does not include a few extras.
Nada puts it at a high of $5,625 and a low of $2,775 and does not include ANY extras and most options!

What am I doing wrong, it is a car and I have to have some play room with the price, we both know if I only put a $1 the offers would still be less.

Also does the interior look dirty? b/c in the pictures it does to me. I guess its the lighting or something, but it is really is clean, the only thing that is dirty is the Drivers side floor mat but that's what it is for! I think the thing the bothers me the most is I have gotten complements on how it does not look its age, but now I can't even get people to come look at in person.



Rust pictures

Passenger Side

Driver Side

 

[MZEMS2]

Well, I'm not in the market, but I do know that people wanna shop from their recliners with laptops these days. So, you have to take pics of everything you can possibly think of. Post the maximum that C/L will allow, and keep the rest stored and ready to email to people at the drop of a hat. When I sell something, I take pics of everything that I would wanna see in a pic before I go for a drive to see it in person. Be fair in your price and don't expect to get the high end of NADA or KBB. I wouldn't buy something with that much rust, but then again, my vehicles are my commuters. I can't afford to have spare vehicles sitting around. This is an older truck that would most likely be someone's wknd beater or spare. It's gonna be a tough sell, but be patient. Not meaning to offend in any way at all, just being up-front. Good luck!!

 

[indy_500]

Also not trying to offend you but that rust is pretty bad. Most people interested in older trucks, their first question is, does it have any rust. I got mine cheap because it had rust, but it was a lot less than that. How many miles are on it? I paid $2500 for a 99 Sierra 1500 Classic with 160k on it.

 

[lofsfire]

No offence taken, that why I'm asking. If you click the link above and you can see my JD ad that match my Craigslist ad.

I do realize I not going to get top dollar which is why I have held back these picture until now. Out of the people that have called none were concerned with the rust after I told the what it look like, I have offered picture but no one even want to see them. They all have said the same thing, "it looks good for the outside and normally you would find the bottom of the doors real bad, plus the tailgate with holes." I have seen trucks like this too.

I figure my market is the guy that wants a weekend around town truck, 4x4 play toy, or a kid the (like Indy was) that wants to tinker but need some reliability too. I really have no problem putting more miles on it. I just used it 2 weeks ago on a trip that was 500 miles. That being said if it was me buying it I would have to build up some trusted first.

I'm going to stop at a body shop this week and get an estimate on the rockers just so I have a number to give people, maybe that will help.

 

[anonomoose]

Well, take KBB and the others and toss them out....they speak in general terms. You have color and tires and brakes and "issues" which can add up.

Spring is not the best time to be off loading a 4x4 that guzzles gasoline with the prices as high as they are.

I sure hope you aren't sending along all those rusty pictures! Let them come out and see the truck...nobody buys trucks from just pictures unless it is very unique...godda see it.

Don't just rely on Craig's crappola...post it everywhere you can and spend a nickle on a few ads...it will sell eventually.

You can also do what the dealers do. Get out the zip can and paint it, bondo it and clean it up. Torn seat...fix it...muddy floor mats hit wally world and buy some new ones. Dwell on the great stuff, hitch, no oil burning, and if the "issues" aren't very big...get them fixed.

Or drop the price a bunch....you get to pick!

My 2 cents worth...maybe 3!

 

[indy_500]

Well, take KBB and the others and toss them out....they speak in general terms. You have color and tires and brakes and "issues" which can add up.

Spring is not the best time to be off loading a 4x4 that guzzles gasoline with the prices as high as they are.

I sure hope you aren't sending along all those rusty pictures! Let them come out and see the truck...nobody buys trucks from just pictures unless it is very unique...godda see it.

Don't just rely on Craig's crappola...post it everywhere you can and spend a nickle on a few ads...it will sell eventually.

You can also do what the dealers do. Get out the zip can and paint it, bondo it and clean it up. Torn seat...fix it...muddy floor mats hit wally world and buy some new ones. Dwell on the great stuff, hitch, no oil burning, and if the "issues" aren't very big...get them fixed.

Or drop the price a bunch....you get to pick!

My 2 cents worth...maybe 3!

Don't just dwell on the great stuff, use it! LOL Fixed my cab corner with great stuff, then bondoed over it. I bedlinered everything under the door trim. My truck turned out great, but mostly because I was going for the black scheme anyways.

 

[tundra ron]

Like Indy says lower the price people will not pay 5000 dollars for a 15 year old truck with rust and 187000 miles on it put it at 3200 and a spanish speaking person will buy it.

 

[whitedust]

Like Indy says lower the price people will not pay 5000 dollars for a 15 year old truck with rust and 187000 miles on it put it at 3200 and a spanish speaking person will buy it.

Agree you are asking too much $3200 & your truck will fly out the door. $5K too much for your market even a farmer won't pay that much to take the truck to the grave as work truck.

 

[SledTL]

Idk if its the price, it's more the stuff that anonomoose said about the time of year and gas, but the lowering of the price will make it go faster. I think you could get 5 for that if you find the right buyer. Do you need the truck because it would also help to go park it at a corner parking lot or like gas station where people would look at it with a for sale sign on it

 

[98panther]

In my experience when I have sold used vehicles, after market upgrades and options add no value when time to resell.
Same for maintenance, the owner is expected to keep it maintaned. The cost of the maintenance is not added to the value.

But listing things that have been done, should help it sell quicker but not for more.

And KBB and Nada high prices are for pristine vehicles- meaning... Wow! has anyone even sat in this thing?
Rusty puts it at the bottom. He probably was expecting perfect - seen it from a distance and kept on driving. PO'd that he drove that far.

 

[lofsfire]

Like Indy says lower the price people will not pay 5000 dollars for a 15 year old truck with rust and 187000 miles on it put it at 3200 and a spanish speaking person will buy it.

Idk if its the price, it's more the stuff that anonomoose said about the time of year and gas, but the lowering of the price will make it go faster. I think you could get 5 for that if you find the right buyer. Do you need the truck because it would also help to go park it at a corner parking lot or like gas station where people would look at it with a for sale sign on it

In my experience when I have sold used vehicles, after market upgrades and options add no value when time to resell.
Same for maintenance, the owner is expected to keep it maintaned. The cost of the maintenance is not added to the value.

But listing things that have been done, should help it sell quicker but not for more.

And KBB and Nada high prices are for pristine vehicles- meaning... Wow! has anyone even sat in this thing?
Rusty puts it at the bottom. He probably was expecting perfect - seen it from a distance and kept on driving. PO'd that he drove that far.

I'm not trying to be defensive about the truck everyone makes great points, most of which have rolled through my head as well, but I just want to be clear on a few things.

+ until this post, no one has seen these pictures, I offered them, but thats it (That is what is puzzling)
+ On the passenger side you can't see the rust until you open the doors and get down at level, driver-side you still have to open the doors.
+ no one has seen it in person
+ as far as the guy seeing it from the road, not possible from the last time he called it was inside the fire department bay waiting for him to come see it.

I picked 5,600 original b/c of KBB and NADA and what I saw others asking my first thoughts were starting at 4700 and hope to get 4000 but I guess that is still high.

It does seem like the options are worth something heck the brush guard in scrap alone is something. Maybe I should pull the extras and sell them, then cut the price of the truck???

- Needing it - No I have a car I can drive, I have thought about it just have not done it. I do have the for sale sign on the back window
- time of year and gas - that is why I'm asking now, I'm getting worried. I've had it up since the beginning of February. Thought for sure the 3 heavy snow dumps we got would help it sell.

Indy - some nice ideas I just might do that. Only thing, it kinda feels like I'm covering up a problem, I really am not trying to be deceptive.

I think I got everything, thanks for the advice and keep it coming.

On a side note I don't have to sell this before my new one comes, and after the news I received today my build is starting allover. I guess my New truck was leaving the factory and heading to the the finishing plant from there they send them to the dealers and somehow it now has 3000 grand in damage to the passenger side, just sheet metal. They called to find out if I still want the truck, they would fix it but I would have to sign off on the damage. My dealer is trying to get something extra thrown in since I have to wait double the time for a second build.

 

[whitedust]

No way don't buy a damaged new truck that is just crazy wait for a 2nd build. Why not just trade in old truck & be done with it dealer will sell cheap or take to auction? Brush guards crack me up see on SUVs & trucks in Chicago area Mom sitting at a stop light & I'm like who sold you that crap?? Maybe told her extra protection or something if she rear ends someone.lol

 

[alwaysright]

similar trucks going form between 2450 - 4K in the twin cities, I agree with others if it's priced right it will be gone quickly, like anything else. yes you could get a little more if you wait but do you want to sit around and wait for callers, no-shows, or tire kickers, might be worth a $1000 of your time to price it lower and have it gone quickly.

 

[98panther]

Well that's just been my experience. Never get much of money back from a mod I have done.
Agree or don't

 

[SledTL]

Never expect to get what you put back into a truck, but today I went past the ghetto side of my town and saw that some of the dealerships had used f150s from the late nineties goin for 4200 that's not looking at miles or condition, but just a quick drive by. If Jose pays for it here I'm sure you can get around the same where you are

 

[jr37]

I would wait the extra time if I had to, but I would not accept a "repaired" new truck. You are paying big bucks for a new truck, it should be a new truck. But that is only my opinion.

 

[lofsfire]

NOOOOOO! I'm not, nor was ever going to accept a "repaired" truck. To many what if's. I will wait.

They did say they will fast track the new build and give me another 500 off. It's not a lot but its something. I was pushing for a longer warranty, thought they would bite at that but no luck. My thinking was that warranties are handled by other company and then marked up and sold to us, so it should have been a small investment for them, but since its Chrysler not the dealer, one sale is not that big to them.

I happened to talk to a friends-friend tonight that works in a rail yard for car from the plants and he said its not uncommon, it just suck that it happened to you. He also said I was lucky it was enough damage b/c under a percentage of the value, they do not have to tell you. This can very by states as well.

As far as my current truck I going to look in to repricing it this weekend so will see. I'll keep you guys posted.

 

[Hoosier]

Never expect to get what you put back into a truck, but today I went past the ghetto side of my town and saw that some of the dealerships had used f150s from the late nineties goin for 4200 that's not looking at miles or condition, but just a quick drive by. If Jose pays for it here I'm sure you can get around the same where you are

Trouble is many of those lots are buy-here-pay-here lots, and the vehicles are selling to people with no money to put down.

 

[zltim]

Rust and dirt don't sell. Rattle can the doors and rocker panel that shows. Then most people will not even look under it.

Yes, lower the price to just above what you really must have for it and then every week lower it until you get rid of it.

By the way, cash only and $20's. $100's could be counterfeit too easily or go to the guys bank and get paid by the bank.

Good luck.

 

[lofsfire]

Rust and dirt don't sell. Rattle can the doors and rocker panel that shows. Then most people will not even look under it.

Yes, lower the price to just above what you really must have for it and then every week lower it until you get rid of it.

By the way, cash only and $20's. $100's could be counterfeit too easily or go to the guys bank and get paid by the bank.

Good luck.

The one thing I have made clear is that they can bring a check or cash. If they bring a check, we will go to their bank and they can cash it, their bank can then give me the money. If they bring cash then we can go to my bank they can verify it. My bank said they would be more than happy to help complete the transaction. Either way a bank will verify the money before I receive it.