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Write me a Classified Ad

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  • #1

    Write me a Classified Ad

    I am trying to sell our 2004 Ford Taurus. I put an ad in the local Roanoke paper yesterday, running through Monday. So far I have not had a single caller. Perhaps my initial asking price is too high, though my review of local advertisements suggests that I am competitive.

    Let's go on the assumption that I simply did not compose a very good ad. Please create a good classified ad for me. Here's the information:

    2004 Ford Taurus SE. 4-door sedan. 65,000 miles. Just installed new front brake pads and had the car inspected, with Virginia sticker. It has the usual dings and scratches for what is almost a six year old car that has averaged 11,000 miles per year; but it's really is very good shape. Yesterday I spruced it up with a coat of UQW, and my daughter says it looks like new. The mechanic who inspected it says the car is very clean. We have maintained it well: oil changes every 3,000 miles, etc. (though we have not saved all the receipts). We have had no mechanical problems whatsoever. It's never been in an accident. The interior looks good, though the carpeting needs to be shampooed, and it needs new floor mats. The vehicle has been well taken care of and looks it. It runs just fine.

    We are the second owners. The first year of its existence it served as a leased vehicle. We bought it in January 2006. At that time it had 23,000 miles on it. Since purchasing it, we bought four new Continental tires. They still have good tread left on them.

    The color of the car is called "spruce green," but it really doesn't look very green. There must be another term that would describe the color better, but I can't think of one. Any ideas? I'm also not sure how to describe the color of my interior--tan? champagne?

    Is there any other information you need?

    Here are some pics:















    BTW, are any of these pics worth using if I were to advertise the car online? Which online service do you recommend? AutoTrader.com? Cars.com? Which is more effective, newspaper or internet advertising?

    So put on your creativity caps and compose for me an advertisement that will sell my car!

    I also welcome suggestions on pricing the car. Should I price the car at the lowest price I am willing to accept? How much higher than lowest price should I go? Please PM pricing and negotiation suggestions to me privately.

    Thanks in advance!!!

    Cheers,
    Al
    Swirls hide in the black molecular depths, only waiting for the right time to emerge and destroy your sanity.
    --Al Kimel
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  • #2
    Re: Write me a Classified Ad

    I would use the first 3 photos and the interior shot. But it would be best to take more shots where the sunlight doesn't create such contrast. It seems to dull the car's finish a little.

    Leave out the information about the dings and scratches. Let the buyer notice those on his own. You should mention that the car was detailed on a regular basis. No need to offer up information that you are the 2nd owner unless asked. Keep the ad short, punchy, and to the point. If you want good pointers on how to write an ad, go to cars.com, carmax.com, or autotrader.com and see how the pros write their ads.

    Also check out edmunds.com for tips to sell your car:

    4. Create Ads that Sell. When creating your "For Sale" signs or putting an ad in the paper, you have an opportunity to communicate how eager you are to sell the car. "OBO" ("or best offer") indicates that you are willing to entertain offers below the stated price. "Asking price" communicates the feeling that you will negotiate. It means you are asking a certain price, but might accept a lower price. "Firm" is less common, but it can be used to rebuff attempts to negotiate. It indicates that you aren't in a hurry to sell the car — you are most interested in getting your price. Think about what you are telling people by the way you phrase your ad. Little words convey a lot.

    5. Advertise Your Car. Traditionally, people advertised in newspaper classified ads but now online ads, such as the ones offered by Edmunds.com, are becoming more popular. However, you should also consider other ways of advertising such as posting a "For Sale" sign in the car window and telling all your friends your car is for sale. Creativity is required when it comes to advertising. Think of unusual places to put ads (skywriting is probably too expensive), and you will get results.
    • 10 Steps to Selling Your Car
    • Edmunds.com's Quick Guide to Selling Your Car

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    • #3
      Re: Write me a Classified Ad

      craigslist.com

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