I'm about to test that theory. I will post the results once it is said and done.
I had a time for a couple months I couldn't drive at all.
I started with 3 million.
Just doing AH cars alone, in those months I ended up with 38 million plus.
I don't want to give away the store here, but there are definitely ways to use the AH to make a good chunk of change without putting half million price tags on junk "hey look I can put a logo on a car" paint schemes on 62,000 different cars.
In order of importance:
-1- The car LOOKS good. Even if just a single color, it's a well done, thought out approach. It's not too gaudy but not run of the mill either.
-2- Be at the top of an Index. My best sellers for run of the mill cars are B, A and S class. Even a solid E/F/D car will net you $$ if it's a decent tuned car. Assume the buyer will tune it, so anything you get free parts for, put them all on it. You don't have to use them, but it's something that gives a car value, and people will start following your auctions because they know they don't have to worry about buying anything.
-3- If you want to, advertise it. If it's got nice design, put a picture up in a thread or on your store front. Get people used to looking at what's coming there. Use the description space to sell the car. Make sure you post some sort of leader board time for the tune if it's anything worth writing home about. (..I don't advertise at all, BTW. I put a pic on my SF of some cars, but they don't get looked at because I never tell anyone I put them up. It's just so I can DL to the computer and use them in thread posts when I want to..)
-4- Don't be afraid to put the Aero or wheels on. People can SEE those. They know there's near 5K in the car already. I do not buy Turbos or SC's, Drive train or engine conversions unless it's for a specific car. As an example, I have a B510 sedan V6 race package with V6 badges. If it says V6 on the car, it is going to have a V6. I also have a ZR67 with the motor upgrade in it. It has special ZR67 badges, so I make sure it has a ZR motor in it.
-5- Be wary of setting buyouts too high. The objective is to get the buyout and move the car. That $1,600 2002 is nothing special. Having it with Aero, Race rims, Indexed nice with a decent race paint scheme and decent tune nets me 47K to 57K depending. I've sold all but one out of the many I've put up, and they all went for buyout.
-6- Keep track of what moves and go after them. I have a few pet cars I always look for because I know for a fact I can get north of a 100K with minimal time. I have the setups and paints done, and I can swap colors or looks to create unique cars fairly quickly.
-7- The hardest one... Don't keep doing the same thing over and over again. Make each car unique. If you put the design on the SF, don't leave it there long, or change the number. Make the AH cars a little different from the SF design. I try to rotate the designs to minimize how many get out. The AH cars have a base tune that is very drive-able, so it isn't just a look that the person is buying.
-8- (edit) I NEVER start a car at $1000 dollars. I always start at 7K, because 7 is my lucky number. I also do it because everyone can see there's 5K in the car, they can sell that off and still sell the car for 2K and break even.
Basically, I get 90% of what I put in the car regardless, and they get a car they can always break even on regardless. Neither party can lose, so it's just plain good business to make sure you aren't giving away the store while still making sure a buyer doesn't get shafted with a car if they can't do anything with. It's win win for you both, and that's always a good thing.
I also always end my buy outs with 7, as in 47, 57, 107. It's a way to stand out a bit from everyone else. One thing I stay away from is the 6, especially 666. I know it sounds stupid, but of any problems I've had, that or it's relevant meaning for either side of the debate have had something to do with 99% of them. I don't need the headache. Anytime you use it, it's a 50/50 shot you're going to have the best or worst seller experience ever. Seven actually has the same effect, so much so I'm thinking of switching to "crazy 8"... ?B)
Some additional stuff that's useful, hopefully...
Do what ever you can to make the cars you sell unique, and make them a worthwhile investment and you WILL sell cars. Even if you don't advertise, you will get a cult following over time that knows you deliver a solid package and aren't just trying to rip people for easy cash.
Also accept that the AH is finicky, you don't always remember to add all the parts or something gets lost in translation. Sometimes it's just not your day. Always keep a chunk of time, like a month or so in mind when figuring how well you do. Look at the trends. If a car is dying out, stop buying it for awhile.
When bidding, avoid getting caught up in bid wars. 20 cars will leave the AH by the time you haggle two or three times. You'll never see them because you're trying to pick up the same car as someone else, and they won't stop until you're over paying. ALWAYS remember there are people in the AH that bid up cars on purpose to drive the price up. It's a tactic to artificially puff up a car's value so they can undercut everyone and move cars.
Bid a couple times and then stick them with it. let them over pay for the car they're trying to sell. So what if it saves you 10 grand if you win. The time you wasted just cost you a 3 grand Sterling Moss, a $1600 C63 Mercedes, a 20K GTR Spec V and 4 grand BMW that goes for 100K in the dealership.
Time is always more valuable when buying than saving a few bucks on a cheap car. Save haggling for when you have cars your really, really want.
When bidding on those cars, do so exclusively and leave the other stuff alone. Always have a specific reason to be in the AH at any given time, a mission to complete.
Lastly, KNOW what are prize cars and what aren't. ANY time you can get a non prize car for cheap that isn't an econo-shoebox in the new car dealer for 5 grand it's a good day. Always be looking out for non prize cars or for prize cars that few people pick that are decent performers.
You don't just get handed money as a seller. You do have to work for it.
If you do and you take an approach of taking care of your customers with your cars, you can and likely will do quite well for yourself.
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