Best Online Way To Sell Parts?

[Steel1]

Seems to me that selling or buying used/new Mustang parts was as simple as posting them in the classifieds on sites like this and others, wait a bit and presto sold or at least inquires. Over the past 6 months or so I've noticed it's no that easy anymore.
I'm not sure if it's lack of traffic on forums like these or maybe Facebook is more popular for selling now?
Ebay is always an option but isn't free and seems to be more of a retail sellers site these days.
Now I'm in my late 40's and have been playing with cars and buying/selling parts for years. Used to be newspaper classifieds, Bargain News and swap meets, which are scarce around here, were the way to go. Then the internet took over with Ebay, Craigslist, Racing junk.com and sites like these.
Maybe I'm just an old out of touch guy that doesn't do Facebook but if someone could enlighten me?
I love sites like this, a great resource and hope they continue to be a popular meeting place for like minded car nuts!

 

[Noobz347]

a great resource and hope they continue to be a popular meeting place for like minded car nuts!

The last line of your posts answers the largest part of your question.

This is a place for hobbyists and enthusiasts. It doesn't garner the traffic of bookface, ebay, or Amazon. in most instances, those that arrive here thinking that this is in some way an extension of bookface, are usually shown the door. This is a place where folks end up AFTER they've followed crappy internet advice and found themselves up creek with no paddle.

The trouble with selling used parts for 30 year old cars is that folks that have a need for that part have to be looking for and find your ad. It's kind of like trolling for fish. Way easier to do when there's a LOT of fish (even if they're clueless fish).

Our classifieds exist as a service to our membership as a way to exchange their stuff for other stuff. It's not really meant to be like craigslist.

The best way to get rid of used parts IMO is craigslist or local area clubs and meets. Having to ship something really takes the wind out of many used parts.

 

[deathb4dismount]

Selling/finding parts locally through craigslist or facebook has been really hit or miss for me. You can find good deals when buying and every once in awhile someone pays you $110 for a CAI. Generally though, there are way too many low ballers, people flaking out, or just being plain annoying. Like people asking what the lowest your price is then making a lower offer, and getting upset with you when you tell them to go screw. Anyway, I just started ebaying and it seems to be way better for the seller even if you absorb the shipping cost. Also I dont like to haggle so the buy it now feature is nice. I have had posts up since May on facebook and haven't sold anything. I listed my cobra intake on ebay and it sold in a week.

 

[Noobz347]

I listed my cobra intake on ebay and it sold in a week.

This is the key. Those things are historically easy to sell. Even the junk ones that have been modified (for some horrid reason).

Selling used OEM parts that are not a complete exhaust or original airbox, can be tough.

Some things can be sold by smoke signal. lol

 

[Mustang5L5]

Here's my experience with selling parts

Craigslist: Obscure questions, no real commitment, vague time availability, randomly saying you are available at 2AM, overall shadiness.

Facebook: Dealing with younger crowd, and problems associated with. Public mocking of your pricing, undercutting, having a buyer come back to you 2 months later and ask why their XYZ is making a noise when the part you sold has nothing to do with that particular issue (sell someone an axle shaft...and their brakes are squealing for example)

Ebay: You pay, I ship, we never see each other and it's great. I'll gladly let ebay take a cut for that convienence.



Right now I probably have 10-15 parts sitting on ebay. They are sitting on my shelf in the basement, so when one finally sells, I go grab it, box it up and ship it. Probably 1-2 sales a month? If it doesn't sell in 6-9 months, I just cut the price dramatically and give it a few more months and then toss it in the trash.

Non-vehicle related sales...I hit garage sales and scoop up stuff someone is selling for $5 that I can see on ebay people are paying $45-50 for. You'd be surprised how easy it is to do a few CL/ebay flips this way.

 

[Steel1]

All great points...Frankly I miss the scouring the bargain news ads and swap meets.
Still have the occasional swap meet here in CT. but mostly filled tag sale items not car parts.
I've sold a few things on Ebay recently, looks like the best option in the future.
I tried racing junk.com and kept receiving texts that weren't legit. Had an ignition box for sale
got a text saying that movers will come pick it up and bring me a cashiers check with an extra $50 for holding it.....lol....all this for $100 ignition box!

 

[A5literMan]

I used corral.net. Sold everything off that site fairly easily but like Noobz stated ...shipping bites

 

[Steel1]

I used corral.net. Sold everything off that site fairly easily but like Noobz stated ...shipping bites

Yeah..I'm on corral as well, bought and sold a bunch of stuff there over the years but traffic on that site is seems to be down as well and not just for the classifieds.

 

[Noobz347]

I hold people's feet to the fire on classifieds here. If people are getting garbage contacts, I haven't heard about it.

Classifieds that don't meet the minimum are just deleted, I don't play with them anymore. The requirements are in plain sight and folks that can't manage to include those pieces, aren't very interested in the sale to begin with.

It cuts down on a lot of bogus ads and folks who just post and disappear.

 

[A5literMan]

Yeah..I'm on corral as well, bought and sold a bunch of stuff there over the years but traffic on that site is seems to be down as well and not just for the classifieds.

I completely agree.
I stopped going over there over a year ago myself. The site sucks. Had lots of problems with pop ups and other bs. So not worth the effort. But the classifieds saw lots of traffic. Good luck on future sales.

 

[gruvee87vertgt]

i throw away alot of parts that aren't really of value as they will just sit around collecting dust and taking room

dealing with people over $5 to $20 bucks sometimes isnt worth it

 

[Mustang5L5]

Agree. Under, say $15...it's not worth it to me...even with eBay.

I'm too guilty of stockpiling parts. I really got let some stuff go. I'd make some decent cash and free up room.

 

[Steel1]

I'll go the scrap metal route with some stuff, like cats (no not meow), aluminum brackets/pulleys etc.

 

[a91what]

Some brackets fetch a good price

 

[deathb4dismount]

Ebay: You pay, I ship, we never see each other and it's great. I'll gladly let ebay take a cut for that convienence.

This x2. I don't mind haggling face to face with someone if I am buying. But selling, please don't waste my time. I have a couple friends who do flips on ebay for jeep stuff and believe it or not the chinese (think pep boys) 4 wheelers. They arent getting rich but make enough that they keep up with their hobbies for very little cost.

 

[Mustang5L5]

I'm trying to sell a set of SN95 axles right now locally. eBay would be a pain to ship. First guy says he'll take them and be by on SAt. 2nd says he'll take them if first guy doesn't want them.

Sat shows up, first guy nowhere to be found, second guy nowhere to be found either.

What pisses me off is I did rearrange my personal life a tad to be available. If you don't want them, just tell me! Wtf?


I did pay for my TFS heads by eBay flips. Some car parts, some yard sale stuff, some old electronics, some collectible stuff I no longer wanted.

 

[JD1964]

Take a look at the free app called letgo. I sold stuff there before.

 

[Steel1]

I spent 3hrs. this A.M. taking pics and posting ads for 12 different, good,used items on Ebay (all Mustang/Ford parts).
Hopefully I'll sell something to make it worth my while.

 

[Bullitt347]

Non-vehicle related sales...I hit garage sales and scoop up stuff someone is selling for $5 that I can see on ebay people are paying $45-50 for. You'd be surprised how easy it is to do a few CL/ebay flips this way.

My girlfriends daughter makes a damn good living doing just that. Buy stuff at Goodwill, buy stuff at garage sales, buy stuff at swap meets. Clean items, re-package if necessary, creative advertising and sell on E-bay. She has her own "E-bay store front" and sells a lot of stuff. Knows what to look for, researches what people are paying, and then finds for cheap locally and re-sells on E-bay.

 

[JD1964]

I spent 3hrs. this A.M. taking pics and posting ads for 12 different, good,used items on Ebay (all Mustang/Ford parts).
Hopefully I'll sell something to make it worth my while.

Good luck with it. I it doesn't work out, try letgo. Really easy to use. Snap a pic with phone, add a description and price and post. Potential buyers send you messages through the app and you take it from there. Obviously it works best with local buyers. I'm getting ready to list some Foxbody stuff on it myself