Money on the Table. Left for who?

Bunkeroo-


 


This thought has crossed my mind... especially if you can shoot excellent photos... and many people here can.  I, however, am lacking in proper photography skills and equipment, so the idea is/ has been just a mental exercise for me at this point.


 


Arguably, craigslist is my regional markets top online venue for used vehicles and the photos are even below my quality (I would LOL! but when they are worse than my photos... that's nothing to laugh at!)  A value service could certainly be added through 'good' photos after a pre-sale detail.


 


I don't know about a commision off the sale or direct marketing of the listing... seems you would have to work in some kind of 'diminishing price'... something like- if the vehicle sales in the 1st week, I get $X or X%.  The commision should drop lower and lower as the timeline moves forward without an actual sale.  That way it minimizes the marginal risk for the customer paying you 'full commission' even if the subject vehicles sits at their house for 2 months.  Sort of an alignment of incentives... and that is key in all business aspects.  


 


I don't know if this entire idea would work... could appear 'gamey' in a customer's eyes.  I think providing an option for them to purchase good photos could work but managing the sale marketing could get 'iffy'.  There would also be quite a bit of online leg work to post all the photos and write the description, etc...BUT you never know unless you try.  Offering some proper photos on a CD for them to utilize... in my mind, that would be a better avenue of approach in my opinion


 


Interesting post!


-Gabe


 


EDIT:  When I talk about 'gamey in a customer's eyes'... I'm talking about my market... everyone's is different, as your experiences indicate.
 
you are basically just brokering a deal...


 


I do it for 1% of the sale price for my clients wanting to sell the car.


 


I get all the information, take the photos, and try to sell the car while they are trying to sell the car.  If I find a buyer, I get the commission, great.  If they sell the car before I can put them in touch with a buyer, good for them and they don't owe me anything.  All I am doing is putting them in contact with potential buyers
 
toyotaguy said:
you are basically just brokering a deal...


 


I do it for 1% of the sale price for my clients wanting to sell the car.


 


I get all the information, take the photos, and try to sell the car while they are trying to sell the car.  If I find a buyer, I get the commission, great.  If they sell the car before I can put them in touch with a buyer, good for them and they don't owe me anything.  All I am doing is putting them in contact with potential buyers
Click to expand...


Bam! Good information there!  
 
Greatly considering this, my assistant has multiple ASE certifications and wants to find some cars that just need a little work. He can do all the repairs at his home since he has tools/lift and then we will sell out of my lot.
 
I would love to start flipping cars!!!  1000 profit on almost everyone guaranteed (if you know how to look for them).  spend one day detailing them, clean them up,  take pics, sell, repeat.  Problem is, in California you cant do more than 6 without a license and in order to get that, you need a location to sell them from, and in order to get that, you need a loan....but then there is no guarantee you will get the license and might be stuck with a loan...happened to a client of mine, crappy California rules
 
Or, there are a few shops that do high volume dealer work and also photograph their cars for their AutoTrader/Craigs List/Etc ads. Imagine doing 20 cars a day @ $25 per car ($500), just for taking pictures of clean cars and throwing it on disk. 
 
toyotaguy said:
I would love to start flipping cars!!!  1000 profit on almost everyone guaranteed (if you know how to look for them).  spend one day detailing them, clean them up,  take pics, sell, repeat.  Problem is, in California you cant do more than 6 without a license and in order to get that, you need a location to sell them from, and in order to get that, you need a loan....but then there is no guarantee you will get the license and might be stuck with a loan...happened to a client of mine, crappy California rules
Click to expand...


 


Same here (WA state)... however, more stringent... you can only sell 4 vehicles per year before you are a 'dealer'.
 
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