Using ebay auction to sell a yacht

[Tintin]

So far no serious enquiries on my Leisure 27, and the local yacht brokers seem unable to return phone calls, so am thinking about taking the plunge and listing her with a starting price of 99p on ebay.

Have I taken leave of my senses?

It seem the market is dead.

 

[sailorman]

Try a classified ad. or you will be giving her away.

 

[Tintin]

Try a classified ad. or you will be giving her away.

I've got one running, it relisted a few weeks ago and I reduced the price to £12,800. A pile of watchers, but no offers.

 

[colhel]

this has been something for us to consider too when it comes to us upgrading next year. what if you put it in a classified adand give people the opportunity to viewand arrange finance necessarybut put on the ad if not sold it will be on ebay for 99 pence reservejust giving maximum exposure,the possibility of a sale through classified ad and serious bidders if it gets yo auction.

 

[rotrax]

Tricky one. I have listed our Walker Bay Genisis 270 FTD RIB, on a road trailer, with a good winter cover, in VGC for a starting bid of £750.00.

It has been on twice, lots of watchers, loads of views but no bids.

Should I have put it on at a 99p start with the same reserve?

I really dont know.

It would cost well over 2K to buy today, but no serious interest.

Unless I find a club member who wants it I'll hang on to it. It is too good a bit of kit to give away.

I have the same quandry as you-and I dont know how to handle it........................

 

[longjohnsilver]

Try a classified ad. or you will be giving her away.

Good advice, only costs a few quid.

 

[CreakyDecks]

Views don't mean a thing. I quite often while away my lunch breaks looking at boats on Ebay. I have absolutely no intention of buying one

 

[longjohnsilver]

I've got one running, it relisted a few weeks ago and I reduced the price to £12,800. A pile of watchers, but no offers.

Just did a search for it, didn't find it first time around, seems you've got it listed in the sporting goods section but not in the proper boat section where most people will look when buying a boat. It's in cars, motorcycles and vehicles, with a subsection specifically for sailing boats. If you advertise it there you should get more exposure to hopefully more serious buyers.

 

[Tintin]

Just did a search for it, didn't find it first time around, seems you've got ijt listed in the sporting goods section but not in the proper boat section where most people will look when buying a boat. It's in cars, motorcycles and vehicles, with a subsection specifically for sailing boats. If you advertise it there you should get more exposure to hopefully more serious buyers.

It seems that section is not available - just vehicle parts. It may be because the listing is running.

 

[rotrax]

Views don't mean a thing. I quite often while away my lunch breaks looking at boats on Ebay. I have absolutely no intention of buying one

Do you know, I think I had worked that out for myself..............................

 

[longjohnsilver]

It seems that section is not available - just vehicle parts. It may be because the listing is running.

Yes, I made the same mistake a week or so back selling an inflatable, it also went into the same section you're in. I had to end it early and re-list it. Maybe worth putting another ad in the main section?

 

[Lakesailor]

So far no serious enquiries on my Leisure 27, and the local yacht brokers seem unable to return phone calls, so am thinking about taking the plunge and listing her with a starting price of 99p on ebay.

Have I taken leave of my senses?

It seem the market is dead.

Pretty much I think. The cost of owning a boat are way above the cost of buying a small old boat nowadays.

Problem with auctions on ebay is that you pay 10% of the sale price in commission (plus 3.4% if you use Paypal)

Just did a search for it, didn't find it first time around, seems you've got it listed in the sporting goods section but not in the proper boat section where most people will look when buying a boat. It's in cars, motorcycles and vehicles, with a subsection specifically for sailing boats. If you advertise it there you should get more exposure to hopefully more serious buyers.

The Motor/boats etc section is much dearer to sell in.

I would certainly suggest a Classified ad, but you still pay to insert it whereas you don't in Apollo Duck or Boats and Outboards.

 

[SimbaDog]

Definitely in the wrong section! Needs to be in boats/watercraft/yachts. I reckon most people will be looking there, I have never searched category your boat is in.
Looks like a nice boat at a realistic price to me, have you put her on boats & outboards & apollo duck as well?

EDIT Just read lakies post, 10% selling fee Plus, I personally wouldn't take paypal, far too biased to the buyer IMHO

 

[Lakesailor]

..... and a fee if you put a reserve on it.

 

[SimbaDog]

That's probably why there aren't many on there then

 

[landlockedpirate]

Pretty much I think. The cost of owning a boat are way above the cost of buying a small old boat nowadays.

Problem with auctions on ebay is that you pay 10% of the sale price in commission (plus 3.4% if you use Paypal)


The Motor/boats etc section is much dearer to sell in.

I would certainly suggest a Classified ad, but you still pay to insert it whereas you don't in Apollo Duck or Boats and Outboards.

Fees are different in the Motors section. Its £10 to list then 1% of selling price (minimum £20 and Maximum £35)

Classified ad is £15, no other fees.

Makes ebay about the same price as Autotrader for cars and boats.

 

[PetiteFleur]

Try boatsandoutboards.co.uk I've sold two boats through them - did a very detailed advert and put a lot of photos on cd which I posted to interested people. Both sold at just below the asking price. Perhaps I was lucky.
Certainly boats on ebay do not seem to fetch much money, but I think you must put a realistic reserve on.

 

[duncan99210]

I sold our Hardy Pilot using an eBay classified ad, realistically priced, and it sold within ten days. On the other hand, I tried selling various cars via auction - low start price, what I thought to be realistic reserves - and in two instances they failed to meet the reserve.

 

[Lakesailor]

Try boatsandoutboards.co.uk I've sold two boats through them - did a very detailed advert and put a lot of photos on cd which I posted to interested people. Both sold at just below the asking price. Perhaps I was lucky.
Certainly boats on ebay do not seem to fetch much money, but I think you must put a realistic reserve on.

That sounds a lot better. I haven't kept up with their endless stream of changes. Not bad at all really.
A lot of people still are encouraging punters to get in touch and then doing a bank transfer outside of eBay.

I still rate Boats and Outboards and Apollo Duck as better.

 

[Sybarite]

So far no serious enquiries on my Leisure 27, and the local yacht brokers seem unable to return phone calls, so am thinking about taking the plunge and listing her with a starting price of 99p on ebay.

Have I taken leave of my senses?

It seem the market is dead.

Howsabout stating that the price will reduce by £100 per day until sold?