Advice on Donedeal ad please and another scam!

curiousb

I am selling our Mini on Donedeal and have only had one enquiry. I know I priced it too high initially, but I think it is at a good price now. Its the 2nd cheapest 2006 Cooper at €5,950.

I think the photos and description are good but can I ask for your opinions on the ad? I'd appreciate some feedback.

The one query I had about the ad, a marine engineer, conveniently at sea at the moment, who want to buy it as a surprise for this brother-in-law, pay by Paypal, have it picked up etc etc... Don't know whether to string him along or tell him where to go...

Ad here

ShadowHearth

Jaysus, they still do this scam? I guess if they still doing it. Then it means people still get caught by it.

Op, it's 100% scam. Don't even go near it.

jellyboy

The idea of a dirty smelly dog sitting in a small car over a year would put me off ..

Don't even entertain the scam !!

Ardeehey

+1 on the scam, definite.

curiousb

Oh I know it's a scam, just don't know whether to have sone fun with him and waste his time!

Re the dog, maybe I should elaborate on that in the ad or leave it out altogether. The dog has rarely been in the car, we got a Subaru Legacy estate and use that now. The Mini is not in use now.

advertsfox

Complete scam so just ignore it. Well done on the ad front, it looks excellent and you see how well looked after the car is

Problem is, people are anal about petrol these days and even though you's is well price and listed - you could still have issues.

If it's a quick sale you need, drop it to €5650 and people will know you'll sell it for €5500. If not, list it on Carzone as well and wait.

djimi

curiousb wrote: »

Re the dog, maybe I should elaborate on that in the ad or leave it out altogether. The dog has rarely been in the car, we got a Subaru Legacy estate and use that now. The Mini is not in use now.

Leave it out altogether. It adds nothing to the advert and could potentially put people off. Why you are selling the car is of no relevance; it only adds needless fluff to the advert.

Id be inclined to list the features in point form rather than a mini essay; to me its easier to read, but perhaps thats just my personal preference.

Also, just to be pedantic, 6 months NCT is not all that long on a car that has to be tested every two years

curiousb

djimi wrote: »

Leave it out altogether. It adds nothing to the advert and could potentially put people off. Why you are selling the car is of no relevance; it only adds needless fluff to the advert.

Id be inclined to list the features in point form rather than a mini essay; to me its easier to read, but perhaps thats just my personal preference.

Also, just to be pedantic, 6 months NCT is not all that long on a car that has to be tested every two years

NCT is until 2016, not 2015! I think you are right about the dog, I'll remove it.

djimi

So it is; apparently its only 2014 today

tossy

He wants to buy a mini cooper as a surprise present for his brother in law???? That wife can't see the wood for the trees

curiousb

tossy wrote: »

He wants to buy a mini cooper as a surprise present for his brother in law???? That wife can't see the wood for the trees

I think he's been away at sea too long

skyhighflyer

Looks like a decent ad / price. May be just me, but it looks like the car might benefit from an interior valet?

curiousb

skyhighflyer wrote: »

Looks like a decent ad / price. May be just me, but it looks like the car might benefit from an interior valet?

It is actually very clean inside, maybe the pictures don't do it justice. There is a mark on the rear seat which is a repair job from where a previous occupant had put a cigarette burn in the upholstery, and which we got repaired.

I've updated the ad based on some of the suggestions and I got a query about it since!! Hopefully coming to look at it one evening this week, and definitely a genuine query, not a scam! Boards Power! Thanks everyone and fingers crossed.

Atlantic Dawn

I would say the success rate is probably 1 in 10000 or less but there's not much overheads for them in reeling in a sucker, just send some emails and wait for replies.

curiousb

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I would say the success rate is probably 1 in 10000 or less but there's not much overheads for them in reeling in a sucker, just send some emails and wait for replies.

Yep, I just got another text with the exact same wording Some coincidence eh?

Row

Have a friend whom has a car up on donedeal atm and has been contacted by this same sea-man.

Must be a big ship he's on to buy up most of the cars on donedeal.....:D

The sea-man wanted him to email him and wished to pay for the car via paypal and if he didn't have a paypal account he'd help him out setting it up...:rolleyes:

I told him its a scam and to stay clear...

CatFromHue

He wanted to buy a bike off me before too!

How does this scam actually work?

Ardeehey

CatFromHue wrote: »

He wanted to buy a bike off me before too!

How does this scam actually work?

He might offer to pay you for sending the bike to him, he'll send you a confirmation of the payment from a fake Paypal site and you will send it off to him....via his buddy in Cavan or something.....so you are minus the bike and minus the cash

At least I think that's how it works

coylemj

Always avoid taking photos for an ad. in direct sunlight. You don't have any choice at weddings/kiddies parties/BBQs etc. but you do when selling a car. I know it means the inside of the car will be dark but you can get someone to sit behind you holding up a newspaper or a white sheet to brighten up the interior for the camera. Flash is best switched off to avoid glare from the dashboard.

dodzy

Ardeehey wrote: »

He might offer to pay you for sending the bike to him, he'll send you a confirmation of the payment from a fake Paypal site and you will send it off to him....via his buddy in Cavan or something.....so you are minus the bike and minus the cash

At least I think that's how it works

I'd go through with it, to the point of meeting up with his pal who will take delivery of the car. Arrange to meet in a location that suits yourself, and wait for him to arrive.....and wait, like a tool, while you are watching him from across the way having a coffee. Keep your phone on you, so when he calls, you can apologize for delay and are en route. Wait till the last min to drop the the bomb.

funkey_monkey

What is the scam and how does it work?

Rob Thomas

OP , hopefully you will get a sale from the interest this week but if not, I would agree with other posters who have said to take new photos in better light and I would photo it on level ground too, the slopes don't do the stance of the car any favours. It's a lovely colour and model and you're not doing it justice in the photos if it's as clean as you say. As a previous poster said, there is a petrol aversion out there which is hard to get over but ultimately if the car is fairly priced and well presented there will always be someone for it. Good Luck!