I want to sell used cars.

[bono426]

MA law is pretty strict about this. I'd need to put down $25,000 and get a lot of land. I cant afford that due to some wicked awesome Sallie Mae Loans.

SO, i found this ad while searching through craigslist. I guy is offering auction access and some room on his lot. It's basically $5000 down(security deposit in case you sell a lemon) and $1000 a month to have access to the auctions, put cars on his lot, and be able to sell cars.

I have some people that might be able to go in on me with this, but i'd basically be running the show.

Is this a scam? is there an easier way for me to do this?

I want to flip the cars on either craigslist or make my own little site.


What do you think? Good/bad idea?

 

[Todd Caputo]

Come sell used cars for me

 

[flosho]

My vote is for scam.

 

[bono426]

Come sell used cars for me

5 hour commute would be terrible in my lifted jeep haha, but I would definitely love it!

what do you guys think about the deal above though?

 

[bono426]

yea, i dont know. i think its a small used car dealer trying to make an extra 1k a month that has to many dealer plates

 

[ddavis]

Years ago, I was the Used Car Manager for a Chevy store. Used Car Managers were allowed to purchase two cars a year at the appraised value. We were one of the largest Corvette dealers in the country. A Vette would come in at a good value and I would write a draft (on a friend's floor) and drive the car for 4 or 5 months and then sell it. I paid a draft fee up front and the floor plan each month but I always made money on them. If the car didn't make money, I was required to make up the difference. That all ended when the store was sold to one of the groups.

There was little gamble on these trades because I didn't buy anything that wasn't significantly behind book. Vettes need to have less than 10K miles per year and usually what I bought was still under warranty. Most of them were purchased at the store and I had access to the service records. Understand that the guy that buys a car, at auction, is the one with his hand up when everyone else has bailed. That $5K doesn't go far when you make a couple of mistakes.

 

[joe.pistell]

I'm with Jason, I smell a trouble. The owner has his own inventory, steals your customers and sells them his inventory. Lots of room for problems.

 

[joe.pistell]

On another note, the idea reminds me of the amazing City Auto cityauto.com Salesmen

 

[bono426]

I'm with Jason, I smell a trouble. The owner has his own inventory, steals your customers and sells them his inventory. Lots of room for problems.

I didnt think of this... very good point. Plus this is something i'm going to be doing on the side, so there would be plenty of opportunity for this to happen.

 

[joe.pistell]

I didnt think of this... very good point. Plus this is something i'm going to be doing on the side, so there would be plenty of opportunity for this to happen.

Word of advice Charlie. Make sure your side biz NEVER conflicts with the mothership and you get it's blessing up front.

The moment your Craigslist is seen by a rep, who passes it to a manager, they'll throw you under the bus in a nano second (they already are fighting the competition and now i have more to fight?)