I think I asked too little for my truck

[Gryphon Rider]

My 1981 GMC pickup was getting to the point where I needed to spend some combination of a lot of time or a lot of money to keep it roadworthy, and it had been probably 15 years since it became difficult for my wife to drive it, as it seriously offended her vanity  .  I had the money, but not the time, and after fixing it I would still be getting, "When are you going buy a new truck?" from my family.  For the last couple of weeks I've been scouring kijiji (way more popular than craigslist in Canada) for a truck in the CAD $1500-3000 range.  On Saturday I bought a 2002 Dakota 4x4, so on Sunday I wrote up an honest but heartfelt ad for my GMC, I took some pictures, and posted it at 3:15 pm.

At 3:30 I got a call from an unrecognized number, and they guy said, "First of all, your ad is f$%@'n hilarious.  When can I see your truck?"  We arranged to meet at 4:30, then my phone lit up with texts and email notifications.  Long story short, I had cash in hand by 5:00, and had to tell nine or ten other people, "Sorry, the truck is sold."

I think I should have asked 50-100% more than I did.  I would have gotten half of my asking price from the local auto wrecker.

The problem is, today I had to get a ride to work because insurance and registration isn't yet arranged for the Dakota; hopefully that'll be taken care of before the end of my workday.

My ad:
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/calgary/running-1981-gmc-sierra-classic-1500-sold-already/1339003367?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

[Jess from VA]

You know Gryph, it's the add, not the item listed that makes the sale.  (very unique items exluded)

A little work and creativity and humor can make all the difference.

If your add said:  Old truck for sale cheap..... you probably wouldn't have sold it.


I suppose putting your bike plate on the Dakota is out.

Not intending to rely on it for more than a few days, I once took a tiny paintbrush and changed the year from last to this year (to make it legal-looking).  After the cop got done laughing, he let me go home after I promised to wait for the new plate.  Long time ago (before stickers).

[Gryphon Rider]

You know Gryph, it's the add, not the item listed that makes the sale.  (very unique items exluded)

A little work and creativity and humor can make all the difference.

If your add said:  Old truck for sale cheap..... you probably wouldn't have sold it.


I suppose putting your bike plate on the Dakota is out.

I have the plate from the GMC. The fine for no insurance is the biggest risk.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Very good ad 

[Jess from VA]

My car insurance (and maybe the bike too, different co's), gives me automatic coverage for any new/used I may buy for a short window (like 10 days).  Not that I've ever relied on it.  (with the same policy coverage, limits and deductibles as the existing policy)

But I have done the swap a plate from this to that from time to time.

My favorite line.  Washer pump doesn't work, but I have a spare one that also doesn't work

[John Schmidt]

I agree....it's hilarious!   How about I send you the specs on my GL1200 I'm trying to sell on Craigslist and you do the write-up for me. The only thing I added in that ad was "everything is new or rebuilt except the motor and the owner/builder....especially the owner who could use a new fuel pump and muffler(according to his wife)."

[Gryphon Rider]

I agree....it's hilarious!   How about I send you the specs on my GL1200 I'm trying to sell on Craigslist and you do the write-up for me. The only thing I added in that ad was "everything is new or rebuilt except the motor and the owner/builder....especially the owner who could use a new fuel pump and muffler(according to his wife)."

I don't think I could do it for a vehicle I don't have experience with.  It helps that the truck's flaws are so obvious, which lends itself to humour, and that people looking for something like this know what they are getting, and are often just interested in specific parts off of the vehicle.  The guy who bought it was mainly interested in the engine and transmission.

When I sold my '96 Saturn last winter, my ad wasn't humorous, but I honestly described the car in detail, did a good job of cleaning it, and took good pictures.  When I write an ad, I think of what I would want to know if I were looking for that kind of thing, and try to anticipate obvious questions.  I know that when I'm looking through ads and come across an ad with little information, but just an invitation to call with any questions, I figure I'd rather look at another item where the seller has put in some effort to make it easier for me; I don't want to have to interrogate the seller, or to find out that he's selling it for a friend and doesn't really know much about it.  I want to make the decision about coming to look at my item easy.  I don't want to waste my time answering questions or showing it to people who find my item isn't as good as they were hoping it to be.

[Toledo Mark]

I hope you have better luck with your Dakota than I have.  I have had three of them. 99 with 3.9, 2000 with 5.9, and now a 2002 with 4.7 4WD Quad cab.  All three had numerous problems.  My current one cost me between $1k and $2k and year just in repairs to keep it on the road.  I am not hard on them and no off roading. 

[Oldfishguy]

Awesome!

Print the ad and frame it!

[Daniel Meyer]

Love that ad!

[old2soon]

U duz have a way to turn a phrase!  Sumpin told me to be done with my coffee BEFORE I read that!  There is NO coffee on my puter screen but not so sure of nose leavins bein on the screen!  I did in FACT laugh long heartily and often!  RIDE SAFE.

[Oss]

great job of writing

Enjoyed reading that  Congrats on the quick sale

[Pete]

Great ad, but you did sell it to cheap.
If it runs and drives it is worth at least $1,000.

[Hook#3287]

Great ad

The

"Still capable of hauling dirt to your garden, junk to the dump, floral sofas to the MCC Store, and your Harley to the dealer for warranty work, as the bed is in great shape. Your friends would ask you to help them move, if they weren't so afraid of making a bad impression with their new neighbours."

made me laugh out loud.

[f6john]

Around here the wheels and tires would fetch $4-500.00 with the caps and rings.

[sheets]

I have a `73 VW bug that resembles that description, including the Club. I don't have the key to actually lock the Club device, but I used to put it on the steering wheel when I traveled out of town in a company rig just for giggles. I'm prepared to drive it to the local auto wrecking yard and sign the title over to them. About once a month I get a comment at the grocery store on the cool car I have. I have three people that want it when I'm done with it. Who knew.      

[Gryphon Rider]

I have a `73 VW bug that resembles that description, including the Club. I don't have the key to actually lock the Club device, but I used to put it on the steering wheel when I traveled out of town in a company rig just for giggles. I'm prepared to drive it to the local auto wrecking yard and sign the title over to them. About once a month I get a comment at the grocery store on the cool car I have. I have three people that want it when I'm done with it. Who knew.      

My wife and kids were shocked at how many people wanted my truck. If it's old, someone will be nostalgic for it. 

[cookiedough]

same here,  I should really sell my dads 1986 caprice classic 165K miles and tad bit of cancer but not really much at all, runs well, but needs new brake lines since brakes went out.  was thinking 1K but with brakes needing guessing new lines, etc.  800 is reasonable? 

if a vehicle runs and not too bad of shape,  1K is reasonable I think. 

[Rams]

If it's old, someone will be nostalgic for it. 

Hmmm, maybe there is a chance for me..........................

[The emperor has no clothes]

I have a `73 VW bug that resembles that description, including the Club. I don't have the key to actually lock the Club device, but I used to put it on the steering wheel when I traveled out of town in a company rig just for giggles. I'm prepared to drive it to the local auto wrecking yard and sign the title over to them. About once a month I get a comment at the grocery store on the cool car I have. I have three people that want it when I'm done with it. Who knew.      

My wife and kids were shocked at how many people wanted my truck. If it's old, someone will be nostalgic for it. 

Don't be too hard on them. Women and children rarely know the value of a work truck.  I'd pay fairly dearly for a replica of my first vehicle, a 59 Chevy Apache. 

[Gryphon Rider]

If it's old, someone will be nostalgic for it. 

Hmmm, maybe there is a chance for me..........................

Yeah, some attractive young lady is going to say, "I like you!  You remind me of my grandfather." 

[czuch]

If you can wrench, older cars are where its at.
$75.00 five year registration.
$20.00 a month insurance.
Everything I need is at the local parts store, or rock auto.
1975 Chevy Laguna
1972 Chevy Suburban. x 2.
1963 VW Baja
1967 F-250
1969 VW van, 1969 VW pan with a 1927 Bugatti kit body.
1961 Ford Galaxie
1957 Ford Country Sedan station wagon.