“Madam, the price is too high” – this first sentence spoken by a potential customer later turned out to be crucial. And nothing mattered: neither information about the advantages of the car, nor emphasizing that it was currently the average price of this model with these specific parameters. More phone calls in that tone, then silence. This got me thinking.
See also: I was selling a pretty good used car. And the buyers…
Poles are looking for savings
There are apparently fewer and fewer used cars on the market, so it would seem that each well-maintained and not very “passed” copy will be worth its weight in gold. The reality turns out to be different, and according to experts, the decrease in the supply of used cars is accompanied by a decrease in demand. Especially the relatively new and relatively expensive ones, especially since they have become more expensive over the last year.
“In the case of used cars in 2022, prices increased by an average of 26 percent. The clearest increases can be seen in the segment of five- to ten-year-old cars” – says Agnieszka Czajka, General Manager Otomoto, in an interview with “Rzeczpospolita”. He adds that Poles, looking for savings, more often pay attention to cheaper and older cars or postpone the purchase decision at all.
Tailor-made model
In 2018, the car bought in a Polish showroom, configured exactly for my needs, cost just over PLN 100,000. PLN, including a number of bonuses from the dealer. An almost perfect car, with a powerful 1.6 163 HP engine for this model (DIG-T N-Connecta version), comfortable and easy to drive, quite well equipped. I am reluctant to part with it, but unfortunately it lacks one thing that, after many years of driving various cars, I am particularly fond of today: the automatic transmission. I don’t want a manual anymore.
I preferred not to wash the engine, wanting to avoid possible damage
This is not my first transaction of this type. I have already sold a seven-year-old Citroen Xsara Picasso and a three-year-old Toyota Verso. Both went within just 3-4 days of posting the announcement. The slogans “first owner” and “bought in a Polish salon” turned out to be crucial then. And, interestingly, none of the customers wanted to check the car in the workshop or wanted a test drive. They just paid the negotiated price and left.
See also: Have you bought or sold a car? Be careful, there are a lot of expensive traps waiting for you!
It’s time to start the action, not very pleasant by definition, because dealing with demanding customers and answering sometimes absurd questions is not an attraction. Nissan first goes to the car wash for cleaning inside and out. I think it’s important – I wouldn’t even touch a dirty car for sale myself. Then a photo session and an announcement. I decide on OtoMoto, Olx and Allegro. The latter gives less possibilities, because there is a limit to the number of uploaded photos.
The price is average, but too high
I check approximate prices. It turns out that for this model, with such equipment and mileage, I can count on an average of about 80,000. zloty. There are also ads for 90,000, but also 75,000. (the latter with a higher mileage than mine). I notice that there are many more models with a weaker 1.2 engine, these are also much cheaper. My Qashqai has a minor defect – a small abrasion near the rear headlight (typical parking damage), which will be the basis for the client to negotiate the starting price. I start with a fairly high price of over 83,000. zloty. I don’t want to sell the Nissan for less than 75,000, but I reckon it may not be easy. Just in case, there is always a loophole in the form of car trading companies. Some declare that they will take it right away, of course, for a correspondingly lower price. However, this is a last resort.
See also: Nissan X-Trail vs. Toyota RAV4. Which hybrid is better?
It quickly turns out that “last resort” speaks first. First, a trader from the other end of Poland. He wants to know immediately what is the minimum price I can offer, otherwise he won’t bother. I refuse to declare, it’s too early. On the same day, a chain selling used cars calls. Suggest a visit to your local branch. And immediately informs that they will not buy a car for more than … here the amount is almost PLN 20,000. lower than advertised. I’m choked with indignation, I just say “thank you, goodbye.” Then the black hole begins, no one calls for two days, so I start seriously considering the offer of the network. At that time, I get a text message from a gentleman who offers me a professional photo session of the car. Could this silence in the air be the fault of poor photos?
The magic of the “seven” worked
I sold the car for 83,000. zlotys with a wrap in the belief that since prices have gone up, you have to adapt. But maybe they haven’t had time to grow in the minds of buyers yet and the eight in front acts as a deterrent? After thinking about it, I am changing the price. It falls beyond the psychological barrier of the eight. Maybe the “lucky seven” will be the key to success?
The effect is almost immediate. The phone suddenly comes to life. Unfortunately, the calls are mainly people from far away who want to negotiate the price over the phone. A gentleman from Lublin asks for a car reservation, he will come the next day. I already have a bad experience with booking like this so I explain that he may come but I can’t guarantee anything. If someone shows up with cash, I will sell the car. He says he’ll think about it and call back. I don’t call back.
I get another call, this time from the province. of Lodz. I’m breaking down and negotiating the price. I want this over with as soon as possible. Again, a reservation request. I am against. The gentleman declares that in five minutes he will get into the car and drive. A matter of four hours. “But you have a guarantee that when I come, I will take it, without checking or looking for mechanics” – she argues. And I am convinced. While I’m waiting for a customer, another one calls. “What if I was in two hours?” he asks when I inform him about booking a car. I promise I’ll call you if a customer from central Poland doesn’t buy a car.
Another call and an SMS with a question about the equipment. I patiently decline, realizing that this may be a mistake. Questions about equipment arise most often – both from individual customers and car dealers. Leather, preferably heated seats, necessarily automatic air conditioning, parking sensors and cameras on all sides – these elements seem to be more important than the advantages of the engine and driving comfort, which somehow no one asks about.
“No diesel”
Fortunately, the client finally arrives. He watches the car with a flashlight, it’s already dark. In addition, of course, the inseparable varnish thickness gauge. A quick look inside. He didn’t even get in. “I came to buy, not to watch.” The customer is a bit disappointed that it’s not a vending machine. However, he is glad that gasoline. “When I was looking for a car, I thought: just not diesel,” he says. We wrote about the reasons for the decline in interest in diesel cars last summer.
Measuring the paint thickness is a standard procedure when buying a car (illustration photo)
The customer adds that he did not even look at Nissans with a smaller engine capacity. Apparently they don’t have the best reputation.
We write the contract. I finally sell the car for 75,000, glad that it actually went so quickly. Perhaps if I had waited longer and negotiated harder, I might have gotten a thousand or two more. But it could also be the other way around, and this client made a good impression on me. I wanted my car to be in good hands.
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