Experiences With Bring A Trailer - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

BoxMann · 09-06-2021, 07:30 PM

Hi Gang,

I'm thinking of selling my Boxster soon, and thinking of putting it on BAT. Prices look very attractive (for sellers, that is). I've never used BAT before.

For those of you who have used BAT, either to buy or sell, what has been your experience? Any Do's and Dont's for me to keep in mind, or any other advice?

Thank you.

itsnotanova · 09-07-2021, 04:28 AM

I just tried listing a truck on there but was rejected and used a knock off website called Cars and Bids. Prices for vehicles on both sites are crazy but the prices on BAT blow my mind. Buying a used vehicle sight unseen is the worst way to purchase a vehicle in my opinion. As for suggestions, take lots of pictures and videos. I don't think you can take too many. Be prepared to answer dumb questions and have the peanut gallery critique everything. It's best to take negative comments and turn them around into a positive if you can. Don't get in a pissing match with anyone.

itsnotanova · 09-07-2021, 04:42 AM

Don't feel bad if you get rejected by either as they're both very backed up and being very picky with vehicles. C&B wouldn't take me with my reserve of $15k and wanted a no reserve auction. I agreed to no reserve but secretly I wasn't going to let it sell for under $12k. They can't make you sell it. Up until a minute before the auction my truck was sitting at $10k and I was starting to look at other options. In the last minute it jumped up to $14700 and I was happy. I've been talking/texting with the winner and we finalize on Thursday. As of right now I give the experience a B. I got pretty much what is considered normal price for a 95 F350 7.3 with 53k miles in this market. I probably would have gotten $5k more on BAT. What I don't like about the whole experience is that the buyer hasn't seen the vehicle yet. Pictures and video can't show everything. I don't like not being able to show a vehicle to a buyer. Most buyers are clueless about what they're looking at. I like to weed out buyers who shouldn't be buying what I'm selling.

husker boxster · 09-07-2021, 04:43 AM

I don't have any personal experience but have thought about putting a few of my Wheeler Dealer cars on BAT. However, the peanut gallery questions and the length of time it takes from getting accepted to auction finish have made me resist. But those were the days when cars depreciated and the 2 mo timeframe from start to finish could have an impact on price. I have a friend who sold his Beck 550 Spyder on BAT and he had a good experience.

Here's an article from Hagerty that cover's the author's experience. It seems pretty typical.

https://www.hagerty.com/media/buying-and-selling/is-bring-a-trailer-a-good-place-to-sell-your-car-absolutely-but-pack-your-patience/

Whenever I list a WD car on my usual websites, I always get a call from P-car Market. Early in their life I wasn't sure if they had the eyeballs & bidders but I think has changed now to where they're viable. My big reservation with them now is if the car doesn't sell, it goes into the Deal Tank for 3 wks. That's 3 wks you can't advertise it elsewhere.

ike84 · 09-07-2021, 05:59 AM

Fwiw, I have used Autotrader and CarGurus for purchasing and selling. It works well. No hassle of back and forth questions. You can set whatever price you want. The more info you post the better, especially if you post compression test/ppi results. You name your own prices and wait. I be have always had the luxury off time on my side though, and this isn't a great way to do it if you're in a rush

Sent from my SM-G970U1 using Tapatalk

Escott1622 · 09-07-2021, 09:19 AM

I’ve had great success with BAT I didn’t do cars and bids becuase on BAT my car was selling for way more. I sold a Land Rover discovery on there, paid 2500$ for it put 5k into it then it sold on BAT for 30k. Take pictures of everything and really elaborate on what has been done to the car. Videos of cold start warm start driving, walk around, pictures of dip stick. You will get critics who have zero intention to buy but are there to just pick at the smallest details. Once mine was sold I did have a weird experience because my car was believed to have the vin wiped and changed and sent over seas but idc at this point I was paid

BoxMann · 09-07-2021, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Escott1622

I’ve had great success with BAT I didn’t do cars and bids becuase on BAT my car was selling for way more. I sold a Land Rover discovery on there, paid 2500$ for it put 5k into it then it sold on BAT for 30k. Take pictures of everything and really elaborate on what has been done to the car. Videos of cold start warm start driving, walk around, pictures of dip stick. You will get critics who have zero intention to buy but are there to just pick at the smallest details. Once mine was sold I did have a weird experience because my car was believed to have the vin wiped and changed and sent over seas but idc at this point I was paid

Thanks Escott.

I'm very IT challenged. How would I take videos and submit it to BAT? I know I can take videos on my phone, but then what? Some people have YouTube page. I have no idea how to do that.

Escott1622 · 09-07-2021, 10:50 AM

When you start BAT they will assign someone to your ad that can assist with anything you need, I did upload mine to YouTube but maybe they have another way.

BoxMann · 09-08-2021, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by husker boxster

Here's an article from Hagerty that cover's the author's experience. It seems pretty typical.

https://www.hagerty.com/media/buying-and-selling/is-bring-a-trailer-a-good-place-to-sell-your-car-absolutely-but-pack-your-patience/

Thanks Husker. Good article.

BrantyB · 09-09-2021, 06:24 AM

Can't speak to BAT but I don't think our cars are their market anymore unless there is something unique.

I sold my 981CS on C&B about a year ago. They certainly push to have a low reserve, obviously. With 2 minutes remaining in the auction, bid price was sitting at my reserve and I was freaking out!! But then the real bidders started and it ticked up to the price I wanted.

So if you don't mind having a heart attack followed by a feeling of elation I'd recommend C&B.

Escott1622 · 09-09-2021, 10:02 AM

I agree, the Land Rover I had was very very unique and one of the lower mileage ones you’d be able to find and was mint. 986’s unless it’s a super rare build or crazy low mileage you may not be able to get what you’d want, also if you have a heart condition chew some Advil during the last hour of the auction my car was bid from 6k to 11k for the first like 5 days then the last 15 minutes it went from 11 to 30k I damn near died. I just cannot stress enough what quality photos will do it’s a make or break. They even provide a pro picture service good pictures can easily make a 10k Boxster sell for 13-15k