Selling Fifth Wheel Hitches - How To

humblerb wrote:

I hate Craig's List because of the scammers, but, I placed an ad there recently. Nothing but scammers, so far.
Anyone have thoughts on how to reach potential interested buyers (??)

Thanks,

VERY easy solution:

To eliminate scammers, dealers, tire kickers, etc. AND eliminate phone calls at "in-opportune" times (early AM, etc.) - also no need to reply or "filter" e-mail you receive.

Here ya go - example is Craigs List. Get a "voice mail ONLY" answering service. Cost is usually about $8. per month - sometimes requires a minimum of 3 month subscription.

You use that phone number for/in your advertisement. (NO e-mail)

On your outgoing message (what callers hear) is a brief repeat of what you have for sale. (The one I use has a maximum outgoing message of 5 minutes - I only needed about one minute).

Advise the callers it's voice mail ONLY, leave their phone number, and you will return calls in the order they were received. Don't return obviously bogus calls!

When you call them use a "burner" cell phone, like a TracPhone flip phone. The person/s you call do *not* have your "real" phone number to bug you - unless and until the caller passes the "litmus test" as a serious buyer! (And - NO, I didn't skip to the callers that offered more than asking price)

BTW - your flip phone is handy to leave in your vehicle in case of a break-down, etc. - normally "off" (If you pay annually it's about $7 per month).

Here's two of my CL success stories:
#1. (both before Covid). 20 ft TT for sale. Listed on CL about midnight, and turned in for the night. Next day about 5PM, I checked my voice mail.

WOW !! - 95 calls ! Although some were repeat callers who didn't catch on to - the phone would not be answered. Some were what the OP called "scammers". Two even offered more than the asking price.

#1. I returned the first call (caller left his number at 2AM !!)
He was a serious buyer - was at my home (from about 50 miles away) by
9PM with "asking price" CASH in hand. Done deal - in less than 24 hours!

#2. CL again. Aluminum fishing boat. Same procedure. About ten calls. Again, first caller purchased boat the day following the listing for/with the asking price in CASH. He was closer - about 5 miles away. Done deal, the day after posting the ad.

Before listing either of the above, I thoroughly researched what was at least a "reasonable" asking price for each (via comparables, in equally nice condition) - no trades, cash only.

When the item is sold - post a NEW outgoing message to that effect.

Hope that helps - sure worked for me - and will be my "go to" plan for anything I wish to sell in the future!!....:C



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