Whats wrong with my advert?

muckyman · Post by **muckyman** » Mon 20 Jun, 2011 07:59

Hi guys, can you give me some advice on my advert please? (links below)
What am I doing wrong with it, that I'm getting no response?
Its been almost two weeks on here and PistonHeads and I've not had a single enquiry, let alone a viewing.
I know its a pretty niche market, but its a cracking little car and just about the cheapest Z3M out there at the minute. With the summer just around the corner, I thought that interest would have been higher

Your views are appreciated
ta
Michael

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2905663.htm

http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31231

Canman · Post by **Canman** » Mon 20 Jun, 2011 09:37

Cant really help you, think its a good advert and a cracking Zed for the money.
Only thing i would say and its nothing really is i prefer adds to have bullet points rather than a long prargraph of writing. like on the zroadster add.
then have more detail below.
good luck with the sale

billz · Post by **billz** » Mon 20 Jun, 2011 09:38

I would remove all the faults you have rectified and only give the information either when people view the car or if asked, as it looks as though it has had problems which would put off anyone who wants one but does not know about these problems or about this type of car. Just my opinion.
bill

muckyman · Post by **muckyman** » Mon 20 Jun, 2011 09:59

billz wrote:I would remove all the faults you have rectified and only give the information either when people view the car or if asked, as it looks as though it has had problems which would put off anyone who wants one but does not know about these problems or about this type of car. Just my opinion.
bill

thanks Bill. I prefer to be up front and honest about everything, but I can see your point of view. I'll change the PH advert to reflect that but will leave the advert on here as it is for now, as members generally know the issues and I think it saves questions being asked about them if they can see that they have been sorted
Michael

noZyet · Post by **noZyet** » Mon 20 Jun, 2011 10:14

Hi Michael - Paint it black and the phone'll ring off the hook!!!

Other than that, I think Bill has the right idea and you've taken it on board. Potential owners who aren't clued up will be put off by mention of spotwelds and seam welding, enthusiasts will be asking so you should have the good match with the ad's. I'd also tone down the remapping and suspension mods - make it sound like you may have been a boy-racer (heaven forbid!!) and the car may have been ragged. Nice car though - I'd have probably bought it if it'd have been black. - Bob

muckyman · Post by **muckyman** » Mon 20 Jun, 2011 10:18

thanks for the input Bob. I've updated the PistonHeads advert as a result
ta
Michael

dennisedlin · Post by **dennisedlin** » Mon 20 Jun, 2011 13:45

I'm with noZyet.....the mods might be putting people off. Tone the references down and sell them as improvements to standard.

Sometimes you can give too much info so that people don't call as they already have the answer.

Maybe it's just me but a standard M has more appeal.

Dave L2 · Post by **Dave L2** » Mon 20 Jun, 2011 13:47

As has been said the ad seems fine.

Personally it's not a car I would buy so maybe you just need to wait for the right buyer.

Also, if you are only advertising on here and on PH then you are massively limiting your target audience. If it were me I'd have my primary ad in Auto Trader and the ZR & PH ads as backup.

hornel Z3M · Post by **hornel Z3M** » Mon 20 Jun, 2011 17:06

If you want someone to be brutally honest, i personally think the wheels look terrible, and if you perhaps had the original wheels on it would look more appealing, and i think i know a nice looking car

Brian H · Post by **Brian H** » Mon 20 Jun, 2011 17:13

hornel Z3M wrote:If you want someone to be brutally honest, i personally think the wheels look terrible, and if you perhaps had the original wheels on it would look more appealing, and i think i know a nice looking car

+1 Standard wheel colour would transform the car.

Jonttt · Post by **Jonttt** » Mon 20 Jun, 2011 20:54

Advert is not bad at all but echo the above comments.

As already stated the wheels would put me off as I would have to factor in £300 to get them refurbed.

I'm a little out of touch with the current market for Z3m's but as always price will be very sensitive.

I sold mine first Z3m on Pistonheads exclusively, sold within a week based on advert alone (the guy paid a deposit and got a one way flight from Glasgow) and I had 2 other genuine buyers waiting in the wings. If I'm honest it ws a combination of condition (which yours seems on par with) and price. I sold it 18 months ago for less than £8k with 80k on the clock and hardtop but I got it at a great price to start with.

Personally I would drop the price £500 if you need a quick sale or be patient if not. Also worth trying autotrader to widen your audience.

Can't remember what MOT has on yours but I always put a fresh 12 months on for sale and state that (even if 6 months left on current one).

Warrior · Post by **Warrior** » Tue 21 Jun, 2011 00:12

Agree with the above.

Wheels are definately an accquired taste. Not for me

Your Pistonheads ad has too many distractions.

I'll be cruel to be kind..........

I doubt that anybody buying an M will be worrying too much about the head unit but rather than just put 'Clarion' your list of postives re SD cards etc., basically mean it doesn't have a CD and is useless without a suitable phone.

Mentioning the number plates value is worthwhile but OY OY etc., is distracting. You say more about the plates than you do the tyres!

The roof has no leaks.......yet you've just re-waterproofed it?

Your selling the car yet have just paid to have the geometry checked. Why?

Everything works...........except the aircon which may need a regas..............or is a bigger problem?

The car has some chips on the front. Don't they all, why mention them in the advert?

HnR Coilover suspension..............gives what benefit?

'Is really quite rapid'.............boy racer?

Finally, I don't think the photographs do it justice. Might be worth re-shooting them or having somebody do a professional snap or two.

muckyman · Post by **muckyman** » Tue 21 Jun, 2011 08:26

thanks for all the input guys, I'll re-word accordingly
cheers

c_w · Post by **c_w** » Tue 21 Jun, 2011 11:02

Best way to sell a car is not put a personal touch to it and don't go into too much detail. Just list it factually, age, colour, mileage, condition etc.

And as stated several times above those black wheels are putting people off. Remove the rear stone guards too, ruins the look of the car too IMO. If you have the originals, change the front grills back to the standard chrome.

Try and get an OEM headunit fitted AND/OR remove the photo of the aftermarket headunit. Let people find out, it's not a massive deal to change a headunit so once viewing the car they can make an assessment of what may need to be done to the car IF they buy, but too many negs in the initial ad may put people off viewing in the first place. They may well like the HU and keep it!

I'd just reduce the detail, sometimes less is more! Maybe just mention discreet suspension enhancements or something. H&r kit is quality and not cheap.

Hi all, my lovely Z3M Roadster is now for sale.
-77k miles and tax and MOT until November.
-3.2l (S50) 321bhp straight six engine.
-Titan silver
-Black and Grey leather interior.
-All keys and fobs are still with the car.
-Full service history, every stamp and a big folder of reciepts.
-Last service was November (inspection 2 which included diff oil and gearbox oil change)
-Recent tyres all round

Standard equipment includes power hood, electric windows and mirrors, heated seats, air-con, ABS.

Its got a full service history and is fault free.

I'm based in St Albans.
£7995

Feel free to email with any queries in the first instance
Michael

garyw · Post by **garyw** » Tue 21 Jun, 2011 13:09

I closed the link as soon as I saw the black wheels.... but some might like it... it screams boy racer = thrashed car (even if it has been

)
Fix the aircon and then its ready to drive away... sorry but to buy a car and then have to start getting it fixed I'd be looking at a lot less money and take it as a gamble...

IMHO
garyw

Did I mention I don't really like black wheels

muckyman · Post by **muckyman** » Tue 21 Jun, 2011 13:13

ha ha, seems nobody likes the black wheels (except me)

Fair point on the air-con - I'll look into it at my local specialists
cheers guys

Jonttt · Post by **Jonttt** » Tue 21 Jun, 2011 16:27

Yep I forgot about the aircon, that would put me off for 2 reasons, if the seller can't be bothered fixing that what else can't he be bothered fixing and 2 - if its the condensor (likely as they are prone to stones) then your looking at £400 + to fix

Tori · Post by **Tori** » Tue 21 Jun, 2011 21:43

For me the wheels put me off, plus the background is quite dark wit no real contrast. Take it somewhere grassy and park it up and re take some pictures and take bloody loads. Hubby has just sold his car without even advertising for sale, after merely mentioning he could be parted with it someone contacted him and asked for some photos. He went out and took 90 pictures from every angle and hosted them on photobucket before giving the prospective buyer the login details, with his feet up and a beer in hand the car just sold itself.

Warrior · Post by **Warrior** » Thu 23 Jun, 2011 00:28

with his feet up and a beer in hand the car just sold itself.

That's the way to do it

Whats wrong with my advert?

Whats wrong with my advert?

m

Re: m