Buying, Selling, Trading: Why so little ads?

[Farmwithjunk]

For the past 40+ years, every since I started farming, I've bought and sold used tractors and equipment as a supplement to my income, as well as a way to cycle used equipment so I could end up with better stuff for my own use. (Where my screen name came from!) On a whim, about mid summer last year, I went through my records to count tractors I've sold. 109 at that time, and 12 since. I quit counting implements @ 250. That total was 25 years ago....

I've ran a total of 4 newspaper classifieds....None in the last 15 years (too flippin' expensive!)

Craigslist has been a Godsend. Bought a few sold a BUNCH there. Hard to beat good local exposure that's FREE....

Feebay....Once, and never again. WAY too much trouble.

YT clasifieds. OK, free, but marginal local exposure.

Sign in the front yard....The best results.

With gas/fuel cost, no one is apt to drive from 5 states away to buy something I have priced at every red cent it's worth. And I'm not planning on cutting prices to where they can afford to.... So I want LOCAL exposure. For me, that comes from Craigslist, sign in yard, and word of mouth. No need to waste my time OR anyone elses....

On "tire kickers".....I can see where they'd be an aggravation if you're not a "regular" to selling..... But EVERY tractor I've ever sold ended up going to what STARTED as a tire kicker. It's a bad sign when you sell things to the first person who pulls in the driveway on a regular basis. (Indicates you're just too low on prices) I'm not in the business to hand out bargains. I do it to make money. That simple.....

IMHO, the internet first opened doors to selling to a wide spread crowd. Now it's hampered finding bargains. Everyone has more information at their disposal on what stuff is worth. Bargains get snatched up in a HURRY. I bought a tractor yesterday to resell. I answered the add 15 minutes after it popped up (on C-list) By the time I drove to see it, the seller said he had 32 other calls. It was about $1200 UNDER what I can re-sell it for, so I jumped on it. I'll most likely use this one through the winter and sell it next spring when demand is higher.

 

[sweettractors]

I need some help please. I have a new holland tractor that I know nothing about. I have tried to find a manual for it but can't with this model# 4023010E210501. This is right off the metal I.D. Tag underneath the cowl I don't even know the year or anything. I just became a member to the site and need some direction. Any help would be appreciated. Thank's

That looks like a serial #. That won't help you find a manual. What is the model of the tractor? Ken Sweet

 

[scoutcub]

I've bought and sold used tractors and equipment as a supplement to my income, as well as a way to cycle used equipment so I could end up with better stuff for my own use.

Craigslist has been a Godsend. Bought a few sold a BUNCH there. Hard to beat good local exposure that's FREE....

Feebay....Once, and never again. WAY too much trouble.

YT clasifieds. OK, free, but marginal local exposure.

Sign in the front yard....The best results.

I've done the same thing as FWJ, buying/selling tractors/equipment and upgrading in the process. My advertising results have been a little different.....I use Ebay and sell the most with it. Everyone knows the name, and if they're in the market for something, Ebay is probably one of the first stops to shop. I also think it's the national advertising, I've sold items to folks in N. Dakota, MA, MO, and Arkansas, all selling from Ohio. There's a few little tricks with Ebay that makes it pretty easy and relatively cheap to list items.
Second is CL. Bought and sold quite a bit of stuff on there.
Done with papers, don't even bother.
Sign in the front yard.....tried it a few times, no luck so far.
As for TBN classified.....I've got 2 for sales and 1 wanted. I seriously believe I won't get any results from any of the ads. My thoughts are that not very many folks surfing thru TBN don't even bother with the ads; and the ones that do, maybe 20-30% are serious about buying something. The distance is probably another hindrance...although I don't understand this because Ebay buyers are willing to travel for the right deal. But...it doesn't hurt to try...

 

[charleyfarmall]

I have had good success with eBay and craigslist for most things. My NH TN75 was an ebay purchase from 4 states away. Even with shipping I made out. Usually when I am selling something it's to pass it on as I upgrade or because my needs changed. I generally price to sell rather than try to squeeze the last dollar out of something.

Craigslist is certainly an excellent choice. eBay is good but there are fees. Depending on where you live, a sign in the yard can be good but that's where I have had the least luck.

 

[DennisFolsom]

I have had good success with eBay and craigslist for most things. My NH TN75 was an ebay purchase from 4 states away. Even with shipping I made out. Usually when I am selling something it's to pass it on as I upgrade or because my needs changed. I generally price to sell rather than try to squeeze the last dollar out of something.

Craigslist is certainly an excellent choice. eBay is good but there are fees. Depending on where you live, a sign in the yard can be good but that's where I have had the least luck.

Gee, Charley, I'm surprised you didn't mention Uncle Henry's! To those of you who are "from away", Uncle Henry's is a weekly classified ad magazine, with quite a following in Maine, and to a lesser extent, in other northern New England states and New Brunswick. Basic 30 word ads in Uncle Henry's are free. Longer, larger, or bold print ads cost. The magazine costs $2.00 per issue. I found my tractor deal through an Uncle Henry's ad. I've sold several items through Uncle Henry's, and bought a few, besides the tractor, that way as well. Uncle Henry's also has an online version. Due to their pricing structure, it's not quite the same selection of ads. If I'm seriously shopping, I check both, and Craigslist, too.

I believe other regions have similar magazines. Massachusetts has the Want Advertiser, for example.

I bought and sold a few items via Ebay several years ago. I don't bother with it anymore. Maybe I will again, if I'm looking for something special.

 

[IslandTractor]

Gee, Charley, I'm surprised you didn't mention Uncle Henry's! To those of you who are "from away", Uncle Henry's is a weekly classified ad magazine, with quite a following in Maine,.....

I believe other regions have similar magazines. Massachusetts has the Want Advertiser, for example.
.

Sadly the Want Advertiser could not compete with Craig's List and went out of business a few years ago. They were late bringing out an online version and of course while cheap it was not free. I loved perusing the Want Ads and it made a fine toilet companion. Less dangerous than risking the iPhone in the same location.

 

[scoutcub]

I loved perusing the Want Ads and it made a fine toilet companion. Less dangerous than risking the iPhone in the same location.

Now that's a pretty funny image.....:laughing::laughing:

 

[ultrarunner]

Location has a lot to do with getting things sold...

Had zero luck with Craigslist when selling from home... many call and no one shows up when they learn I'm in Oakland.

Run the same ad and have the item at my brother's home... either of them, and it sells right away... can't do that much anymore... they don't like strangers coming over.

 

[DennisFolsom]

Sadly the Want Advertiser could not compete with Craig's List and went out of business a few years ago. They were late bringing out an online version and of course while cheap it was not free. I loved perusing the Want Ads and it made a fine toilet companion. Less dangerous than risking the iPhone in the same location.

That's not the first time that I've been out of date on something. We lived in Hudson, Mass, for about a year, in the 1978 to 1979 timeframe. I sold an old player piano through a Want Advertiser ad back then.

I spent much of my career working with computers, and still do. However, I still buy the good old paper Uncle Henry's magazine almost every week. And yes, much of my bargain hunting is done while on the throne.

My wife reads Uncle Henry's, too. She calls it her Thursday evening entertainment.

To some people hereabouts, the perfect weekend activity involves a pickup truck, a cell phone, Uncle Henry's, and a wad of cash that the government doesn't know they have.:laughing: