Consignment
Selling your classic car without the headache
Selling your classic car without the headache
Have a well-maintained classic or are you looking for one? Call us!! 618-271-3000!! Ask for Brad or Joe!!!
Consignment vs. Advertising Companies
Many times when we call to ask if an owner has considered consignment, we are told that they have been inundated with calls from people like us and they aren’t interested. Just so we are clear: we’re different than an advertising company! Here’s how:
o We are a brick and mortar business. Don't believe me? Stop in and take a look around!
o We have an indoor showroom where buyers can come view our cars during regular business hours.
o We consult with you to get a price that you can live with in case the market has changed for your car. Many cars don’t command what they used to, but we do everything in our power to maximize the value of your vehicle.
o We have a reasonable upfront fee. If a company charges you $500 to advertise with them and your car is in your garage – where is the incentive to sell your car?
We are a car dealership not an advertising company. We sell cars professionally. If you think consignment is something to consider, please give us a call or come by! 618-271-2110!
Know The Market Value For Your Vehicle
When you decide to sell your car the first thing you have to do is research. Cars that are overpriced will garner few offers. In this climate, your classic vehicle is only worth what someone will pay for it. It sounds harsh but it’s true. What you put into it or what you bought it for has little bearing on what it will sell for once you decide to let it go. We find that flexibility by our sellers helps us find a new home for a vehicle much quicker. If you have a driver quality vehicle, pricing it as such will help get it sold in a timely manner. If you have something you would like to sell that you aren’t sure about, give us a call. We want to help. 618-271-2110!
Preparing Your Vehicle To Consign
Ready to sell your classic car or truck? Give us a call! We always like to see pictures and specs first so that we can give you an estimate of how much we can get you in your pocket when we consign your vehicle. Before you come in, do the following:
o Get your car detailed! We do have a company that will come in and detail your vehicle for $90 if you don’t have a way to do it yourself.
o Bring a copy of your title – front and back. If you don’t have a copier, just bring your title and we will make a copy for you!
o Call ahead! You don’t have to make an appointment but we like to know how many customers we are expecting so that we can avoid having traffic jams inside the store.
Once you bring the vehicle in, a salesman will walk around it to make sure it is in good condition. You will fill out your paperwork and be on your way! Also, if you would like to ship a car to us, give us a call! We get cars in from all over the country and we would love to hear from you! 618-271-2110!
The Process of Selling A Vehicle On Consignment
At Gateway Classic Cars the initial contract is 90 days. We believe that if we consign your car at the agreed upon price that it has a strong chance of selling in that length of time. After a month or so if our sales team hasn’t called you, feel free to check in with them. At that time we should have a good idea of whether we should adjust the price or not. If you are looking for a quick sale, it has to be priced to move. In this new economy the key to sales success is price, price, price! The more flexible you are the more offers we can entertain. Many sellers use phrases like “firm on price”. That’s one way to go. However, if your car has been on the market for some time and you aren’t getting the offers you would like, it may be time to revisit the idea of consignment. Perhaps you aren’t reaching the market that can afford your vehicle. We provide a lot of exposure across the Internet and can get buyers set up with financing. We also ship globally and across the United States. Classic cars are booming – people are still buying. Let the professionals who have worked in this business for 12 years do the heavy lifting! Give us a call when you’re ready to try consignment! 618-271-2110!
Restoring A Classic?
We work with a lot of restorers. Many of them grow tired of the selling process and know that we can expose their car to a lot more potential buyers than they can on their own. I had a consigner who restored a ’68 Camaro SS Clone to perfection. It was very nice. However, he painted it a bright green. I heard many people comment on how much they liked it but wished it wasn’t green. We even had an international buyer fly in to look at Camaros and he loved that one – except the color. The moral ofthe story is: if you want to sell your newly restored car quickly, choose your paint wisely. Red and black are sure to sell the fastest. Blue and Hugger Orange are also popular. After that, you are relying on the hope that there will be someone else who likes purple or yellow just as much as you do. Those colors sell but not as quickly as the ones I mentioned. This is just some helpful advice to restorers who are starting their own businesses. Do you have a classic you would like us to sell? Call us! 618-271-2110!!
Many times when we call to ask if an owner has considered consignment, we are told that they have been inundated with calls from people like us and they aren’t interested. Just so we are clear: we’re different than an advertising company! Here’s how:
o We are a brick and mortar business. Don't believe me? Stop in and take a look around!
o We have an indoor showroom where buyers can come view our cars during regular business hours.
o We consult with you to get a price that you can live with in case the market has changed for your car. Many cars don’t command what they used to, but we do everything in our power to maximize the value of your vehicle.
o We have a reasonable upfront fee. If a company charges you $500 to advertise with them and your car is in your garage – where is the incentive to sell your car?
We are a car dealership not an advertising company. We sell cars professionally. If you think consignment is something to consider, please give us a call or come by! 618-271-2110!
Know The Market Value For Your Vehicle
When you decide to sell your car the first thing you have to do is research. Cars that are overpriced will garner few offers. In this climate, your classic vehicle is only worth what someone will pay for it. It sounds harsh but it’s true. What you put into it or what you bought it for has little bearing on what it will sell for once you decide to let it go. We find that flexibility by our sellers helps us find a new home for a vehicle much quicker. If you have a driver quality vehicle, pricing it as such will help get it sold in a timely manner. If you have something you would like to sell that you aren’t sure about, give us a call. We want to help. 618-271-2110!
Preparing Your Vehicle To Consign
Ready to sell your classic car or truck? Give us a call! We always like to see pictures and specs first so that we can give you an estimate of how much we can get you in your pocket when we consign your vehicle. Before you come in, do the following:
o Get your car detailed! We do have a company that will come in and detail your vehicle for $90 if you don’t have a way to do it yourself.
o Bring a copy of your title – front and back. If you don’t have a copier, just bring your title and we will make a copy for you!
o Call ahead! You don’t have to make an appointment but we like to know how many customers we are expecting so that we can avoid having traffic jams inside the store.
Once you bring the vehicle in, a salesman will walk around it to make sure it is in good condition. You will fill out your paperwork and be on your way! Also, if you would like to ship a car to us, give us a call! We get cars in from all over the country and we would love to hear from you! 618-271-2110!
The Process of Selling A Vehicle On Consignment
At Gateway Classic Cars the initial contract is 90 days. We believe that if we consign your car at the agreed upon price that it has a strong chance of selling in that length of time. After a month or so if our sales team hasn’t called you, feel free to check in with them. At that time we should have a good idea of whether we should adjust the price or not. If you are looking for a quick sale, it has to be priced to move. In this new economy the key to sales success is price, price, price! The more flexible you are the more offers we can entertain. Many sellers use phrases like “firm on price”. That’s one way to go. However, if your car has been on the market for some time and you aren’t getting the offers you would like, it may be time to revisit the idea of consignment. Perhaps you aren’t reaching the market that can afford your vehicle. We provide a lot of exposure across the Internet and can get buyers set up with financing. We also ship globally and across the United States. Classic cars are booming – people are still buying. Let the professionals who have worked in this business for 12 years do the heavy lifting! Give us a call when you’re ready to try consignment! 618-271-2110!
Restoring A Classic?
We work with a lot of restorers. Many of them grow tired of the selling process and know that we can expose their car to a lot more potential buyers than they can on their own. I had a consigner who restored a ’68 Camaro SS Clone to perfection. It was very nice. However, he painted it a bright green. I heard many people comment on how much they liked it but wished it wasn’t green. We even had an international buyer fly in to look at Camaros and he loved that one – except the color. The moral ofthe story is: if you want to sell your newly restored car quickly, choose your paint wisely. Red and black are sure to sell the fastest. Blue and Hugger Orange are also popular. After that, you are relying on the hope that there will be someone else who likes purple or yellow just as much as you do. Those colors sell but not as quickly as the ones I mentioned. This is just some helpful advice to restorers who are starting their own businesses. Do you have a classic you would like us to sell? Call us! 618-271-2110!!
