First time selling at Van Nuys Spring Fling- advice

[autoxcuda]

Glad you did ok. That's the idea. Sell some extra stuff to help fund keeping or getting your car on the road.

@valiantsurf Any recommendations looking back you would give yourself, or someone else, that you learned from the day?

I have a FAQ section to our show website. I like add tips and suggestions for swappers too.

 

[tom999w]

I'm not a seller but am a buyer (sometimes), and nothing bothers me more than piles of stuff just thrown on the ground with no labels, prices, or explanation. A good example is brightwork trim. There's always at least one guy at every meet who has 100 trim pieces from 100 different cars thrown in a pile and expects people to know what year/make/model of car they come from.... Come on... Get realistic...

Also, if a seller seems super grumpy, I go on to the next table that might have the needed part.

And one last thought, I would think that any seller would prefer to go home with an empty truck, instead of loading it all back up and toting it home to sit another year.... If I was selling things, I'd be flexible on the price to SERIOUS buyers, so I wouldn't have to load it all up again...

 

[tom999w]

@valiantsurf How did you do at Spring Fling?

My buddy bought I bunch of manifolds a few weeks prior to add to his normal pile. Sold every one of them and most of his other stuff. $8K day for him !!

An $8k day for him?? The B.S. meter is shooting pretty high right now...

 

[Kern Dog]

I'm not a seller but am a buyer (sometimes), and nothing bothers me more than piles of stuff just thrown on the ground with no labels, prices, or explanation.

Excellent point. I agree completely.

A good example is brightwork trim. There's always at least one guy at every meet who has 100 trim pieces from 100 different cars thrown in a pile and expects people to know what year/make/model of car they come from.... Come on... Get realistic...

Yes....so much of it looks the same so you need some manner of identifying it to find what you need.

Also, if a seller seems super grumpy, I go on to the next table that might have the needed part.

Years ago, a friend of mine was trying to sell some stuff and had a swap space. His natural resting expression is a scowl and he always looks annoyed. To add, he isn't usually friendly to those he doesn't know.
I'm the opposite....I'm usually smiling and can talk to anyone. I strike up conversations with strangers all the time so I sat with him and worked as a greeter to help him out. I thought that he would learn by example but noooo....he is as stubborn as a mule.

And one last thought, I would think that any seller would prefer to go home with an empty truck, instead of loading it all back up and toting it home to sit another year.... If I was selling things, I'd be flexible on the price to SERIOUS buyers, so I wouldn't have to load it all up again...

That is true but some people are so stuck on what they think their stuff is worth and their ego won't let them take any less. You know the type....The delusional dorks that say they would rather destroy something than to sell it for less than they want for it.
Guess what, idiots? The market often is RIGHT. Your seat from the 61 Valiant is NOT worth the $400 you're asking if only 2 people are interested and neither is willing to pay more than $100 for it. These are the dudes that you see at numerous swap meets with the SAME STUFF THEY HAD the last 3 times you saw them. That just smacks of stupidity to stick to a price that nobody is willing to pay.
Yeah, it stings a bit to learn that your stuff is worth LESS than you thought but that is how it goes sometimes. I've sold stuff at swap meets, on ebay, craigslist and garage sales. I'm far from an expert but I do know that what I think something is worth won't always match what the buyers are willing to pay. If you are selling, are you willing to let go of your pride a bit to go home with an empty truck and a full wallet?

 

[junkyardhero]

An $8k day for him?? The B.S. meter is shooting pretty high right now...

he obviously had more than what is shown there in the back of the truck. that's just some stuff that he scored a few days before the event.

 

[junkyardhero]

I'm not a seller but am a buyer (sometimes), and nothing bothers me more than piles of stuff just thrown on the ground with no labels, prices, or explanation. A good example is brightwork trim. There's always at least one guy at every meet who has 100 trim pieces from 100 different cars thrown in a pile and expects people to know what year/make/model of car they come from.... Come on... Get realistic...

Also, if a seller seems super grumpy, I go on to the next table that might have the needed part.

And one last thought, I would think that any seller would prefer to go home with an empty truck, instead of loading it all back up and toting it home to sit another year.... If I was selling things, I'd be flexible on the price to SERIOUS buyers, so I wouldn't have to load it all up again...

i nipped a lot of the bullshit in the bud by labeling everything clearly and with a price. i found that took out a lot of the tire kickers and time pirates.

i'm flexible to a point on stuff, but if you're trying to get recycle prices on me for parts i'll gladly load them up and take them home. i have room to keep 'em and it's not like they're eggs and milk-- they're not gonna go bad.

but straight up, the more you buy the more my prices get flexible. you buy some big ticket stuff and you're getting that lagniappe

you wanna be a jerkus tho and tell me my junk is junk, hit the bricks then. you're welcome to shop elsewhere.

 

[Mtrhead]

I think nothing in this world makes me more happier than a Mopar swap meet I never get to see the drag racing because I'm too interested in making a dollar or talking my friends into watching my booth while I go shopping I live for it I can find nothing better to do besides ride old back roads looking for cars

 

[autoxcuda]

An $8k day for him?? The B.S. meter is shooting pretty high right now...

More than in that truck bed. And you can’t see everything in that picture. Trailer length full of totes.

Trick is, his prices are to sell. Usually 20% under others. And way less than eBay. Every part is tagged with price. It’s all laid out on blue tarp so you can see it. No two parts on top of another or one block the next.

EVERYTHING in that truck bed picture SOLD. He had more. But all in that picture sold. For about $4-5K.

About 6 manifolds incl 2-3 tunnel rams $175-225
-Original A-12 aluminum intake with funky 6 $$
-full set 1970 date coded six pack carbs N95 w $$$
-cut 6-pack air cleaner
-full set small bolt center lines
-truck BB headers
-milodon deep truck pan
-8 new milodon SB SS valves

Not in bed:
-fresh new recovered 1970 duster front bench seat and new rear skin
-very low mileage set of 4 BFG 225/60/14 tires. Not very old

Totes of $10-30 items
Pile of $2 ea items