Home based Used Auto Sales business

[Wally Cornwell]

i would like to know if any independent used car dealers are in the forum. i have been away from selling used cars for several years, and after being seriously injured in a highway truck accident, i am forced to semi-retire and build a business that i can work on my own.I still have my original contacts in the auto auctions, towing companies, finance companies, but i want to hear from others before i jump back into it. If any body has any feedback, pro or con or can cheer me on, please let me hear from you. I am 55 years old, so my real world job market has all but zeroed out because of injuries. I have over thirty years experience in the auto supply and big truck supply business, but the deep discount supply store on every corner, rule out any success there. Please let me hear from you !! Thank You !!

[Databuilder]

All I can address is an online approach because that is really all I know about. What about using your knowledge and contacts to build an online auto site?

You could buy your own cars at auction and then sell them on the site, and allow others to sell cars and charge a percentage or flat fee. Once you get traffic, you could sell space or banner ads to finance companies and towing companies. I would recommend you focus very heavily on the local community and surrounding areas.

For marketing you could use simple classified ads. I recommend a book named "Guerrilla Marketing" for more ideas. You could start a web forum for local car enthusiasts to help drive traffic to your site.

If you are interested, I will search for a free or low cost script for you.

Good luck,
Jason
Databuilders

[Wally Cornwell]

Hello! Thanks for the great tip about a website for the business ! Like you said, i could literally sell ad space to auto related companies, all the while i'am advertising my cars for sale! I would like to be able to include photos of each car or truck for sale also. i will be glad to hear your ideas on how to put the web site together. I am a Sams Club business member ( since 1992 ) and i can get a great price on the site, but i need ideas on WHAT content to put into it. I am well known regionally in Professional Drag Racing and could also put in some of the known icons such as NHRA and IHRA. All this started because now, i have got to create a at home business because of the injuries caused by an idiot driver out on the highway hitting me in a delivery truck, at a high rate of speed! I need to get wheelie bars and racing decals for my wheelchair ! I can still drive, i just have limited mobility. I use the wheelchair out of the house and around the house. What about swapping ad space for service coupons that my customers could use? Perhaps a coupon from Jiffy Lube for a free oil change and a coupon from the local car wash detail shop for a free car cleaning and wax job? Sounds like we are on the same page here!! As we say in Drag Racing, "Let's fire it up and run it right out the back door!!" Like i said earlier, i do appreciate your help and input ! Thank You!!

[Databuilder]

Glad you liked the ideas. I poked around and found a few scripts for running an auto site. They range from $42.00 to $199.99. The $42.00 script looks like the only one that allows you to run a site charging others to list their cars, at least that is what it says. It doesn't show an example of the admin page. I also hate marketing hype like "100% Automatic Money Making Machine".

http://www.i3blue.com/scripts/view_item.php?ItemID=6
http://www.viperimagemedia.com/hotscripts2.html
http://www.curve2.com/autoboss.php
http://www.viperimagemedia.com/hotscripts.html
http://www.viperimagemedia.com/hotscripts3.html

I'm not clear on the differences in the Viper Image Media scripts. It looks like at least two of them are the same software, different versions.

Cheers,

Jason
Three Months Of Free Hosting

[Wally Cornwell]

Hello !! Thank you for the great information about the websites ! I particularly prefer the Auto Boss site, it would work best for me. I still putting all the business building blocks in place to get the business up and running. When i reach the point that i am ready to set up the web site, i will definitely be in touch with you. I have saved your site on my favorites list for immediate access!! I also have some other automotive related interests that we can possibly include into the web site . Thanks again for the excellent help!! Wally Cornwell