Does Boattrader even work?

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Tallredrider
    1,000 Post Club Member
    • Oct 2014
    • 1026

    • St. George, Utah

    • Red Metal Flake 2016 G23! Malibu 25 LSV 2019 2021 Centurion Ri237

    Does Boattrader even work?

    Somewhat of an observation, and sort of a rant. I have placed 2 boats on Boattrader.com and found it to be terribly ineffective. My Malibu was for sale last winter until March. I had it listed as the least expensive 247 on the entire site for 2 months. I also had a boatload of goodies that most of the other boats did not have. Long story short, is that I didn't receive a single call. But I did get lots of scammer texts that have obviously copied and pasted the headline from the ad and asked 'Is it the item for sale still and what is its condition?' Then they are on an offshore oil rig and can't talk on the phone, but...most of you probably know the rest of the scam.

    Then I get mauled every other day by a 3rd party retailer that is willing to sell the boat for me, for a small fee, however. Because they have lots of buyers in my area looking for exactly this sort of boat. I guess their buyers are not smart enough to check Craigslist, Boattrader, Onlyinboards, etc.

    The Malibu sold on March 22nd via some local classifieds based in Salt Lake City, 300 miles away.

    Fast forward a year, and I decide to take out an ad for my 2015 G23. The ad costed $109. It is exactly the same story. Scammers and people offering to sell it for me repeatedly. I am just thinking the website is a waste of time. I keep telling myself that I need to be patient, because it is still winter in most of the country and nobody wants to buy a used boat right now. But I haven't even had anyone call me to offer my 79K for it. I do have the G23 listed somewhere in the middle of the pack, not the least expensive like the Malibu was, so I wouldn't expect a lot of calls, but folks should at least show some interest if anyone actually looks at their site.

    Another observation is that only 3 of the 22 2014-2015 G23's are listed by private sellers, and one of those is also listed by a dealership. So it seems like it is mostly just a vehicle for dealerships?

    And maybe the vent feeling is pretty strong right now because my new beauty is sitting at the dealership, waiting for me to sell the old, to get the new. Has anyone had success selling their boat via Boattrader?

    And of course, no thread would be good if there weren't at least a few boat pics.

    The new: Click image for larger version

Name:	20160225_130213_zpsrx1zjjiv.jpg
Views:	1850
Size:	37.5 KB
ID:	480564




    The old: Click image for larger version

Name:	a080cbe6-77af-4235-9d30-89343aada19c_zpsojrzvgf8.jpg
Views:	1883
Size:	43.5 KB
ID:	480565
    Last edited by Tallredrider; 02-28-2016, 10:28 PM.
  • LakeLife
    • Aug 2013
    • 12

    • Cary NC

    • 2016 G25

    #2
    Only inboards worked best for us.

    Comment

    • scottb7
      1,000 Post Club Member
      • Aug 2011
      • 2198

      • Carson City, Nevada

      • 2014 G21 (Current) 2008 SANTE 210

      #3
      I am sorry. But I think boat trader does work. I have contacted some folks over the years with questions on boats from boat trader.

      P.s. I just looked and saw one that looked like yours and it was $114.9...Is it yours? http://www.boattrader.com/listing/20...que-G23-679816

      Above you say $109?

      I think part of it might be the color combo. Not that anything is particularly wrong with it, but it would not be my preferred.

      Also, I would suggest your local craig's list. Yeah lot's of scammer but lot's of people look there.
      Last edited by scottb7; 02-28-2016, 10:10 PM.

      Comment

      • Tallredrider
        1,000 Post Club Member
        • Oct 2014
        • 1026

        • St. George, Utah

        • Red Metal Flake 2016 G23! Malibu 25 LSV 2019 2021 Centurion Ri237

        #4
        Yes, that is mine. I clarified...the $109 is for the cost of the ad.

        It is good to hear someone has used boattrader before.

        I can't change the color combo, so it is what it is, and there will always be opinions on it. But I am optimistic that it isn't offensive. I do think there are some hideous color combos for sale, like the Captain America boats that are red, white and blue.

        I've got it on my local craigslist too. Thanks for the thoughts.

        Comment

        • seth
          Senior Member of PLANETNAUTIQUE
          • Jun 2008
          • 549

          • Santa Barbara, CA

          • 01 SAN-sold

          #5
          I had the same experience as you did but on Autotrader. I had the cheapest best optioned Tundra and got no calls on it. I thought it would sell fast on there because people would be looking there. They gave the dealerships more perks for their ads which I thought was weird. Ended up selling it on CL for almost my asking price. I would not use autotrader or any paid site after that. I think most people shop CL these days.

          Comment

          • vvfdfirefighter
            • Sep 2015
            • 147

            • Carrollton, VA

            • 2007 Super Air Nautique 220 TE

            #6
            I've always used Craigslist. Especially since I've found out about www.searchetempest.com which allows you to search all of craigslist within a certain radius!

            Btw, I noticed someone say something about the color combination. I actually, myself, like the Old color combination better than your new combination. However, that is just my own opinion as well.
            2007 SANTE 220 - ZR 6 Engine (Bought 2015)
            1999 Supra Launch (Bought in 2013)
            1987 Supra Marauder - 454 big block (Bought in 2000 - Sold 2015)

            Comment

            • enzo thecat
              • Aug 2010
              • 221

              • Lake Wawasee among other places

              • 2016 G21

              #7
              About 7 years ago I found a boat on Boat Trader to buy on the east coast. The sale would have gone through too, but the owner couldnt afford to buy the title back from the bank because he was so upside down the deal.
              2016 G21 SupeAir.

              Comment

              • thedude
                Senior Member of PLANETNAUTIQUE
                • Apr 2007
                • 451

                • SW PA


                #8
                Just my opinion: Most people are just kicking tires this time of year, unless you are listed at a deep discount, give it another month, you'll get calls. A lot of nice used G's right now as well, so competition is high. Dealers can offer financing, which is a huge plus. Suggest working with them so your buyer would have access to financing options. Plus, buyers spending that kind of $$ will want the safety blanket of a "dealer inspection," which may or may not be worth anything depending on the dealer. Selling a used high dollar boat is a challenge, a buyer who has $115k to spend on a used boat, probably has $130k to buy a brand new one.

                Comment

                • Tallredrider
                  1,000 Post Club Member
                  • Oct 2014
                  • 1026

                  • St. George, Utah

                  • Red Metal Flake 2016 G23! Malibu 25 LSV 2019 2021 Centurion Ri237

                  #9
                  Originally posted by thedude View Post
                  Just my opinion: Most people are just kicking tires this time of year, unless you are listed at a deep discount, give it another month, you'll get calls. A lot of nice used G's right now as well, so competition is high. Dealers can offer financing, which is a huge plus. Suggest working with them so your buyer would have access to financing options. Plus, buyers spending that kind of $$ will want the safety blanket of a "dealer inspection," which may or may not be worth anything depending on the dealer. Selling a used high dollar boat is a challenge, a buyer who has $115k to spend on a used boat, probably has $130k to buy a brand new one.

                  I am hoping that some time will help.

                  I will be running the boat through the dealership, and the purchase will actually be made through them, and they will be doing an inspection before the sale. I suppose that is worth mentioning? They would even sell it for me, but would add a considerable commission for that, so I have chosen just to take the calls myself. I personally hate the idea of buying a used boat without having a feel for the previous owner, maybe that is just me? Maybe if I am in idiot, then I should remove myself from the equation, haha.

                  Comment

                  • swc5150
                    1,000 Post Club Member
                    • May 2008
                    • 2240

                    • Eau Claire, WI

                    • MasterCraft Prostar

                    #10
                    Craigslist and Onlyinboards, and perhaps ski-it-again.com, although that's more for 3 event tugs.
                    '08 196LE (previous)
                    '07 196LE (previous)
                    2 - '06 196SE's (previous)

                    Comment

                    • Tallredrider
                      1,000 Post Club Member
                      • Oct 2014
                      • 1026

                      • St. George, Utah

                      • Red Metal Flake 2016 G23! Malibu 25 LSV 2019 2021 Centurion Ri237

                      #11
                      Thought I would update. It looks like the boat will be sold. I won't quite count my chickens until the money changes hands on Tuesday, but it seems pretty solid.

                      A fellow from Montana has purchased it and he says he found the ad on Craigslist. Go figure.

                      A friend of mine sold his G23 to someone who found his ad on Iboats.com. Next time, I will probably not take out an ad on Boattrader.

                      I cannot believe the number of calls from supposed 3rd party financing companies offering to put my boat for sale. I never talked to them very long, usually asked them not to call back when they introduced themselves and asked if my Nawtika was still for sale.

                      I will post more in a new thread about my 2016 impressions when I get the new boat this week. Hopefully in time to get on the lake this weekend. Woot!
                      Click image for larger version

Name:	20160316_170648_zps3tzndl1t.jpg
Views:	1856
Size:	51.5 KB
ID:	486128

                      Comment

                      • vvfdfirefighter
                        • Sep 2015
                        • 147

                        • Carrollton, VA

                        • 2007 Super Air Nautique 220 TE

                        #12
                        I've always used Craigslist to find my boats. I've never had good luck using iboats or BoatTrader.
                        2007 SANTE 220 - ZR 6 Engine (Bought 2015)
                        1999 Supra Launch (Bought in 2013)
                        1987 Supra Marauder - 454 big block (Bought in 2000 - Sold 2015)

                        Comment

                        Working...
                        X