This is awesome feedback. Seriously, I am so grateful to have this feedback. It is exactly what I need. Sometimes it is just validation of what I already thought and other times it is a smack in the face, lol. Not trying to respond to every point made today but some responses may clear the way for yet more feedback. But honestly, this feels like an abundance of knowledge already and like I said, I am grateful already.
I am a member of GIADA and I agree they are a great resource. I'm sure I am not maximizing their value. I will give that a try to see if I can find a person to have a conversation with.
I am not on Facebook. I have dabbled but its not a default platform. But I see that as an opportunity.
Cheap cars...like TallCool said, the hardest cars to buy (to buy well, at least). Everytime I have a cheap car it is extremely popular. I have however picked up a few dogs doing that and it takes a lot of time to get them sorted out and I've gotten upside down on a few because of repairs. I'm getting better at evaluating cars on the spot (a real art) and maybe better success with those will come with time. I seem to do OK with the +/- $10K cars even if they don't sell as fast as the $5k cars. I was thinking of making that my specialty: 7 to 10 year old luxury brands with about 100k miles on them.
I hear the chorus...don't dig the hole any deeper. Kind of relieved actually to get set straight on that one. I've been agonizing on it. My current storage place is not working out though and I have to find something more suitable, but it can be more of a lateral move (not a deeper hole). I won't go into details but I can only store about 7 cars there. Cash is not my limiting factor, space is.
The majority of my customers found me through CarGurus, then Autotrader (by a factor of about 25% of the CarGurus leads) then Craigslist. I figured most customers are going to one of these platforms to find cars. It never occurred to me that customers might find me without seeing my ad on one of these platforms. Todd my 20 something daughter was trying to get me to set up Google Business page and I just didn't get it. This is something I have struggled to figure out and it also relates to consolidating my reviews. I never thought of CarGurus and Autotrader as competing with my website. I always thought everyone had to leverage those tools in order to get the leads they need. I didn't really think anyone would find me except through them.
Fully agree that I need detailing help. It will be impossible to expand otherwise.
Thanks for the list Digital. That is helpful and I will use it.
Zane - Yes at least in Georgia we can sell cars as long as we maintain social distancing and proper safeguards. I am also having fun but a big part of the fun for me is making a profit. That's where the thrill comes in for me.
Guys seriously. Thanks so much. I find this enormously helpful and encouraging.
Ron
