How to Buy Cars For Resale on Facebook Marketplace in 2023: A Step-by-Step Guide

In this article, we discuss why car dealers, and people flipping cars as a second income, should consider buying cars on Facebook marketplace to sell on for profit, and show exactly how they can do it (with examples).

We will take a step-by-step approach, starting with how to search for and contact sellers, making an offer and negotiating, inspecting the car, and finally completing the purchase.

Along the way, we'll provide tips and best practices for each step of the process, as well as common pitfalls to avoid. By the end of this guide, car dealers will have a clear understanding of how to navigate Facebook Marketplace and find the best deals on cars.

Why are car dealers buying stock for resale from Facebook marketplace?

Using Facebook Marketplace to buy cars, as opposed to using car auctions, will result in the dealership acquiring more cars at a lower cost, with better quality, and fewer hidden faults.

One of the dealerships we work with relied heavily on Facebook Marketplace to acquire their stock during the global supply shortage of 2021. They were unable to get second hand cars at this time due to the inflated prices and competition when bidding from other dealers.

Thanks to its large user base, Facebook Marketplace offered an array of local options for them when looking for inventory, with prices often lower than what they could find at auctions like BCA.

Is Facebook Marketplace a good place for to buy cars?

When car dealers buy cars on Facebook Marketplace, they have the advantage of direct contact with the seller, and better ability to negotiate price. This allows them to assess the condition of the car before buying, as well as gain a better understanding of its history and any issues it may have.

The seller is also more likely to be honest about the quality of their product, allowing dealers to get an insight into the car that they would never get when buying anonymously at an auction.

Who has written the article "Step-by-Step Guide to Buying Cars on Facebook Marketplace for Car Dealers"?

I am Gary Lewis Cheetham, as an automotive marketing specialist with over a decade of experience, I am experienced in buying cars from Facebook Marketplace for resale and helping other dealers do the same.

I have a keen understanding of how to use online platforms to market and sell cars and specialize in using personalized communication to help dealerships increase their engagement and sales.

With my roots in Oldham, Greater Manchester, UK, where I started my interest in car trading by helping my dad's dealership boost private sales through online marketing and Facebook Ads, I founded GL Digital Automotive Marketing in 2020 to bring my expertise to dealerships across the UK and US, and aid them in maximizing their ROI through effective Facebook Marketplace strategies.

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How to Find Good Cars to Flip for Profit on Facebook Marketplace

When you are buying cars to sell on for profit on Facebook marketplace, the most important thing you have to do is find out whether the seller is actually a dealership or not.

You need to be buying cars from real private sellers, who have looked after their cars and only driven them to work and back.

The majority of people selling cars on Facebook marketplace are flipping cars as a second income. You need to avoid these like the plague as the cars come with faults.

Even worse, lots of dealerships put their stock on Marketplace, and pretend to be a private seller. They use marketplace to move on the lemons that they bought at auction and would rather not put on their forecourt.

So if you're not careful, you could browse Facebook marketplace, buy a car and actually end up buying an auction car anyway!

How to tell apart dealers from real, private sellers on Facebook marketplace

There are some clues you can look out for to avoid the dealer cars on Marketplace. Here's the ways we tell the dealers apart from the real private sellers:

• Look for auction key tag or dealership key tag

• Check to see if Tesco Clubcard or other personal items in the middle well

• Look to see if it's been professionally valeted

• Look at the history of what the user has sold on their account

• Check if it's on a car park or industrial estate rather than a driveway.

• Check on street view to see if the picture of the car matches the same location as the map pin

How to Initiate Contact with the Seller

When initiating contact with the seller, be polite and introduce yourself. Ask them about the car and any additional information they can provide. You can also ask for additional pictures or videos of the car.

You need to move the conversation to Whatsapp or phone as soon as you can.

Here's an example of a way to open the conversation:

Example conversation with a Facebook marketplace car seller

You: Hi, my name is [Your name] and I saw your car [car model and year] on Facebook Marketplace. I'm very interested in it. Can you tell me more about it?

Seller: Hi [Your name], the car is in great condition, only [number] miles on it. I am the original owner, and I have all the necessary paperwork.

You: That's great to hear. Can you send me some additional pictures and videos of the car?

Seller: Sure, I can send you some more pictures now.

You: Great, thank you. Can I also ask you about your reason for selling the car?

Seller: Yes, I am upgrading to a new car.

You: Thanks for that. It would be great if we can talk over the phone as well, so I can get more information and answer any questions you may have. May I have your number?

Seller: Sure, it's [seller's phone number].

You: Thank you, I'll give you a call in a bit.

Seller: Sounds good, talk to you soon.

Questions to ask the seller before making an offer

Run through your questions, ask how long you had it for, what's the reason for selling, what's the service history etc.

Your main goal is to identify if they are a dealership or not.

Any evasive behaviour or not answering your questions clearly is a giveaway you are talking to a dealership or a car flipper. When you phone them they'll say "it's my cousin's car" or similar.

Here are some questions you can ask in detail:

1. Ask the seller about their reason for selling the car. Private sellers typically sell their cars because they are upgrading to a new vehicle or no longer need it. If a seller is vague or evasive about their reason for selling, it could be a red flag that they are a dealership.
2. Ask the seller if they have all the necessary paperwork, such as the title and registration, and if the car has any accidents or repairs. Dealerships often have less information about the car's history, and sometimes not all the necessary paperwork.
3. Ask for the reg number and run a vehicle background check on it. This will give you information about the car's history, including if it has been in any accidents or if it has been reported as stolen.
   If the seller is hesitant to provide any of this information or if you are unsure about their legitimacy, it's best to move on to another seller. Buying a car from a dealership can come with a lot of problems, so it's important to do your due diligence to ensure you're dealing with a legitimate private seller.

How to Make an Offer and Negotiate on Price with car sellers on Facebook Marketplace

Sellers never list it for the real, clean book price and they always get greedy. The steps to making your offer and negotiating them to a more realistic number are as follows:

• Value the car using WeBuyAnyCar or look at similar models for sale on AutoTrader. This will give you an idea of what a fair price for the car should be, and you can use this information as a starting point for negotiations.

• Call the customer and explain your situation, and make your offer

• If they seem hesitant (they often are), make an appointment to go and see the car

Example of the process of making an offer

An example script of how you can make an offer is as follows:

"Hi, I Notice you have it on for XYZ price, I have a number that I hope would work for you, but I'm a serious buyer I can come and collect it, here's my number: £xxxx. If you like it I can come and collect now, if not good luck with your sale"

Tips on how to negotiate a better price

Go down and look at the car properly and then negotiate a better price when you are there.

The offer you made before was on it's disclosed condition, when you visit the car in person you can always find things to reduce the price.

When you go to see the car, thoroughly inspect it for any damages or issues. We always look out for rust, dents, scratches, and mechanical issues. Check the oil, air con and electric windows.

We also check the tyres and start the car to listen to the engine noise. If you notice any of these, you can use them as leverage to negotiate a lower price.

Example negotiation with a Facebook marketplace car seller for a better price

You: "Alright, so I've had a good look around the car, and I have to say, it's in pretty good nick. But I did notice a bit of a knocking noise coming from the engine. You haven't had any issues with that, have you?"

Seller: "Oh, that. Yeah, I've had that looked at. It's just a bit of wear and tear on the engine, nothing major. But I suppose it's not ideal."

You: "I understand that, but it's definitely something that needs to be taken into consideration when we're talking price. I'm afraid I'm going to have to offer you a bit less than we discussed."

Seller: "I see. Well, I was hoping to get a bit more for it, but I suppose I'll have to take that into account. What sort of price were you thinking?"

You: "I was thinking something more in the region of [lower price]. I know it's not what we talked about, but with the engine noise and all, I think it's a fair price."

Seller: "I suppose you're right. It's not ideal, but I suppose it's better than nothing. I'll have to think about it, but I suppose I can accept your offer."

You: "Great, I'm glad we could come to an agreement. I'll go ahead and transfer the money now, and we can sort out the paperwork. I'll have the car picked up next week."

Seller: "Sounds good to me, let's shake hands on it."

You: "Cheers, mate. I appreciate it."

In this example, you were able to identify an issue with the car and use it to negotiate a lower price. The seller, although not happy, was willing to accept your offer and you were able to come to an agreement.

Conclusion of the article Step-by-Step Guide to Buying Cars For Resale on Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is a great resource for car dealers looking to find good clean inventory at competitive prices.

With the right approach and knowledge of how to negotiate, you can get better deals on cars that are in good condition and have potential value.

By following our step-by-step guide, you should be able to identify sellers who may not be real private sellers but instead are dealers advertising their dodgy stock on marketplace and hoping you won't notice.

We hope you have found this guide to be an informative and useful way to acquire cars for resale through Facebook Marketplace. With the right research, preparation, and understanding of the marketplace, you can create a profitable business buying and selling cars on Facebook.

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