Sales Slowing Down????
 

I scan back a week or so for Sold notices and it seems that Sales are slowing. Mine are dead. The economy has caught up with the internet and all else now?
We have a big- last of the yr Swap soon here at Albany, Or, and I figure on taking cheap junk-cause it always sells. One yr I took cheap furniture and sold it all. Thoughts?? Newc

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

I don't think sales are slowing down, but I know for sure the mode of selling things has changed significantly.

I've posted items for sale on Fordbarn, HAMB and Instagram and had stuff for sale @ Hershey.

Almost all of my items on Instagram sold with 24 hours at my asking price. Items on the HAMB took 1-4 weeks to sell.

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

Certainly in New Zealand I think sales of vintage cars are slowing. Rising interest rates and a general lack of interest in older vehicles is probably behind this . Muscle cars from the sixties and good (ie rare) vintages are still selling but at lesser prices. I'm not sure what its like in the States but here rising Gas prices, cost of Living and Mortgage rates are really hurting people -Old cars are a luxury that many can no longer afford .

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

I think things are slowing down. But I believe things are still good in the states and places. We will see how it plays out, but we have not slowed down here too much other then the conflict amongst ourselves. Or not....



Things cost more as companies make record profit. Phones sell, homes sell, cars. purses... Americans have two speeds, full throttle and turbo. Too bad we can't find a united direction right now. We are too worried about furriers in schools and little things that don't effect us or true.



Tomorrow is another day. Maybe a day to look at healthcare cost and people as people. Not a burden. Social Security has been classified as a "entitlement". Ain't that some shit after it's been totally funded by your input. haha whatever though...




I guess I always think about Henry in the 20's. He had his issues. But the 5$ day allowed workers to buy his product. You can build a hammer that is amazing, but if no one can afford to buy it, who cares.






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Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

Tinker, The $5 day had its benefits and its problems. It was a huge public relations win for Ford while proving to be a failed social engineering experiment. That 5 dollar bill had so many strings attached to it that it alienated his own employees. Can you imagine your employer sending men to your home unannounced to investigate your home life?

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

Newc, there is a lot that affects pricing. economy is just one. I notice certain times of yr are better then others.

in the end, if you price cars and parts fairly, they will sell. I do notice some fellas on the swap with high prices and their parts most often never sell.

you can push volume at low prices or demand top dollar and sell 1 in 10 customers.
everyone has a diff idea to value......

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

To add to this, I've also noticed unrealistic or pricing decisions being made unaware of the current market.

For example: I am not sure why since I really like this body style, but phaetons have taken a huge hit in price. Many will sit even at a decent price. You almost have to have a give away price now days.

Asking $200-300 for oil pans. Very common stock intakes for $100; especially cast iron. A cast iron intake deal will go south once someone gets the shipping quote. Untested motor cores for $750-1,000. These are just a few examples of a seller being unrealistic in their pricing expectations in today's market.

Shipping kills a lot of deals too. I shipped a F-1 oil pan recently from NJ to AZ. The pan sold for $50 and the shipping was $64. I even shopped around and that was the best price.

If you really want to sell something, it pays to do a little homework.

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

Tim, How do you find items for sale in Instagram? Art

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

Hi Art:

That's a great question. I am really no expert, but I get things "sent" to me from my feed by others that I'm following. I don't do Facebook, but I'd assume it's works similar to that platform.

There is a gentleman on there called East Coast Mike. Mike is a great guy and runs a service called Partswapper. He will repost your add on his page. He has 40,800 followers as of today.

So, when I post an ad, those people following me will see my ad and then the 40,800 following Mike will also be fed the ad if I ask him to repost it.

You can search for items since many people hashtag their ads.

It's pretty remarkable really.

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

I follow partswapper on instagram. Although not officially an early ford site, it seems to mostly be early for parts.

https://www.instagram.com/partswapper/


With facebook the scammers are out in full force, and although I have bought items off there in the past, given the number of scam warnings on there now, I would be afraid to risk my money.

Kirk

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

In sales, a week does not constitute a trend. No need to sound the alarm, "The economy" and antique cars are often in different places.

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Mike the Partswapper guy is a good dude. He’s gonna be at my place the next couple days and we may do a live swap meet on Instagram. I need to thin down a lot.

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I put Instagram on my phone and follow Third Gen and some other Early Ford sources, but I really haven't used it to buy anything. I guess I will have to figure that out. When I saw a part posted by Little Dearborn that I wanted, I called them about it and completed the purchase.

Michael will there be any announcement it you decide to do the live swap meet? I really don't look at Instagram very often.

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

I started looking at Facebook old Ford related posts more. Some of the answers to questions are ridiculous.......it seems that people are just screwing around and being clowns....this time of year the political ads are too much.....that will be over next week. I think I’m going to have a go at Instagram and check out Third Gen and this Parts swapper guy. ....Mark

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

very good thread........

enjoy hearing what others are doing, aside from my "dead" cl. ads.

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

ps I agree Tim,

phaetons have taken a huge hit. the red headed step child......

in the end, good for us if we want one.

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

Ah neat. I'll certainly be watching that. I'm sure there are some goodies in your stash.

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

Zeke "If" we do it, it will be tonight or tommorow night..

Follow Partswapper on Instagram. He is a great source for selling things as well since eBay has went down the tube a bit. Also irontrapfinds is a good one to follow.

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

Instagram groups like "parts swapper".

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Michael, don't sell anything I'll want to purchase when I visit soon....:D

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It’s November. Not exactly car buying season for most folks. :rolleyes:

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

I think you are thinking of Harry Bennett the union buster. Maybe what your thinking? The 5$ dollar day was 1914. Harry didn't start till the 20's an was fired in the 40s

Today info is everywhere. Something you say today is there tomorrow. The idea of worrying about big brother is mute.

Advertising and marketing is always an interesting endeavor. Lets say you post an add on a savoy well educated buyer market like hemmings or a less educated eager buying crowd like other new forums. Results may or will be different. How will the car fair... who knows.

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If someone (myself included) wants somthing bad enough it don't matter what month or time of the year it is. Heck, in the past I have sold cars & parts 2 days before X-Mass! - F F

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Let's not forget that today's 40-60 year old vintage car enthusiasts didn't grow up with a romantic attraction to flathead V8s. Instead, they want the car that the cool kid drove in high school but was beyond the budget of the kid washing dishes on weekends for gas money. Sellers are getting big money for VW vans, early broncos and stuff like this.....https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...uiser-fj40-52/

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Good point GB ^^

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Wow! 270K for a Toyota Jeep!Sorry I just can't see it.What do think it will be worth 20 years from now?

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Being a bus guy and having bought/sold 40’ish buses, I must say. The bus, in my opinion, is the most iconic (or one of the) vehicle ever built. Doesn’t matter if it’s a ‘54 barn door 23 window or a 71 bay window, everyone knows the bus. They will always hold their value (as Will any classic imo…they ain’t making them anymore after all). It’s crazy the amount of kids, adults, grandparent etc that come up to me when driving mine with some sort of story about bus memories. Everyone knows the bus (they aren’t vans btw). But yeah, the money they bring now is crazy. Although the bus market has also flattened a bit in the last 2years but it’s still crazy but you don’t see as many of the “wtf is that price” buses being sold except at the look at me look at me auctions. That land cruiser is crazy but I feel like for some people those have the same “gotta have it” sentiment whereas (no offense) the old fords chevys etc just don’t have that same cult following. Anyway, I just bought my first Ford and couldn’t be happier. Tired of going slow in buses (though I’ll always own one).

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

Believe me, I get it. I'm still in my 60's :) and that toyota 'jeep' statement we saw earlier could get a guy crucified for referring to a 'heep' when describing a landcruiser. Like you with your bus I will always have a landcruiser. They have coexisted on my property for over 40 years and seem to get along well together, even producing a mongrel son. Oh, and I'll be 70 in May.

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

I’ll say this.. I spent lots of money in expenses and a week at Hershey. Partswapper guy on I Instagram and I did a live swap meet on Instagram for 45 minutes on two small tables of stuff last night. I sold in dollar terms half the amount in 45 minutes than I did in a whole week at Hershey without the hotels and fuel… I love swap meets and will continue them but the internet seems to be the new way of the world…..

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Whoever coined the term 'The information Superhighway' was right on. I have learned to love it. See you West coast guys in Portland next April!

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

Good for you. You and East Coast Mike did some neat stuff. I liked the V860 rebuild.

I agree with you. I love Hershey and swap meets and will also continue to go to them, but the reason I think the foot traffic is slowing at these events is for the exact same reason you identified.

I also agree with others that the old Ford market is big with hot rodders, but the buying market for stock Fords is aging out of the market sadly.

A good deal of today's antique car buyers want a car from their past or one they've had personal experience with.

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

Noticed that my 'customers' buy their Christmas presents for themselves in Oct/ Nov and then do Family shopping in Dec. Newc

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

Newc, I always found Hershey to be like Christmas. I get to pick out my own presents and pay for them myself, ha!

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

If you look at branding. Ford in 1914 created a thought or brand of a car built by the people for the people and gave a 5$ day. It was a brand.


Later he wanted to change that brand. It was difficult. But yet ford still exist even with unions.


Now lets look at a modern version with Elon and twitter. Although very different. It's a very rich guy buying a brand. He wants to change that. While he is surprised at the response of doing so. I guess I wouldn't buy a pizza place with a great client base and decide I was not going to serve pizza but sell t-shirts. Not very wise.




Spring is a badtime to buy a car. Everyone is looking to get on with fun and driving. Why you don't buy a boat in the spring. Best to buy a boat in the fall. :)

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

I recently posted 4 items on Facebook Market Place and within a week they sold. Yes, 2 seconds after posting I got a response on one of the items asking if they could send me a code. I just responded "NO" and that was the end of that Scammer. I asked reasonable prices and got so many responses I could hardly keep up with them.

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

No problem selling on FB Market place, IG has a much better targeted audience. I don’t see things slowing, reasonably priced parts seem to sell very quickly. eBay is another story, the fees and shipping costs really hurt.

Re: Sales Slowing Down????
 

I have sold many various items on Facebook. My asking price is usually around what I, myself would be willing to pay for it. This has worked out great for me over the years.
If you price something fairly, it will sell surprisingly quick.
If you are greedy, be prepared to have it around for a long, long time! - F F

Re: Sales Slowing Down????