Happy Thanksgiving, but Don't Forget Black Friday!
While we are all celebrating and feasting on all the delicious food this Thursday, do not forget that some of us are also gearing up for the biggest shopping day of the year; Black Friday. Yes, that also applies to motorcycle sales. Don't miss this once a year opportunity to attract buyers.
According to various consumer reports, some retailers generate as much as 25% of their annual revenue from Black Friday sales. That is huge!
Here are some very useful tips for attracting online buyers:
- Set a realistic price for your motorcycle. Always list your bottom price and never describe it as "Firm" because online shoppers are looking for good deals and are turned off by deals with no room for negotiation. Use appraisal websites, such as KBB.com and NADAGuides.com, to look up the suggested retail value for your motorcycle. Also, try to search for similar motorcycles on ChopperExchange.com to compare their prices.
- Take at least five (5) good photos of your motorcycle. We suggest that you take a picture of each angle, so the interested buyer can see what it looks like from all angles. Please make sure that the photos are not too dark or too small when you upload them. If you are a motorcycle dealer, we highly recommend that you take photos of your new motorcycles as well. Online shoppers hate stock images provided by the manufacturer. Keep in mind that photos allow online shoppers to take mental ownership of the item they are viewing. This is a very important aspect of online shopping. Do not overlook it.
- Provide the fastest method for interested buyers to contact you. Do not list your home telephone number, if you know that you rarely answer it. If you are a motorcycle dealer, list a telephone number that goes directly to Sales. There is nothing more annoying than calling a dealership and being transferred from person to person until you finally reach Sales. This only frustrates interested buyers and increases their chance of hanging up. If you do not have a direct telephone number for Sales, require your employees to politely get the caller's name and phone number before the call is transferred. In case the caller gets frustrated and hangs up, you still have an opportunity to call him/her back.
- Make sure that your motorcycle description includes any extras you may have added, if you are the original owner, any maintenance history, how the bike was stored, and the reason(s) you are selling the motorcycle. Keep in mind that online shoppers want to have as many details as possible because they are not looking at the motorcycle in person.
- If you can, upload a 90-second video of your bike, so interested buyers can see and hear what your motorcycle sounds like. You do not need to hire a professional to shoot the video. A simple flip camera or cell phone video is sufficient.
Most of all, be ready to sell and make deals. That is what moves bikes fast; being able to make deals. Gone are the days when Harley sellers were order takers. Today, it is all about being able to sell!
Feel free to contact Mirela or Wendy at 1-800-523-7274, if you need assistance with pricing and/or selling your motorcycle. We are more than happy to offer any advice at our disposal.