Essential tips...

The Basics:

Even though you are selling your tractor/tractor parts, tools and engines or farming machinery in as-seen condition, you want to make it as attractive to customers as possible. Remove or replace worn-out accessories and clean the item thoroughly. Make sure any accessories that you will be including with the item are cleaned and available to present to the buyer.

Keep a file with receipts and descriptions for major repairs or improvements. Include any warranties and receipts if applicable and include any repair manuals etc.

The Advert:

The most important item, yet many pay little attention to the detail required to make a successful advert and therefore a successful sale.

Keep the ad short, but give enough information to let potential buyers get a good feel for what you are offering. List the best features for your item but no more than 5 main features, such as low mileage, good working order or clean condition and be sure to include anything that sets your item apart from any others; but above all – be honest.

Always try to include a colour photograph. A picture tells a thousand words and it will be the photograph that will get customers to click on your advert. This will lead them into the detailed second page, with more tempting photographs and importantly, your contact details.

With our site you can include three photographs for free, so please try and see it from the customers perspective - what would he/she be looking for in your item to make them call you.

Make sure the photo is clear and in focus, try to include an overview picture from a distance, a close up picture of a particular item of interest and a photo from another angle. This will give the potential customer a good overall perspective of your item.

You do not need to worry about high resolution images, most of today's digital cameras set in Low or Normal mode will be more than adequate (It will also be quicker for you to upload).

The Price:

Search through our online database and links for similar or identical items to yours to get a feel for the value. Do some more cost comparisons from specific magazines to help you determine the correct price.

The purchase:

Set appointments to meet with buyers during daylight hours and at times when you know others will be around. Give a quick tour over your item for them, but let the buyer ask lots of questions.

Be ready to demonstrate that your item starts and runs well (if applicable).

Be careful with scams which are unfortunately becoming more and more common. If people offer you money before they've seen it, refuse it. If anyone starts talking about shipping agents and picking the item up - be very careful.

Get them to telephone you, or obtain their number so you can call them – a genuine buyer would be more than happy with this.

Be very very careful of poor English and any emails from countries like Africa, where many of these scams originate from. A typical scammer will be offering to buy your item and paying by Cashiers Cheque, Building Society or Bankers Draft for an amount greater than you are asking, then to send the balance on once the cheque has cleared. This is a scam using stolen/forged bank drafts/cheques which can clear in 3 days and bounce in two months. You may then have no tractor, and have paid the scammer the surplus cash and your bank withdraws the total amount back from your account.

Remember - If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is!

For further information on email scams, please click here.

IF IN DOUBT PLEASE CONTACT OUR CUSTOMER SERVICES DEPARTMENT WHO WILL BE HAPPY TO OFFER YOU FREE ADVICE.