Has anyone used SHIFT/Vroom/Beepi to sell a car? Thoughts?

[DefyInertia]

Here is the website

https://shift.com/cars/san-francisco

Selling a car on your own is a lot of work. Shift will do the legwork for you and help you get a competitive, private-party price, which is often thousands more than a dealer trade-in.

We evaluate and inspect your car. We can even perform repairs if necessary.

We then wash, photograph, and list your car for sale on our site and other popular listing sites

We take buyers on test drives and answer their questions.

We complete the necessary paperwork to facilitate the sale.

Basically they handle the entire process. They guarantee you a base price, and they then try and sell it for more than that. If they sell it for more, they get 50% of the amount in excess of the base price and you get the rest.

I have always bought and sold all my vehicles via used private party sales...and I don't mind the process. However, I'm trying to unload a Toyota Highlander (in the BARF classifieds and on CL) and it is taking up a lot of garage space in my precious SF garage so I'm getting impatient.

Any barfers work at SHIFT? I did a search and found a single thread from last summer and sent a PM but have not heard back just yet.

Thoughts/comments/experiences?

There is also vroom and beepi that seem to offer the same service. Maybe I'll see which one offers the best pricing structure.

https://www.vroom.com/

https://www.beepi.com/

 

[AbsolutEnduser]

Intrigued.

Part of the reason is, I've never dealt with/exchanged a "private party sale" amount of many thousands, such as 10K and above, which would bother me. (always gone for smaller amounts or dealerships)

Also intrigued why are there two-three vr0m-beep-similar websites, AND including a "shift" one.

 

[asdfghwy]

Seems like a standard consignment place, no? I bought one of my first cars at a place like this in Santa Clara and got a sweet deal

 

[santa]

Two of my co-workers tried shift and beepi. In both cases they were offered below trade-in (one of them offered a reasonable price, then dropped it after inspection. Dealership took it for more).

Set up an appointment and see how it goes.

 

[NorCalAthlete]

The two times I've contacted them in the last year I had much the same experience - offer was below or at dealer trade in. Went private sale on my truck and got $6k over what they offered me. Doing the same for my car.

If you're in a pinch, need the expediency, or can take the hit, by all means - convenience is nice.

I'll take my time with it and get what I'm asking for personally.

 

[stan23]

I sold my 2015 WRX on beepi. I had such a great experience, I recommended several of my friends to buy cars from them--and they did.

I had my 2015 WRX for a year and had 8K miles on it--it was getting old, so time to move on.. They offered me 2K less than what I paid for it. (which is substantially higher than what trade in would have brought me, or even private party for that matter.) I was more than happy with the amount they gave me. Now you have to remember this - they will only offer you an exact amount when they inspect your car and accept it. They mentioned that 80% of the cars they inspect - they will deny to buy.

I called them on a Friday night, and they had someone come over to look at my car and take pics Saturday morning. They listed my car several hours later on their website.

Monday - I get an email saying my car was sold and to schedule the pickup. I scheduled it for the next day and they brought a flatbed over and did all the DMV paperwork and handed me a check for the agreed mount. In and out in just a few minutes. They even gave me a ride to pickup my new car.

My *only* gripes are:

- If anyone knows me, they know my vehicles are meticulous. The inspector mentioned that this is by far the cleanest car he's ever inspected, but when they posted my car on the website, they wrote that all 4 wheels were curbed. Knowing that is not true, I called them and they mentioned they put damage on the car for 'just in case' scenarios and in no way will they pay me less. It's just their experience to put 'premeditated damage'. So instead of my car being a perfect 100, they had to list it with curbed wheels. That was annoying.

- The camera and pictures they used was subpar quality (imo)

Overall, I am very happy with the service and it caters to people like me (very picky)

 

[NorCalAthlete]

*sigh* I'll call em again Stan...but their initial offer was $26k-$28k on a $35k+ car. And dealers are marking them up over that.

 

[Zerox]

I'm on the other end, just bought a car using Beepi. Two thumbs up. Price was lower than what I could find at dealerships.

Pics on the website showed the car with OEM tires, and every review I read of those tires said they were too loud and wore quickly. Not popular. Most people replace those with a couple of tried-and-true different tires from different manufacturers. Oh well, I'll get some better tires down the road.

Car shows up, what's this? It's got new tires already, one of the tried-and-true alternatives. Well hey, I'm chuffed. :teeth

The car looked so clean my neighbor thought it was a brand new car. No dawg, it's three years old. I'm thinking Beepi only takes cars to sell that are in EXTREMELY good condition.

 

[stan23]

*sigh* I'll call em again Stan...but their initial offer was $26k-$28k on a $35k+ car. And dealers are marking them up over that.

From what I know, beepi has highly advanced algorithm where pricing depends on many variables - such as market demand, how many particular models they are currently carrying, probability of selling, how new the refresh is, physical location of car, etc..

It is entirely possible, I was offered top dollar, since I put the car up for sale at an all time high demand. They had none for sale at the time. I see they currently have 5 current gen WRX's for sale -- which would bring down pricing.

Now, that the new WRX is in it's 3rd year, the demand has been lowered significantly and a refresh is in looming - so I can see how/why pricing has changed.

Also, they only make offers after they inspect the car. Don't go by what the website says. Have them come out. They offered more $$ than what the website said when I first did the inquiry.

I also have a '16 Tacoma, and just for fun, I plugged in my model, and I was very surprised at how much they would offer me. Pretty much 2-3K under what I paid for it new.

 

[NorCalAthlete]

That was on their email offer. They said $26-$28k before inspection.

 

[stan23]

I'm on the other end, just bought a car using Beepi. Two thumbs up. Price was lower than what I could find at dealerships.

Pics on the website showed the car with OEM tires, and every review I read of those tires said they were too loud and wore quickly. Not popular. Most people replace those with a couple of tried-and-true different tires from different manufacturers. Oh well, I'll get some better tires down the road.

Car shows up, what's this? It's got new tires already, one of the tried-and-true alternatives. Well hey, I'm chuffed. :teeth

The car looked so clean my neighbor thought it was a brand new car. No dawg, it's three years old. I'm thinking Beepi only takes cars to sell that are in EXTREMELY good condition.

:thumbup

I think their inventory was getting low, so they started accepting sub-standard (IMO) cars. When I sold them my WRX a few months ago, every car they had on their was pretty mint. Now, I see cars with visible scratches, etc..

They seem to be lowering their standards. I've given them lengthy feedback on how to improve their business already, and it seems they have used some of my feedback.

The biggest improvement I told them to make was:

Motorcycles.

We shall see.

 

[stan23]

That was on their email offer. They said $26-$28k before inspection.

I hate to say it, but that's probably not to far from accurate. Remember, the current WRX is in it's 3rd year and a refresh is on the horizon. People who wanted the car, has already gotten it, so not really any demand. And the biggest factor... There seems to be a huge dump in 1-year old WRXs for sale at any given moment. The limited model seems to get the least amount of love and value retention. The base model is by far the highest retention value of any WRX, with the exception of the base STi.

Beepi knows the market well, so they know they need 26-28K in order to make a profit on the car.

 

[DefyInertia]

Thanks guys

My motivation for considering is that (1) my car is enough money ($24k) that not all buyers can come up with the cash which adds resistance to a pp sale and (2) convenience, as having three large cars and 2 Moto in SF is a bit of a pain and a waste of insurance $$$.

 

[NorCalAthlete]

Ended up selling my truck through USAA. Doing so again with the WRX. Having the same bank made it easier - called them from my phone, put them on speaker, we both gave our membership numbers, they confirmed the check, I signed the title over, money hit my account. Done inside of 20-30 minutes.

 

[Holeshot]

Pete, Nate, what are the details on your cars? I'll run Manheim numbers on them for you, if you want true dealer cost (wholesale). KBB/ NADA are both guidelines, but far from accurate, ever.

 

[stan23]

Thanks guys

My motivation for considering is that (1) my car is enough money ($24k) that not all buyers can come up with the cash which adds resistance to a pp sale and (2) convenience, as having three large cars and 2 Moto in SF is a bit of a pain and a waste of insurance $$$.

Check out beepi then. Like I said, my experience was very positive. I got way more $ than I wanted, car was gone in a matter of days, and I didn't have to deal with anyone.

When I sell another car, it will definitely be with them.

 

[TheRobSJ]

I've seen a couple salesmen I know go to Shift. They seem to still be there almost a year later (according to LinkedIn) which means it must be pretty decent there.

What I can tell you from my perspective? As far as the technicians they have inspecting and repairing the vehicles? They came and tried to recruit me awhile back. Cheap. As. Fuck. Even more dellusional than Tesla thinking they can get good talent for what their pay range is. If it's a fairly new car that's still under warranty and wasn't in a bad wreck, there really isn't much to lose. But if you're thinking about something like an 8 year old European make vehicle from a place like that? Then you are quite the gambler.

 

[DefyInertia]

Pete, Nate, what are the details on your cars? I'll run Manheim numbers on them for you, if you want true dealer cost (wholesale). KBB/ NADA are both guidelines, but far from accurate, ever.

This is my car for sale (wife's car)

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=499426

 

[TheRobSJ]

I've seen a couple salesmen I know go to Shift. They seem to still be there almost a year later (according to LinkedIn) which means it must be pretty decent there.

Lol. That situation just changed. Both left earlier this week.

 

[Lunch Box]

I just took a look at Beepi and they don't accept cars over 6 years old. Consequently, I will never be able to sell them a car. I usually buy new cars, particularly if it is for the wifey, but I rarely keep them fewer than 10 years.