Seller Spotlight: Luther P’s Trucks and 4x4s

If you’ve been watching Barn Finds Auctions closely, you’ve probably seen one of Luther P’s vehicles. He and his son seem to have a knack for finding desirable trucks, but as they say, you can’t keep them all. In December, he decided to give BF Auctions a chance at finding a good home for one of his vehicles. Since then, we have helped him list and sell eight vehicles, most of which have been 4x4s. His most recent auction, the Dodge Ramcharge seen above, sold for an impressive $43,750! Given his success listing with us, I thought it would be a great chance to look at why his auctions have done so well.

Right out of the gate, I have to admit that some of his success stems from what he is listing. It’s hard not to want a bright-colored 4×4 with all the right options, but honestly, there’s still a lot more to it than that. So, what does he do differently? Every vehicle he submits to us includes 100+ photos and several videos. That’s a huge deal that we struggle to convey to many sellers. The days of listing an ad with a few grainy photos in the newspaper, hoping interested parties ready to pay top dollar will appear at your doorstep, are long gone. With buyers all over the globe, traveling to see a vehicle in person isn’t always realistic. Plus, marketing to a global audience increases the pool of potential buyers and subsequently impacts what a vehicle will sell for. Auctions with ample photos and videos do better since bidders can “inspect” the vehicle as if looking at it in person.

Luther also provides us with a detailed description that includes any history he knows, a list of the work that’s been done, details on how it is to drive, any flaws he is aware of (whether it’s cosmetic, mechanical, or rust), and if any work still needs to be done. Not only does this make it easier for us to present his vehicles properly, it shows us and bidders that he’s an honest and forthright seller. We ask sellers frequently, “If you were buying your vehicle again, what information would you want to know and why?” Whatever the answer, it’s what you should be letting us and bidders know right up front.

Luther’s commitment to responding to comments seems to be the final puzzle piece. Whether it’s a question about the vehicle or the model, sellers responding to comments helps build trust and can resolve concerns that might be holding bidding back. It isn’t always easy to hop on and respond to every question left in the comments, but it sure makes a difference. We’ve even begun to automatically subscribe every seller to our comment notification email so they don’t miss any of the comments that are submitted to their auction.

When I asked Luther if I could do a short article on his selling techniques, he happily agreed and then shared something that put a huge smile on my face. From Luther, “I have come to appreciate your quickness in addressing items, the straightforward approach to getting a listing live. You may not be the biggest format option, but your timeliness, attention to detail, and working with me as a seller have been tremendous.” As Barn Finds’ auction manager, I want to ensure every seller and buyer has a positive experience and knows we are here to help. We aren’t perfect, but everyone at Barn Finds works their hardest to give a great experience to readers, buyers, and sellers. I want to thank Luther for allowing us to find good homes for his vehicles and for letting me spotlight his technique! Hopefully, it helps other Barn Finders have the same kind of success listing their finds with us.

Luther’s Past Auctions

• 1974 Dodge Ramcharger Half-Door – Sold for $43,750
• 1977 Dodge Power Wagon Adventurer 4×4 – Sold for $25,000
• 1986 Dodge Ram W250 4×4 – Sold for $14,500
• 1975 Jeep Cherokee S – Sold for $12,000
• 1977 Jeep Wagoneer – Sold for $13,100
• 1980 GMC Jimmy Sierra Classic – Sold for $14,500
• 1969 Toyota Corona – Sold for $10,000