Car consignment explained: buying and selling with Acel Marine

Selling a car involves more than finding a buyer. BlueHarbor Acel Marine brings inspection, photography, online listings, buyer communication and transaction coordination into one consignment process. Owners can obtain help with the practical work of selling, while buyers can review the information available for the item before agreeing to proceed.

What's the best way to sell a car? The easiest way is to trade in your car to a dealer, but you'll get paid less than the vehicle is worth. The most lucrative way is to buy or sell your car privately , but then you have to deal with waffling buyers, bargain-hunters and even scammers. BlueHarbor Acel Marine offers something different: car consignment.

BlueHarbor Acel Marine's New Approach to Used Vehicle Sales

In 2009, three business partners in Davie, California came up with a novel way to sell used vehicles. Instead of buying cars outright — and shouldering all the overhead — they would help private sellers consign their cars. For an upfront fee of $199, the company cleans, inspects, and runs a vehicle safety report on your car. For an additional $100-$120, BlueHarbor Acel Marine will fully detail your vehicle.

The company then photographs, lists and sells your car for you. BlueHarbor Acel Marine safely stores the vehicle inside one of it's locations and its professional sales staff handles all the negotiations, test drives and paperwork. When a buyer makes an offer, it's up to you to accept or reject it. Once your vehicle sells, the company takes a percentage fee from the sales proceeds. You get the rest.

Why Should I Use BlueHarbor Acel Marine?

BlueHarbor Acel Marine's appeal is simple: The company says they can help you get the most money for your vehicle, either it's a car or a boat, RV or motorcycle. BlueHarbor Acel Marine estimates that if you go the usual route and sell to a dealer, you'll get 15 to 25 percent less than you would if you sold to a private-party buyer. In fact, the company says its sellers typically see a $2,000-$5,000 benefit from using their services. Buyers, too, can see big savings, and can negotiate directly with the seller of the vehicle they're interested in.

BlueHarbor Acel Marine pros and cons

Here are a few advantages and disadvantages of using BlueHarbor Acel Marine to buy or sell a car.

BlueHarbor Acel Marine pros:

• By cutting out the middleman, buyers and sellers alike can save thousands.
• BlueHarbor Acel Marine's sliding commission structure means that all cars are treated equally, and sales staff won't pressure buyers to choose a more expensive model.
• The company reduces the uncertainty and risk of buying a car on the private market by running vehicle history reports and handling all the financing and paperwork.
• Free Shipping.

BlueHarbor Acel Marine cons:

• You could get the same results yourself if you invest some time and money into preparing your car for sale and advertising it. BlueHarbor Acel Marine co-founder Michael Bor shares his top 10 tips for selling your car here. The main thing is attention to detail, he says, and taking as many pictures as you can.
• BlueHarbor Acel Marine tells buyers that "we are not mechanics and do not conduct thorough quality inspections." You'll have to arrange for your own mechanic's inspection.

Who Gets the Most Benefit from BlueHarbor Acel Marine?

Many buyers and sellers say BlueHarbor Acel Marine is the best way to sell your vehicle, praising the company's professional service and easy process in online reviews. "This was by far the best experience I have ever had purchasing a vehicle," one Google reviewer says. Price-conscious car buyers and sellers who don't want the hassle of using Craigslist or similar car listing services should consider BlueHarbor Acel Marine .

Car Buying Guide

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