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Published: December 19th 2005
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Busy selling our van!
Engalnd v South Africa 14.12.05
So today was our first day at the car market. Up at 8am to check e-mails to make sure we still have to go, and yes we did.
We paid $65 for 3 days at the market. We put our van up for $3650 which was $250 more than what we paid as we were told we would make a profit. The prices have gone up from last time we had a look, ranging from $2000 to $4000 so that's good news. There were some really bad vans so ours shone out. So everyone hangs about or sits in their vans waiting for people to come through the door. As soon as anyone does everyone jumps up and goes to their van or gets out in excitement. We had just one couple look at our van and only about 6 people even came in to look! Very quiet, only one van sold and there are lots of vans there so lots of competition but we were still confident.
At 5.30pm we left, we had more interest on the internet.
15.12.05
Up early again to check our e-mails, nothing. Another day at the car market. Today we decided to be
more proactive with our selling techniques. Our price was now down to $3500. (we paid $3400) It was a busier day and we had an english couple who took it on a test drive and then bought someone elses. Later there was a couple from Belgium interested who took it for a test drive. So things were looking up. This was a more fun day too as we got talking to everyone. We met people from Isreal, South Africa, Holland, Ireland and Germany. They were all really nice and we were all in the same boat and all wishing eachother luck when someone was interested, but still a little jealous. When someone sold there was genuine happiness for them. 5 vans sold today. We got back to the site at 5.30pm to find an e-mail from a couple who wanted to view, so Mel phoned them back and arranged it for 8pm. In between time a guy on the site looked over it and was interested and the Belgium couple were staying there too so he came over and had a look, then he came back with his surf board to try in the van, all looking very promising. Whilst
he was doing this the couple turned up and took it for a test drive. They were happy and said they would think and let us know. So after a demoralising second day this boosted our confidence going into our final paid day at the market.
16.12.05
We got up feeling a little flat but still trying to be confident as we still had a week left to sell but we didn't want to pay another $65 for the market, especially when it's not that busy and there are so many vans.
Our price stayed the same. Up until 12pm we only had a couple of people look at it, including a couple of guys from germany and one of them was a mechanic. So another quiet morning and we were beginning to get a little worried, as were others. Then along came a Korean couple who we ambushed to have a look. They took it out on a test drive, stalled it a few times, couldn't find the gears, but it seemed to go ok. Back at the car market they looked around some other vans and it appeared as though they had left but they came back and asked if we would knock it down if they paid in australian dollars. We said $3400, they said $3000AUS and $300NZD. So Mel went online to the currency convertor to see if it was a good deal. It turned out to be good. $3000AUS = $3222 so plus the $300NZD we got what we wanted!! They decided not to have a mechanical check, good for us as any problems would have meant we would have to knock down the price or they not have it at all.
Andy drove them into town to get some more money whilst I waited with the deposit, very pleased.
We unpacked all our gear, had a photo and as they went to drive off in their new luxuary campervan, would it start???? NO! OH my goodness we could not believe it we were so worried, Andy went over and told them to have a minute and explained it was low on juice (which it was) but was this the reason it wasn't starting?? Well after the longest 3 turns of the key Andy kicked it up and we prayed he didn't stall it. Off they drove and off we ran! We were sad to see it go but also relieved that we had got our money back. It's been a really good experience and the only way to travel New Zealand, and the cheapest we worked it out!
We said our goodbyes to lots of nice people and wished them the best. An irish girl gave us a lift to a hostel in town.
The hostel was full so we were walking the streets once again with our ruc sacks trying to find a bed. We booked in at Charlie B's for $18 each in a 38 bed dorm! But it is ok because the are split into little rooms of 4 with a curtain.
That night we celebrated the selling of our baby by going out for dinner. We went to The Lone Star and had steak and chicken, it was lovely. We had planned on boozing after, but again we were too full, so just one more in a bar.
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