So, here is the thing. I have been in the car business for decades. I have witnessed many changes, and I usually change, adapt and move on. I can even remember handwriting credit apps, and we all carried the literal BLUE Kelley Blue Book around in our pockets so we could quickly ascertain the actual market value of a car or truck before buying it.
Jump forward to today. I was just recently promoted to a rather new position at Bellingham Nissan and in the car business. I am still sales, but I am also Kelley Blue Book Acquisitions Manager. My job is to make sure people get their KBB Instant cash Offer, My years of experience help in this position because I have already bought countless thousands of cars and trucks over the years.
A recent conversation that broke out on Britslist here locally in Whatcom County, literally has become the inspiration for this Blog. A person with an overpriced listing and several other “Internet Experts” were making the argument that “Kelley Blue Book was the worst way to get the Value of an automobile”, did I mention that the person making this argument was trying to get $12000 more than KBB for the truck he was selling.
Anyways, I do not want to make this to long, but here is REALITY! You can “Ask” as much as you want for a car or truck, this reality is as old as buying and selling. You sometimes may even GET what you are asking from either the fool with cash, or a sucker you offer to finance yourself. BUT make no mistake, you are NOT going to get an overpriced vehicle financed with an Accredited lender because they (As well as dealerships) base the value off KBB (since 1927) and or NADA, which is generally same or real close to KBB.
FINAL POINT, If you have a $1000 Honda civic and you put a $2000 stereo in it, this does not make the civic a $3000 car. If you put a $6000 lift under your $4000 truck (I may like the way it looks) But you don’t have a $10000 truck, what you have is a truck that will be harder for a professional to sell because you have narrowed the market I can sell to.
STOP listening to the internet “Experts” Kelley Blue Book is the GO TO source for values and has been since 1927!
