Just like bidding at a Mecum event, selling a car is open to everyone, and there’s no better way to do it
Selling a car at a Mecum auction isn’t just for dealers or seasoned collectors and longtime auction-goers. It’s an opportunity that is wide open to anyone looking to pass their cherished collector car onto its next devoted caretaker. Mecum strives to make the process as easy and welcoming as possible, and the laundry list of benefits that comes from working with the company is one that can’t be found anywhere else.
To consign a car with Mecum is essentially like hiring an entire team made up of hundreds of experts and well-trained individuals, all dedicated to achieving the most value possible for the car’s sale. Instead of finding a place to park the car along a busy road with a sign in the window or spending time trying to promote its availability on various websites or in specialty enthusiast publications, Mecum consignors can keep their cars parked safely in the garage until it’s time to head for the stage, and all of that promotional work is assigned to the dedicated members of the Mecum team. So, what sort of promotional work goes into the magic Mecum mix? Let’s take a look.
Promotional Benefits of Consigning with Mecum
- Each car receives its own dedicated page on Mecum’s website, where more than 20 images can be posted, along with a bulleted list of information highlighting the vehicle’s most important and desirable features.
- Collection offerings receive their own dedicated landing page in addition to each car’s individual webpage.
- Consigned vehicles are automatically posted as their own individual listings on many of the major collector car inventory websites, including Hemmings, DuPont Registry and a host of others.
- Show Programs are created and handed out to customers on-site at the auction, which include a picture and information for every vehicle slated to cross the auction block.
- Mecum sends out hardcopy mailers, including brochures, booklets and other promotional materials that feature both individual lots as well as various groupings of cars.
- Countless digital email alerts are sent to Mecum’s massive database of enthusiasts and collectors featuring vehicles and collections to be offered.
- The digital Mecum Magazine takes an in-depth look at cars and their collectors each month and is emailed to the company’s vast marketing database.
- Additional special and one-off marketing efforts and campaigns are often employed as well with the aim of increasing public exposure and awareness of individual offerings, private collections and the auction events overall.
- Catalog offerings receive professional photography and professionally written narratives.
- Mecum creates film segments for broadcasting on YouTube and on NBC Sports Network featuring vehicles and collections to cross the block at upcoming events.
- Dedicated domain names and more unique and powerful web-based marketing tools are also employed in some cases.
- Press releases and social media postings highlighting upcoming vehicle offerings are regularly distributed to Mecum’s millions of fans and followers.
In addition to sparing sellers the legwork of promotion, consigning with Mecum also grants vehicles nearly instant exposure to one of the industry’s largest and most diverse customer and fan bases. From placement on the company’s website, which receives millions of views every month, to hitting the auction block before an audience of thousands of well-informed and highly interested enthusiasts, consigning with Mecum means getting a car in front of exactly the right crowd—and a massive one at that. Mecum bidders are serious and vetted individuals with intent to do business. From those bidding on-site to the customers bidding from home by phone or internet, there is no shortage of ready and willing buyers at any Mecum event. And the best part of all? There is no need for sellers to take a barrage of phone calls or emails from potential buyers or to haggle over the price; instead, the car hits the auction block, and within minutes, a buyer is found and a fair price achieved.
Speaking of price, another benefit of consigning with Mecum is the ability to offer a vehicle with a reserve. A reserve price is the minimum amount that a seller is willing to accept as the winning bid; if the amount bid at auction does not reach or exceed the declared reserve amount, the seller then has the option to lift the reserve and sell their car to the highest bidder or let it go to Mecum’s Bid Goes On department for more off-the-block bidding action. While the auction platform by nature tends to ensure that the most appropriate market value for any vehicle is achieved, this level of protection is something many sellers find comforting when sending their most prized possessions across the auction block.
When all is said and done, consigning a car with Mecum means getting the best promotional team in the business, the eyes of countless interested buyers, and the ease of kicking back and watching as those buyers clamor to make it their own.
For those who’ve been made believers by what they’ve read so far, let’s take a look now at how to consign a car with Mecum.
How to Consign
Most often, it all starts with a phone call. Customers are encouraged to call Mecum at (262) 275-5050 to discuss their consignment options with a customer service or consignment agent, but for those who know exactly which auction they want to offer their car at, they’re welcome to skip right to filling out a Request for Position form at Mecum.com.
An online auction Request for Position form should be filled out for each vehicle a seller plans to offer. It can be completed online or printed and returned by fax or mail. The form asks for basic information about the seller and the vehicle, such as the seller’s name and address, and the year, make, model and highlights of the car to be sold.
Consignors are asked to provide payment information (a credit card) for each vehicle consigned, but the entry fee is ultimately based on the actual assigned lot number (which indicates a vehicle’s position among the auction lineup) and isn’t charged until that information is determined with the expertise and assistance of an agent.
Once the lot number is determined, a dedicated Customer Experience Agent will take the baton and work with the consignor to completion. The agent will email an e-signable contract and other necessary information/documentation to the seller. A prepaid and trackable UPS return label is also attached to this email in order to safely and securely mail vehicle title(s) and other documentation to Mecum headquarters. Simply take the documents and label to the local UPS store, and they’ll handle the rest.
Consignors then collaborate with their dedicated Customer Experience Agent to submit photos, draft descriptions and complete the consignment process. Each individual car webpage can display more than 20 photos of the vehicle to be sold. Consult the Vehicle Photography Guidelines—which can be found at Mecum.com and within the consignment package—for more details and tips on capturing and submitting the best images to help sell any car.
With contracts complete, titles mailed and photos submitted, it’s time for the seller to sit back, relax and wait for the big day. Vehicle transport services are available through Mecum Automotive Transport for those interested, but sellers are welcome to get their car to the auction in any way they choose.
