An online sale complemented by a live event is the best model for selling trucks at auction, according to Ross Dalton, manager at Doncaster-based CVA Auctions.
Dalton said the percentage of commercial vehicle auction business done online at the company can be between 10% and 50% depending on the season and type of stock. “An online-only auction cannot compete with a live auction of this type as customers cannot see the vehicle in the flesh, which helps them to make an informed decision.”
Dalton helped conduct one of the first online auctions in the early 2000s, which he described as “a bit more agricultural than today’s version”.
He said all commercial vehicle auction business will eventually be carried out online, but not for a long time. “It will require some innovations to give buyers confidence in the asset they are buying rather than a simple appraisal.”
This article was published in the 28 July issue of Commercial Motor. Why not subscribe to get 12 issues for just £12?
