The buyer of a used part has a concrete problem: the vehicle is off the road, a part is missing, the new one is too expensive or no longer available. They are not looking for a listing, they are looking for a number. Take that seriously and you build the listing from the number outwards, not from the description.
The structure of a listing that gets found
- Title. Article type, make, model line, position, OE number. No superlatives, no exclamation marks — the title is a search field, not ad copy.
- Numbers. The current OE number, the predecessors and, where present, the supplier's number. Every number is another way in.
- Vehicle reference. Model line, build period, engine code; in the German market additionally HSN and TSN. The donor vehicle's VIN makes the statement evidenced.
- Condition. Donor vehicle mileage, visible defects, completeness of what is supplied. Naming defects openly costs some enquiries and saves every return.
- Images. Overall view, identifier, connectors, defect — see Part photography: how images sell used parts.
- Shipping data. Dimensions and weight, so that price and packaging are right.
Pricing without guesswork
Three quantities set the achievable price: the new-part price as a ceiling, the availability of comparable used parts, and the urgency on the buyer's side. For a part still available new, the ceiling is clear. For a part from a discontinued model line, the used market may be the only market — and there availability decides.
In practice: a part many yards hold sells on price and delivery time. A part almost nobody holds sells on findability. Both cases benefit from the same data quality, for different reasons.
Avoiding returns rather than processing them
A return costs shipping both ways, inspection, restocking and often a review. The three most common causes can almost entirely be headed off in the listing:
| Cause | Counter-measure in the listing |
|---|---|
| Does not fit | Evidence the OE number, predecessors and vehicle reference; in doubt ask for the buyer's VIN |
| Condition different from expected | Name and photograph defects, state the mileage |
| Part incomplete | List explicitly what is supplied and what is not |
One stock, several channels
Selling on several platforms is fine, but stock should still be kept in one place. Two separately maintained lists diverge within weeks, and the result is the most expensive error in online trading: a sold part still on offer.
The route there runs through clean capture at source and, above a certain volume, through an interface between the ERP system and the channels — see Connecting an API: when it pays off for dismantlers.
Frequently asked
Should I name defects in the listing?
Yes. An openly stated scratch costs a few enquiries; a concealed one costs a return, a credit note and a review.
How many images make sense?
Three to five usually suffice: overall view, identifier, connectors and the defect if there is one.
Is it worth listing the same parts on several platforms?
Yes, as long as stock is kept in one place only. Separate lists produce double sales.
Do I have to give a warranty on used parts?
Selling to consumers is subject to statutory rules that cannot simply be contracted away. The basics are in Liability for defects on used parts: what applies and what does not.