Leaderboard

Episode Two "ding-a-dong-dong ding-a-dong-dong ding-a-dong-dong-ding" Hello.... hello? Oh. Scotty, it's you! Sorry, I didn't recognise your number. Oh, you changed it..... you've got a new iPhone... good for you. What are you ringing me for at this time of the morning? I'm fine thank you, but what do you really want? So. you've had some time to think and want to know how I feel about having another go of things? Really? You been on the ginger wine? You think you may have been having a mid-life crisis. The thought of being a little bit of an outcast not quite so appealing now, is it? What happened to the idea that I'm a selfish control freak and you couldn't stand being near me? Ah, that was just things we say when we're angry was it? That's OK then. Here's the thing... I'd got quite used to living without you. Nothing really changed and, to be honest, although my mates were a bit confused as to why you would even think of leaving, they soon got used to you not being around. It might be a bit awkward if we turn up at the pub together as if nothing had happened. Still, in time, I suppose they'll accept it. In time, I suppose I will! So, if I say yes, what do you want me to do? Give you a bit more of a say in the big decisions that affect both of us... OK Stop patronising you... I don't think I did, but OK Share our finances properly and openly... OK Stop laughing at your football team... Can't promise, but I'll try You'd like us to visit your family more often; not just when we want something... OK But above all, make it look like I care about you and your feelings? Aw, come over here you big lummox and gimme a hug, you know I care! The truth is, I never wanted you to go - we're better together, you know! ...what's for tea?

I would. But I'm not sure an actual conversation using, you know, words and stuff is something he'd manage... My main issue with it is the fact that it is anything but social. I was in my local the other day and there was a couple, obviously on some kind of date, who spent more time staring at the little screens in their hands than actually talking to each other. Wouldn't surprise me if they were texting each other. How sad is that? Anyway, I don't think I'm on my own. For example, if the Big Question today had been: Would the world be a better, more tolerant place without Facebook & Twitter? ..the Yes campaign would have smashed it out of the park.

We'll remind you of that Jim

A big sigh of relief this morning from us as the Better together wins through. I never thought I would ever say that I'm glad to be still dealing with the DVLA :-)

Q: What's the best way to make a small fortune in the motor trade? A: Start with a large one.

We pay them late.....really late. By cheque. Its only a small way, but just gives a little satisfaction!

removal of Direct Debit discount ! might not seem much but its another additional cost ! £8 - per week to me ! £416 pa EXTRA for nothing. Maybe I stop my DD so that they have to chase me every month for the payment ..or maybe I simply STOP altogether advertising with Autotrader ! #DecisionsDecisions

Great points guys....GreenGiant, what if the Beano started asking so much for their advertising space that no one advertised in there anymore, does that mean that people would continue to read the Beano or would they have a glimpse at the Dandy or may even somewhere else? The advantage of having a large number of car dealers and cars for sale on one website is weighted heavily towards the customer, it makes it easy for them to compare cars like for like, side by side without even leaving their house, the problem is that if you car is identical to the car advertised next to it on AT but £500 more what chance have you got of selling it until the cheaper one is sold? and often the one thats £500 cheaper is being sold by a private, which means they have not only paid less for the advert but also don't have to HPi, mileage check or even give a warranty, but it's for sale right next to your car, £500 cheaper (sounds fair????NOT) Gavin, thank you for the compliment, we have been in business for just over 10 years and pride ourselves in providing the very best in customer care and due to this, between 60-70% of our sales each month are a mixture of repeat and referral business, the other sales & enquiries come from local people normally who can see the physical building and pitch, and a mixture of local advertising , sponsorship and social media, not only this but our website is very strong with most website referrals coming from Google, AA Cars(formerly V cars) & Motors.co.uk. Now if you total ALL my advertising activity during a month I bet it's still less than you advertising 15 cars with AutoTrader! As I say I'm NOT anti-AT i just think that the MotorTrade have to look at things differently before it's too late! As an analogy, if the price of petrol went up to £2.00 per litre , the country would come to a standstill, people would refuse to buy petrol until the price came down, there would be a major outcry, now we can't do without petrol, I agree,because there is no alternative, however you have just stated that your business cannot survive without AutoTrader, so what happens when they increase your price to an unacceptable amount? We all need an alternative, we cannot continue to have all our eggs in one basket! Things must change!

Gavin, the whole point is, as long as you keep feeding AT they will continue to grow and continued growth means more cost from you to feed it, it's like taking home a small cat then feeding it until the point that you find out that's actually a lion and it continues to require more and more feeding! We are a 'small dealer' retailing cars between £5000- £25000 and stopped advertising with AT in November last year and guess what? WE ARE STILL DOING THE NUMBERS! The problem with all these portals giving away free 12months is the fact that they have no money coming in to promote their website with, so an ever decreasing circle! Yes I agree that AT works and they know it, that's why they are much, much more expensive than anyone else! You forget however that AT need dealers more than dealers need AT, so with that in mind, if ALL dealers stopped advertising with them, then surely their share price would plummet, their investors would stop funding and the giant would start to shrink or even fall! Now I'm not anti- AutoTrader but I do object to getting ripped!