Mojo121

OHHH, you bought it because you thought it WAS yellow. I thought you bought it being blue for the customer, then found out it was originally yellow hence they might not care... Pleased its sorted!

"Evening all, just joined the forum as I’m after a bit of advice. Me and a mate have been dabbling in selling cars for a few years now on a part time basis, we both have full time jobs in other trades, but are really struggling to find how you guys actually make a living from it?" GO HARD OR GO HOME In answer to your question I'm actually a major league drug dealer and merely use car sales as a front to launder my money. Profit or not it makes no difference to me. (In all seriousness though, refer to BHM's response... and d'ya want any gear?)

Come on you lot. Surely you all expect it to be quiet this time of year and surely you would've put some money away in the busy months to tide yourselves over?! Correct me if wrong but last time I looked at your stock (must be over a year ago) everything was sub £5.5k have you outgrown your market in budget terms?

Personally, I'd call the customer, go through it with them and see if they're still good with it... might not matter to them?

Spot on. For me it was a case of realising the fact that I really didn't want it to happen makes no difference at all to the reality that is happening.

Surprised no ones suggested just talking to the guy you suspect. All this 'damage his car & rub shit on his windows' is a bit low. Find out what his problem is, explain why it isn't any of his business or a problem to the police and explain that if anything happens again you'll know who it was and then you won't be so understanding. Capeesh?

Officially would they need to be SORN'd? Just to stop you getting any penalties? Busy bodies!

Is that sustainable though? Reduce to look the cheapest... get some sales... people follow suit... devalue ourselves again... reduce again to get some more sales.

Hey Alex, started with the same sort of money as you but the simple answer is I bought cheaper cars, worked on small margins and ran around like a blue arse fly to auctions, collecting cars and selling them quickly to build up. It really difficult to buy cheap cars now though and we were always aware that a few mistakes would evaporate out money

So people leave them with you overnight? What do you charge, though? Nearly everyone who buys EVs does so as a cost centric purchase so the idea of an additional cost is a bit against the concept, but in the future where everyone has one, housing is more compact etc etc it might work....? Presumably someone comes in when their car is nearing 'empty' and leaves it with you, if Elon's new invention is anything to go by as a baseline that will be every 600 miles; so once a month for alot of people. I suppose at £30 a charge it's alot cheaper than fuel... 30 spaces x £30 a charge = £900 a day = £328,000 a year... might be a better use for my forecourt when these things become the most popular? Give it 15-20 years I reckon.

Looking at one of the other threads on here would it be possible to import a good one?

I always watch these and laugh as they go through auction... especially the ones with 140k that still make barmy money! Are they that good to drive? I've never been able to get near one... I'll admit the engines sound superb. Here's a cracker https://www.gumtree.com/p/lexus/lexus-is200-sport-low-mileage-full-service-history-2005-excelent-condition-/1276261822

Idiot: Has it been in an accident? Me: We don't sell any category C or D cars but that's not to say it hasn't had a bump or bit of paintwork - it doesn't look like it has though, what makes you ask? Idiot: The number plate is too new. Me: It's probably had a new number plate Idiot: It isn't cracked or anything Me: It can be arranged? (Kids and wife laugh... he realises he's being silly) Later Me: Do you want to go for a little drive in it? Idiot: I'm not sure Me: ... okay. Any reason? Idiot: I don't know That was the last of my attention he stole.

I delivered one like this yesterday, with today's technology partial viewings can be completed via Facetime. I always ask for full payment in advance. The most important things are HONESTY and having a good nose for trouble so if it has a mark or two tell them and if they ask whether they can buy it over the phone and they sound like trouble say you'd prefer them to come and see it. I only sell over the phone to probably 1 in 3 people that ask.

Didn't want to copy and paste the whole comment but great post. I'd suggest it's down to BCA trying to retain vendors. They've lost a few to platforms like DA etc...

Cargurus has been okay for us, some solid leads, some sales and it's free so I'm not complaining.... if it was more consistent I'd consider paying for it. I find their customer service is pretty good too. Nice chaps.

With all due respect you're asking for £7k of someone's money... surely it warrants a bit more of a description? Also, two weeks is nothing. Get used to this feeling; if you're setting up trading this is what it's like...

Oh, don't. Does my head in. A no nuts in a 2003 Mondeo TDCI and they 'fancy a bit of a change' and they're looking at my 2007 Vectra CDTI... "I wonder what the insurance will be like? Hopefully it won't be too much more... but it is newer" I'm stood there thinking "You're like 55 year old, man. It's a diesel saloon not a Dakar rally machine. You pay £400 a year probably on Direct Debit so who gives a shit?" I don't mean it to sound like I'm rolling in the dough 'cause I'm not but come on if, worst case, an extra £15 a month hurts you stay indoors and keep the Mondy. "Oh, just before we go any further...what's the tax like on these?" .... UNAVOIDABLE. NOW PISS OFF

Now, that would sound like the perfect case for Lawgistics to take on your behalf pro-bono for the good of the trade and to make a cracking piece of advertorial for themselves...?!

I had this the other day, someone wrote a comment on a Facebook advert that because the car was 13 years old but had 9 (VW may I add) stamps it wasn't FSH. I replied that it was serviced in accordance with mileage and they didn't message back - wouldn't have sold them it (had trouble written all over it).

Hahahah. Never had this but oh my God the things people will try! BCA's auction view for example: BMW 320D covered 147,000 miles Service history - YES 1 stamp 57k 2005 They misrepresented themselves as decent human beings...

It's hard to say the best course of action because I don't know what sort of people they are. Depending I'd say to them that you are concerned they are regretting their purchase and are just trying to find faults, that it's an old car and obviously they cannot expect factory fresh condition but you want them to be satisfied although there are limits of what you can do for them. You have a few options: 1. Tell them it's their car. See you in court. 2. Ask them to put their grievance in writing so you can identify all the problems and come to an inbetween solution, fixing any that deem the car unsafe, not as described or make the car unfit for purpose getting the agreement that "if I resolve the problems agreed on you'll be satisfied with the vehicle?" 3. Just fix the headlight. I don't think you're liable to do it though. While it was a fault present at the time of sale it's not something that would make the car fall into the CRA refund category. Might be the case of just doing it for an easy life...

Is it reasonable to expect that a car of 10 years old and £1600 has had some kind of bodywork repair in the past? I'd say so. The exhaust was the same when you sold it to them and passed an MOT. You're replacing the alternator via mobile mechanic at minimum inconvenience to them. I'd say you're being very fair and there's no grounds to be concerned. I'd also say they're suffering from a case of buyer's remorse. They'll get over it. Continue to fulfil your legal responsibilities and remind them that you're doing just that - beyond that they're on their own i.e. they won't be having you over a barrel!

How many cars are you expecting to sell a month? The top and bottom of it for me is at 30 cars and a £1000 a month rent you should make money as long as you don't rush out and buy a load of shite and you're careful with your advertising spend - working the internet hard (which I interpret as spending more money?) isn't necessarily sound strategy because you don't have a baseline to work from (what can you do with basic advertising? Low cost!). Aim to get to 30 cars over 3 months. You should be able to sustain yourself with 10 in the first month, making a little loss, then add to it as you go. Trust me, it's better to make a little loss in the first month than to have cars you'll be sick of looking at for three! Ultimately everyone does it differently though! Good luck!

Suppose the old adage of it's at an auction for a reason applies here.