trade vet

I think you are in control of your business,you can probably walk away from this job anytime.Like you, I never had any stocking loans and given the T&C’s previously stated,they do not make any sense.Unfortunateley things have changed and it appears that the younger people starting out today have little choice for funding.The thought of trading for years and never owning all your stock,I see as a failure.I say good luck to the stock loaners but I would rather pack in and work as a rip off ‘equity release adviser’ than be controlled by a stocking loan.

It was pointed to me awhile ago how easy it would be for BCA to ‘finagle ‘ some system to bosh out any cheap left over stuff to WBAC and transport it away to another branch to sell it.It is a potential Conflict of Interest. BTW BCA do not own CAP however some people say they might manipulate it.

Someone I know who does heavy stuff ‘sale or return ‘ for selected dealers had to resolve an interesting problem a couple of years ago.One of his lumpy cars got lifted by a Stocking Loan provider and was then entered for auction when the seemingly ‘doing well dealer’ suddenly went ‘tits up’.The dealer apparently had put it on his stocking loan facility.( what a nice chap).I think the guy we know then had to bid and get his name on it at the auction to enable him to argue that the seller did not have title to it .He sorted it but what a carry on.

With reference to 3) Hammer down.For the benefit of the newbies ,sometimes if you are ever bidding for a car in the ring and the auctioneer sells it to you as being ‘ sold subject’ they then occasionally bring down the hammer.If that happens ,the fall of the hammer means you have bought the car and the auctioneer has created a contract.

I think most dealers agree with you that price markers are unfair and inaccurate.AT reps will be getting it in the neck every day.I think they will be gone by the autumn because dealers en mass will be reducing their AT listings.Its a PLC and this will show through in their results and could effect the share price.

Trading Standards is for punters.I think it is the Competition and Markets Authority you would need to contact.I think there is more chance of Man City getting relegated like Saracens for cheating.

Can you imagine trying to sue AT.They would probably retain barrister Geoffrey Cox MP,QC .He allegedly bills a grand per hour ? Did anyone see him shame Labour into agreeing to the election.He got sacked last week as Attorney General probably as a favour !

Your area appears to be saturated with Minis and 500’s ,so if you are not a well established dealer,your pricing will be important.I would reduce 2 or 3 to cost price and see what happens.Then try and pick and choose punters with good swappers and try and nick them.That often works in my experience with slow moving stock.....Everyone to their own !

I would trust online Bingo more than AT digital info.Are you sure your stock is showing up on AT.I have just searched for Minis and 500’s within 10 miles of Beckly ( which I am presuming is the Plymouth area) and Beckly Car Sales stock does not show up or do you trade as something else.Punters still buy Minis and 500’s so don’t be put off.

Interesting,you appear to know about taxis.Being nosey,do you rent out a few of them like they do here.

Ha Ha ,I didn’t mean LPG was bullshit,I was referring to John Prescott ! 100,000 taxis in Bangkok ! but how many go south of the river ? Enjoy . Being good at mending them must be awfull.Loads of work at £150 per hour.

LPG conversions.We got into them early doors when John Prescott said government grants were availible for conversions.We had several done and applied for the money and were told the grant allocation had been taken up for the year.This was about 3 months after Prescotts announcement ! It was all bullshit as far as we could see.

Ideal for Brightwells.Plenty of Landrover stuff there.I am sure you will do well,good luck.

AD This guy is a specialist Land Rover repairer and he could be a valuable contact for someone on here.

Specialising in Landrovers Wow ! where are you setting up.

I am sorry but when you set up as a bonafide trader with premises selling stuff like this you will find that your customers attitude will change from what you have been used to.You will need to factor in that you can expect a lot of comebacks and refund claims under CRA 15 which you will have to resolve.Also don’t be impressed with dealers appearing to do well unless you can see their previous 2 years trading accounts.I have lost count of the number of new big time dealers who have imploded as quickly as they arrived having taken on too much.Making money in this job is not easy but getting ahead is even harder.

So it was a private seller whose name and address would not be on the reg doc.If so,that is a big own goal and I think for the moment you should stick with your day job.

When you pack in your day job, you will have to work very hard and be lucky to replicate what you are now earning in total.Could you also just re explain how you were scammed.Who did you buy it from,did you do an HPI check etc.

Beware of lending out cars on the customers own insurance.If something untoward happens and some fault is found effecting road worthy ness like a not fully efficient handbrake ,it is down to you.There have been cases where dealers have been charged.Sometimes when I have had someone who understood the liability,I have just invoiced them for the loan car which they have signed and let them use their own cover.When they returned,the invoice was torn up.This was long ago but after that if it was a big job,we had a cheap hire car deal.I think you should have some sort of separate cover for supplying courtesy cars.

If 10% of AT trade advertisers reduce stock by 50%,that is a lot of lost income and the penny should drop.

Sorry XFS I was just directing my experience to the newbies and some of them often refer to my posts as doom and gloom.Clearly you are not one of them.

Is Pistonheads not just for punters or NFE ‘s.

Not knowing what a ‘sticky’ is.You need to be in the advanced lounge then if you want to know something you get the best historic and live replies.You should also subscribe to CD Mag if you haven’t already.

Sorry guys gloom and doom again but you need to use a chartered accountant.Good record keeping may be a boring subject but it is very important should you in future be randomly selected for some inspection where they go back years.You newbies should also bear in mind that in the event of your accountant messing up ( and even the best do) HMRC will hold you responsible for their actions.I found this out after trading for many years and there is a price to pay.

You must be new to the job.It does not matter what you may do to improve your image,be it promoting yourself for sponsoring good causes or offering some no quibble free repair policy,you will still be viewed with suspicion.Get used to it.