trade vet

Make sure the sausage rolls are cold or they will attract VAT.As I am quoted in the guide,I am happy to accept Greggs pastie options which vest in 5 years.

If you were a Jock you could probably claim a subsidy from somewhere towards the job.I see they have been promised another £450m in todays budget and the awfull SNP guy was not happy and went on and on.

Why not ask that dealer/Trader guy who is also big on solar panels...I think he is called Elon....

When I started aged 15 ‘hair cutting’ was widespread.You could also get MOT’s without taking the car,’dial a test’ stations would last for 3 months then get closed down having done thousands of MOT’s. Cars did not have service history then and the punters never queried mileages and I think some cars did not have mileometors.Nobody retailed high mileage stuff.I recall one dealer getting done for buying Jersey ex hire cars with 2000 miles then knocking them out as ex demos with 200 miles.He got off the main charge on some technicality but pleaded guilty to offering for sale without checking the mileages etc and was fined a few hundred quid.However,I recall this Trading Standards Officer who was hot on forecourt tyre pressure gauges.There was all sorts going on but his thing was to do garage forecourt owners whose air pressure gauges were inaccurate.The air was free in those days.Then there were the bungs.I recall one dealer who was mid twenties and had a 20 car pitch turning up in a new DB6 which took months to order boasting that he bunged the sales manager £500 to get it immediately and nobody battered an eyelid....I better stop here.

When I started aged 15 ‘hai

Hi Mark sellyourcar2us.co.uk..........it’s a bit ‘non league’ at the moment......all criticism welcome.

Never seen that one,but all the rediculously expensive ones we see here are owned by Russians.They are usually too big get in,are armour plated,have helicopters and other boats installed within the hull etc.One of the worst is a submarine yacht,I have forgotten the name,it cost over £100m apparently and the Russian owner is about 40 or younger.You just wonder what these guys do....I don’t think they pay VAT... put it that way.

Our new ‘old pitch’ eventually started up early in the month with 15 cars having taken awhile to set up.Website just went live 5 days ago.Nice stock,some small stuff,a few SUVs all good prices.We are on AT and the local rag and this used to be a prolific pitch,it is in a very busy location.We have not got it right yet with Descriptions and photos and no videos yet but the bottom line is,we have only done 3 and bought 2 in at the door.I think this is going to be a challenge even though we are only aiming to recoup the equivalent of the rent we were getting.If I had not been in this job so long,I would probably be worried.I am already thinking our stock is wrong.

I agree.Mind you although there are some beautiful sail boats here,some of them have electronic sails !

Yes,I know who you mean Bubba or was it Forest Gump who did well with shrimp boats.Did he not then invest in a fruit business.....and did OK.What was it called again........

Stink boats ?

I am in our apartment now in Puerto Portals marina Mallorca.Leases on births here for the big floating caravans change hands for over 1m euros and I think there are only 12 years left on the leases. Most of them rarely go out yet they have a full time crew,it makes no sense.

I think you are right to be cautious.Lets say the hirer defaults within 6 months and there is a reposesion.Your broker will be out of pocket and their commission will be clawed back by the lender.They could in theory then claim that the lender had examined the car and a quality assurance issue was found (which should be easy.)Then without informing you until after it has been sold off cheaply at auction ,in theory you could be legally bound to cough up the outstanding balance including interest. 16) I would add to this.......which covers a 6 month period after the date of sale which have not been caused by misuse or neglect and were promptly notified by the hirer at the time. or on those lines otherwise you could get stitched up. I used the same major finance company for years but probably like most banks they sometimes slipped something in to our annual rates and terms contract which did not mean how it read......Try....If the hirer fails to make 3 instalments etc....( fair enough you get your commission clawed back) However I recall one regular punter calling in and he still had his car.So I just asked him about missing his payments. What happened was that on several occasions over the term his D/D had been delayed by a day or two because of glitches in the banking system resulting in us getting our commission clawed back.

Now beach huts,that’s a good business.This summer I was talking to a dealer friend who introduced his son to me.He managed some seaside leisure park in AD country.They aparently bought glorified beach huts or mobile homes which are manufactured in Yorkshire fo £70k and sell them for £250k to people on their site on the coast who then rent them out.They charge site rental and management fees on top,what a great business.

Long ago,I went to BCA Peterborough or ADT or whatever a few times.There was these 2 farmers who bought all the best stock.It made no sense what they were paying for stuff.I recall asking a local what was going on.Apparently they sold from their farm and had a great business selling stuff at rediculous low prices.I was told people had to pay an entry fee at the farm gate to view the stock.No idea whether it was true.

I am interested to know how this works.You buy a van for £15k+vat which you claim back.You work on it and claim back as much VAT as you can on the parts and fittings.You then sell it for £30k.Is the VAT due on the sale £6k.or is there more duty to pay for converting a commercial vehicle to a private vehicle.

Clint Eastwood etc.....When we first started we had an open pitch with a ramshackle office.We had this huge poster of Clint Eastwood on the wall from ‘The Good Bad and the Ugly’ with sales manager printed on it.We used to tell the punters if they had any problems Clint would deal with it.They loved that,but in those days punters rarely came back......true story.

Just what I thought.Which proper finance company would advance 100% at 15% on an old Mini.Its called irresponsible lending,the punter has no money.They probably don’t want the car any more,sub prime mentality.Why don’t you ask the punter to prove they have kept up their instalments on time.If they have not,you are wasting your time repairing it and it could still bounce back later on.

Hi CPM Out of interest,what was the deal.Cash Price,cash deposit,swapper,amount financed,term,APR etc,did you sell them a warranty or put it on the bill,same with road tax.....

I am sorry,but I think selling an old Mini Cooper to a ‘special needs’ sub prime punter is asking for trouble.I think we get enough agrovation in this job without dealing with sub primers,especially with old stuff.Some people only do sub prime and are good at it,but it just gives me a headache thinking about it.Also,you have to make sure all the paperwork,invoices,finance agreements match or the finance company will just void the deal and it’s a full refund to them.

I have just come out of retirement for the second time.How stupid is that.You actually miss all the daily agrovation.I think one thing is certain,I won’t be making any money.

That’s just what you need at Blackbushe,arrive with your wagon,get the keys then send the dog to find and bring your car !

I see now,I think I can recall the last time we discussed this.I think most of us told you to have a go last time.Your Dads garage is an up and running established business with probably a good customer base so why do need a business plan.Is he going to charge you £25k rent ?.Forget your wife’s money,go to the bank and personally borrow what you need and get on with it.

I had not realised you were already in the trade.However,I am with your wife on this one.If you are doing 2 or 3 per month on top of what you are earning now,there will be a lot of people on here dreaming of having that situation.If you think packing in your day job and running your own business funded by your wife will be easier and make you more money,think again. She is right to ask for your business plan under the circumstances.Incidently what do you intend to do,be a home trader or work from premises,how many will you stock,who will supply you and how much do you intend to invest.I would imagine she will want you to incorporate as a limited company and she will know what the average returns are.

Could you give us an indication of what you are earning from your present job.