trade vet

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.

I can understand Ebay,a multi billion dollar Corp,taking Motors.Its up and running with a customer base and probably very cheap and most of the trade has either heard of or tried Motors.As Ebay would probably be disallowed from buying AT which in any case is valued at over £3b ,they just tack Motors onto Ebay motors and Gumtree and then spend millions on marketing.For a Corp. like Ebay it is virtually petty cash.

This maybe the second or third time Motors has been disposed of in a short period of time.

Vasanti.Lad@Autotrader.co.uk

£50.!...Up north..Only if it was metallic.We were still getting full shoots then in solid colours for under £200.Then water based paint came in and the end of full shoots.Nicks guy is probably an old school star,the sort who doesn’t mind swapping a g/box in the street in a snowstorm.

Our original pitch pays out a fortune to AT.However at our new one ,for the moment we have a 5+2 AT starter pack and I think it costs just over £2 per day per car.I don’t know whether this is a special deal but I found that the lady I dealt with at AT was very helpfull and as good as her word which is quite rare these days.If anyone is interested I can get her contact number as she works from home and has been with AT for many years.

I am with the video stars.We are practicing but it might take a while.

Your right,If it is not gone tomorrow we will,we are just trying to get this trading idea going.We have bought a dozen ‘ untradables ‘in from BCA to retail to get a bit of stock to start off with until our website goes live and we can buy more stuff from the public.

Hi You can get in touch with our guy Arthur 0191 2763737 he will keep you posted.When our website goes live we think it should be OK.I was only at BCA briefly today.I am Ian on 07836 799822,give me a call anytime. Thank you,that is the plan when we get up and running properly to email photos with good descriptions and our cost price.Get in touch,see previous post.

........what about the traders.We have now opened our car buying pitch with the idea of buying/nicking stuff at the door and trading them on cheap.Last night our guy nicked for £1500, an 08 T/Auris 1.6 T Spirit,55k,2 owners,fsh,new mot,just needs a machine polish.It would be cheap retailing for £2950.This morning at the local BCA I saw traders bidding big money for similar stuff and not as good.I had a word with one or two and mentioned we wanted profit on £1500.What do I get,bad sellers,wrong colour,no luck with Toyotas etc.One guy later did have a look and studied the service history,could not fault it and then bid £1650 ( £1750 would have bought it) but would not improve.I am thinking this might not be a good idea after all.

If I was doing a business plan,I would just download a template for free with plenty of bullshit.Mission statements,vision statements,e cycle sales projections,some technical stuff.I remember applying to our bank for funding,I was offering them loads of security and they knew me and the business.It was not good enough,they needed future sales and cash projections.So I got our accountant to knock them up,loads of numbers and bullshit jargon.I think he charged me £200 and the bank manager thought it was excellent and it did the trick.

What does it say on your purchase invoice.

If you are doing mobile bodywork stuff like scratched bumpers and small locals,I agree with Justin.If you are any good you should be in constant demand.We know a guy who spends a day doing 2 or three for us on our premises and gets around £400.He is always busy and picks and chooses who he works for.