trade vet

You did well.The last case I had,I was able to prove that the punter was claiming for something different that had caused his Passat diesel to breakdown.His repairer had also colluded by issuing a false invoice for the work.I was able to establish through the parts supplier what had actually been purchased,which were new injectors.( He was probably mixing chip fat in the diesel ).The judge had no idea,he said clearly the car had broken down and we were liable.I think it was for £2700 !

OK

I would like to know the details of the case, there is no hurry.I have found that the judges or recorders ( they are not Magistrates) in the small claims court are deliberately awkward with us guys.Yet I have won cases personally against architects and a builder when car dealer was never mentioned.I am not including our BCA /leaseplan case as that was a walkover.

This is going on and on.The bottom line is it is asking for trouble retailing older heavy stuff.If you end up in the small claims court the chances are you will lose with whatever defence you may have.With old stuff,stick to bread and butter stock,less agro and better punters. Incidently has anyone on here successfully defended a case brought against them in the small claims court by a punter.

OD..You would struggle to get a bid on an 04 up north.Where do you get them you ask.How many do you want.Metpol are flogging off plenty at WOMA.62 plate unmarked full spec ex top brass 80 to 100k fsh ( cracking cars ) about £7500.63 plate ex patrol cars fsh needing paintwork I think are £5500.Brightwells do them also.

Motorway commuting in a banger.He must have done some miles.

Oh dear !

Excuse me OD but you say the punter ONLY paid £2800 for a 14 year old 5 series.Is that not a bit salty,it’s now worth £1000 on a good day in most places.That could have something to do with it,you live by the sword etc etc.....Sorry not much help.

John Delorean,what a guy he was,worth reading his bio.Anyway,being a pre 1975 Trader.... there are some instances even now where window display stickers work well.If you have a roadside pitch with e.g. a 20 car frontage,there can be ‘artistic merit ‘ in the way you display and ‘ sticker up’ your stock.Stock must always be clean,colour coordinated and be neatly priced up using visible window stickers including big ‘sold’ stickers. ....Sorry guys !

Your post was very good BD.Is that the praise you want.You are more likely to get criticised on here,it is all part of the banter.I don’t know where you operate,but Andy operates in Durham and the rules are different up here.If there are no bailiffs involved and he goes in,he is not going to Durham jail.It wil be a small paintshop not Harrods....there will be others on here who have had similar experiences with backstreet paintshops,landlords,leases and bailiffs etc..IMO The last thing you do is employ a solicitor.

Magistrates...Have you seen some of these Magistrates lately ,they are like cardboard cut outs.

The police will not be interested,too much paperwork involved for a non crime.I do sympathise Andy because most of us have had bad experiences with ‘dodgy painters’.That could be a new topic.

That’s good.

Is the paintshop a proper business.Will your painter have a proper tenancy agreement,it is doubtful.He may have been paying his rent in cash,ask the painter.If that is the case,email the landlord and inform him you are going to break in and collect your stock.Also that you are going to inform your friend at HMRC that he has been receiving £150 per week ‘cash in hand’ rent for years.That may get a response from the landlord.

That’s similar to what I had except mine had a wider plastic chrome edge.

In the US,plates are in frames with names,logos and stuff engraved on the chrome surrounds.I think they look good and lift the look of the car.So because our plates are larger,I sent off to China and got some samples made up.Got them back,was impressed and showed our guys......they thought they were crap.......yet another idea fallen on stoney ground.

At some stage,you will probably have a pitch and have all the promotional stuff !

Plates are important,Elite Performance Vehicles would look good on a plate especially to punters who are concerned that their neighbours will know where they purchased their car. In the 90’s ,we sold ex Police patrol cars which were repainted and looked mint.We used to put main dealer plates on them because punters would lie to friends and neighbours.

£2995...must have been 6 months old,we sold a lot of Wedges,crap car but the punters loved them.( Those who didn’t go anywhere ) Your punter must have wanted it for regular use !

I hope it’s not a WAV,you cannot chip £2000 on a WAV In 2 months,not British.

Not quite.Funnily enough a few years ago I was sent a photo taken from the ‘All our yesterday’s column’ of a local rag.It was me serving Cleveland petrol at about 3s 6p per gallon in ‘67.I often did an hour on the pumps then.I was 17 and had been selling cars for 2 years.I will try and find it.

Was at BCA Newcastle today,I had to laugh.One of the old guys who buys and breaks lots of cheapies was complaining.While he initially excepted the exorbitant buyers fees of £84 on a £100 car,he could not accept they would no longer give him a paper invoice.He was requesting dispensation because of both his age and lack of e commerce knowledge and equipment.He was also requesting a breakdown of the 84% buyers fee.He was declined saying that they no longer print out invoices.What made it worse was that they then printed out a pass out sheet for him. My suggested remedy was that they email his invoice to someone he knew who could print it.Then he could invoice back BCA for his time trouble.

I think most Trading Standards inspectors are reasonable people.We just had one who over many years would pick fault on minor stuff.However,they did wrongly prosecute us for a cheapie we sold at ADT ( BCA) which was bought by a private punter ( who was actually a Trader).Our solicitor managed to keep the case going all day at the Magistrates until it was thrown out.It must have cost the council a few quid,so maybe that is why this guy would bother us. When I was a kid working at a petrol station there was this Trading Standards Officer who was a top .’jobs worth’.He would take ages checking the air pressure in the ‘free air line’,he was a bit like McKay in Porridge.

Surely you just email a copy of your trade ins policy,quote your vat number and website details.I seem to recall at first they did not accept our company ins policy because my name is not mentioned on it.It was quickly resolved.

Good point.......I will do that.