trade vet

Unless things have changed,I can think of a lot better sales than Enfield on a Tuesday

It’s always been ‘horses for courses’find your niche and run with it.Going back,I have sold stuff that most of the trade would steer clear from like Ladas and Rover 800s and currently late big diesels are great value and the punters know that.However I am sure it is different elsewhere.

I must be in the minority,I think since last Autumn stock has been both as cheap and plenty full as I can remember.I think too many rely on these valuation guides which most of the time are way out.If you cannot get the right stock in your locality,you have to ‘get on your bike’.Although we now favour on line buying,our guy was on the motorway at 4am last Tues.and back to the pitch for 6pm having bought a load of stock.....I remember when it was normal for traders to do that 2 or 3 times a week.

I think you have done the right thing or you might just get a load of agrovation.It appears he has not got a tame wife ( I am in that category)The number of times we have had to unwind deals because the punter has bought the wrong car,although they never admit to that.

We will let you off......A few weeks ago a friend of mine recently retired had wanted to show off his new car.As none of us was interested,he was then having to apologise for buying ( not renting ) this new Porsche.His mitigating circumstances were that having mainly used public transport and worked in the same office for 40 years doing boring litigation stuff he had built up a good pension so with his tax free lump sum and he had bought his dream car....His explanation fell on stony ground.

Hi Andy....So CarDealer mag CEO has a Porsche ( I hope you don’t watch Top Gear aswell )......very sad.

Congratulations,if you are knocking them out.I have to tell you,it will not last and there will be disasters waiting to happen and not far away.You will probably be back on here shortly with a different story........I am sorry to say,it is the nature of the trade.

Brilliant !

I have just read this press release....Cox Automotive analisys ( no doubt detailed and extensive) by their head of external relations ( as in Manheim and IMDA) has uncovered important information that we need to know.Dealer diesel stock is down 7% on the corresponding period last year.They are taking 2 more days to sell and petrol cars are taking 4 more days to sell....Also.alternatively fuelled vehicles ( I think that means Hybrid or electric) are also struggling.....Why not just say it has been quiet because of distractions like bank holidays,school half term holidays,a royal wedding,hot weather and the World Cup.....I think most of us could have come up with that for free !

I agree with that.......Last week I park up at the golf club and this guy parks next to me in a Dog/C red old 98 Merc SL with the top down.I just say ‘nice one’ and I then get the full lowdown,basically expensive full shoot,new hood specially made in Krautland,wheels and leather refurbed,100k ish etc etc...He must have thought I was an enthusiast.He then says to me.....what about yours.I explain it is a ‘hand me down’,my wife’s old car silver 98 SL,we bought it 20 years ago,the roof has never been down,46k,virtually original,cracklemobile radio,heavy on fuel,not much use really......not what he wanted to hear !

I wish Fulham would hurry up and buy him ....( I am from Newcastle )

I remember when all these flash dealers were worried,the trade would never be the same again,what with clocking being outlawed and now VAT.....it was early 1973 !

Do you think we could tell them what went on.....they would not believe us.

Started washing cars on an open pitch age 15,in a street where there were a dozen more open pitches.They had to be done by 10,I had to paint the black back on the tin no plates.No window stickers,I used to price them up with descriptions writing backwards in whitewash on the inside of the w/screens.Then I would be taking off wheels,rubbing down the rims and hand painting them alliminium/ silver .The people I worked with were horrible.You were working outside all day in all weathers in a rough part of town.I was educated ‘on the street’,by the time I was 20,I was buying,selling,valeting by day and doorstepping at night.

Hi Marc I think you will be OK at this job.I would say cultivate your NHS contact,that could be valuable.Keep it to yourself and try and buy anything they offer you.What you don’t want for yourself you can trade or auction ( but not in your area or you will lose your contact).You can always describe stuff to the guys on here......Good Luck

‘Romanian Chap’,where we come from that might be described as a ‘oxymoron’. Must be the South North divide. Wheel arch mouldings,coach line and trim rings . No vinyl roof !

It’s always a good feeling when a swapper turns out far better than you thought especially when it was described as not the best by your sales guy.You go to move it and before you start it you know by the signals that it is OK because as you switch it on the radio is on Radio 4 and sure enough it is half full.You have already decided to retail it before you have fired it up.....I also like it when you have something desirable and you demand that any buyer must have a lump on chucky and a good swapper in ‘right’.

Can you imagine the ‘headbanger’ who will buy that ?

Good news is that Alfa’s are good sellers,the bad news is they have great ‘bounceback’ ability probably because they are ‘shite’ and the type of punters they attract......Good Luck

Hi Marc Welcome,....However,to prevent another Benjithon could you provide the guys with some basic info to get the picture.Which area do you operate from,are you a home trader (doorstepper),how many have you sold this year,how much are you investing,what was your previous occupation,where do you intend to source your stock and what do you prefer to sell etc

I would be suspicious.1500 miles,3 months and talk of taxi’s etc,check the name and address on the doc is the same on your invoice.Check with the local authorities near where they live to see if it has been regd as a taxi.....keep us informed !

Consumer debt.....I have just had a deal explained to me where a punter was refinanced having had several thousand pounds negative equity on a small car which they had bought new.....My wife also tells me people may run their life through their mobile phones.Typically they may order a ‘must have’new frock for £30 ,seen on some celebrity on social media on their £40 per month smart phone to be delivered tomorrow.They go out with friends ,spend £100 and the next day they bin the frock because they cannot wear it again because of their selfie on Instagram or something...I am sure a lot of these people earn good money,no wonder they are insolvent.....Rant over !

I have just looked at a Sterling Cars if that is the business you are referring to and my first impression is they appear to be ‘shysters’.Why would anyone would want to replicate them,looking at their stock ,‘source of funds’ comes to mind and I am not referring to dealer stocking loans.

We have been throwing in our own warranties for 20 years.Not only does it save you money in the short term it has been an outstanding long term investment for us as it definateley generates repeat business.If you have your own workshop,we found it works even better with the increase in service work.The thought of shelling out to warranty companies gives me a headache,although I have to say, if I was a doorstepper doing 2 or 3 per week,I would probably be outsourcing warranties.

It is tough going and it’s not only our job,look at what’s happening in the high street.Consumer debt is through the roof,a lot of people are maxed out because they don’t understand debt......We have been here before,people always need cars.I always found when it got bad,no trade,cheques bouncing ( including your own) solicitors letters,engines blowing,etc and you think it could not get any worse and it often did.You just have to hang in and then you get a break and things pick up and it’s back to normal. Too many people on here let the punters get them down.