trade vet

That’s interesting,in the north east you can’t get good roadside pitches any more.What area are you in and what rents and rates do they charge for these vacant pitches you mention out of interest.

Ditto,I would often take an old swapper home from the pitch if it had fuel in it.When I was doing long haul late night and early morning runs to the block,I would often use big ex police patrol cars which were chipped to hell.It is only now I have a nice car and it is a cast off from my wife.

Can you imagine describing ‘a real mans car’ in your advert today.The PC Police would be on to you.........Don’t go to LA,you would be appalled,16 year old girls in new Bentleys and up spec Range Rovers,they have to get them valet parked,you have got to laugh !

We established a network of small neighbourhood garage workshops that we could rely on for customers living outside our area who had a warranty claim.I recall,the way we did that,we just rang local taxi offices in that area to find out who maintained their drivers cars.You could quickly establish who was sensible and went with them.You might get someone ring from 150 miles away about an EML that the dealer had quoted £80 just to look at it.They are usually impressed when you tell them to take it somewhere near to them and it would cost them nothing.

I agree,you cannot beat a well positioned main road pitch,60% etc that is excellent.They are hard to get and can be expensive but they are cost effective,I know a lot don’t agree. I knew a guy who only sold high spec Audi Avants,all mileage’s ,it worked.They are plentiful to buy at the block.

Extras for ‘top of the range’ stuff......screen washers,quarter lights,overiders......sun visors....chrome hub caps....I was there..!

You have got to remember the old guy’s first car would not have a heater,he was probably marvelling at the technology.!

I am guessing.Citroen out of WOMA !

That’s interesting.If decommissioned white ex patrol cars with most of the dashboard missing were doing over CAP,now that is a first. However,civilian spec stuff,especially from Thames Valley Force ( which is possible) have always done a fortune.

Ditto.....We had a punter who had an engineering factory in Essex.I said,it must be a nightmare getting staff down there.He said,no I only employ Polish workers.Also,they come over here and when you chat to them,they often have degrees but they don’t mind stacking shelves in Tesco or working in Poundshop until something better turns up.Different mentality to the kids here who may have a travel and tourism degree and expect to be offered a management job in Thomas Cook

This is a recurring topic.Don’t let these people wind you up,they don’t have any money,they are probably chucky duffers aswell. You should have stock answers for these guys to make them go away.I realise they are more prevalent now,I used to say things like - Come back in 9 months,if it is still here you can have it........We must have a p/x with this sale,what have you got......Thank you,I will accept the balance by post dated cheque,just give me your details now and I will check your credit status.......can you get me half a dozen at that price and I will pay you 2 grand etc etc

I don’t think so.I am trying to get a ‘car buying pitch’ going,so yesterday we placed a job offer for experienced car sales guys to be ‘car traders’.The ad is quite specific,but we are getting Pizza delivery guys,window cleaners etc applying !

Good point,I have just read something from some Glasses top guy Jason Whitingham,according to him,prices were’ subdued ‘in January ! and now are picking up Who employs these guys ?

From a private punter........you may have committed theft !

I am from up north,but I have experience of trading in your area.Firstly,I don’t think people drive far because of the heavy traffic.We found they prefer automatics and will pay big money for them ( see AMC near you) which looks like an established and successfull business.If it’s low mileage ,one owner with history and £3000 to £5000 range and petrol,I would imagine you could both pay and command top money for them.When we were in East Dulwich on a main road pitch,it took us 2 years to find this out after trying everything else.I would try that next,but I would emphasise there are no guarantees in this job.

Hi EPV Your website looks OK to me,you just have to find out what makes the phone ring where you are. You have done 3 so far,in order to try and help,what were they,price,description and mileage.

Selling warranties either your own or someone else’s can hamper the sales process.I have found that people who pay for warranties often return and make claims which are not covered and it creates bad feeling.However,when you throw in your own warranty,not only is it far cheaper in the long run,but you are in control and can react quickly to claims.You find that with a lot of claims ,your punter will be happy to pay for a proportion of the work. As for not offering warranties,if you have a Credit Licence and want to do prime finance,if you don’t offer warranties or payment card facilities,I doubt any of the ‘big boys’ would offer you a rates and terms contract.

Businesses lease cars,PCP’s are for personal use.If the business is a company and it leases a car,it will attract company car tax and fuel benefit tax.Alternatively with a PCP contract,if it was being used occasionally for the business ( which although it may not be allowed in the contract)you could charge the company 45p per mile mileage allowance saving company car and fuel benefit tax.If they do a lot of miles,I would say just buy a car personally on HP and charge the company mileage allowance and you can make money on the deal and not pay tax on the surplus..............This is just my view,I may be wrong.

Hi Grant Been doing it for years,it definateley works,especially if you are doing at least 10 per week.Set up a separate account and put £100 per sale and it quickly mounts up and claims won’t give you a headache.If you have your own workshop,it even works better. We just lifted the T and C’s from other warranty books and added a few of our own.Basic booklets don’t cost much.However,unless things have changed,you can’t have them printed up as warranty books,warranties have to be underwritten by an insurance company.You can call them ‘mechanical breakdown agreements’ or something and you should be OK.

OK.......might be a long wait for another S3 !

No ,I don’t think so,I am with them,it’s a bit like those Sierra Cosworths years ago,great sellers but the punters were horrible.Suburu Impreza’s were the same.

Our guys could have bought a nice enough 57 av.miles ,fsh S3 at the door last week for right money.They don’t like S3 retail punters so they ‘passed ‘on it.The guy sold it to WBAC for £6800.....It was entered in UKCG Select in NCLE today and did £8600 online.So with the fees.BCA have just grossed over £2000 on one car......nice one !

100%...agree. We do our own warranty ( breakdown agreement ),we must have saved a fortune over the years.Another benefit is,our guys get repeat punters week in week out.

AD,I haven’t been to Colchester for years,we used to get some good stuff there.They had this brilliant auctioneer,I have never seen so many ‘quick knocks’......Have you tried WOMA,no quick knocks but a lot of your stuff.

That is amazing,I can honestly say that is the best endorsement I have heard about Washington in 20 years ! Yes,I agree,cheap hammer down prices,but by the time you have done the paintwork etc..... Being a northern trader,.I used to buy there 4 days a week ,every week.However,for the past 20 years,we have bought ‘daan saaf’. ....Everyone to their own I suppose !