trade vet

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content Count

    4699

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    106

Posts posted by trade vet

  2. Posted

    2 hours ago, Willoughby said:

    Now spoken with Mech at Merc, seems the device was soldered onto the EZS and then wrapped in black tape - real botch - problem remains that neither he or Merc Tech dept think their is any way to establish either the real mileage or find when it was fitted, without that think its going to be an uphill struggle with Merc and BCA particularly as it was bought years ago - not yet given up though.....More you look into it on the Net there's a shedload of people out their making a full time living at doing it... With quite a few happy to show all the top end cars they're doing - it really is an eye opener. And with the move towards online auctions with no viewing - chances of spotting a wrong'en are diminishing further.....will keep you informed..  

     

     

     

    Can you prove how many miles your wife usually does.For example my wife averages about 3k, year in year out so there would be no advantage applying a ‘haircut’.Can you not find out from Merc Dealer who leased the car from new,it could have been an airport taxi.Plenty of them go through Blackbushe for instance.You have to contact BCA for an explanation and show them the Merc report.The buyers fees indemnify you with mileage discrepancies and taxi use so don’t give up.

  3. Posted

    When online buying was introduced I tried to argue with BCA that excessive odours should be part of the description.As I recall they would not correspond about it and I got the usual ‘ thank you for your feedback ‘ reply.No matter what you do,even replacing the trim,but bad smells always come back.You have to find the best punter,like a farmer.

  5. Posted

    Have you got the original service history.Alternatively pay a fee to a Merc dealer to track the mileage.If you can prove that the mileage was tampered with before you purchased it,I would insist on taking the car back for the purchase price and supplying a newer similar one free of charge.You can then notify BCA to get their response.
    We had a similar situation with BCA about 10 years ago but with a far cheaper car and were awarded a lot of damages in the Small Claims Court.
    You don’t want your punter talking to Trading Standards because they might prosecute you

  7. Posted

    20 minutes ago, MarkTVS said:

    My latest px gold enquiry is this: 2010 Renault traffic minibus with rear seats removed to make it a van, no service history, ex Heathrow taxi with a mere 400k miles but he promises he has just spent £1500 on it this year. Wonder how much he thinks it’s worth<_<

    It might be OK and maybe not a taxi.We have a punter who buys the same basic estate with about 100k and brings it back 2 years later with about 350k and keeps it really clean ? He is not local to us and we don’t ask any questions although we do wonder.

  8. Posted

    9 minutes ago, Rory RSC said:

    Sit around moaning about it or get on with it. It is what it is and nothing anyone can do. Just another miserable, doom and gloom post. In fact every single thread or posting you find yourself inclined to comment upon on this forum seems to have a negative spin on it. Its incredibly fucking boring and if you can't see it doesn't really do the car dealer forum community any good then you truly are deluded.   Very boring, very dull and ruining what used to be quite a valuable resource.

    Ha Ha,I am not biting Rory,go and sort out your black alloys as Nick thinks they are shite ( podcast )

  9. Posted

    4 hours ago, Rory RSC said:

    You are a bitter old bastard. 

    I might be old but I am not bitter and I am not a bastard.If you had a long established business with a lot of footfall and you were forced to close up and furlough staff for 3 months you might be of the same opinion.What makes it worse is that there has been repeat customers bringing in stuff to repair and sort out that they have bought from doorsteppers during lockdown because our guys were closed.

  10. Posted

    40 minutes ago, Beautiful South Martin said:

    Thanks for all your replies. Ive decided to take it on, good point from grant8064. The landlord has said if it doesn't work out a months notice is all he needs.

    The plan is to put 15 cars on with a silent salesman in the window with a note saying due to covid viewing by appointment only etc. Also I might split my day between the 2 mornings in one afternoons in the other. I was thinking about taking on a full time valeter on in the spring, all sub contracted atm, so at least someone on site to open doors for people if needed and take details/make appointments. Its too good an opportunity to be missed. Have to get me old books out on time management from my main dealer days!!

    Your idea might work in California but not Consett.14 miles from us and it is a Polar climate up there.I think the idea is rediculous.Why not call it Base Camp 2.They are plenty of good punters up there so why not do it properly.You need a full timer to watch the pitch and keep them clean,fed and watered and off the button at all times.You will need a full time valeter /gofer aswell to work between the 2..So your overheads will probably increase by 2 grand per week but it will work if you can replace the stock and fix them at a reasonable cost....Good luck

  11. Posted

    7 hours ago, have a word with the wife said:

    Just catching up on the magazines piece on can we open in the title tier 1 2 3 ?

    Well sorry James batchelor it is not "business as usual, carry on as normal" !

    Tier 3 is avoid travel unless its for work, education or care. People not in tier 3 should avoid travelling into tier 3 !

    You guessed ! I am in tier 3 !

    Lockdown none essential retail now all in tier 3 !:unsure:

     

    Maybe he was referring to the doorsteppers.They appeared to profit when flouting the rules last lock down when my old pitch was forced to close for 3 months ! 

  12. Posted

    24 minutes ago, sparky said:

    The one car that has given me more bang for my buck was the Espace, think I did just short of a double century before they fell off the cliff to be replaced by the 'Grands'. The only car I'd travel for, the only car I never got outbid on (until the last year or so when a guy in Kent started buying them all  presumably for export to France )and the only 7 seater you could sell that you knew would never come back for anything major. Just a very well made and thoughtful car. Still see the odd one going through with ridiculously low guide prices that are usually smashed. 

    As for the OP,  you will need a new virgin key and of course programming.

    I knew there would be someone who did well with them.There is good profit in unfashionable or problem stuff if you are prepared to take your medicine on the bad ones.It was the same I think with the early Lagunas,I know a retailer who bought loads of them at the block as they were for nothing because the trade hated them.He would reblock the bad ones.

  13. Posted

    46 minutes ago, Paul Falcon Cars said:

    Hi All

    Can anyone help in how to programme key card to car or have any suggestions, locks okay but won't unlock on both keys. 

    Good luck with that.Espace’s are not that old but they must be virtually extinct by now,that’s how good they were.My experience with them was that they were a nightmare and the punters for them were just as bad.Did anyone make any money on them ?

  16. Posted

    55 minutes ago, Frank Cannon said:

    A few radio ads about the benefits of using a debit card including charge backs.....appealing to the person who doesn't line the card companies pocket......just drives away the business es to sign up.... who are these idiots whom come up with these bright ideas, you couldn't make it up. 

    Could it be the director of brand awareness.To quote CJ the Sunshine Deserts MD  ( Fall and rise of Reggie Perrin ) ‘I did not get where I am today without knowing a brand awareness director when I see one ‘.

    • Like 1

  19. Posted

    1 hour ago, Frank Cannon said:

    Got off the dog to a mate of mine has an ongoing drama at Bedford (?) BCA.

    .... when collecting a 16 plate Focus with low miles.....with the not so rare air cooled engine, 7k car broken engine.....computer says no attitude from the staff to the point where he is going legal now......he isn't the sort to piss about, broke a tooth on a sandwich from ADSA and went all the way wheb they shrugged it off, it's sport for him. 

    Ironically he has a stocking loan thru BCA, or at least I think he has still....not sure how this is going to go.....fucked and blatantly misrepresentated BCA car, bought by BCA:D

     

    .... yes I know its not that simple

    Additional claim for interest incurred from a BCA stocking loan,I like that.    
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Just looked up The National Association of Motor Auctions who I had forgotten about whose chairperson now appears to be Stuart Pearson of BCA Ex Bedford and Derby and from memory and a very nice guy.Another guy on the committee is Chris Beckett of East Anglia M/A who I have never met who would submit commission bids for me long ago and is also a very nice guy.Interestingly you will see they have a Code of Practice and a Customer Charter and a Conciliation Service for dealing with disputes.

    All these horror stories of late appear to be in breach of regulations they have signed up to.I would say all good ammunition when claiming.

    • Like 1

  20. Posted

    AT pay per click ? I would like to read the small print in that contract.Someone I know has just leased offices to an IT company staffed by young people who specialise in setting up Pay Per Click and I think they t/o £60m.Also,there is a no fault accident claims company where we are and because they are very successfull it was reported they were now being charged over £30 per click.
    Maybe someone can explain as I have no idea.

  21. Posted

    2 minutes ago, petrol head said:

    -CDJ

    - American built Ford, we have had a few Explorers (outside of the UK) which is on the face of it a great car, but the build quality is awful

    - I'm sure the GLE is pretty good now, but the 1st & 2nd generation M Class was a horror show 

    @Frank Cannon does this answer your question?

    Ha Ha I doubt it.What about Honda,Toyota,Volvo,BMW,VW,Nissan and many more.Those F series trucks aren’t much good either !!!

    • Thanks 1

  22. Posted

    That’s a good one,prepare for the runaround.Which vendor section was it in as some have non runner sections.I would be taking photos of where it stands now.I would then get the BCA guy to confirm by email that it was sold as seen.Later on you could request a copy of the online description and photos from the catalogue and ask to hear the recording.They probably won’t help but you will have proof that you asked.Keep us informed and don’t give in.

    • Like 1

  23. Posted

    13 minutes ago, Frank Cannon said:

    Mate of mine has a 5 series bought new from Beemer Tring.....yes they sold him a monkeys worth of paint protection.....got a huge bird burn in the roof.....turns out the all singing ceramic/high tech/hard as nails doesn't cover anything that marks the paint.....like bird shite.....go figure. 

     

    ....it's hard enough to get customers to stump up for something useful like a decent warranty, can't see the paint being any easier. 

    Gap insurance always worth it but again many won't take it....go figure? 

    I agree,but when punters buy from main dealers and car supermarkets they usually take the add ons.Just look at Big Motoring World‘s trading accounts, if they didn’t charge for stuff like admin,warranties and polish,the business might not be viable.

  24. Posted

    Out of interest,when we had a 25 car open pitch all the stock was washed and leathered off before 10 each day by one guy.We then had a part timer come in mid day for three hours and he would Auto Glym the stock.There was so much polish on them that the rain would just run off and it made it so much quicker to wash them off.Auto Glym was expensive and from the US ( so was Wynn’s oil additive ) but the stock looked great and it saved us from employing another full timer. 

  25. Posted

    2 hours ago, OneCarefulOwner said:

    agree with that I'm a buyer for the company and prices are high, limited options on protocol for buying. 

    We sold 174 cars last month and same the month before, then my argument is we are selling cars for £600 more than I can buy them at current prices. pray for PX's :-) 

    174 That is more than Nick. ! Hope you are going to repay any furlough or BBL money you have had.