trade vet

I hate to see badly run pitches where the stock is covered in frost during the day.I always found that in very bad winter weather,the punters would come out and you would do some business.

So what are you doing here if you don’t mind me asking,sounds like you don’t need a green card.When I go over there,I often see these super roadside vacant lots and wonder.The only thing is of course ,it’s about 500k for a business visa and you have to employ 2 Americans and also be profitable or you are out !

Hi Tradex Enfield,what a place that was,full of Del Boys and the rest !We had to stop buying there because our transport company got ticketed outside the back gate loading our stuff and refused to go back.A while before that and before we had a buyer there,I went there a few times.The last time I went,I got a train from Stansted which was OK.However,after the sale I got the same train into London,never again.A few stations down,all these kids get on ( big kids ,mostly white ‘ ish ‘ but speaking / or shouting in West Indian Patwah English .I was very uncomfortable to say the least .Every time the train stopped,more got on.However,we get to Seven Sisters ( I think) and everyone gets off and I have to stand in a queue to be searched by the Police with sniffer dogs.Apparently this was not unusual and this must have been in about 2000 ! ....Isn’t on line buying wonderful......

Did you have a pitch or ‘lot’ out there,you appear well informed.

Hi Avon Valley 100% record,you must be good.Would it be possible for you to recount one or two of these victories.

Stories,stories........I said you could not nick any at the old Chelmsford,but I forgot,we did on one occasion and this is what happened.These were the days of fax back catalogues,you would make about 30-40 low bid selections and hope your buyer might get one or two.We used have about 4 buyers at different regional auctions most days.Every day you would nick something from somewhere.On this day,the sale has just started and our guy rings to say he has already got 3 and the big lads weren’t there and stuff is for ‘nowt’.So we just tell him ‘fill your boots’,use your own discretion.Half an hour later,he has got a dozen,then we hear nothing from him and his phone is switched off.I am thinking he must not want to be distracted etc.In the afternoon,I still cannot get him,so I ring the auction and ask how many we have bought and have you seen our guy ( who is a well known local ) at Chelmsford.They say,have you not heard ,he passed out during the auction,so we have taken him home. What happened was,when the big lads arrived late,there may have been traffic problems ,I don’t know,but they probably heard that our guy had bought quite a few.All our guy could remember was that the big guys gofer who used to bring out trays of tea,gave him a cup of tea which must have knocked him out.We never found out what was in the tea,but we had our suspicions,however the Essex boys thought it was hilarious !

We used to do Chelmsford back in the day when we had a bigger operation.We only stopped because we could not get the stuff lifted quick enough for them as they were short of space.I don’t think that applies now.If it is half as good as it was 10 years ago,its worth a try.They had very good vendors then,a lot of high spec ex PLC Direct stuff ,you could not nick anything though because all the big boys were there.I recall,they were straightforward and generally good to deal with.

Excuse me,one of your neighbours operates a business repairing and selling accident damaged performance cars from his front garden and keeps a low profile ! Unbelievable, what would Margot and Gerrie do about that !

What a good swapper !

I see,currently higher rate in Scotland appears to start at £43k rather than £45k.I think that is a good deal considering the subsidies Scots can get .I am thinking free university tuition and free nursing home care etc.there may be others....no offence !

Higher rate tax payers are worse off in Scotland ? Would you mind explaining that please .

Hi Tradex I don’t think we are talking about the same people.I am referring to what is now called Car Giant,which I believe may be the biggest car pitch in the world.

I think BHM ticks all the boxes to be employed by the BBC with regard to their ‘diversity and inclusion’ initiative.If he could be a new presenter on struggling ‘Top Gear’ ,the ratings could soar !

Cloud based software,what a good idea.We can get some of our cloud based punters to use it.

So ‘lost interest due to other business interests’ was a load of bollocks after all.

They have buyers who attend auctions all over the country.I would imagine they now employ on line buying specialists.Then you have Greenhouse for the nearly new stuff and I would imagine Motorpoint have deals with big leasing companies where they buy brand new stuff at hefty discounts.The supermarkets are under big pressure to buy stock,they usually have huge stocking loans to service,so that is why when you attend auctions ,stuff you want can bring £1000 over your own valuation.I remember driving through the night in snow storms to get to Nottingham one Friday thinking the M1 would be blocked and the Great Trade Centre guy would not be there,he was of course,I think he bought the first 80 ex lease cars !

He’s a Saab punter,don’t hold your breath...

The last time I was defending a small claims case,I proved the claimant had been adding chip fat to his diesel,so I explained to the judge that was why I did not want to pay for new injectors.We were sent out for half an hour,then the judge returned and disagreed !,I don’t think he understood. During the wait,our customer said he thought he had lost the case. I had a better example of car dealer discrimination early this year.I got a Police notice of intended prosecution for speeding approaching roadworks in my company car.I had complained that it made no sense as there was no reduced speed limit signs in place.Several months later,the company was then summonsed to appear at the magistrates not for speeding but for the offence of not correctly completing the Notice of Intended Prosecution .I looked at my copy and it looked perfectly OK to me,so I just went along to court on my own ( wrong move).On the form it had asked for the full name and addresses of the directors of the company.So I had stated my full name and home address together with the words ‘and my wife ‘who I described as co director stating only her first name followed by the words ‘the same address’.I pleaded not guilty on behalf of the company.We were found guilty because I had not fully stated my wife’s surname and home address. So I will leave it to you guys to hazard a guess how much we were fined for this clerical error and when I provide the answer you can decide if car dealer discrimination was involved.

‘Lost interest due to other business interests’,I am very suspicious,be careful,they could belong to a third party.Things are often not what they seem in this job.Providing I could see the purchase invoices for each one,just bid on all of them and if the guy is genuine,you should get them at the right price.

You can cover yourself as much as you like,but if you get to a small claims court,the bottom line is,judges don’t like car dealers .

They are expecting to get £100m for their California dealerships and return money to shareholders.I think they may have 8 dealerships out there.How much would you get for 8 dealerships here,you would probably have to pay to get rid of one or two.Vertu have 120 and have a market valuation of £180m !Good news for shareholders.

That is good advice.Another alternative,if you see a pitch you really want which may not appear to be available,just make an approach and offer a lump sum key money.It can work,I have done that before,you also might be able to get a sub lease so the current operator who might be ‘getting on a bit ‘gets a lump sum and a future income.

You need a credit licence first.You will then need about 20 £5000 to £9000 stuff.You will need to have a presentable pitch and unless things have changed,be able to provide 2 years annual accounts.I am referring to the top line prime finance providers not these fringe subprime outfits that tend to come and go.I would say steer clear of offering sub prime finance,it is too much aggrevation.Finance commission is a big help towards your VAT bill,it is just a shame for new starters that commission rates are now way below how it used to be.

I would say,just stick with what you are doing.Every pitch is different,I have had quite a few.You are unlikely to replicate your success especially in a lesser populated catchment area.I made this mistake,sold the lease on a good pitch and moved to what I thought was a better out of town site.There will be plenty of people with bigger pitches near you who would like to be in your position.

He’s not coming back,he’s just a Suburu pervert.....