Arfur Dealy

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Posts posted by Arfur Dealy

  1. Posted

    8 hours ago, sellect2 said:

    Firstly let me apologise for the length of this post!

    The post is aimed at those who use or intend to use the new eBay motors package, and who care about how their adverts look!

    Ebay  (now with Gumtree) are my only advertising platforms. I stock on average 10 cars and sell 13 per month on average. (Not this month!!!!!).

    Here is a note of my issues with the new advertising platform, which appears to have been poorly though through.

    (This is an extract from the letter I have just sent to eBay).

     

    1.      As an advertiser it is important, I know where my leads come from. Leads from this platform are not distinguished between. So, I am paying extra for, let’s say, Motors, but I won’t know if I get any enquiries from them! (I sent myself an enquiry from Motors).

    2.      Watchers on eBay are an excellent indicator, of desirability, and advert quality. I now have no access to this information. I use watcher information to make decisions on price, and to amend my adverts. 

    3.      On Motors, there are icons at the bottom of the main advert picture. One of these relates to HPI. I have an advert where this icon says “HPI warning”. This will put potential customers off, as they will assume the car is CAT d or alike. In fact, in this case the car has merely had a plate change. “HPI advisory” would perhaps be better wording for things like plate changes, and HPI warning for CAT d etc??

    4.      On Motors, specification for the vehicle appears to self-populate. Is it possible to alter or add to this section? For example, I have a Honda civic type R with 19” wheels, my advert says 18” wheels. It appears from the advert that I don’t know my job, and this will put buyers off, particularly those who buy this type of car. Also, the car has Sat Nav which is an optional extra-can I add this?

    5.      On Motors, some dealers have added information about themselves, this displays on the description section below the line that says, “read the motors.co.uk review about this car”. Can I add this, and how will it appear on Gumtree and eBay?

    6.      My adverts say, “visit dealer website”, I don’t have a website, can it be removed, or can it link to my eBay showroom?

    7.      When creating titles and subtitles (attention grabbers), the text is not limited, making it very difficult to judge the sentence size. This was previously limited on Motorspro, making it very easy to create attention grabbers. (These are an essential part of a good advert).

    I have added a car today13/02/2020, to try and determine where the information displays on each platform. Once created I then added a few lines of specification.

    1.      When I added the additional specification, it displays twice on both eBay and Gumtree adverts-duplicating all specification. (YC61PLX-BMW 118d M SPORT).(search BMW 1 series £10000-£10000, there are no photos, and that's not the price!!!!, its just a test).

    2.      On eBay the description box populates with specification. This box is better used (in my opinion) for Reasons to Buy this car, e.g.  One owner, service history, £30 tax, condition, etc plus, reasons to buy from Me, HPI clear, test drives, debit card payment etc, plus information about my business-how long I’ve trading etc.

    3.      On eBay, the Description box, which I feel should be used as above, becomes a jumbled mess and one very long paragraph, which customers will not read! (see link below).

    Furthermore, I have noticed the following points

    1.      The invoice does not work correctly on the new system. It automatically deducts VAT from the sale, while this is correct for a vat qualifying car, it is not correct for a margin car. I can’t see where to denote this.

    This is my only shop window and it really has to be right; I feel the advert should be roughly as follows

     

    1.      Basic Description of the car (e.g. 2009 Honda Civic Type R GT,….) with attention grabber

    2.      Secondary attention grabber

    3.      Photos

    4.      Basic specification and info on the car-spec listed clearly, with space to make the text inviting and easy to read

    5.      Reasons to buy-e.g. One owner, service history etc

    6.      What we offer- e.g. HPI clear, test drives available, debit

    cards etc

    7.      Business info e.g. been established 35 years, buy from main dealer etc

    It is impossible to split 5,6,7 on the new platform so that they are easily read and are distinctive points. Furthermore, to get specification onto the advert, this would add to the description text (duplicated) and make the description a jumble of too much information- presented in one paragraph.

    ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

    This for me is a major issue-the text presents as one paragraph, including spec and anything else you want to put in. It is not possible to space the text to make presentable and something customers would read.

    I have spoken to the eBay team in some length about these issues, they are listening but nothing has happened yet.

    I have asked to revert back to the old platform while they sort (and even pay the new price)-they flatly refuse and say "you are in a contract" and we will enforce it!

    The reason for the post- to help you guys before you change over, so you know what you will get, and , hopefully, to gain support in my plight for those who have already switched and are not aware of these issues, Or to get help to overcome the issues, if any of you have found a way to present the adverts well.

     

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2009-Honda-Civic-2-0-i-VTEC-Type-R-GT-100000-MILES-SAT-NAV-FULL-SERVICE-HISTORY/153828023650?hash=item23d0dd5d62:g:oPgAAOSwZexeRCLk

     

    If you are averaging 13 from 10, that's a great result ROI with ebay, stop moaning and well done !! I would also suggest you don't use CAPS, stop SHOUTING.... Also, a lot of your photos are taken with direct sunlight behind them... 

    Rory is right, you need a website for legitimacy .... 

  2. Posted · Edited by Arfur Dealy

    I just chuck them on the passenger seat "when I remember to pick them up", only been pulled once about 15 years ago, copper was cool, he checked to make sure I was insured and that the plates were legit with DVLA, got a telling off but that was it. I think you are more likely to be pulled with them in the window.....

    Also, I once had a plate slide across the dash and nearly get stuck in my steering wheel....... be warned...

     

  3. Posted · Edited by Arfur Dealy

    11 hours ago, Mr Bob said:

    Does anyone know the name of the trader known as Lancashire car sales of Mill Eden st Blackburn. Is he the same person who runs Lancashire car sales ltd of 172 Wensley rd Blackburn ?

    Not even a "hello, I wonder if you can help, his is my situation” 

  4. Posted

    1 minute ago, SEsteve said:

    Understood, I’m hoping to get an idea of what people include in their in house warranty and what is classed as ‘wear and tear’, so I am able to be up front with the customer before purchase 

    A warranty is in addition to the customers rights. As long as your warranty states "this warranty does not effect you consumer rights" you are ok. As HAWWTW states, buy some Lawgistics booklets.

    • Like 1

  5. Posted

    5 hours ago, Becciwells91 said:

    Hoping someone can help me as Fiat have just quoted me £1600 to get these issues fixed, but I do know a great mobile mechanic who may be able to help me. 

     

    I have a 64 plate Fiat 500 Cult - coming up to 93000 miles, mileage started flashing around 2 months ago and the Blue & Me stopped working. Took it into Fiat today to see if there was anything on the computer and apparently the Blue and Me needs replacing at a cost of £480 (leave it was my response)!

    Second fault - the petrol gauge itself works perfectly fine, the range however keeps going to empty with plenty of fuel left in. I've been quoted £1100 as apparently the whole speedo needs replacing (this is the only fault on the speedo) The finance is due up November of this year and I have a baby on the way, my questions is will the car die? (as I need it for work) and if not is there any other known fixes that won't cost me a ridiculous amount of money?!

    Any help would be appreciated!

    Please introduce yourself and your business properly.... How long have you been a Motor Dealer ?

  7. Posted

    2 hours ago, Paul Falcon Cars said:

    Hi All

    Have a 2003 Skoda Fabia auto with a intermittent fault, at time if it was a manual would think clutch is slipping, very similar fault I have. 

    Can anyone advice??

    Paul. 

     

    Imagine the type of buyer looking to buy a 17 year old Skoda. 

  9. Posted

    1 hour ago, XFS said:

    I’ve decided to go with having my accountant do everything for a few months and see how it goes. Thanks for the replies.

    With "making tax digital" that's exactly what I did, found a local accountant to do everything, I just hand him my paperwork every quarter and he does the rest. It's worth every penny XFS, good luck with the new venture :)

    BTW, it was the wife who previously my accounts and she's a very happy bunny too 

  15. Posted

    9 minutes ago, Catrin said:

    Hi All

    I have been following the interesting threads here since recently joining, and I thought I would say hi to introduce myself.

    I have a chequered car history, and in the early day's lot of experience of driving 'sheds' over the years (I can laugh now!)

    Definitely, the worst was a Peugeot estate previously owned by a farmer to transport his sheep. The dented exterior complemented by the very natural smelling interior, and the sticker "Put British Pork On Your fork" which used to make our friends laugh at the vegetarian driving it.

    How could I forget my gold Metro held together by welding upon welding but driven until it died a natural death. Then came the mint green Toyota Corolla (named Trebor) although I have to admit I did actually quite like this one. However, I used to dread it when my (now husband) would say to me "I found us a new car":rolleyes:
    I have also had many experiences, as you might expect given the above, of riding with rescue vehicles. I remember vividly a very long trip home to London from Wales travelling in the cab with a newborn and a two-year-old. I really know how to have fun!

    Now I opt for safe, comfortable, and reliable.  For the last seven years, we've owned a 2008 Mercedes E220 ( it just keeps going!) to transport our three animals, sorry, I meant kids around :lol:. In fact, after one snack filled trip in the family car, the Peugeot was probably cleaner!  

    I dream of the day I will buy myself a Maserati Quattroporte, although I'm not sure if that ticks the reliable box!

    I look forward to learning from all of you experts and will help all I can to answer any questions you have on buying and selling cars using Facebook and Instagram.

    From what I have seen, in general, there does not seem to be a lot of love for Autotrader. Do you see a day where you don't have to use Autotrader?

    Hello Cathrin, are you intending on starting a business buying and selling cars? This is a car dealer forum...

  16. Posted

    14 hours ago, Mark101 said:

    Started off really well this month but gone quiet now. I am sure AT will put it down to the end of the double up freebie but I just think it is one of those things. Of course, now it's quiet I have a couple of screamers. I am well stocked and having to store a few cars in my garage at home, so my ducks are all in a row ready for another flurry of buyers.

    Slowed for me now Mark,  still a cracking month with 12 sold, couldn’t of hoped for a better start. 
     

     

  17. Posted

    If you are not mechanically minded yourself, you have to trust garages to fix the problem without screwing you.
     

    The problem is, a lot of these mechanics are useless, untrained and don’t have clew, their guess is as good as yours. When your problem isn’t straightforward and the mechanics want to play “parts darts” that’s when you need to change garages.
     

    Nothing worse than throwing thousands on a repair which doesn’t work. 

  25. Posted · Edited by Arfur Dealy

    5 hours ago, JXB said:

    Hi all,

    Have a legal related question, could do with some advice to see if we're being had over.

    We sold a Range Rover to a customer from London, during the negotiation the sales person involved noted (on email) that the car was ULEV compliant.

    5 months forward, the customer is trying to return the car for a full refund, noting 2 £12.50 charges they had received for driving in these ULEZ zones.

    Now as the owner as added mileage to the car and depreciated its value, we were wondering what our legal options are with this.

    Many thanks in advance,

    J.

    I would be checking to see if it was compliant at the time of purchase, maybe the requirements have changed ? Also, if ULEZ was a specific requirement the he equally should have shown due diligence when he said he specifically said he wanted to check for himself....  JXB, also surely after he received his first fine he should have been contacting you stating the car wasn't fit for his specific purposes, when did he get the fines? If he's been driving around for months since the first fine and has now just made his complaint...... If that's the case then he's taking the piss.

    Otherwise, as per Nik's post, its plain as day been miss-sold........ Offer him £500 to go away and see what happens.....

    4 hours ago, JXB said:

    His initial requirement read:

     

    Hi, do you have the registration number of this car so that I can check if it is ULEZ compliant in London?

    So he mentions he's going to check himself about ULEZ.

    Our reply was "The car's registration is GJ15 XXX and is ULEZ compliant."

    Also, this email isn't stating that he requires a ULEZ compliant vehicle, he's just asking if it is...................