James01

Hi guys, after some advice, we are selling a car to a customer who has come to our premises and test driven it but as part of the deal we have offered to deliver it to his home. This is all fine but he wants to pay on credit card but will not be present in the office to enter his PIN number. Does this open me up to an issues? I do plenty of deposits when customer is not present but not whole balances. Thanks

Unless it is a deal breaker we don't bother to replace them. If a customer brings it up after sale then we simply tell them we didn't get one when we bought the car and was never advertised with one. Same thing with spare keys also.

Is this is this done in dealerportal?

Hi, has anyone else noticed when a finance enquiry comes in from autotrader they are quoting customers around 1.7% flat rate! It is then difficult explainging to the customer that in fact no lender offers a rate that low and infact your actual monthly payment is significantly more. Does anyone know why they are doing this or is it simply a way of trying to steal the finance business from us and pass to zuto?

Done loads with zuto and 247 over the last couple of years. Send an invoice, they pay and customer comes to collect. Very rare the customer bothers looking at the car beforehand. We have never had an issue.

I used to do this until mice started using the engine bays for hibernation! They always made a nest under the scuttle panel so the lovely smell would come threw the air vents. I quickly moved them away from that farm.

How is everyone finding this month? Started well for us but last week was really quiet with a run of really painful time wasters!

I would speak to your rep, they updated all their terms of business a few months ago and may not have put you on a new package.

How has everyone ended up this month then? After a stonking May and June it has been relitivly slow for us, not disatrious but not great. Would be nice to get a couple more away before the end of the month!

Similar here June I sold 21 out of 25 in stock, this month only 8 thus far but I was away for the first week and July is normally a quieter month. Buying has been painful also, either silly money or horrible needing loads of prep.

Funny you say that Nick as it also threw up a NOX sensor code at the same time but they thought it was a separate issue. Guess that could have been the issue all along and was ok after they cleaned it!

I had exactly this problem on a BMW with the N43 engine. Red oil pressure light would come on after about 15 miles of motorway driving and go off again after turned off and on. Garage said they believed it was a blocked sump pick up tube (which is a 5 hour job to check btw as you have to drop subframe etc). They checked the pipe and it was ok but carried out an oil and filter change and the fault went away after it was put back together after cleaning a few sensors also. I think I was lucky as they said the next step was the oil pump which is ££££.

Just doesn't seem smooth like a wheel that has been done properly. could well be something I am doing or not doing more like.

This is exactly what I have been doing but get a really bad finish once lacquered. It could be user error though!

Hi guys, i have started to have a go at refubing alloy wheels as I get so many in that need doing and is a deal killer if not done. I currently use aerosols but just can't seem to get a good finish on them. would it be worthwhile in investing in some proper kit i.e. Compressor, spray gun etc and would this give a more professional finish? Also is there any must do and do nots when doing them. thanks in advance

I started of as a trainee salesman at my local Renault garage after phoning around car dealerships and estate agents after just leaving college and not having a clue what to do with myself. I worked at the same place for just over 2 years learning the basics before moving and working at a car supermarket for 2 years which was a real experience in itself! After saving up some money I decided I was bored of being called a w**ker by the salesmanger every monday morning and instead of buying a house poured my money into some cars and rented a small yard. I moved sites 3 times in the next 7 years progressively getting bigger and more stock learning all the time mostly the hard way! I have just turned 30 and now have 10 times the value of stock when I first started and since moving to an appointment only basis can say I actually enjoy the job more than ever, I do not know why I didn't do it sooner.

I was at a big main dealer groups used car site the other day collecting a car. They sell a lot of high end part exchanges. The sales manager was telling me that the head office dictate the prices by checking them daily against others online to make sure they are competitive and as soon as they hit 60 days they are reduced every couple of days until sold. They just sold a 911 turbo at a £18500 loss! Madness.

Like someone has flicked a switch here. 1 Monday, 2 yesterday and 2 today. Funny old game, here's to a busy bank holiday weekend!

First appointment of the day is a now show. 1 more booked in for 2pm so fingers crossed. Royal wedding and fa cup final will keep most busy today!

We normally always tend to end up where we need to be come end of the month. I just find it strange how there is no pattern or consistency to when it is going to be busy or quiet. It's feast or famine.

Yeah strange one we haven't even had the usual "best price for cash mate" emails. At least it's not just us then.

This month has been awfully slow for us so far! Have only managed to get 2 away. It was the same last month then it all came to life the last 10 days. On a brighter note have managed to get some good stock in this week. How is everyone else finding things?

Is a civic with the silly semi auto box in it.

Talking of maintaining customers cars for them. We had a chap on the phone yesterday complaining that a car he bought from us recently does not start due to a gearbox sensor not recognising it is neutral. For love nor money could I remember who this customer was as his name did not ring a bell. I looked back in our records to find that apparently December 2016 classes as recently!! The lovely chap has even raised a quality complaint with the finance company. Needless to say I think it will be easy enough to prove that his car has started on the button for the last 16 months and 17,000 miles he has covered and therefore was not present at sale as he claims. Chancer comes to mind!

How is everyone finding this month? We have been really quiet. We have had a run of "thanks I'll let you know" punters last couple of weeks to never be seen again. It was the same last year and went mad the last 10 days, so here is me hoping for the same!!