Nick M.K.

Exactly the reason why an online based seller at a unit with no passing and little local trade should have a completely different stock profile to the local pitches / supermarkets. I bought an Aygo last month (almost by mistake) and I am enjoying an average of 2 advert views a day on AutoTrader :-))) If it wasn't in white, still in Toyota's warranty and with one doctor owner it would probably get negative views. I'll end up using it as our courtesy car and a second family car for a few months... Taking it to Wimbledon tomorrow. Lucky me!

Just like us dealers then :-)

40-80 miles on average, over 2 hours many of them. Can’t say about the videos because mine are brief but the 60-70 photos on Autotrader make a difference. Post a dummy ad for one car and see what the response will be like when you write “located in Solihull” for example.

Every time when it rains for two days my advert views double and triple. Depending solely on online advertising I am anticipating a very very quiet weekend as no one will be stuck indoors looking at cars. Large pitches however may get lively as the dreamers come out in force.

+1

Where did this come from? Or do you mean just for today :-)

By the way, there is a great little app called TransferWise. Extremely simple, transfers from one country's account (and currency) to another with minimal fees and very low margin conversion. Much cheaper than him using his bank to send his Euros to my Sterling account. The problem is that it takes at least 1 working day, it is not instant.

The Allied Irish Bank is 71% government owned, I don't see a single problem with this deal. These long distance deals are my easiest, most profitable, with fewer to no comebacks and still generate a lot of referral business. Considering that Declan will arrive after 6pm I will probably treat him to a dinner at our local pub. Should make a nice little story for my Facebook page...

Less than his plane ticket here by the looks of things...

The vehicle is electric hybrid with 44 g/km emissions so I am assuming he is buying it for it’s low VRT.

I think so, that's fine by me as long as he signs the export slip from the logbook, there is no VAT in this deal so fewer pitfalls.

To me that doesn't matter. I am happy with his payment method, he is happy with it, both our banks are happy with it. Haven't taken one for years so feeling a little nostalgic but if he can risk flying two turboprops (NOC-EDI and EDI-LHR) to get to me I can certainly chance a bank draft.

Declan will make a rubbish scammer as in addition to leaving a debit card deposit, today he sent me an image of the bank draft which his bank AIB did indeed verify (including amount), a copy of his passport, a copy of his fly BE boarding pass so I think he is legit :-) I just wish he didn't call me Ken in that text message:

I wouldn't say Essential but certainly helps if you do small stuff that many other dealers won't. Here is a typical deal of mine, conducted almost entirely on What's App, the £11800 car has been held for an Irish chap (Declan) for a few days on just £100 card deposit, the balance of the payment by bankers draft! I am collecting him from Heathrow (just 20 min away) tomorrow early evening. He said out of 5 other dealers he spoke or texted NOT ONE would hold the car for a small deposit, NOT ONE would accept a bank draft and NOT ONE would collect him from a nearby airport. AT Retail price 11000, CAP retail 11000, my price to him £11800 and he is happy to pay it, also with a bank draft in his hand there is NO chance for chipping on it whatsoever.

The only option you have: Charge them for the cost of 6 month tax and tell them that you will arrange that for them tomorrow morning. Include tax payment in their invoice, even a debit card receipt for the cost of the tax so they can show it in case they get pulled over. Submit a V62 with their details in the post office tomorrow am along with the tax application. Not ideal but not much else I can think of here.

We don't need to sell to every punter. We just to sell EVERY car.

Didn't think of that. Well played Grant :-)

Joe public would say: It was on the car ever since I bought it 7 years ago. NEVER had a problem with it. It's never let me down and it's by far the best car I've ever owned. Never even needed an oil and filter change for all these years...

At £499,500 it does seem a tad overpriced but you don't ask, you don't get I suppose. Now if that was my website I would put a SOLD banner on that.

Yes of course. You can even ask the DVLA to remove the NI plate and assign a normal age-related UK one.

No one mentioned to him the golden oldie sentence that always always works: "Europcar, Hertz and Sixt get their cars for half of the manufacturer's list price. Can you match me that deal please and I'll pay today."

No no. He is one of my best customers. 3-4 cars a year. Serial buyer. He got it for a few days free trial and instead of the usual bank transfer I got the call that “this one isn’t for me”. He then got the I told you speech :-)))

A customer returned a car because the ride was too harsh. A Mini I bought for him after advising him that a Mini is NOT a sensible choice for a family of four that currently enjoys a Merc CLS. He insisted. Twice.

After the day I've had it's nice to feel welcome for a change.

It's amazing how bad the other advertisers can be and yet the only good one is THE MOST HATED provider in the whole UK motor trade industry.