MattR

its a helpful video, as are all the other tips - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt but worth a go to avoid the queue at the bodyshop. cotton buds can be good for touch ins

Hi Mark I think you have a couple of things to consider. Are you concerned about the risk of any customer trying to bounce a car back to you in the future using rights which are only there because they have the finance company behind them? I dont think this worries you because you are prepared to take a credit card which gives the customer the same rights. Your time may be wasted and on occasion, cost you a deal - for example, someone leaves a deposit on a car, then fails a finance prop. do you put it back on sale and sell it to someone else or keep it off sale and prop the finance customer everywhere until you know its going nowhere. I know this situation is less of a concern, but a possibility nonetheless. We have all had 2 people on the same car at the same time before. The commission side is attractive but if you are taking a credit card and paying the associated charges then even if there is no commission you will be better off. I personally dont do finance at the moment but do one every month or so to a Zuto customer. I dont get any commission and the customers are normally a bit 'scatty' and disorganised but the payout is always prompt and they dont ask for a discount on the car. Hope this helps

Jay, youre an newbie asking for advice. I think you are correct, you do need to take it on the chin, and a bit of your time will be wasted. But if you want to get more advice, dont mock the professionalism of the traders on here.

welcome. theres plenty of info on here. but in short, price well, new pictures, advertise well, make sure the car is in good shape, and ask yourself, why would they buy your car? put the answers in your advert....

Hi Marc, theres only one way you can find out and thats to buy one. I agree, the market for a small high mileage corsa diesel is a limited one, but at the right money you will sell it.So if you can buy it right (and it sounds like you can) then get one and give it a go.if you can get one which is averaging 15k per annum, you should be ok. If youre a new starter, it could be something that works well for you long term, and if your cash is sat there doing nothing, then give it a go. If it doesnt work, dont do it again, if it does, keep doing it till it doesnt. This job is all about finding out what works for you. Just dont buy 6 at once. Theres a bum for every seat.

hope you took his details for the damage to your property......

It depends on what it is, but if you take the whole tow bar off (and not just the hook) then there is no solid support behind the bumper because everyone throws that away when they get the towbar fitted. I take the hook off on small cars but leave on anything else.

bank transfers, most customers happy with that. Occasionally you will get someone where you concede and take a debit card balance, but at least you stop the bulk of the charges. In the meantime, card machines great for taking a deposit.

That sounds far better value than when i was with them. I was at 350 ish per month for 20 cars, binned it off after 3 months as it got me next to nothing. might be worth another look

Half book, and find an auction to put it through. I never retail anything thats on the hit list, you just dont know whats happened to it.

Hi EPV, I think it was me who made the comment about overprep, and I can only speak from my own experience. I started out 6 years ago and despite the fact I was selling up to 3 k stuff, I was refurbing alloys, painting bumper corners, and repairing trolley dings because I was scared of losing a customer over what, with hindsight, was nothing to worry about. My problem was coming out of a main dealer where we did everything. My experience now is to touch up small scratches, leave alloys unless they are bad (corroded or been whacked several times) and I honestly cant remember the last time I had the dent man round. If it needs paint it's done, Safety however, thats another thing. Everything MOT'd before it goes on sale and checked over for impending doom. Like many on here, I prefer a punter with an element of realism who prefers to see an honest car with a couple of minor battle scars, which, when you're selling in the up to 5 k range, is what it is. You are dealing with different stuff to me, so you may need to do more - I prefer mainstream to semi prestige. You will find a balance of customer expectation and reconditioning costs, but you will be working on a larger initial margin to me (I hope). Just be sensible, we are all different with what we do. It took me a couple of years to work out what works for me, and I still have to tweak it every now and again.

+2. Be nice to have something to be forwarded to Citizens advice bureau too!

it wont be funny if Ive made you waste a gallon of fuel....

Probably not your issue on this but Ive had fuel gauge issues with Astras where they stick in the wrong place so you think you have fuel when you dont. If it is starting, I guess thats unlikely but you never know...

Marc - if your mechanic says there isnt anything to worry about, I'd be inclined to believe him. Ive sold plenty of fiestas with the clutch bearing noise - you will never buy one without it. Likewise I have never had one come back with a problem. It really is a 'characteristic of the car'. I'm not one to skip on prep, new MOT on all of my stuff and in most cases a service too before I even put it on the pitch, but you learn when something really does not need doing. Spend your money if you want, but that then becomes a classic case of newbie over prep. I'd concentrate more on price pointing the car. If you are thinking just over 3k, bite the bullet and make it 2995. its not an easy colour to sell, use this exercise as a lesson!

trade girl, back to your first point, no lights on the dash - does that mean you can see what the mileage actually is? if he has verbally abused you, make a note of the exact time and date of the call and make notes as to what was said. He can complain about the car, but he cant say that to anyone without some sort of comeback.

Simon, grin and bear it. At least your selling process means the most the idiots can do is call you. They seem to be out in force this week, Ive had a variety of them this week. Its been as frustrating but I'll have forgotten all about them by next week when a couple of real buyers have been in

reduced or full up?

Avoiding selling on ebay and the likes is an absolute must for me. I wont claim to be a busy man however I really dont want to deal with any of the idiots who are frequently discussed on this forum. So I have found a few people who are more than willing to do so to supplement their regular job. So find yourself a plastic trader or 2 that you can build a relationship with. Go to your local industrial estate and find the car with a price board on and ring him, if he's a local mechanic or similar he may want to have a couple on the side. Suss out if he's likely to be a whinger or not. Lots of workshops and bodyshops will have people who do a couple of cars on the side, you need to find these people. Lots of them will happily work to earn a hundred or so quid, because if youre on 20k, an extra £100 a week goes a long way. And if they start giving you grief, go and find someone else. Theres plenty of them out there, you just need to know where to look.

But did sell one yesterday which started as a text on saturday 'is the**** still available'. Appointed for monday (because I had sunday off), arrived at 10 on monday, driving off by 1045. sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt (but I never texted here back, I did call her and have a conversation - thats when you find out if theyre a t**t or not) Update. Text from him this morning (clearly the prime form of communication) 'Thanks for your time, Ive decided to look for a diesel instead' . Next!

I'm on a different train of thought on this and see it as a tax break for people who can afford to have an old banger thats all nicely tarted up. I appreciate that most testers would have no clue what to do and that in the majority of cases the cars which are now exempt from MOT will be restored and in good overall condition, but think that instead the owners of these cars should be giving the MOT money to a local, well deserving charity. They can afford a second car for sunday outings, they can afford to give £50 to the local hospital, or whatever. So its time for the classic car clubs to take the initiative. Just my 2 penneth worth.

Update. Text from him this morning (clearly the prime form of communication) 'Thanks for your time, Ive decided to look for a diesel instead' . Next!

gone to 'check the finances!'

Had a text in this morning at 552, asking about an astra I had (no, his name is Kevin before you all ask). I responded an hour later and booked him in today for 1 pm. Anyway, he's turned up with his mate, 'an expert!' Could this get any worse??!! Update later.....

Had a text in this morning at 552, asking about an astra I had (no, his name is Kevin before you all ask). I responded an hour later and booked him in today for 1 pm. Anyway, he's turned up with his mate, 'an expert!' Could this get any worse??!! Update later.....