MattR

Depends on the customer/car. If the sensor is beeping but not working properly, that will irritate most people, so I would repair that. If its stopped working altogether, and its a little car where its unlikely to be an issue maybe I'd leave it. Not an issue I've had come up much (cue the screamers ) but then I sell lots of Small cars. Theyre too busy wondering if its got an aux in point and whinging about Insurance to worry about anything else.....

leave the keys as they are. it is unlikely to bother a punter. ref the steering pump, check its not the battery first, had it before on VAG cars and if the battery is weak the steering warning comes on

Wow. Same day appointments are a significant part of my business. I agree the 'we are in the area' customers can be diificult to convert but dont think that just because someone calls on a saturday morning wont be buying on a saturday. Deal I did on saturday was exactly that. Called me at about 1230 on saturday, arrived at 3, bought it. Reason he made the decision on saturday? He had called another garage about a similar car at 930, not got his arse into gear and by the time he got there they had sold it. He didnt want to miss out on mine!

Agreed. A lumpy car sticks out on your website and is a lot harder when you dont offer finance. I had my wifes XC60 on at 20k a year ago (one of us manages to earn a wage) which was 1500 less than anyone else. still ended up taking a big chip on it to move it on when someone eventually bit.

Hi Simon I sense that you are someone who values your time and so I would say that i it owes you nothing, just send it for scrap. i'd rather have £100 and no hassle than deal with the inevitable trawl of w*****s who will harass you for a 'bargain' because they havent bothered to read the description. Having said that, BHM, I do like your spares or repairs description!

Just thought I would update, I always find it frustrating when advice is requested and never followed up. Changed the crankshaft sensor and immobiliser antenna, problem has not returned since. So thank you for the tips!

Mark, it isnt shite, but it isnt cheap. But it does pay off in my experience).

Mustve been the fire brigade cut a hole in the roof to rescue the driver after an accident, hence the CAT D

take the money

Put your Mazda price up. It can't make the situation any worse. I've always found Mazda 3s to be a good seller. Have you got all your stock freshly MOT'd? Lots of buyers now will look on the DVLA MOT website before ringing or visiting, so a short MOT or a lot of advisories are never good. If you arent using them, fill in the straplines on AT to make your ads stand out. Then just sit tight! Realistically with 5 cars to sell I dont think you can expect to sell more than 3 or 4 of them in a month.I dont know many with more than 100% turnover per month on a regular basis.

PLASTIC TRADERS. I was at the auctions on thursday afternoon watched a leggy Fusion make 350. Desperation has set in here, I'm light on stock so looking on Gumtree on Friday and see the same car up for 895. And claiming to be private. if hes done anything other than peel off the auction sticker, I'll be surprised. Feel like ringing HMRC!!!

Hi Benji I use VGS/WMS warranties - fairly inexpensive (55 plus VAT) for 3 month coverage. Build a good relationship with them, and they will payout (even if the claims desk has originally refused ) if you get involved, but the warranty cost may be higher for you as a new starter. Card machines - Getting more expensive by the day! If you can operate using bank transfers and cash you will save yourself a good amount of money. Not many customers will worry about a bank transfer, it costs you nothing and is better on cashflow, with most card providers your money is 'up in the ether' for up to 3 days. I do have a card machine still, but tend to use it for deposits rather than balances since card fees increased this year.

I'd only get a cambelt changed by someone I know and trust - it does help that he doesnt cost a fortune (£35 per hour) but I once had someone else do one and ended up buying the car back because he didnt fit the tension bolt properly. To my mind, some jobs are worth 'shopping around' for, and others arent.

If you really dont fancy the swapper, dont bid at it. Because a really low bid can stop you getting the sale on the car you have. It may be a good idea to do a WBAC price on the BMW- that way you can show him what they will give him for it (!!) and explain it isnt your kind of thing. At least then you have tried to help.

Sometimes works, sometimes doesnt. I've had the call several times after I have put a price back up requesting a sale at the lower price. I have done because if I was prepared to sell it for that a day before, I'm prepared to sell it for that today!

Having 1 will make life easier as its less to look at and so may keep your accountancy etc costs lower. Cant think of any significant benefits to having 2 unless you were looking to have 2 banks which 'know you' and giving you more scope to use credit lines etc

I was optimistic this morning. 2 appointments having treated myself to sunday and monday off, first appointment on an i10 which i moved out of its blocked in space, all fine, then start it with the customer and it doesnt. Turns over but its like it has no fuel in. (it has far more than normal in, quarter of a tank!) Do get it going at about the 3rd time of asking. Anyone had this before? Dr Google suggesting an immobiliser fault, but the auto electrician i use hasnt had this before and he's normally seen everything before. its a 59 reg i10 1.2, been well looked after (near full hyundai history). Any guiding hand appreciated before the game of parts darts begins......

He's getting ready to deal with his bank holiday weekend tyre kickers.

Cheers for the heads up Not a very clever scammer though - none of us will want to deal with a VW punter selling the benefits of his Tiguan from the off!

Agreed. I dislike 'no shows' with a passion. Winds me up a treat, and you never know how long to leave it after the appointed time to call! the ones that always surprise me are the ones like I had last week who called me on thursday to make an appointment for monday at 430. She'll never appear I thought. Got myself ready though, just in case. turns up dead on time, bought the car. And yet the ones who call an hour before to say, 'can I come now' disappear down a black hole. But this is about the good punters! Most of the do appear, and about when they say so!

Sporty and 'look at me' stuff that is past its prime, but now it fits the budget that may attract someone who doesnt realise how much that sort of car can cost to run. Most German sports stuff, Vauxhall VXR, Minis!!! I love to have normal stuff for people who appreciate a car that has been generally looked after, can cope with a few cosmetic marks, so fiestas, focuses, astras, korean and Jap are favourites. Dont mind a BMW that has never been messed with, and like Alfa customers - they tend to know what they are getting into, and some even look disappointed if there isnt a creak from the suspension, think they want to be messing with it on a sunday!

I'd class most of my paying customers as good punters. Had one back in on friday who had bought a car from me a couple of years ago and said the reason he came back to me was because when he had an issue with the last one after a couple of months I got it fixed for him with no hassle. Nice to hear from a customer that doing the right thing by them does (sometimes) count for something. I think people generally respect you being open and honest - we all have a scumbag every now and again that spoils your day, but if you avoid selling t**t magnets, you tend to avoid the t**ts.

Using those self serve checkouts makes you realise just how skilled the staff are at getting items scanned- it takes me ages! and why do t**ts with full trolleys think its a good idea to use them? they're there for people who have picked up a sandwich and a bag of crisps, not a weekly shop!!!

a gem! get it bought! Modern classic.......

If you're putting scrap sort of money in to it (which if its cheap and 16 years old it should be) you have very little to lose, assuming its not a nail with lots of pending issues. because you can't sell tarmac (unless you're a pykie)