MattR

I dont know of a cheap repair on the non leather sort, would be interested to find out if there is one! On the occasion where its been so bad, I've bought a wheel off ebay.

Maybe try and help her out with a garage recommendation? whereabouts is she? if she is near to one of us, we could suggest a garage that wont rip you off

Silver. unless they rolled out of the factory Black

I'd be suspicious. MOT info online. I'd try and get him to visit, or call him and talk him through it. if he 'hasnt got time to talk', wait for a proper punter on it

The clear HPI report would be what you need. I think you say that it was clear when you checked it in 2016, and that now it shows that it was clocked in 2012? And have you sold it to a trader or to a private individual as a 'trade sale'? TS may just want to go through the trail, they may want to do more. But, having had a visit from them a few years ago, the picture they build up of you during your chat is likely to influence your future dealings with them. So get all the advertised mileages on your forecourt up to date, don't advertise something with 50000 miles if its done 50551. they want accuracy. And get all your paperwork in order so they can see all your cars advertised have current MOT's. Dont advertise with full service history unless theres a stamp there for every year (unless the manufacturer says differently)I'd also suggest a quick check that they all start and no bulbs have blown. If thy think that your cars which are currently available for sale are all good, they will look at you far more positively and listen to your side of the story.

Opened on Saturday, didnt see anyone, did Monday 'by appointment' but no calls, hardly a surprise, you'd have had to be keen to be looking in this weather. I enjoyed having the time out with the family, having said that, if the Mother in law had been around..........

I dont like Minis either, fussy customers, expensive to fix, and you never have the right colour combo. Are those wheels supposed to be black or are they silver ones resprayed? Because if they're supposed to be silver, that could put someone off (boy racer car)

If he takes this all the way, and I am in no doubt he will if you ignore him or fail to contribute, you will be screwed. how can you try to sell it privately and hope to get away with it? And how can the paperwork give it away if you never registered it to you? if you are a motor trader, you have to behave like one, dont cut corners. No wonder the General Public thinks we are all t***s with behaviour like this

i'd trade to a specialist. its going to have a really limited marketplace. If you retail it you will do one of 2 things; sell instantly and make a fortune, or be giving it a birthday cake

' I really wanted a black one' it wasn't black when you looked at the advert. it wasn't black when you got here. it wasn't black before the test drive. it still isn't black.

Get a feel for the customer. I have it on my website, many dealers do. But if its not what you would normally stock, dont do it. I did try it when I was a little greener, and joe public doesnt follow through as they should when you find the car they asked for. Make sure that what they are looking for actually exists too - when I worked in a vw showroom I had one punter ask me to source a used polo diesel auto. He couldnt understand why he had never found one. Until I explained VW had never built one........

Can't imagine they are a pleasure to deal with. However, none of us like the greedy customers who are likely to go to them. Its not right that someone can sidestep their responsibilities, but they make it absolutely clear what their terms of business are. If youre brave (or stupid) enough to buy from them, you deserve everything you get.

I'm hoping so! my pitch is at least full now....

I'd suggest debit card, even though its going to cost a few quid. He isnt far from you, so how about booking him in for an MOT with your garage next week? Then you are in control of avoiding any kwik fit advisory issues!!

Quietest April i've ever had. 6 on the board for the month when its normally a 13-15 month. Fortunately had a good first quarter, and not doing anything different, hows everyone else?

I like those too! It puts a smile on your face because they're normally happy to have just got something done they had little interest in doing. Much Like I feel if Ive got to get a new washing machine or similar!

Its the same as customers making a cheeky offer! the difference is, he is at least likely to show up and pay unlike the normal behaviour pattern of the late night keyboard warrior

And watch out for the VAT threshold - remember its Turnover that counts not profit for VAT!

a likely occurence in real life.....

If theyve said they dont want a refund, they clearly want the car. So give them something for nothing - they are without the car that they have paid you for, and have (presumably) Taxed and insured it. Which may mean they have uninsured their current car? There are genuine costs and inconvenience for them here and although you are doing the right thing for them, they are likely to be out of pocket by a few quid. If all they are asking for is 70 to 80 quids worth of fuel, I'd give it to them and then they will be a little more likely to smile at you when you do drop it off. I think they may see you as a reasonable person too, and trust that the right thing has been done on the repair. We all know selling it is easy, its keeping them onside that can be difficult. Theyve made a sensible request, not an outrageous one.

An interesting thought. A star/ review system may work, I think we all understand problems with a car can be missed but its how its dealt with that matters. Many of us drive a distance in the car before an issue becomes apparent, which is more than I would expect the selling dealer to do. However, some issues are plain to see and are deliberately excluded from the description.

Some of the assured checks cover next to nothing anyway. car goes in first and reverse? Check. No drivebelt faults? check. Fluid levels? check. Dashboard warnig lights? check. Steering? Check. Engine operation? check. So suitably vague that you still pay them £40 but with next to no comeback. So when you buy a car that needs a clutch, strut top mounting, has a broken coil spring etc, it money for nothing. I'd rather buy the cars without wasting my money and if something needs doing, its down to me anyway. The problem is, they still put it on anything thats less than 10 years old, even saw it on a cat c car recently! I know that can still be 'mechanically sound' but it hardly promotes the benefit of the product...

Alicante to Nottingham in 27 hours, in a 3 year old golf 1.4 from a former employee who had moved out there then decided she wanted to sell the car back, cheap winter break though! Non stop, thought we might get a doze on the calais to dover night ferry but all the gypsies were eyeing up the trade plates.....

C'mon BHM!

I forgot about those, I took one in swap with that problem. Fortunately the customer was honest and told me! Think its repairable but thats not really your issue is it....