MattR

Do your own check to make sure. A potential customer may have told you its got outstanding finance when it may have an expired agreement on it. That will tell you who the finance house is and when the agreement expired. If it does have any money outstanding, then you have a problem. Because part time trader or not, recovering the balance from the previous owner will be tough.

A good independent bodyshop where you go relatively regularly will charge you around £100 per panel, a little less if its mutiple panels on the same car. I dont bother with smart repairs (I deal in up to £5k) so its either a touch in stick or paint work - most smart repairers struggle to get a good finish and I've had them end up looking worse than if I hadnt bothered. Build a good relationship with your bodyshop and you may get the odd polish job thrown in from time to time. And the one I use lets me borrow the tins of paint to do a touch in if I havent got the right colour in my box of touch in sticks. Customer expectations- Always high but most will accept a few little dents or chips/scratches. If they dont get its a used car at the time they are looking at it with you, then you dont need to be a genius to work out what may happen next. Simon does an excellent video for any prospective customers where he shows any marks on the car. It doesnt stop him selling, so dont worry too much about honest dents and scuffs.

I bought one a few weeks back with no history - I dont normally but it looked like it had been looked after so I took the punt. Got it back and found the book in with the spare wheel with a full history, which was nice! However, its seems as difficult to sell a FSH Chevy Spark as one with none.....

bargain!

I dont like more any more than 5 owner cars, which on my stock is an average of 2 years per owner. Always love a low mileage 1 Owner car, most punters will pay the premium for one of them, but I guess on some cars multiple owners isnt an issue. I'm never surprised to see lots of keeper changes on a 'look at me ' car - the owner has their fussy out of it and sells it to the next show off

I think it started (but that was a long time ago) with Arthurs challenge. I'm looking out for some of his results to give us an idea of how much of a difference its made for him.

Hi Mark I think we all waste money on something in the beginning be it advertising or spending too much on recon or valeting, so I guess you just have to be prepared for that look a tyourself in 3 years when you go 'I cant believe I spent £x on Y'. But thats the learning process I and I would think everyone else on here has done (and probably still does). Have a go with AT. and then if you dont think its working, drop it for a bit. But if I was going to recommend a way of getting a good start, I would use AT. More people looking, better chance of a sale. just my opinion!

Hi Okay Dokay how much did it cost you to get your licence? Many hoops to jump through?

Check what your personal credit card can do. I get letters from barclaycard offering transfer into your bank account at 0% for for 12 months with a 3% fee. so cash 10k, £300 fee, and no interest to pay for 12 months. it wont buy you loads of stock, but its certinly cheaper than an overdraft

Each to their own. a great way of paying for your recon too and fuel, costs you nothing and another month before its due.

I had a 'forgot my wallet' last week too, he even did the pocket check like airport security do! But, as above, he was back 30 minutes later with the deposit! My faith in Joe Public is returning!

Yhink I need to have a discussion with my rep to see whats available on a free trial at the moment. Ive had retail check a couple of times, and do quite like it, find the desirability function useful. But it does need to be mixed with your own experience. Like everyone else, I've sold cars within days which are a 1 star desirability and had cars stick for ages which show 5 stars. Dont think i'll be stocking any bentleys, white or otherwise, in the near future!

nice tache cannot believe how clean they all are

Wow. Where will they re appear? surely cant all be scrapped

Speculate to accumalate! Other car selling websites are available!

yes, Some, not all. But some extra business is always welcome!

As above, You cant take the car back from the current owner, they can pursue you for additional costs they have incurred - the situation, after all, isnt their doing. Chase the person who sold you the car and stay on top of it. In the meantime, lets hope he settles the finance. Good luck, keep the updates coming, and always HPI everything!!!

I think reviews are significant to people - read the detail on these and its clear they are made up and a grudge which shouldnt stop anyone buying from him.However a few genuine bad ones will make the difference to some customers.

Thats what gives us all a bad name. surely a visit from trading standards could be arranged?

I always keep a length of rope in the office drawer.

This is nuts. If google dont take it down, their review system has no credibility. its funny to read one or 2, but thats above and beyond. I'm tempted to give the guy a 5 star review to boost him back up

Hi Lemoj. We all have lessons to learn, I think the first one is not to trust joe public and ALWAYS hpi or experian check a car. I get the idea from your post that the person who sold you the car is trying to settle the outstanding finance. If so, encourage him to sort it out ASAP. Liase with the finance company to find out when this is done. If it doesnt happen, I think that the responsibility is yours re the outstanding finance. I hope for your sake I am wrong!

You can respond to a google review if you have a gmail account, so if you havent yet, get one set up, I did specifically to respond to a google review. Then respond in a cool and calm manner (so maybe not just after a negative review has gone on) so that anyone who does put value in reviews can see who was right and who was wrong. Keep it factual and if necessary explain what you have changed in your business - this could be explaining more clearly that all deposits are non refundable or that you only take a car off sale for 3 days etc. It just shows you are responsible in what you do and fair. And respond to good reviews too, if only to say thank you! I'd not bother with solicitors letters - if you threaten him and then dont follow through his mates may start filling google for you or booking fictitious appointments etc to wind you up. respond on google, and in the words of Elsa from my daughters favourite movie 'Let it Go'

Prep is a painful waiting game - but worthwhile. Having stuff 'ready to go' when the punters do arrive speeds your cashflow up, which is gret because then you can go and buy stuff again. Which needs prepping!!!

Keep us updated Mark, it'll be interesting to hear how it all comes out in the wash.