MattR

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Posts posted by MattR

  1. Posted

    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.

    • Like 1

  2. Posted

    26 minutes ago, NOACROSS said:

    Three owners or less for me when buying- or maybe four if something else is right or unusual about it (e.g. sporty stuff) or in PX- before I get a bit odd/don't want it.

    Less and less people ask nowadays I'm finding.  The older people are still really worried about it. Even on an older car.

    With regards to no service history, I'm sure we've all traced some history before, or found the service book squirreled away somewhere. Not the end of the world depending on the car.

    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.....

  4. Posted

    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

    • Like 1

  5. Posted

    14 minutes ago, Earunder said:

    Still no one getting quotes?

    Thought this debate was about the unfair advertising costs of AT as they were charging some more then others?

    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. 

  6. Posted

    1 hour ago, Mark101 said:

    No one needs to rely on anyone’s opinion but most people on here have tried and tested many methods and are far more experienced than me.  I would be a fool not to consult what has been an extremely helpful and transparent group of fellow traders, add that to my own findings and maybe, just maybe I come up with a winning cocktail without wasting money where others have tried and been disappointed.

    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!

    • Like 1

  8. Posted

    22 hours ago, EPV said:

    Credit card doesn’t allow me to buy private stock, which is a big part of my stock I process! So it all points to an overdraft. Hopefully there won’t be another 2008 crash! 

    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  

    • Like 1

  11. Posted

    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!

  15. Posted

    51 minutes ago, BHM said:

    The important word here is SOME. Many of you seem to think punters are scouring the internet searching for every review site know to man - most do not & the few who do don’t know what they’re looking at anyway. 

    I know I’m playing to an empty audience here but I cannot understand why so many professionals in the trade think the world revolves around online reviews. All vastly over rated in my opinion, believe me, the success of your business relies upon your stock & your pricing - not reviews. 

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

  16. Posted

    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!!!

  17. Posted

    3 hours ago, BHM said:

    A few Mickey Mouse reviews on a Sunday wouldn’t result in a business closing on a Monday. I think many of you hold far too much stock in the power of reviews.

    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.

  18. Posted

    16 minutes ago, s and b said:

    exactly the same here,however before he started using autotrader he was using ebay privately and i looked at his buying history to see he had bought 12 main dealer service stamps and lots of service books off ebay too

    guess what every car hes selling has all work done including new timing belts and every one has full service history

    hopefully it wont be long before he trips on his own laces

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

  21. Posted

    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!

    • Like 1

  22. Posted

    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'

  23. Posted

    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!!! 

  24. Posted

    On 3/22/2018 at 3:40 PM, Mark101 said:

    Fair play to BCA -

    Online win 1 - damage not recorded on Appraisal (although I had seen it) - discount £250 agreed over returning vehicle.

    Online win 2 - beautiful and came with full BMW history, top of the range Parrot media system and then - traction control fault upon collection.  I returned immedaitely to BCA whom have since booked in to BMW main dealer for repair.  If they cannot fix or it is uneconomical to fix (i.e. more than a speed sensor according to diagnostic AA patrol on site), they will cancel the sale - although I hope it gets fixed as it's a minter otherwise.

    Last weeks Physical buy - Fiat 500 (with Assured) has since developed a bearing fault on the gearbox, unfortunately diagnosed outside of the 48 hr Assured timescale.

    On the whole, I was treated fairly I think and I am pleased with the manner in which BCA treated me.  Only inconvenience was paying for a taxi there and back and then again tomorrow presuming the fault gets fixed.

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

  25. Posted

    49 minutes ago, tradex said:

    Some, but not all, trade insurance policies demand that any 'keeper' be registered to the business. Ours doesn't, the previous company did, but I won't surprised if ours changes as more insurers add weasel-out clauses. Not a problem to declare and register, but you don't want someone rear ending your pride and joy that you have given blood for, only to find things get muddy.

    I'm thinking out loud here, but what with the instant online 'Vehicle in trade' declarations, DVLA's instant ability to ascertain ownership, as more ANPR cameras are added to the already large fleet, I think those whom use their use trade plates outside of usual business hours, increasingly risk loosing their plates. Once lost they are a bugger to get back and without them it's damn hard to operate.

    I'm not being prim and proper here, god knows we have all done it, but running a daily driver on plates really isn't worth the risk anymore.

     

    Agreed. Pick the right smoker and the road tax is £30. Its not worth the risk of a warning about parking your car outside the pub, shop etc on trade plates after plod spots you or a nosy neighbour reports you. And register it to yourself. an extra owner doesnt normally make a difference to your ability to sell it, because none of us would run round in the '1 lady owner, low mileage' car where it might make a difference, would we?