Area 51

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content Count

    367

  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by Area 51

  1. Posted

    3 minutes ago, met said:

    I suppose when everyone is eventually using sniping software instead of manual bidding, 

    Yes, i understand how sniping software works. My question is if more than one person is bidding on the same item and they are all using sniping software what decides who wins? What makes one sniping bidder faster than another? 

    I have seen multiple sniper bids go in at the last second, its the highest amount that secures the deal in my experience

  2. Posted

    Bugger watching with interest.. lot to be said for completing a transaction during banking hours and also whilst the ruddy DVLA are open I guess.... Outside of these hours and some "reassurance/back up" .. this story makes it sound like the wild west...

  3. Posted

    48 minutes ago, met said:

    What happens when everyone is 'sniping'? Is there 'super sniper'?

    It will only bid in the last 3 seconds from memory, it is based in California closer to the ebay servers, so you need to load your best and final bid in and then it should do the business, unless someone wants it more than you that is..! If I have a price in mind I am prepared to pay, then I will put that in and walk away.. On the whole I'd say I'm happy when the bid is won in my favour.. when I'm outbid, on reflection I'm not unhappy as I had based my bid on what I was prepared to pay/valued something at.. Won quite a few Xmas presents this way, worked a treat and meant Xmas budget when further and on more stuff I knew family wanted from their Santa list...

     

    Shopping for cars.. hohumm.. caveat emptor :huh:

    52 minutes ago, Mark101 said:

    Exactly what I was thinking.  I also don't believe it is as accurate as manually bidding.  I think it does it with a few seconds remaining rather than THE last second.

    Agree with all comments, my only thoughts on relying on the finger is this Mark, what if the internet connection has a hiccup or doesnt refresh as you want.... In a lot of instances, ebay now own the bloody auction software that can be used on their website!! Now where have we heard of a greedy vertical market before... Wonder if they (ebay) will introduce bidding on gumtree any time soon?

     

     

     

  5. Posted

    1 hour ago, David Horgan said:

    Agree with you there Met 

    Had a guy ring us in panic , been told you guys repair cars . Er yes whats your problem ?

    Cars chucked oil all over my drive . Get it down here then . He tows car down to see us . Last time it was serviced was 4 yrs ago , 3.0 litre V6 petrol S type Jag 128,000 miles . The oil filter was hanging on by a crumb of rust and that was the leak . It also had tape round it to attempt a repair :o

    The guy asked us if he could get his own oil from Asda , I told him to collect his car and take it to ASDA for the filter too :angry:

    4yrs and 40,000 miles on same oil , never heard it running but it must of sounded terrible 

    Charged him £50 + vat  diagnosis too :ph34r: 

    Bugger, bloody embarrassing to read this isnt it?.. Choose your cars wisely when buying is the clear message.. got to guess likes of WBAC etc will only feed similar vehicles through the block! They must be wetting themselves at the prices they reach too! Have seen some local franchise dealers (GM and VW) offer a lot of other marques for sale, some over four years old! 

    14 minutes ago, met said:

    It's easy to blame lack of maintenace on the 'potless' but it seems to be the norm at many levels. You only have to spend some time on car forums to see the lengths some people will go to to not repair their car properly. Bodging and fudging is almost an art form! 

    And when its held together with string and glue they limp it to a dealer as a part ex. 

    I've mentioned before but i actually had a punter that was convinced having an MOT every year classed as a service?

    Good few I have spoken too recently have absolutely no interest in what it takes to "look after a car", I wont use the term "maintain it".. totally lost on them, no interest in looking after them properly... Speaking to friends over Xmas.. this PCP lark appears to have gone potty; never mind cheap prices.. many mentioned the ability to "pay and forgot" about motoring costs as they just need to pick the phone up if it doesnt work!

    Just before Xmas one local leasing group was pushing out eight 520M sport Exec saloons, very good spec, delivery next week; £295 inc vat.. 10k pa/serviced/breakdown.. They needed to get rid of inventory before year end. But the price seems bloody crazy!..

    Are cars becoming as disposable as mobiles/ipads..? just a thought 

  7. Posted

    As you have spotted it, I'd say (from my own experience) you will see it all the more and each time you see the car!

    Had an Xc60 over the summer, graze on the front bumper, only real solution was a respray.. wasnt happy on the first job; refused it. Final job was better, but "I" could see it.. had to tell myself to stop being soooo pissy over the job.... Couple that had the car off me didnt even see it or remark on the pristine front end.. didnt drive it until they had paid and were collecting!

    I could see a slight colour mis match to the wings and bonnet.. but thats me.. I need to tune out a bit more..

    As the others have said here, its an older car and testament to the previous owners its been looked after..  Paint will age in the UV so it will always be hard to totally match the colour.. sure some other here know more on paint matching and metallic base coats, water base pearlescents etc etc

     

     

  8. Posted

    On 19/12/2018 at 10:19 AM, andymc1973 said:

    is there any other kebab?

    Filthy kebab is the highest grade, weapons grade.. totally tasteless after a good night out.. until the next day that is! When the good lady can track your whereabouts from the smell..

    On 19/12/2018 at 0:38 PM, Dave2302 said:

    LOL, if only I had an edit button :lol::lol::lol:

    I'm sure ya' all know what I meant ;)

    What was the drink? Cresta I think, its frothy man!

     

  9. Posted

    15 minutes ago, Dave2302 said:

    LOL, got my Xmas pressie to myself early, went and picked it up almost 2 weeks ago, 2004 SLK to add to my Benz collection ;)

    My works do is Sunday pm down the Dornie Hotel ............................

    Oh wait............................

    That's every Sunday :lol:

    Grand Dave, have a good one.. there should be plenty down from the valleys who have put "a good nailing" on their Santa list etc... No diving in the water once you have had a few..   Sherbets that is...

  11. Posted

    1 hour ago, Dave2302 said:

    :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

    It's 7:30 am, just opened workshop, sat here with my first Coffee, and you almost got me on the hook there :rolleyes:

    Nice one :D

    Perhaps sell him a Red and White twin wheel Sprinter pick up truck with jingling bells affixed to the sides

    Sprinter with a towbar, warm white hazard lights if my Mrs has anything to do with it 

    Sent my list off a while back.. already wrapped boxes under the tree.. Works Xmas party tomorrow..... Let the Mrs chose the location for the grits, I have booked a taxi back.. not many of us  ;)

  12. Posted

    4 hours ago, Arfur Dealy said:

    Yeah agreed...... anything S Line or black edition.....find me a cubicle types, come back all red faced wiping off the catalogue....

    Don't forget the hair gel, they all have hair gel, tight pants with no socks.... then there is the Friday gang, the sabbath, & their hangers on; in sandals who always bring along their bedsheets for some reason...

  13. Posted

    I'd go with the BMW billies at present.. Too many Audis on the road, like sh*t in a field here in the Peak borders.. So I'd hazard a guess the swing maybe returning to Bmeers to be a little different.. right now, I make it my choice; however you stick with what is working.. Lots of Audis dont seem to me to prove the buggers will sell well.. Gimme something different most days! Audis down the block do seem to get a lot of attention, all rubbing themselves and dribbling... silly silly money too.

    8 minutes ago, Dave2302 said:

    :lol: you may be right, my jocks buy Audi diseasels, I very rarely buy a Beemer, but the highland jocks are a much better breed of billy, no hassle at all, I have to actively encourage them to bring a Car back with a warranty problem and not pay me !! Try that down south :D;)

    Glad to read youre not surround by neepheads and SNP supporters..

  14. Posted

    On 16/12/2018 at 11:42 AM, Nick M.K. said:

    card

     

     

    Think you mentioned somewhere you are off to the snow soon Nick, only a week to go ~ Happy Christmas and a Prosperous 2019 everyone ... Thank you for all the advice and support.. Found a great place to be, learned a lot and looking forward to 2019. :)

     

     

     

  16. Posted

    Just now, EPV said:

    I don’t believe I would think differently if I had a pitch. It makes no difference. Just get on with what you do well and stop worrying about what others are doing. That’s what i’m saying. 

    Tend to agree here, you already mentioned keeping an eye on the competition / market place and tweaking anything you think is useful to suit your own business model; sound advice really as it works this way across most businesses. Putting energy into some of benefit will bring results.

  21. Posted · Edited by Area 51

    28 minutes ago, Arfur Dealy said:

    If you wear work clothes they are a work wear,, they are a fixed cost, if you run a vehicle for work that is a fixed cost, boots gloves, jackets, hats, socks, gimp masks, tea coffee sugar sweetener, these are all fixed costs.

    If you buy a car for 5k without any prep and sell it for 7k you don’t make 2k minus VAT & tax, you have to know your actual running average fixed costs. 

    You don’t have public liability? You don’t have an office at home, you don’t travel to auction you don’t have a computer, you don’t have a printer, you don’t have ink, you don’t have pens, you don’t service your allocated car, you don’t have break down cover.....

    Ooo you bean counter you...

    Wasnt it Harry Rednap who had his dog on the payroll as a cleaner, bank account in Malta only Harry could use the cash card on? :)

     

  22. Posted

    2 hours ago, Arfur Dealy said:

    Cheers :)

    Cheers Dave, thing is I'm not really a hands on type, its too much like real work.. Hahaha

    All good stuff to have, however if you are not into "tools" then obv not something you can fill your list to Santa with.. the tyre pump at any rate.. the air hose is also great for blasting crap / leaves out of corners.... I dont let valets near with hi pressure washers..   dont forget with a compressor "in d 'ouse".. you can gas up beer pumps.. as once the full floor is painted.. it goes without saying, if Carlsberg did indi motor trader facilities.. then they would be contacting you.. TGIF

     

  23. Posted

    10 minutes ago, Arfur Dealy said:

    Thanks.... This is probably a really silly question but how does the air get into the compressor, does it just suck it or do you have to buy something to fill it.  I have no understanding on how compressors work........ I would want one that plugs into a normal electric socket and just works....

    Just draws from the air around us through a filter into a tank, the compression tank. From there its held, under pressure and used via the hose and head (Vortex/air tools) by pulling a trigger.. if you are sticking one in the workshop, you could have hose around the side of the walls so it doesnt get damaged and compressor in a quieter location.. Check out the garage near you for ideas

     

  24. Posted · Edited by Area 51

    16 hours ago, Arfur Dealy said:

    I'm no mechanic, not interested in fixing things in the slightest. I know faults from the 31+ years of paying out on repairs. I don't do the leg work, I make my money in buying the stock, presenting it and selling it my way. 

    Can you post the clip link ?

     

    Business process in the nutshell AD, bottle it and sell online.. use the spare office as a stock room! PS ~ Slick set up there, very well done.. when is big enough too big? when its big enough. Qudos there dear boy ;)