Mark101

I have only used it the once before the C3 (that BMW), so I am hoping it doesn't need cleaning yet. It still made it smell like a swimming pool though

You're right of course.

Everyone I speak to.... MOT station = immediate availability Wheel Centre = 50% of usual input Mrs (Main Dealer) = bored (and she never gets time to be bored) Bodyshop employing 20 Full Timers = 12 repairs month to date Me = Phone has only rang once today on a car (cheap PX shitter) Am I worried? Not really, been looking to buy some shares and take advantage of a downturn. It will come back.

About £400 ish for Sage and VT. You pay about £10 for every 50 or 100 (can't remember which) VRM lookups as this his hosted by a third party (they sort that for you too). Much better than copying VIN numbers to invoices and stock books. Set your sales price and automatically allocate invoices to each vehicle, so you always know your SIV. I got them to create a new report which takes the VAT margin into account. You can quickly see what changing the price on a car does for your nett margin.

Ask for David http://www.bbsol.co.uk/Vehicle-Trader-Software.html

Try VT (Vehicle Trader) it is very very good and integrates with Sage when you take both packages off them. Works out VAT margin at the touch of a button and submits digitally (therefore compliant). Also shows SIV, Turnover, Forecasts etc - in fact, far more than I am capable of doing because I am a novice Sage user.

I used to have a fogging machine, basically like a dry ice maker used at Discotheque. It came as part of my SMART repair kit and yes, it looked impressive and it was "revolutionary" back in the day. The fact is, as with any air freshener, it fades over time.

I think mine was only about £65 - £85 off Amazon Prime (NEW) Your car will smell like a swimming pool and DO NOT breathe it in. Park it outside with everything open for a day.

Yes, pretty much. I certainly don't sell anything unless "we" have MOT'd it. I am happy to let a car go with 10.5 months+ providing "we" MOT'd it. 9 Months MOT is a bit shitty on a £10-25K car though.

The only thing I have used with some success was an O3 Generator. The thing is deadly leathal mind. Plug it in for an hour or 2 with all windows shut, then open fully and don't go near it again for a day. I sold a BMW cab 18 months ago that stank of smoke and used this. It came back in PX 1 month ago and it still smells of O3 (Ozone) but no smoke. Tried it on a C3 a while back though and for whatever reason, it hasn't done such a good job. Perhaps I need to do it again but the thing is scary.

Who would have expected a screen and pdr guy to suggest such a thing Ok, real example: VW Passat £7k 1 previous, 70k with FSH (VW), grade 2 to 3 overall (my opinion not Auction). Needed a valet, 4 wheels, MOT and Service. Valet done MOT done Service done Wheels left. Sold in 3 days to a guy who had been looking for months? at £6,800 but accepting the £200 discount towards a wheel refurb. Now, I agree - I would love to have everything prepped to leave within 5 minutes but whenever I have done this (and you can call it Sod's Law) - the vehicle has sat around for 2 or 3 months and thus required a re-MOT. Also, I have lost count of the amount of times I have "got away" with not refurbing wheels and sold within a month at full asking price. All that said and in total contradiction to my own statement (for my own pride) - I would love to have all my stock 100% ready, makes the sale much easier and I know 100% what my SIV is. I get told on most occassions that my premises, stock and attitude is amoungst the best around these parts. Of course, they could be blowing smoke up my arse but then again, it could be true. My current experience is the phone not ringing, not losing customers through a lack of prep.

My cheques generally clear overnight now. Banks are starting to scan cheques and email (all automatically) to the issuing bank. Cheques out and cheques in, max 48 hours for me - Santander.

Another reason I don’t like the 500 which appear to self destruct around 50k. Hope you wash your face with it mate.

99% of the time, I do this myself. I have also started doing this on minor cosmetic prep (wheels, very light scuffs). I explain to the customer (if they complain). Yes Sir, the wheels need a refurb but I have left them to allow the customer to choose the colour. We always MOT after POS so that you get a brand new FULL MOT. This has a few benefits. 1) Helps cash flow 2) Sometimes people do not care about a scuffed rim (if it is minor) 3) I sometimes use a refurb instead of discount or I will say, "I will knock off £200 if you accept the wheel condition for example." In which case, I haven't actually given any discount. MOT's are always done, no room to negotiate on that point.

Sounds like you won

It may seem tough but if BCA rolled over every time some said "it was an accident, my kid got hold of my phone, my phone froze or whatever" can you imagine how many people would try and back out as the car isn't what they hoped or they simply changed their mind as a better car was coming through later on. I have nearly done it when my mouse was hovering over the bid button, so I just moved it well out of the way. On that note, one of my frustrations; I generally try and buy 3 cars at any time and have a list of suspects around 10 times that many (i.e. a list of 30 to achieve 3). The ones I "really" want tend to be further down the running order, so I often underbid on the first ones (unless they come at my cheeky bid) in the hope of winning the ones I really want. I have lost count of the number of times I have chickened out of another bid on the slightly less desirable stock becuase a better car is coming and ended up with neither (because everyone was chasing the same car).

You are funny Casper and so polite

Were you?

Just remembered a CRV, not taken in PX by me but came via a Main Dealer. Prop shaft removed by previous Owner at a guess prior to chopping in as had a typical noisy rear axle - fixed via the usual hack.

It also depends on the quality of the storage. Red diesel is diesel with a dye, that's all but, often found in farms, plant yards etc where storage of the stuff isn't anywhere near as clinical as a busy petrol station and tends to sit around longer. In boats, diesel bug is a big issue when leaving the boat moored without an additive - trick was to brim the tank. That said, imagine a half full rusty bowser at the back end of the cow shed - that isn't going to be too healthy.

My first car MkII Escort cost me £290, that wouldn't buy a wing now. Never forget my Dad making me tell the insurance company that my 1.3 Popular model had a twin choke Webber carb and a K&N Filter. Insurance was £410 (in 1991).

Again, on the banger money PX - I just don't bother driving them. If I have cleared a couple out of the retail and allowed £500 on the swapper, I just scrap them for about £150 or whatever I can get and still make a nice drink out the overall deal. This often happens when a dealer down the road gets all fussy about their PX and bids scrap money, customer gets all pissed off and dealer ends up making nothing whereas; I have still made a fair chunk and just have to make one call to get the junk lifted. Short sighted customers - all hooked on how much I allowed on the PX.

I didn't realise I was a Vegan, amazing.........I don't drink diesel either.

No but I could use a few for myself

The only thing I would do differently is to have started doing what I do much sooner. I have been fortunate to have seen rapid growth in the last 18 months (since starting again). Imagine where I would have been if I had restarted 10 years ago.