Mark101

Thank you Dracon

I don't know how Tom, please explain.

Like everything, I never say never as never is a very long time. The first two months (post AT) were record times for me. This month has dropped off quite a bit but I have also ditched Ebay to give Car Gurus a fair chance, I'm curently sat on 4 for the month sold and gone, which is ok (if I pro rata that for a full month) but not brilliant. I am debating giving AT another month with increased stock volumes (I was only on 5+2 with them and stock around 20) but I am concerned becuase those trades local to me say it is quiet generally so this may not be a true reflection on how good/bad a platform is working. I am going away in a couple of weeks but when I get back, I shall decide on which way to go following one full month with just Car Gurus. That bill is not missed though but if it double my sales volumes, I would welcome it back. Let's see what happens by month end.

Or perhaps a holiday would be more appropriate?

Taking debt to fund growth is smart. Taking debt to fund lifestyle or feed an ego is dangerous.

They make their money on reciprocal business. You have to place a few cars on finance with them to achieve a stock fund. Next Gear are far more expensive but they will fund 100% including fees, delivery etc and there is no reciprical requirement. You get 120 days before they take the full balance but be wary of their % of cost payment tranches at 45, 60, 90 days etc.

There is no set commission. You tell them what you would pay for it and sell it at your usual margins, exactly like any other stock (minus the investment). You could even tip them the equivalent of the buyers fee if it oils the cogs. Be prepared, they will look at how much you sell it for and will think you are ripping them off - human nature, not realising all of your costs involved.

I actually think that their risk is minimal (as a funder). Each loan is secured against an asset at trade value or less Each dealer signs a PG securing that loan against any personal assets Compare that to an unsecured personal loan and which is the more secure? That said, from the recipients standpoint, I can see how that can quickly escalate into a problem if cars do not sell within the allowed terms.

Bought a Golf from Network Rail sale (via Manheim). Car has a 70 mph speed limiter fitted (as well as a sticker on the boot saying as much). I am bound to find someone who says they wish to track day the car and therefore it is not fir for purpose. Anyone managed to remove a limiter or is it a VAG.com thing? TIA

Nice one. Me, I haven't written an invoice for 10 days - funny old game.

Beacuse selling cars is a slightly more honest way of making a living I am joking Tango

I used to love repairing black textured plastic when I was a SMART repairer, absolute doddle. I had the trims done on a Cherokee last week all the way around plus a crack in the bumper for £300. Repairer had to order the texture and the paint in because there are so few cars now with textured black/grey bumpers.

He could visit @Dave2302 for a couple of weeks and stay in one of his cabins. Tell him to decline any hot tub invitations though He does seem to know his onions that man.

VT with a link and conversion to Sage for VAT margin. Awesome.

I just make a mental note of the vendor who dropped the car at auction and then say. The car came from: Sytner BMW, or Listers who ever it was. It isn't a lie it just wasn't directly from them. Most people ask me where the car came from, depending on the customer, my answer varies accordingly. Some I can be totally straight with, my kind of customer - Auction Sir and if any other dealer tells you otherwise, they're probably not being entirely honest.

Thanks Rory

Do you boost all your posts Rory or is it your super popularity and organic sharing?

Not enough Pip Time of year and all that - £4,495 min maybe even £4,995 with that mileage and colour combination.

£2,500 here if you want it

I bet the batteries were expensive

That is the biggest downside to Ebay, best price offers at stupid times of the day night. I soon realised I would never hear from them again once they had sobered up.

It's too soon to tell if losing Ebay has any impact but certainly losing AT only had a benefit, more sold less the big bill. Could be coincidence and never say never but for now AT is the last platform I would revisit. I'm trying Car Guru's now and to be fair, when analysing the ones I can (i.e. checking feedback, looking at old emails etc), they have quietly been delivering a few. I just hadn't apportioned any sales to them because I was on a free package. I really don't like their price markers but I do like the invoice they send me.

Recession, no recession, Brexit, no Bexit, diesel no diesel - I care not one bit. 80% of my stock is "need" stock and only 20% is "want" stock. What do I mean? The 80% of my stock is stuff that people need, regardless of the economy, they either need a car or they don't. For the other 20%, there is usually someone benefitting from a downturn in the economy, so worth having a couple of "want" or desirable cars.

Going away at the end of June - can't bloody wait. Have a nice time Row

Just checked my VT CDM and it says I have sold 18 since 1/4/19. Stock currently on 19 but I am trying to increase that to 25 by the end of next week. Since 1/4/19 - I have no AT bill and have just cancelled Ebay too (22/5/19 was last day). I like to try one platform at a time because I am hopeless at remembering to ask "where did you see the advert". This way, I know 100%* where the lead came from. *caveat - I have FB feed throughout at £25 per month, why would I cancel it? Hoping for a busy week next week. Have got someone chasing me down on a 207 CC but wants to view today and I want a day off. Also have someone else lined up for either the same 207 CC or another similar one I have. I'm surviving. Last month I "had it off" this month, I am paying bills. This is year 2 for me, so it is nice to have YoY comparison. Trouble is last year I did 9 in May (with no VAT margin), this year, I am sat on 8 with a week to go (but am now registered for VAT, so need to do 2 more to compensate).