Mark101

I have read and re read this and still cannot work out what you're trying to say apart from you like your little jump pack

+ 1 on Trade Centre, avoid

Buy that man a pint - top work.

Sorry Jimbo, I mean 6 for the month not for the day. Plenty in the pipeline I reckon.

Well done mate - race is on still - I’m on 6 but I’ve won 5 today.

AT is a guide and not a very good one IMO. There are always hundreds above and below what they suggest - I just stick to my price, prep right, cover warranty claims and earn a living. There is always a buyer who appreciates a clean and well prepared car with warranty. I have literally just chased two away asking for a discount - they'll be back.

Communication Problems (possibly the best Fawlty Towers episode and definately the best sitcom of all time). What's that? This? this is mine..............

People asking for a test drive with no intention of completing a purchase. Since moving to the unit, one advantage is that the cars look and stay cleaner for longer and a test drive (expecially when wet) means I have to reclean the car AND the floor. A clear sign in each car window has done the trick. Test drives will only be performed after a sale has been agreed. If during the test drive the car does not function or perform properly, you are under no ibligation to complete the purchase. I can of course exercise my discretion but so far, it has chased off two billies from a test drive although one did buy (and had a test drive after agreeing the value) and the other is back today to test drive the car he couldn't on Saturday becuase I told him I need to know if he wants it first.

At £3400 hammer, I'd be up at £4,995. Less tip, less prep, MOT, Service and Warranty provision VAT et al, I would be looking to net £1000. Out of that, I have about £100 rent per car per month and TAX, so in reality - £600 after everything (presuming it never comes back).

Professional lookers, knowitalls, chavs, motability, people expecting the moon on a stick (cheers James) for under £2k. Has the cambelt been changed on a chain driven motor. Penniless, greed, disrespectful, these cars are notorious for.... (why look then). Whole families coming to view, kids running around, have you got a toilet, need to check the insurance, how long have you been doing this. My family ringing me every single day asking me to do something for them (because being self employed means I have all the time in the world). People wanting to come to the auction and save a fortune.

No doubt, I would have sent all of them to our partnered workshop and picked up the tab.

I like AT, it is my best value platform for ROI. I wish it was cheaper, of course I do (especially when it is quiet). But when I have made £8-10k in a month gross, 10% allocated to advertising seems reasonable - without advertising I would have sold nowt. There are far worse burdens on my margin than AT and they’ll never go away - VAT margin scheme being the most obvious. It pissed me off first time around and it’s pissing me off now. Having said that, if I wasn’t VAT reg, my unit would be costing me 20% more, so swings and roundabouts.

We all see things differently I suppose, but for me we all talk about performing a new advisory free MOT, at least a basic if not full service, a full PDI, a valet, a handover etc etc. Therefore IMO (except the sold as seen customers, or issues noted on PDI), I think it is fair to say that save for checking the oil and fuelling, a customer should not expect to have to put his or her hand in their pocket for repairs OR maintenance for 3 months/3,000 miles (my warranty period). for example, I wouldn’t send a car out with brakes not expected to last 3,000 miles, or an overdue/imminently due timing belt, water pump and tensioner. Caveat for me being failure caused by obvious misuse (hard to prove) or accident damage. Or a customer who refused to pay my retail price and as James EPV would say wanted the moon on a stick (I use that a lot now). I’m talking about normal everyday genuine customers, who turn up, like the car, like me, pay my price and drive off happy - they’re covered, no questions, no quibble - bring it back for us to inspect.

The manufacturer has the first and their only one bite of the cherry. We are dealers, we add value, reassurance and some come back, otherwise, why exist. We make money on each sale and it is fair that we have to pay some of that back due to failure. I win on most, break even on some and lose on others. If at year end I’ve earned a wage and covered my ex’s I will never complain and even lose money to honour what I consider my obligations. No, I’m not a millionaire but I sleep well and people like buying from me because they think they can trust me and they can.

No, Sarah - well at the weekend anyway.

I did another one last night - the first from the new unit. Got someone coming tomorrow on the DS3 from Cornwall.

I did the other week say warranty is 1 month upgradable to 3 months for a ton - he paid a ton.

A clutch in my opinion is fundamentally a wear and tear item but personally (bring on the flames), I believe a customer has a right to expect that clutch to last at least to the end of their warranty period. Customers are always paranoid about clutches and timing belts from my experience. The only customer who pisses me off are the ones who know they are buying a sold as seen car (yes I know we shouldn't) and are happy to save £'s only to start spouting selective CRA at me. I have no issue paying out for almost anything to someone who has paid my retail price, my margin is high and they only see my "value" when they have a claim. Today, I have fitted a £354+VAT + Labour shock absorber to a TT. Am I pissed off, no, would I rather not, yes but I had £1700 across that car and just sold his PX for another + £1200. It's my job, the reason I rarely allow to be chipped and the reason people come back (the PX went to a repeat customer). I would have acted the same if it went on day 59 or day 1. Each to their own.

Tongue in cheek, usually a tenner for brace and jack

Or pay a £1 and get a replacement from a breaker.

Fingers crossed mate - a bit of extra bunce would be just the ticket. Write a couple of comms deals and my unit rent is covered.

Nice one Lucas - congratulations. I guess you only have £193,083 to invest now. EPV was right, this trade can turn £200k in to £100k. Seriously though, good luck.

Once a twat

It was Lulu & Take That. For the record, I like Benji - I think he has taken more flack than he deserves and I hope he sticks with it/us. There have been far worse questions asked by people with far less manners and humility. I agree his first post about a car he was going/had/hadn't bought was a nonsense but this post I feel was fair. I recall having a spat with EPV early doors but it's just advice/banter and I take nothing personally in any case and in fact we both speak as I do to others on here quite regularly now. I just want Benji to prove us all wrong to be honest. We are all on the same side of the fence, fighting the daily battle and all that.

I moved in yesterday afternoon - will send you some pics once I get sorted. That's the good news, bad news is bloody slow here, except for expensive (German) warranty claims.