Mark101

Don’t bog yourself down with this nonsense. for example, I have had a bumper May and June yet my fellow traders are having a mare. My average time in stock is 20 days, what bollocks this is. I sold a Passat in 6 hours and have a BMW for 86 days - the average means Jack. you just have to trial and error - for example, I will never buy a Fiat 500 again (time in stock), never another Land Rover (cost to prep and warranty), never an odd ball colour, etc etc. Averages are a pointless exercise, look for problem cars and avoid them. Above all, go and buy some bloody stock instead of looking at stats which are skewed by large franchise dealers whom offer supported finance, extended warranties, service plans etc (all stuff you can’t). Whilst you’re wasting time looking at stats you’re earning diddly. Buy something you might make a few quid or lose a few quid but at least you’ll be doing something meaningful and learn something tangible.

I only care about my own stats and keep a log of what sells quickly with healthy margin. Nothing else matters to me.

I look at your site quite regularly James as we have a similar sized business and I also like how you present your stock. I don’t even need to click the links to see which cars you’re talking about because I see them every time I click your site. This doesn’t help much because I think you’ve done everything you can to present them as best possible - I think they’re just the wrong cars, types of cars that people can buy very cheaply and that are ten a penny. I have similar issue (as you probably know) on a BMW convertible (I know it’s the colour issue). Car is spot on but it just will not shift - I’ve increased the price by almost a grand and it can wait for that one person. Has a cover on it and is in my garage next to the TT convertible (trying to preserve the perfect roofs). I get to the stage where I hate a car when they’ve stood so long but actually, I still love the BM. Probably sell better down your way James

£150 for a bumper - perhaps allow another £50 if it’s a technical job?

I think you'll be surpised....it can only get better - surely?

Top man - how are you with gearboxes?

Best sitcom ever - the end.....

Yep, adding 500's to the Land Rover banned list - mine took forever despite being the right spec and colour. Pink was very brave Simon (or very cheap )

I feel your pain - I'm sending the RR Sport to the block (whenever the bloody V5 arrives) All sorted but I don't want to be selling a 158k Land Rover of any model - not worth the agro but helped me shift the sticky Fiat 500 by accepting it in PX

Reminds me of my childhood, Christmas lights wired in series instead of parallel - part the fun checking all those bulbs

I know you prep your cars well and go to town on the ad, so £10,995 allowing £500 wriggle room for either tyres or sensors if pressed. You need something like £2k margin on something wearing a Land Rover badge in my opinion.

I was thinking £120-£140 but £250 sounds too much

OK - Here's what I would do. Tyres = nothing, use that as a bargaining chip at point of sale (it will add more value then than it will now) Privacy glass = I agree and it transforms the car, do it. Parking sensors = on an RR, if that's the only fault you've got a goodun. Apart from tints, walk away and get on sale. The little tweaks can be made at POS if someone shows any objection.

I get the same idiots by phone, email and text - I also have good people contacting by phone, text and email - The only ones I ignore are the ones asking for a discount before they even see the car. Last time someone offered me £5,500 for a £6,000 Tiguan - I said no and that at £6k, I am actually undervaluing the car and going to increase the price to £6,500 (which I did).

Credit to them letting you know they weren't coming, genuine or not, still better than a rude non-shower

Unless you spend a shed load of money on click per view, Google ads etc, then don't expect your website to earn you ANY incremental sales. What a website has done for me has added credibility and assurance that I am "real" to customers looking at my cars listed on AT, Ebay etc - the website earns it's keep by people clicking on my AT adverts, saying visit dealer website. Without this function, who would even look for me and for that privilidge, add another £700+ per month to your marketing budget.

Depends on the car value vs. customer expectations. Sold a £2,500 - 207 CC (PX) with fault remaining = customer couldn't care less. Got a £6000 - 66k Tiguan with FSH, faulty sensors = I will fix

+1

Surely you don't, really - wow

Speak to Peak Perfromance (Kidderminster) on 01562 745431 - Mark is his name and he is pretty good but also quite busy.

Thanks for the compliment Trade Girl but no thanks for the extra income - I absolutely hate doing paint, it is just a means to an end on my own stock.

I doubt it - it maybe that the door shuts are in original condition because of a lack of exposure but have you never seen a car being painted at the factory? Doors off or at least open and robots applying paint finish. Can't see a robot discriminating between a door shut and a panel. I reckon during re-finishing, door shuts don't get re-lacquered because the doors are shut during masking and possibly they weren't damaged and therefore didn't require and work in the first place. In my experience, a rrepaired panel will have more paint than factory anyway.

No, first profit is the best profit. I sold a Passat on Friday and took his older (2 years older) Passat in chop. It had a full tank, so planning to use it, stuck the dog in the boot and went to handwash next to the place I always take my pictures ready for the net and walk the dog around the park. Thought to myself, I will run this car for a week until the tank is nearly empty - sold it that afternoon, first viewing.

Or exotic cars - Porsche, Mercedes etc

Yes