Mark101

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content Count

    4179

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    31

Posts posted by Mark101

  1. Posted

    3 minutes ago, grant8064 said:

    Just done a dipper on a 10 plate hatch with 6 owners.

    They justified the high owners to themselves and still went ahead. Why? Only new shape model about in good condition for that kind of money. A lot of people don't care if the plates new enough, it looks good and, most importantly, they can get it in their budget. It's gonna impress the neighbours a lot more than a one owner 57 plate old shape in their eyes.

    That man speaks the truth

  3. Posted

    Of course, everyone (I imagine) likes to advertise 1 owner, low mileage, FSH cars - but try and buy them right!

    Who really believes that a car with NO history has NEVER been serviced - it is bound to have been serviced at some stage and just the owner(s) haven't bothered to keep records.  It's up to us to "convince" sorry, sell the car on it's merits and the car is surely only as good as its last service report and level of service performed.

    Would I sell a £10k with loads of owners and no history - no but would I sell a £2,995er - prepped right, full service? then yes and generally make a better margin because of the lower procurement cost.

    Full service history is subjective - 1 stamp in the book on 100k could be the cars "full" service history - it doesn't say (although it is interpreted as such) FSH to the servicing schedule.

     

  4. Posted

    4 hours ago, NoMargin said:

    Did you rub down with 400/600, paint blend, and clear the whole tailgate, good job. Wasn't there no money in smart repair? Thought they done quite well

    600 to 1200 - it was only lacquer peel but to lose edges had to flat more than I hoped, hence taking out base coat.  Then 2k the whole boot (I try and clear coat whole panels where possible, saves a lot of fade out and mopping).

    You can make good money and I enjoy doing the odd car of my own but it's no fun (for me) doing 2-3 every day, for ever and a day.

    1 hour ago, Screenman said:

    None of the wealthy successful car dealers I know ever get their hands dirty, get a good smart repairer in the loop and you can spend your time doing what should earn you more, buying and selling cars.

    I have fewer than 10 cars at the moment, so have the odd few hours most days where I can turn my hand to repairing my own cars when perhaps there isn't enough in a car to justify outsourcing or the affected area is so minimal.

    On the other hand, I am happy to outsource valeting, that is serious graft for less than 50 notes. I also outsource all mechanicals and PDI because I am not a mechanic.

    Successful? no, happy? extremely 

    • Like 3

  5. Posted

    34 minutes ago, s and b said:

    nice

    like it

    those scales can they do dope:lol:

    Best thing I have bought so far (Smart repairs is how I started in the trade originally)

    Heavy stuff = Bodyshop Under £3k = I do it

    Here's before and after - passable 

     

    After.jpg

    Before.jpg

    Looks like I have been rumbled :blink:

  6. Posted

    Because there’s no history doesn’t mean there has not been any servicing, just that the owner was unorganised or not bothered about keeping the records up to date.

    You get a feel for a goodun or a totter and if the car looks right and the price reflects the lack of proveable servicing - I’m in

  10. Posted

    It's quite easy to rack up a few owners - demo (1), first real owner (2), sold to dealer, maybe registered? (3), second real owner (4), dealer, third owner, etc (5).

    This is how I sell it and a direct copy and paste of my response to my last customer whim asked about number of owners:

    Customer: Concerned about number of owners:

    Me: I completely understand; what I would say is that often a multiple owner car is good news - what does everyone do when they get a new car? They clean, polish, service, get new tyres - all that lovely stuff. Single owner cars often start life like that, then the owner gets complacent, forgetful and the car just becomes a mode of transport.

    Does that help?

     

    • Like 2

  12. Posted

    I stand by my comment - get some Type 1 down - probably the cheapest option and this stuff comes usually varies in size from 50mm down to dust and will compact down almost solidly - it is after all what is used under blockpaving and tarmac driveways.

    Can be quite dusty until you've had several good rainfalls just to warn you.

    Work on 1 ton to every 10m2

    This is the stuff under my Land Rover in our woods - approx 3-4 tons there.

    IMG_1004 (2).JPG

  13. Posted

    I have done well with the two classics I sold (in the end).

    Series Land Rover saw the usual jokers - viewed and asked if I would end early for £10k and when I said yes (I wanted £8k) he said he would go and have a think about it and called me every day to say he still wanted it - never did buy it, someone did buy it for £8.5k so still happy.

    Other was a Rover P6 V8 auto - paid £3,500, resprayed it myself and sold for £9,000 a month or so later.

    I really rate Ebay for classics and odd ball stuff - I suppose that’s because AT doesn’t really have much of a classic presence? (About to be put right here)

     

     

  15. Posted

    Results from the short survey for those who are interested.

    I suppose the results were predictable reading the above posts.

    Not used the portal under "other" - are they any good?

     

    –
    Autotrader
    53.85%
    7
    –
    Ebay
    30.77%
    4
    –
    Gumtree
    0.00%
    0
    –
    Motors
    0.00%
    0
    –
    Pistonheads
    0.00%
    0
    –
    Exchange & Mart
    0.00%
    0
    –
    Facebook
    7.69%
    1
    –
    Other
    0.00%
    0
    –
    Other (please specify)
    7.69%
    1
    RESPONSES (1) TEXT ANALYSIS TAGS
    Showing 1 response
    fuck off twat
    4/3/2018 7:11 PM

    Didn't start a new thread in Private Lounge because it is Anonymous anyway.

  16. Posted

    trade vet - top idea

    If I were you (and I don't know how deep your pockets or credit lines are), I would set up a rival WBAC (big signage/I thought about setting up webeatwebuyanycar.com) - inviting people in and value their car, I generally tell people that I will pay 10% more the WBAC (after their final valuation) upto £5K and 5% thereafter.

    Then, regardless of what dealers are saying (or not in this case), put them for sale at sensible money and you're on to a winner - either trade or public?

  18. Posted · Edited by Mark101
    Typo

    28 minutes ago, EPV said:

    Fortunately for me I don’t have to rely on other people to tell me what’s working (in their opinion) 

    No one needs to rely on anyone’s opinion but most people on here have tried and tested many methods and are far more experienced than me.  I would be a fool not to consult what has been an extremely helpful and transparent group of fellow traders, add that to my own findings and maybe, just maybe I come up with a winning cocktail without wasting money where others have tried and been disappointed.

    • Like 1

  19. Posted

    3 minutes ago, EPV said:

    Thanks mate. I have a £12k limit on one Amex, a £20k limit on another and a £9k limit on a barclaycard. I have access to a credit line I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t leaving myself open to a problem down the line. My accountant confirmed what you have said so that is the way I will go I think. 

    Yay - I got something right - off to tell the wife :D

    • Like 1

  20. Posted

    Is this yet another thing that has changed since I last offered finance - I am sure I applied for a CCL online and it came through straight away in 2003/4.

    I used to self finance my cheapies on the basis that the odd bad deal wouldn't break me.

  21. Posted

    22 minutes ago, Matt Reid said:

    Check what your personal credit card can do. I get letters from barclaycard offering transfer into your bank account at 0% for for 12 months with a 3% fee. so cash 10k, £300 fee, and no interest to pay for 12 months. it wont buy you loads of stock, but its certinly cheaper than an overdraft  

    Good shout Matt

    How weird....this just came through by email.

    Try these James, I have a £12k limit with MBNA

    IMG_0570 (1).jpg

  22. Posted

    13 minutes ago, EPV said:

    Sorry Mark, I have no idea what this will prove. As you say, there are plenty of opinions and a one click answer will prove nothing other than some people will say EBay, some AT, some their own website and so on. 

    It won’t prove anything useful, particularly if you’re looking for an answer on which platform YOU should use. All you can do is read opinions and make your own mind up. 

    I'll put you down for AT then :lol:

    I know very well the reasons for each portal but I for one have lost track on this sort of vote AT vs. Ebay vs.......

  23. Posted

    Because there are so many opinions on this and they got lost in the vast number of threads, I have created a survey which requires just a one click answer:

    Click the link (not done this before so bear with me).

    Please just tick the one box which you consider to be the best portal to advertise cars, you can decide on the criteria for "best"

    https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/FB9XV2T

    I will post the results in the Private Lounge after 48 hours (as I cannot embed this survey as I am not a site administrator).

    If you prefer not to take part, I understand but this must be the simplest way for a comparison without all the emotive comments.

     

  24. Posted

    9 minutes ago, Arfur Dealy said:

    I thought they were mostly fronts for people smuggling and money laundering...

    The one I use wouldn't have time, they are always full to the gunnels and the money they take makes me think the money laundering is a front for the car wash :D

  25. Posted

    1 hour ago, met said:

    I'm sure I remember reading a few months back that they were all going out of business because the council were going 'crack down' on them dumping dirty water filled with chemicals down the drain?

    I think that is why disused petrol stations are favoured - they probably used to have a jet wash facility with staged drainage filtration.