stockedup!

I have had a great start to September but August was an absolute disaster, one of the worst months I have ever had in a very long time!!

Come on then...… you are at the start of your trade career, in hindsight would you do anything different. I wish I had gone into retailing vehicles instead of just trading much earlier in my career! Anyone else???????/

I have had no increase in sales with CG than when I was on the free package

I found them incredibly helpful and fair when I had dealings with them

I had a query the other day about a highly rated dealer who had quite a low star rating being at around 3.5 stars, I was told that this was because the dealer responded to all of his reviews? Seems they make it up as they go along! I think we know about relevance because we use it all the time, but there will still be a fair number who don't search as this!

Wouldn't be me doing that but there are more than 1 ways to skin a cat I suppose

I think Autotrader are fucking mental putting a 9 grand retail price on this car, it is 8 years old FFS. You have a 10 plate done 100k ish similar type V50 for £3995, I honestly think sometimes on some cars ultra low miles can really jack the price too much.

The moral of the story is use bona fide people to do your work...… pay peanuts you get monkeys. I hope the OP comes out okay here, it I s all a learning process and 30 plus years still finding new things relating to the job.

Just sat on the veranda of a villa on holiday...…… pissed right on my bonfire JD LOL

Just shows that you should never pre judge even though we all do.

Thank you for starting what has to be the best thread I have seen on here. Never has a topic made me reminisce as much as this and fucking belly laugh too. I tell you what though, there aren't many jobs like this one..... the highs and the lows, what a fucking ride. I do miss all those proper old traders/dealers, if they liked you they would tell/show you a few tricks and it was like finding gold dust. The one about the white dog poo...…… LOL LOL LOL

When I joined a while back they took the yearly fee straight away, I thought that was the way it worked with DA. Good luck

The variables are enormous and, particularly when you get back in the years, the difference between cars is further apart. I have spoken to AT about this time after time.... they should stick to advertising and not try to be car dealers!!

Well said JD, we are experts in what we do..... if they had the knowledge what we have they would be doing what we do! I had an experience recently of getting new double glazing and I know as much about that field as I do about brain surgery!, What a fookin shark tank that is but whilst I experienced some shite and bollocks I had 2 very good experiences. It was good for me to be the punter on a reasonably salty purchase, something I don't often get to experience. I did give both companies positive reviews even though I didn't buy from one of them.

HPI everything before you part with your cash …….

Some people know absolutely nothing about cars, to be honest I take it as a great opportunity to explain in detail the benefits of buying from a professional independent rather than a chancer or a huge faceless corporation. If only I knew of a good professional independent...…..

Not a single car sold over the weekend with just 2 enquiries! Pissed down pretty much all day Saturday but yesterday was nice weather but still nothing.....hey ho that's the way it goes! On 21 so far this month but most of that was done in the first 2 weeks, we will never work the job out.

I wish I could say the same Grant, my views and sales have DROPPED since going live with them a few months ago. I know I only spend £350 a month but sold just 1 this month makes it expensive per lead. Have been on to them and they can't really give me a reason why I am doing worse than when on the free package with them!

I find Ebay/Gumtree a waste of time to be honest. Autotrader all the way for me particularly when coupled with strong reviews, sold 21 from this month with 18 coming from AT(The others were 2 from referrals and 1 from CG). I need to get FB sorted as I am way behind the curve with it. The sales have come from people within an hours drive but there have been 3 that have gone over 200 miles away. TG, may I ask why you don't use Autotrader?

I have been guilty in my early days of making a good living and not having a life! As you get older your priorities change, it is all about getting the balance you are happy with as it's not a dress rehersal.

Autosmart and Nielsen mainly but always willing to give other stuff a try. G101 is a brilliant allround cleaner and terrific value as it is still effective with a 10 to 1 dilution rate, £50 plus VAT for 25 litres around here!

https://northwestlaundrysupplies.co.uk/ This is where you can get the Lemon Oil Arfur. I use Brisk Fabric cleaner from Autosmart to clean first then a shot or two of this just to freshen when a punter is coming.

The best stuff I have found is a lemon oil from laundry suppliers. It is £30 a litre but you only need a couple of squirts into the rear footwells. I get loads of comments from customers saying how nice and natural the scent is.

I upgraded in May and am doing worse than when I was on the free package in terms of stats they give you. EBAY/GM has had its day, I have been with them for years(EBAY)and had some proper results years ago but, alas, it seems the party has ended. I was with MOTORS for about 14 months a couple of years ago and didn't do great with them either. Someone mentioned earlier about being on AT solely or being on all the others, I think this is a fair comment. Overall I do well with AT, better quality enquiries but it is a salty old bill to pay. My next venture will be onto social media and see what this brings, I am way behind the curve I know but better late than never!

Down to you Tony