stockedup!

Total opposite here, one in first 10 days(Squeaky bum time) and then 17 for the rest of the month(16 of them in 16 days) so finished on 18 which is poorest number this year but mainly good profits and swappers to go on with. I always have 32 ish ready for sale and another 10 awaiting prep. Keeping overheads low is paramount.

Not forgetting they will chip the bollox out of the car when they get there!!

Is there not one you can download Nick? Should be some online. https://www.pdffiller.com/252524157-form-vat-410-pdfpdf-form-vat-410-pdf- Is that any good?

Are the lights too bright or is the paint a bit rough(Don't mean to be cheeky) and cars need prepping properly(Clay bar, buff etc)?

Money back and keep some money in the tank for such times!

I had a very shaky start with just one in the first 10 days but it has come back and averaged a deal a day since the 11th until yesterday. There is always business getting done, just got to keep at it.

Well said EPV. The job is a bit patchy but that is how the job is and always has been. There are a few that are absolutely flying this month, good luck to them....we all get our turn.

Beware of rear axels also.

Thank you for your input gents, appreciate it.

I am currently using a Nikon Coolpix digital camera for my car pictures, the external photos are not bad but the interior pics are not good(Sometimes blurred). I am thinking of going down the digital SLR route(A simple one to use, I am not David Bailey)on a tripod. Suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

I certainly wouldn't consider paying for it even though they can be very persuasive on the upsell. I have had their full premium package on a free months trial and sold one car off it(the cost would have been £500 according to them). I get loads of emails that amount to nothing!

Nothing like this job to keep you guessing, did 1 in first 10 days and 12 from the 11th until today puts me on 13. Well off the pace but given the start I had I would of been glad to finish the month on that(I might finish on that, one never knows). On target for the worst month of the year to date though first 8 months were very strong!

There is.....if no ones looking it won't matter how cheap the car is. I always tend to stand my ground if the car is nice, no point working for nothing IMO.

All depends really, if you need the cash then maybe. If your stock is too dear then maybe. If it is priced right(Or too right/cheap)put them up, I have had them in the past where I have bought them cheap and not asked the right money for them and they have sat around, put them up and have sold. You really can't work this job out! Also ca you go and replace the stock you have for significantly cheaper money? Probably not.

I did the move 12 years ago now and it has worked well for me. If you don't do it you will probably have the "what if" hanging over you. I went for it because I honestly felt that I could always get a job within a main dealer if things didn't work out for me. Good luck to you, I hope all goes well for you.

If you are at a point where you can't take it anymore where you are then fair enough but please don't think that you won't have to really put the hours in when you set up on your own ...you will. The failure rate is pretty high for start ups....though you do have a good start being able to piggy back onto the existing business. I have a friend who earns decent money in a full time job and sells a few on the side. He had a decent run and was all for packing his full time job in. I told him to just give it a bit of time, he has had a quiet couple of months and can't thank me enough for keeping his feet on the ground. The 48k you are currently earning, does this include the cars you are selling on the side?

I had one on a 5 series just a few weeks ago. I parked the sweet running/sounding car up, went back 2 days later and when I started it the noise was horrendous. Lucky I wasn't driving it. Cost about £800 plus the dreaded to do it, very common on the 2.0 litre diesel.

I think I had an over zealous rep this year, they sharp got the message!

Hmmmmm, see what happens! I think this will be a bit like a dog with no bite and they will have to be very careful how they price/dictate to people. I have already had a discussion with Ebay about them trying to force me to join with Gumtree.

The job has always came and gone in the 30 plus years I have been doing it yet we always say that it has never been so quiet. We look at whatever we can blame to justify why we aren't selling(Weather, kids off school, Christmas coming up, Lady Diana popping her clogs etc) Look at the time and recap on the basics because when you have had a busy time they tend to slip, rephoto cars, walk around them and have a critical look etc etc. It is temporary(I hope lol) Keep the faith

Thank you for your suggestion, appreciate it.

I am seeking advice on which are the best lights to put in my workshop so we can see cars when cleaning them. There is little natural light, I did put some led spots when I first went in but they are no good. The roof is quite low (12 foot), I have seen the led square panel lights which seem pretty good but is there anything else that people rate. Thank you.

I have a few shitters here mind

I had a customer on Sunday who came to see a beautiful Mazda MX5 I had for sale. I spent well over an hour with him, test driving the car for 20 mins and he seemed very happy with everything. Whilst out on the drive I found out he had been looking for about 3 months and had seen quite a few cars, I was confident he would buy mine. When we got back I asked him if he was happy with the car and he said yes so I motioned that we go and do some paperwork. I was amazed when he said that he didn't want to rush into something.....he had been looking for 3 months ffs. I reminded him he had been looking for a while and he had just told me he was happy with the car.....he was hardly rushing into it. As a parting shot I asked how bothered would you be if you went away and someone else came and bought it. He was confident that that was not going to happen as the car had been advertised for a while and he was going to make a decision "in the very near future". Well, you guessed it, a chap came yesterday and bought it within 20 mins and took it straight away. The best bit, the guy from Sunday has just been on the phone wanting to come and have another look....."I am sorry sir but the car has sold"...…..you could of heard a pin drop followed by"I really wanted that car"...…..I Love this job LOL