sparky

Start selling electric cars, I'm sure they will love you Seriously, hope it goes in your favour.

If i did that it would end up in the body shop!

I know a couple of dealers who have made similar moves and are doing fine. The savings you talk about are huge , especially in the current climate. I bought my pitch 6 years ago and had a rates and mortgage bill of £2000 per month. At the time that was ok as firstly it was only £500 per month more than what I was renting for and secondly and the job was easier, a lot easier IMO. 3 or 4 few years ago I started to get twitchy about the job and started paying lumps of my mortgage, and whilst my stock has taken a hit, my mortgage and rates bill is under £500 per month and that's covered by a sub let. I can't tell you how much of a weight off my mind it is to have one of the two major overheads reduced significantly (if only the other one could be reduced) and that for me far outweighs the reduction in stock. And it's for that and that reason alone, that I'm in. Go for it, just make sure you buy yourself a 'do not disturb' sign for Sunday mornings!

Balloons. Balloons sell cars.

Classified ads only. There was a thread on recently which gave an example of why ebay auctions are not a risk worth taking IMO. I tend to put a few of my cheapies in COPART, especially the Polish friendly ones

That is quite frightening. You would have thought under those circumstances they would have jumped through hoops for you. I guess how you get treated depends on how much they value, or need, your custom.

Well it's been a month or so and as far as RAC Car leads go and it's been quiet, very quiet. Apart from the fact it's free, has anybody got any positive news as far as RAC Cars is concerned?

Impressive. As has been said, any chance of a link? I already follow Jim and Umesh and whilst I'm impressed with what they do I have my doubts that it would work with the more bread and butter stock. I mean, would sweeping sexy camera shots and 0-60 in Renault Grand Scenic really cut the mustard? Anyway, I'm going to order FBFTF next this weekend and I might even see if Uncle Jim can spare me a few minutes next week.

Simple answer is yes.

Two 308's have just made over cap clean in Belle Vue.

Wow, that's Razor sharp.

I used to buy quite a lot from Kinross. A good auction with great staff, sadly I was finding cap average was no longer buying the cars (it needed to be cap average as well by the time you factor in fees, transport and every car needing brakes), so I don't bother anymore. Do you drive up there? That's one hell of a journey.

And it's crashed again. Can no longer get annoyed as it's happening so often. Meanwhile, BCA, SMA and Aston Barclay are running like a swiss watch. What a pathetic product the new website is (even some of their staff agree), whilst simulcast as about as reliable as AT's prices. That's me done with them.

Out of interest, what car was it? Whatever it was it sounds like a high mileage diesel with no history.

You know when you nick a car and you think, why the hell was that so cheap, what's wrong with it? That's how I feel about Vose. There is a catch somewhere, there has to be, he is far too bloody good for us and the league we are in. Apologies about the chess, blame the tyre kickers!

Whatever the rights and wrongs are, is it really worth the grief dealing with that type of character? I would have the car back, dispose of it again and let some other poor sod deal with your man.

Strange we all see things. Personally, I'll only ever by an Astra Diesel with 1.7 unit in it.

Sadly, the Vauxhall Diesel scares me to death. The Insignia is starting to drop down into my price bracket and I'm led to believe they are not much better, if at all.

It's been a quiet end to the month so come Saturday, after a morning of not handing out a single key but giving out countless directions to the sea, taxi ranks and holiday camps whilst informing the odd cheeky scouser that I don't have a toilet or public phone, I decide for the sake of my metal health I need to get out of here and cheer myself by going to watch the mighty Wrexham play some sexy football. I need to be leaving by 2pm. At 1.45 pm a couple of folk walk on the pitch, after I've locked the keys away a couple walk on to the pitch looking at some Peugeot Estates I've got, but they want the option of a sixth seat. In that case, the 208 and 407 are of no use to you, it's the 307 or 308 you want. 'Hmmm, but I really like the 407' says the man, and goes over to said SW's. It's 1.50 I get the keys back out so that your man can look at both cars. He likes them, but goes back to the 407. I remind him it's a 5 seater, 'hmmmm, but I really like it', then adding once again he needs 6 seats. It's now 2pm and the man isn't showing many buying signals and I'm doing my duck in a whirlpool impersonation. I may appear calm to your man on top, but underneath I'm paddling like feck panicking that I'm cutting it fine for kick off. Another 5 minutes go by (during which time it's confirmed again that the 407 is only a 5 seater) and I start to reason with myself that I'm going to miss the match. Another 5 minutes go by and he is swaying to the 307 and I have given up all hope of going to the match. Work comes first I tell myself and I go into sales mode. I quote him for finance, and after the penny drops that the 407 is not a 6 seater, never has been nor never will be, he tells me he will take the 307 and we fill out a prop. At 2.22 PM I make a decision to go the match and having avoided North Wales' finest I manage to get into the ground at about 3.10pm, just after the first goal goes in. We win, we play like Brazil, I'm on a promise and life is good. The following morning I go in for an appointment (all sundays are appointment) and I prop my 307 man. 10 minutes later he gets accepted and I make the call and this is where it all goes pear shaped. He has changed his mind, he doesn't want a 6 seater and has been told by his expert relative that all Peugeots are made by the devil and he will not be proceeding. Nice of you to let me know, and how kind of you to make me miss the all important first goal of the game. ****! 30 minutes later the phone goes. It's the man who is buying a Grand Picasso, or should that be, was buying the Grand Picasso. He gives me some cock and bull story and asks for his deposit back. I say no, he says fine and that's that. This is not the start to my bank holiday weekend that I was hoping for. Needless to say, the one and only appointment I had never turned up and when I rang they simply told me something had cropped up, like butter wouldn't melt and it's not like us car dealers have anything else to do. To say I was not a happy bunny is a bit of an understatement. That's it, the bank can have their keys back, I'm off to stack shelves, get my life back and not have anymore idiots in my life. After a lovely Sunday out, finished off with a lovely Roast Dinner and a few pints of Boogle Doodle I had calmed down and on returning home had confirmed another appointment ( I was having the Monday off) for this morning, god loves a trier and all that. Boom! First appointment dealt, lovely local people as well. An hour later, another Boom and then another on a cheapie. Life is good, the job is good. What a difference a day makes, 24 little hours.....

As you were probably aware JIm, I was looking into setting up an MOT testing station. After much research and number crunching I've decided against it, the points you make played a large factor in my decision.

Just out of interest, where did you see the car at? To be honest, I've no idea what that sort of stuff is worth. On the other hand, I've an idea what a bread and butter sensible mileage 2007 Focus Diesel Estate is worth that went through BB a couple of weeks ago. Well I thought I did until it made just shy of double it's cap clean money. Unbelievable Jeff!

To be fair, I do think there is still some value to be had from the block, certainly in the car job anyway. Ok, it means trawling through catalogue after catalogue, sitting through sale after sale, having a large stress ball sat on your desk and many an 'awaiting preparation' sticker to hand, but with BCA and Manheim having 20000 units on their books surely there has to be some profit out there to be had.

I must admit, whenever I've watched a few van sales trying to buy a kangoo I'm amazed at what stuff makes. Who the hell is buying it?

Just out of interest, what sort of stuff does he stock?