sparky

​When it comes to 'stored searches',I must admit I love a bit of old school BCA

​In all fairness it does seem a lot quicker. However, if there was an option to be able to use the old site then I would, and I'm not a technophobe.

​Where are you going to get the cars from?

Option 2 please.

Is it just me, or does anybody else Manheim's new website is a case of one step forward and two back? No doubt the old website needed a facelift but the beauty of it was it was quick and easy to use and you could scan through a catalogue in no time. Whilst their new website looks the part with some nice features, IMO it's painfully slow and a bit on the frustrating side when it comes to going through an entire sale. For me it's a not a hit and is closer to miss than maybe.

I'm currently in the process of switching my website provider and as part of my new whistle and bells package it comes with the ability to upload adverts on facebook. It goes against my better wishes but having been tracking a number of dealers (including Uncle Jim), I guess it's a case of if you can't beat them, join them, although I may need to get a shave!! Edit. There is a dealer on facebook who I've been following for a year now who has a pitch that holds about 40 cars (nothing fancy) and used to advertise on AT, until this morning I presumed they still did. Their facebook stats are amazing, over 77000 likes so as you do, just done a quick search and can't see them advertising anywhere else online, certainly not with any of the major players. Their stock profile has improved and judging by the amount of news cars they list on facebook, are doing the business. I'm amazed by this, thoughts anyone?

Good luck. I made the decision to leave AT at the start of year. It wasn't an easy decision and one that I took a long time over but I took the plunge and put my eggs in the Motors/Ebay basket. To cut a long story short, it didn't work. I'm now back with AT(I've even taken out i control), it's more than paying for itself and I'm getting on like a house on fire with my new local rep who has actually been a great help and a real positive. Sadly Motors is being dumped and I'm 50/50 about ebay. One thing I'm absolutely certain about though is that I can't live without AT, so rather than fight it I'm now embracing it.

We can learn that the pie is big enough for us all to have a nibble at but if you get too greedy you may well (deservedly on this occasion) become poorly.

GG's Friday rants are a web highlight of the week for me, so I too wish you a speedy recovery, because the sooner your better the sooner your back ranting

The majority of my stock is diesel, has been for some time and I can't see it really changing. On certain types of car I do buy the odd petrol (which I admit is worry free and a breath of fresh air, apart from Vauxhall) but here in North Wales folk still want 50mpg with little road tax and forget about the real cost of achieving this. Then you have those that are upgrading from a diesel, the chances of them switching to petrol is a likely as a Man Utd player going to Liverpool. The more dealers switching to petrol the better as far as I'm concerned.

Absolutely, it's like comparing your local cheap sunday cavery with a proper sunday lunch that may cost a couple of quid more bit is edible and tasty. There is a market for both, thankfully it's not all about price.

Sorry to report that I'm parting company with Motors and going back over to the dark side. I really wanted it to work and in terms of what it costs, it does give value and has done for the 3 months I've been on it but it's not doing anywhere near the business that AT does. Therefore I see little point in being on 3 platforms with 3 monthly dd's as I'm never going to get rid of ebay so sadly Motors has to go. And it is sad because I desperately wanted Motors to work for the obvious reasons and because they are nice people to do business with, a hybrid of the two companies would be utopia. Like many I guess I've had plenty of beef with AT, thankfully the meeting I had with them today was very positive, so whilst I'm gutted to be eating a bit of humble pie, it's given me a clarity of thought that can only come through a first hand experience and I'm now glad to put my advertising conundrum to bed.

That would be my guess. Speaking to a couple of auction houses these cards seem to be be more and more popular.

I've never had a stocking plan before, I've always used my own money and the bank, but I've just signed up with Next Gear and BCA. My main reason for doing this, if I'm using my own money I want a certain margin in the car, If I can't mark it up by X then I don't bother. As we all know buying the right stock at the right price is never easy and seems to be getting harder but that doesn't mean there is not a butty to be made if it's for a car you have total confidence in that will fly out. So say for example car A is worth £4500 on the pitch, with my own money I don't want it owing me any more than £3200 (I'd rather wait for something else to come along), but if I'm using someone else's money, maybe I could stand it owing me £3300-£3500. OK, it's not making a fortune but there is a profit it in it all the same and a profit that I would never have had using my own money. If they are only used once a month they have more than paid for themselves. These cards seem to be being pushed quite strongly and talking to those involved it's not just the minnows like me who are taking them out. Anybody else got one of these auction credit cards or got any thoughts on them?

If you think you have been stitched up by the dealer then you should also let dealer auction know. Small comfort I know, but you at least you know never buy off said dealer again. If ever I see a car on there that I fancy but is located in the Wallasey area by a company whose name has royal links then I know the car has been described by their very own labrador and stay clear. I take it the C4 is a diesel?

Good on you. Keep us updated.

Drive in reverse out MOT bays are still ok for new builds. Thanks William, I will definately be using some sort of finance scheme for the equipment. Shaun, I mean gaffer I never thought of a chess cafe, cracking idea:)

This. Got to love AutoTrader. The 30 day cancellation notice doesn't kick in until the start of the month, so as |I cancelled on the 5th of November I'm now stuck with until the end of December. My own fault for not reading the T's and C's I guess but deary me, if they are that deperate for sixty odd quid, then to be frank, feck em. Any chance of me going back to use said product has just been blown out of the water by the greedy buggers.

Thanks Andy. Got a company called gemco coming out to do a survey so will take it from there. Dependent on how that goes don't be surprised to see a new thread in a few weeks asking advice on a car wash, cafe or storage units!!

Keep cooking James

Thanks Uncle Jim I might just take you up on that.

I agree. Hence one of the reasons why eurocarparts are having it away.

So as the job goes quiet and the little grey cells tick over, thoughts go to other aspects of the car job. To be fair it's something I've been thinking about for a while but now the stars and planets seem to be lining up so it's time to start putting some flesh on the bones. I've got plenty of land and it's freehold so no extra costs there but would need to erect new buildings, put footings in etc and obviously kit it out so set up costs are quite high. Ideally, well no it's a must, I want to do MOTs so would need to take on staff as changing a window mech on a renault megane is more or less the limit to my mechanical powers. Obviously MOT's are not the earner they once were but they are still a need rather than a want and that's the type of business I want to get into. So, if you have a workshop, how do you find it? Thanks.

No. The last time I spoke to Dragon was when I asked how to change the VAT rate from 17.5% to 20%. They basically told me to bugger off as I wasn't paying for support, can't argue with what they said but the way they said it left a lot to be desired seeing as this was the already my second purchase from them. Reading your post it sounds like things have not changed much. Thankfully I managed to do it myself. If mine crashed today (please god no as I'm only 7 days away from year end)) then I would look at other options as there is no way I would pay them the thick end of a grand a year, that actually makes AT look good value for money!

Yes I am and I don't think there is a lot in it. Motors is a touch more expensive but neither have direct debits that cause you sleepless nights. That said, if I was forced to go with one or t'other (motors or ebay) I'd go with Motors as part of their deal gets you on carsitenetwork as a 'gold' member.