JimmyGlen

Wow! Feel the hate for FB! We do pretty well from it, both from a customer retention and from a lead generation standpoint. Surprised to read all the negative comments, but I suppose a lot of it is down to what you sell, how you sell and manage the leads. It's a far cry away from simply loading stock onto a website and putting the kettle on. Stevie

Don't always expect us to round your new car payment down to the nearest hundred pounds. The part exchange car isn't worth what's owed to the finance company. Your negative equity isn't our problem, we aren't here to pay your shortfall. Always be decent. You wouldn't be any other way if you went to a nice restaurant - why treat us any differently. Not all car dealers are the same. Could probably go on, but hopefully this well help

LOL - ROFL

Kwality - link doesn't even work - flying start!

Hi DAJP, do you manage your GoogleAds account in house? How do you track your conversions?

We're Scotlands first and longest established - BuySure Dealer. Basically, we've gone for it full blooded. In round figures, we're around 30-35k'ish a year with RAC. We put a min of 3month warranty on everything. Even stock thats literally just our of Manufacturers Warranty with 9k miles on. We focus on cars under 70k miles (most are under 50k) to allow us to put their 'value' product on. This basically gives the customer (and us!) an amazing level of cover and a claim limit which is the value of the car (today it was a 36.5k Boxster for example). 5 years we've been with them and thoroughly enjoy the head space it gives me where after sales are concerned (the odd one still rears its head), as well as the additional sales I feel it gives, especially with distance customers. We have over the past year, really been working on selling up, and its working great. We find it easy to sell up something we believe is a good product, and I think customers pick up on that. With that in mind, so far this year, we've turned this from a cost, to a profit generator. You need to be strict with yourself though and 'not just be thankful for the sale'! Ask the customer, present the product and overcome objections! Taking the RAC up on their products, just for iffy cars, isn't going to work. They aren't stupid and will spot a suspect 'burn rate' a mile off. Work with them, embrace their products and prep standards and it really does work. Stevie

Very positive so far. Finishing up on Friday for two weeks. We close for the fortnight, so a few before we close the doors is always nice. Had a thumper of a May and a great June, so have a bit of 'fat' on us if we don't manage to get a few on the board before/after holidays. We always managed though Stevie

53k.... Bet all the other rogues are shitting themselves.... not

How this firm are still in business is beyond me. You only need to google them to find scores of threads across dozens of car forums about how shady they are! They've had some cars for sale for years and years. I certainly dont think they'll be closing their doors for a measly 53k.... Money certainly doesn't seem to be in short supply!

I've yet to see decent photos off a turntable. Lighting, yes. Back drop, yes. Good equipment, yes. Turn table? Do you really sell that many, that turning the car around under its own power is that much of a hassle and drain on time?

If we see a mileage discrepancy of any sort, pre p/x or purchase, we just leave it be. It takes up too much time 'explaining'. Plenty of cars out there without, so why bother.

Just need to run it by the wife... Do you have a card?

Will you take a px?

Hi Steve, welcome. I'm fairly new to the Forum, but we've been in the business for a long time. We are also based in the central belt. I've given thought to being a 'specialist' before, as it will give you a head start over other 'general' garages. My go-to marques would have been Porsche and Lexus (I'm passionate about both), but it was the supply of stock that seriously hindered this option. Buying from 'enthusiasts' and selling to 'enthusiast' means you'll be squeezed from both ends. Sellers looking for top dollar and buyers, comparing your car with others on a 'national' level. Not really issues you get with 'normal' car buyers. Although it can still happen. I'm a devout petrol head, but it rarely pays. Its good to have enthusiasm, it helps, but prep, price and reputation is more important than wether or not I'm into cars. Best of luck, it sounds like you have your team primed and ready to go! Stevie

Whats your best price

TV, did I? My ageing memory must be failing me! I did buy it several weeks ago, but its been away having a boost issue sorted. Thankfully without having to split the bloody thing in two to allow access the turbo actuators... I'm also guilty of frequenting the forum after a few beers, which doesn't really help. I'll check my post history next time! Rightly or wrongly, we've settled on 16985 to get the ball rolling. Can always bring them down. Putting the up, well, thats not just as straight forward! Cheers, Stevie

We were on the free package and were selling from it. Took the plunge and signed up for their 12 month contract at 260pm (20 cars) and the enquires stopped. Literally stopped. It was so bad in fact, or account manager tried to get us out of contract which didn't happen. We duly paid until the end, with little/no change. Few months after coming out of contract, we appeared on their site again, on the free package, and we are back to selling cars off it and get a measurable amount of leads from it too. Its a funny old game, advertising!

We've just done that with an 8k mile '97 Lotus Elise (23k), but I dont think the same can apply to a Range Rover?

Dont think it was nicked AD, I dont really think good cars often are. Used CAP and AT to give me a feel for where I hoped we would be retail, and deducted a chunk as at the end of the day, it is a LR after all. Recon is always fairly serious, even with good ones. Then you need to make sure warranty is covered, as theres always something. At this age, RAC wont cover it all. My research suggests 15985? I was keen to find out if I'm right or wrong.

Evening guys, I'm usually fairly adept at pricing our own stock, but just how far do you think we can go with this? As per title, with annual LR servicing upto 2017 (300miles ago!) Silver, Cream & all the goodies. Just a lovely lovely thing, but a touch tricky to price. Obviously looking to maximise, as its a total one off. Look forward to input! Cheers, Stevie

Hi @justina3, it was me who posted it. It can't be review driven, as there was a private first in the search when filtering by 'Recommended'. I'd love to know what algorithm AT use to power this search filter. Stevie

March finished up on 18 retail, plus around half a dozen trade deals. Saturday was a nice finish, two sales, two purchased and a hand over. Not bad considering theres only one of us in on Saturdays between 11am and 4pm I felt like I'd earned my Coronas that night Two on the board for April so far and a nice line of on-going enquiries. Stevie

Hi Mark, I'm on board with your train of thought here.... I was on a dealers fb page, and they had literally 100s of reviews, and for a 40/50 car site, seemed a little out of sorts. Read a little further into it, and there it was - the big cardboard cheque you mention, which I can only presume is backed by the same approach to review 'harvesting'. If I were a buyer, it would make me take their reviews less seriously. We have a fair amount of good reviews across Google, Facebook and a few others, but each and everyone has been because the customer has felt we 'deserved it' and not because they've had something to gain. Its a shame the review system is being manipulated like this, as for a while, it separated the good guys from the bad. With us being in the former camp through a shit load of hard work and looking after people on all levels. And what about the 'fake' Google review?? Have you seen those yet?!! Grrrrr.... Stevie

Hate using stock cars, as dont like giving the guys any more cleaning than they have already. GT3 for Highland Runs / General Hooning Around / Odd Track Day ISF for daily Track Prepared (but still road legal) for track days 330d M Sport Touring for the Mrs 02 Audi A4 Avant work horse

Evening gents, sorry, been a bit busy and just catching up with the post. Funnily enough, just read that Pendragon have posted a 44.2M loss. Surprising that, when they're selling their stock for peanuts! On top of that, sold a 35k miles 65 plate MINI JCW tonight over a JCW the customer had transported up from an EH branch down south with 12k miles on it. Customer said their car was cheaper (even with the much lower miles!!) but the car was a monster. Great to see their model doesn't fool everyone, and that it appears not to be working terribly well for them!! Stevie.