c_cars

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Posts posted by c_cars

  1. Posted

    15 minutes ago, ExCouncilJobsworth said:

    So you could take that opinion...bid yourself and tell matey to do one as presumably its just a gentlemans agreement in place...

    This is why I only had a few trusted dealers that I’d do it for.

    Plus, the people you’re buying for would usually be too busy with other things hence the need for a buyer in the first place.

  5. Posted

    It’s a good business especially if you can do your wage on a Monday and be home by mid afternoon, though I’m sure online buying has had an effect on it now.

    I had two extremes amongst those that I’d buy for; a Mercedes specialist who was fussy to extremes, the other a supermarket that’d just give me a list of vehicles and max bids. Thursday was always my best day, Birmingham in a morning and Walsall in the afternoon.

     

  7. Posted

    1 hour ago, BHM said:

    :lol:

    Bloody hell TV, I thought you started positively but then you ended up even more negative than me. You’re right about the punters though, umming & arrring, often turn up without a few quid for a deposit (thankfully the nearest cash machine is 50yds away), sometimes drag the deal out a week and the number of the general public who are simply lying, bullshitting, deluded bastards is unbelievable. 

    I honestly can’t think of a worse time to get into this trade; all of the above plus the amount of ‘traders’ that are cropping up everywhere that’s only going to get worse when the post-Christmas blues rear their head.. 

  8. Posted

    46 minutes ago, Lakeside said:

    I got close once! Sent a mate up to BCA a couple of years back to bid on a few cars for me as I was busy. He thought he would be funny and found it hilarious to prank me and buy a Salmon pink Corsa C out of UKCGR no reserve for £75. Owed me about £120 all in with fees! To be fair it wasn’t all that bad and probably could of made a drink on it but gave it away in the end to someone that was desperate for a car.

    Reminds me of when I got ‘stuck’ in BCA Paddock Wood a good few years back..

    Had delivered a car just down the road and was asked by a dealer mate to get to Paddock Wood to buy a car he had a customer for; perfect for a lift home I thought.

    Got there, stuff was making through the roof and I had a bit of a panic on as my car was a few from the end, didn’t want to public transport it home. 

    Couple of lots before mine was this old Proton thing on a H or J plate, clinging on to a few days MOT. In the hall, ‘who’s got £100? No? £75? £50? Who’ll start me at £25?’ One hand wave later and I’m the proud owner much to everyone’s amusement! Shows how long ago it was, I got it out of the auction, fuelled and home for £100 all in then doubled my money to one of the boys for £200.. 

  9. Posted

    On 10/12/2018 at 6:22 PM, Mark101 said:

    Even Online, I like to sense the buzz around a particular car - i.e. let others be your gauge as to how good the car really is.  No one bidding or very slow, it is probably in a poor state, either mechanically or cosmetically, so no proxy bids here (unless I have been to see the car beforehand).

    Same here, all our buying is done online so this is by far the way to do it, coupled with a last minute sniper bid!

  10. Posted

     

    1 hour ago, Mark101 said:

    I always say (if asked), no history does not mean it has never been serviced and a car is only as good as its last service anyway.  As we don't have any evidence of the servicing, we are performing a full service in order to ensure the car is fully up to date along with a brand new MOT.

    In the past I’ve said that no book rather than an unstamped book can often mean that the previous owner has had the car serviced and book stamped and simply not put it back in the car. 

  12. Posted

    2 hours ago, BHM said:

    Had a Sharan, valeted to death, replaced the chewed back seats. It’s next owner turned up in a ‘farmed’ Ford Ranger, asked me to remove the 5 rearmost seats “cos me and the wife won’t need them, I’ll chuck them in the barn”!!!, threw in all of his filthy gear out of the back of the Ranger into the boot area saying “this is the last time this car is clean”. 

    Sounds like our commercial customers; we go all out on prep knowing full well the day the van leaves us is the cleanest its ever going to be in the future!

  13. Posted

    6 minutes ago, JimmyGlen said:

    I wonder how many times you'll be asked why its had 'so many owners', as if we ever know that!

     

    'It's obviously a good car as its so popular sir'

    £1495 all day long AD, future classics market and all that, I'm sure someone will value it at that and at the money it owes you there's no reason to give it away.

    • Like 1

  18. Posted

    9 hours ago, lastyboy said:

    Exactly my take on things. I do a bit of finance, earn  a bit of commission but at same point I dont really push it.

    Same here, it’s not a massive thing for our business.

    Even though finance is advertised on our website our advertised rate is 5.9 flat and that gives us enough commission on the £5k to £15k stuff we sell.

    Everything goes to MotoNovo first simply for ease of use, if they fail there then it’s straight to a broker. Near and mid prime still gives a little commission depending on the balance and anything sub prime that we’re glad to save gives us a token gesture of commission.

  19. Posted

    1 hour ago, stockedup! said:

    It is all about what you sell(Not any old shite) how you sell them and who you sell them to.

    There is money to be made.

    This.

    Had a roadside banger site for a little while in exactly this market before Farcebook Marketplace and plastic traders took over. 

    Everything was mechanically prepped right, valeted to the max and every customer had their expectations managed; was told it would never work but the only reason it stopped was loss of the pitch due to re-development.

    Like Arfur says, done the right way, easy money B)

  20. Posted

    On 16/11/2018 at 9:46 PM, trade vet said:

    Come back/where are they now.

    Whatever happened to Betginge,I think he was a sort of angry version of BHM......good value.

    What about Green Giant,he gave me some stick,came over as the dealer principle of Jack Barclay but I suspected he was an F and I man at a Skoda dealership.

    Rt Honorable Jim Reid,he ‘spit the dummy’with me,I think he went on to better things,probably now advising Elon Musk

    Blast from the past some of those names, but likewise I think some of the current crop are equally as memorable:

    Best Newbie : Definitely EPV and his progression this year 

    Most Entertaining Newbie : MrV / Benji

    Best post: I nearly bought an Astra

    Most frustrating post: Anything about AutoTrader or where to advertise

    Most helpful member- Nick MK

    Outstanding technical knowledge award : Dave432109876

    Most Annoying Subject- where can I buy stock-I'm new to the game

    What Do you Mean? Really : Lucas!

    Best alternative way to sell cars : Arfur Dealey 

     

  21. Posted

    3 hours ago, boring dave said:

     

    With regards taxing then if you di these on a DDthe dvla take away your right to do it ever again if they catch you

    Apparently if you cancel direct debit payments a certain amount of times they withdraw the facility? 

  22. Posted

    22 hours ago, met said:

    If its all about the cost, buy a cheap ticket to preston and drive it back. You can get some bargains train tickets these days if you are flexible and avoid rush hour. Then drive it back? If you can manage to get a ticket in the afternoon you can have a nice easy drive back late in the evening (which i always prefer). 

    Dont shoot me, just a suggestion? Lol

    No question about it, this is the way I’d be doing it, would probably have had it back by now!

     

    • Like 1

  23. Posted

    1 minute ago, twerp said:

    May I ask why ?

    Sure is a long Thursday with only one lane and the site is a tired mess but some good buys from there

    +1, always done well out of the Renault Retail line there over the years, likewise when it was in Tewkesbury previously; another favourite auction of mine back in the day. 

  25. Posted

    13 minutes ago, Rory RSC said:

    I have not been to an Auction in person for ages might have a day out myself aswell actually some point miss the places, and the canteens.

    Same, Brighouse breakfast was one of the best. 

     

    20 minutes ago, Area 51 said:

    Loads good advice above, the keys will go onto the cars around 5mins before they move to auction hall, some will be open though.

    You're not insured to start them, so be careful, I reckon it would be frowned on.

    Short list a couple of other cars your not so interested in but know something about to get the hang of how it works.. checking them over/bidding/prices.. Watch the auctioneers, these guys are real sharks too... bouncing prices off the wall etc Compare "sample motors" to the BCA reports, you maybe surprised how inaccurate they are.

    Once the keys are available on the vehicles, a driver will be along smartish whilst the car is still in the line up.. pop the boot/bonnet now, but aim to give it a good going over before this if you going to bid on it. The ones youre keen on, check it isnt leaving a pool of oil behind when its moved..... ;) as above, treat it like a private purchase. 

    If its one of the first through of the day, it wont reach reserve and they more than likely wont let it go; however they can "mysteriously" come back through an hour later unannounced when the auctioneer thinks bidders are warming up!..

    Dont get distracted; check the start time of your auction, get a coffee and find check the ones on your shortlist, Be prepared to walk away..

    I think Nick MK frequents Blackbushe so perhaps Monday is his day and for the price of coffee he may show you some more..

    If possible hang around until the end; you may see some silly bargains!

    Best advice of all, enjoy it and take it all in.. its a learning curve.. You will be going back again, I assure you.. that's not an assured report BTW

    Very good advice there!