c_cars

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Posts posted by c_cars

  2. Posted

    What, 6k-6.5k would you say?

    To be fair we are in a pretty well to do village with loads of old people should so be worth a go! 

    I often get people come in and say 'what autos you got mate?'. You show them and they never go anywhere with them!!

    I get exactly the same here, always get people asking for autos then the minute you have them, no interest! 

    Ended the week with a nice 3 car day today, 1 90 dayer for cost, 1 60 dayer and 1 only just hit the site not even been photographed.

  7. Posted

    Always done well with the 100k+ ex-fleet stuff as long as its got a decent history and looks good value for money compared to everything else out there; think my highest to date was a 213k 3yr old Seat which the phone didnt stop ringing for! :D

  8. Posted

    I've found the best way to do it is to get the new car handed over and sent out on the original plates, that way you've got your money (and part ex) in. The majority of customers are understanding enough and don't mind taking their new car away, being told that when the new V5 comes back to them they can put their new plates on. Not had anyone object yet anyway... 

    With the DVLA system being a little quicker now a quick HPi of the part ex to get the original reg number means that you can get their swapper prepped, photo'd and advertised ready for when the plate transfer is complete!

  9. Posted · Edited by Chris

    100% with everything said here by Jim and the more 'recognised' faces.

    Have frequented here a lot less lately due to the questions being asked, the kind of questions that 15+ years in the trade I've had to work hard to find the answers to.. 

    Just waiting for GGs input on all this :)

    * Edit, how about a closed forum for us bonafide dealers, maybe something that requires say a VAT number to use? *

    • Like 6

  13. Posted

    This is the only time of the year I don't mind seeing reps; the Christmas alcohol stash is looking pretty healthy at the moment!

    Generally all the reps that visit me know that I'm pretty much 'maintenance free' and if I need them I'll call them so tend to stay away!

  14. Posted

    Totally agree with everything Jim said, been using Facebook as our main stream of advertising since January and its working well.

    As an example, I put a 'Just Arrived' list up this morning (listing brief details of 10 cars with no prices) and spent £50 on marketing the post. I've just taken a deposit on one of the 10 cars after clearing the customer on finance with him signing up and driving away on Sunday; all this from one Facebook post and seeing just 2 photos that I emailed him of the car. 

     

    • Like 1

  15. Posted

    Quiet day yesterday, phoned a few of the Friday night email enquiries but surprise surprise no response.

    Had one couple walk on asking about poor credit finance on a Mini late yesterday afternoon, took a prop not really expecting anything positive, got them on with MotoNovo so signed them up today. Apart from that a very quiet weekend...

  18. Posted

    Very quiet here in the Midlands, normally track for a minimum of 1 a day and on the 8th day I'm only on 4 for the month so far.

    Don't know if anyone else finds this but as its quieter the customers seem to be getting more difficult, putting it bluntly, when its quiet the idiots always come out!

  19. Posted

    Started washing cars on a Saturday at a local used site when in college at the age of 16 and from there there was no going back. Instead of following the university path that I was intending I got more and more interested in selling cars and the bug bit so instead of washing I was selling on weekends and after that instead of university the job became full time.

    At the age of 18 (back in 1998) my first company car was a part ex 1988 MG Metro followed by a string of 214 & 414 Rovers due to my age for insurance and the fact our supplier was a local Rover dealer!

  21. Posted

    Further to this, and it is a bit of a bodge:

    VW Reflex Silver touch up paint (on the shelf pre-mixed in Halfords) is a very good match for a lot of silver alloys. If you've got a couple of small nicks this will certainly take the eye off them, as we know most cars sell from an overall impression from a couple of feet away. If it shouts kerbed from a distance you're into discount or repair, if it looks presentable then most people won't look closer.

    Don't judge me please :D

    You'll be telling us you use Tipp-Ex on white cars and permanent marker on black next.. :D

  22. Posted

    Sadly some good some not so good ! Previous experience with some them they try to get out of paying for anything - even when genuine claims for failure and NOT wear & tear. 

    Had good experience with a couple of the companies but they wanted more volume - understandable but from the outset I told them the possible numbers of possible up sell etc , so decided probably about 10 years ago not to use anyone , I prep my cars to a very high standard anyway so never had any big claims anyway but tell customers its 3 months /3000  miles mechanical & electrical breakdown warranty [ Explain what's covered & not and why ] 

    Never had issues with customers and some who wanted 12 months warranty - told them unable to sell extended to them but they could always buy it on line but I cannot recommend  any companies simply they should do their homework. The very odd customer who's been very insisting wanting 12 months I've knocked couple of hundred quid off to close the deal and told them same - buy on line and dealt them :) 

    Looking at the money I've paid out on claims in the last 10 years - and how much I've saved - I'll continue to stand by my cars myself. 

    Exactly the same here, all our cars are MOTd, serviced where required and then self warranted. The problem we were having was that we were paying a warranty company £2500+ per month, claims not being authorised then the customer was landing back on door step under SOGA..

    I've heard recently about some companies now where you pay for a warranty that they administer totally then any money that doesn't get used gets paid back to you after a certain amount of time, anyone use a similar company?

  23. Posted · Edited by Chris

    prepared to give and take and treat the business as it was there own then you could be on to a winner.

    ​Hit the nail on the head there, being only a small site that's the most important thing for me as I'm guilty of doing all the hours under the sun and I need that motivation from someone else who's just as keen.

    I think an informal chat will do the job though, thanks for all the tips and advice guys, google searching interview techniques fried my brain a bit!! B)

    ​

  25. Posted

    Just a side note but along the same lines of advertising..

    We've just put in a cancellation request with Motors as a lot more of our business is coming from other means and magically our account manager has managed to half our monthly invoice and is calling us 3 times a day to discuss retaining us.. A lot more than we got with AT!

    • Like 1