CRW

Yes, to a certain extent, but if your nearest competitor is selling at "old" prices you still have to be competitive. CDM had an article on here a few weeks back saying that the jump in trade prices isn't being fully reflected on the forecourts. You can put the prices up however high you like, but you have to find someone willing to pay them. Customers are a savvy bunch around here and will always find the same example elsewhere being retailed for "old money" and use it as a stick to beat you with.

I can only assume he is buying at these current sky high figures and can not return profits at these prices. He will have to use his stocking loan quota or will be penalised, so its just a case of turning them over. Seems a pretty bleak scenario. I have stopped buying at the moment as I don't have the confidence that these prices are sustainable. Potential customers are coming off the furlough scheme, thinking about holidays etc and I think the demand will slip slightly. I simply don't want to get caught out with a forecourt of expensive stock. However, if this isn't the case I will run with it, but I wasn't going to be the first to put my prices up.

The news this morning suggests that inflation rose by 2.5% last month. Think they should try to factor car prices into their calculation as I would say last month was an easy 10-15% across our sector in June. I did hear of a large player local to me who is busy but selling at cost. I guess that's the pressure of stocking loans.

Don't think they like Cornwall, came back at £91 for a 2002 Polo. Local scrappy offering £181. Oh well, worth a go.

+ 1 That's crazy money, was quite happy getting £180 for cars collected, feeling a bit ripped off now!

I am the same, sat looking at a list of cars making on average £1000 over book, no matter what it is. We are being told this is going to continue for a while yet, but personally i'm sceptical if customer demand will remain quite so strong. I know there's the global processor problem affecting new car production, but I just cant bring myself to fill my forecourt with stock owing me retail. Looking back on last year, we had the hyper "bounce back loan" prices for a short period and then the market cooled off. Hoping this is the same pattern this time.

Agree, a great feeling when that happens. However, offset by the ones where the car then sits for another 3 months and the punter drives past everyday, craning his neck to see if you still have it and getting a rod on when he sees it.

Anybody else finding customers genuinely think we are lying when we tell them there is a huge shortage in supply?. Find myself explaining that I cant replace the stock unless I pay nearly retail blah blah, so no, im not discounting the screen price. I remind them of the current situation with house prices (especially here in Cornwall) and say car prices are doing the same. Usually followed by the moron asking, "so what would you take for it?".

For me, the only real advantage of a main dealer history is to maintain the manufacturers warranty if its something new. Also, can be handy as hopefully any software updates should have been applied. Other than that, I would probably prefer to see an independent has worked on it, although the customer won't see it that way.

Fairly sure I had a Trading Standards bod trying to trip me up the other evening. Scruffy looking guy wanders onto my forecourt at 4.30, Im watching him on the cameras and he spends literally seconds vacantly looking at a few cars and approaches my office door. "Can I look in that silver one please?". Told him that's not allowed and he just wanders off. You know when you just get a gut feeling!

Exactly. Since we had our first child 6 years ago we have run 3 different Rav's, all of which have been spot on. Boring and not that quick but have spent nothing on them. Admittedly they were all under manufacturers 5 year warranty when we bought them, but the current one is now 6 years old with nearly 70k on it and other than tyres and servicing, we haven't spent a penny on it. (Probably famous last words!)

Just sniff the seat, that’s more than adequate.

I thought I was being generous, but probably would have knocked £200 off to get a deal done anyway.

They all "know what its worth" dont they?! Had a similar Fiesta traded in a few weeks back, admittedly nowhere near as bad as that. She told me she "knew it was worth £6k" (64 plate 1.5 TDCI). Problem was I knew a bit about the car and knew she bought it for £5k off her company a year earlier. We dealt at £3k. Another woman came in with her 57 plate Ka, fresh MOT failure that day. Offered her £200 as the MOT work totalled £500 and wouldn't have been worth doing. Then had her in floods of tears telling me there was no way she would sell it for £200 as it was given to her by her sister who now has cancer. Not sure if im just harsh, but does that make it worth anymore?? We didn't deal that time!

I was in the same situation a few years back, had a small pitch and took on a 20/25 car pitch. Tried running the two, but found that the smaller pitch got completely abandoned. You cant physically be in two places at once and the larger pitch will be the most productive im sure. I had stock sat on the other pitch doing nothing so in the end gave it up.

Yes, according to the log in details, Im Paul from Inchcape?!!?

I have done it in the past but personally never have the enthusiasm when a punter comes sniffing. You will always try to talk them into something else you have in stock as that should yield a nice wedge for you to go again with. A profit is a profit I agree, but prep costs, part exchanges and warranty post sale means I lose interest fast.

Sounds to me like a possible case of buyers remorse! If the car was so bad, surely she would have been in contact with you by now? You need to be careful with these sort of customers and take control of the situation. On Tuesday the car is basically undrivable, but by the end of Thursday you haven't heard from her?! You need to point out to her that her continued use of the car may cause further problems for which you wont be liable.

Natural causes?!!!! Or just one Christmas too many?

I think if you are questioning whether it is "moral" you probably have your answer already!

Cant see how this would help in anyway to generate a sale, just a total negative from the off. If on occasion the light has been on, I complete the deal, then dig a £10 or £20 note out of my own wallet and hand it to them and apologise for not having had a chance to top the fuel up. When they see you are handing your own personal money out it has a more positive effect than saying "Ive just put a tenner in it for you" - all comes from the same pot.

OK bud, will keep you in mind. Used to do Penzance to Newcastle and back in a day but getting a bit older now! Drove past Shitterton on Friday afternoon, was a bit shit at the time, had been driving for 4 hours at an av speed of 30 mph. Nice area of the country, shit road!

Alright mate, I dont have anything to pick up at the moment, but how far south would you come or do you come? I look at stuff up there, but from Cornwall its borderline ridiculous! If I knew somebody reliable who could get stuff to the Midlands, even Bristol it might be different.

It also varies if its a private punter who has approached you, meaning they are keen to sell and you can bid low. However if its something you want for stock/ for a customer then you pay what you need to pay.

Personally I am usually happy to go up to CAP Clean (as long as it is clean!), especially at the moment with the crazy pricing elsewhere. My view is that at least with the privates you wont have a dollop of commission put on top. Also you can quiz them pretty hard to get a better feel for the car and test drive it as well.