umesh

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Posts posted by umesh

  2. Posted

    2023 has been a real roller coaster ride for us all. A challenging year for most. I’d like to wish everyone a merry Christmas and the very best for 2024. I’d also like to add this, if you’re finding things tough and need to have a chat please feel free to contact me or BEN -The Automotive charity,  the independent world can be a lonely place and not everyone is merry at this time of the year.#ItsGoodToTalk

    Umesh 

  3. Posted

    On 9/11/2023 at 5:51 PM, arashtrip said:

    Hi,

    I am a very small car dealer and have some cars to sell and testing various platforms:

    -facebook: lots of timewasters with silly offers

    -ebay: couple of calls on the first days of the ad and then it is dead

    -pistonshead: nothing at all

    -cargurus: free pacakge. some emails but no further follow up. 

    -AT: over 50 views per day but no call or contact. It is where I am looking for some tips as some users mentioned in the old threads that I need to know how to work with AT.

    I am posting PAYG on AT as my stock is very limited and does not worth going with a package (although some believes that would make a big difference)

     

    Any idea on how to work with AT?

    Enquiries are very slow from most of the IMDA dealers are saying, all you can do is make sure the pictures, adverts, videos are all the best they can be, and all cars prepared to the highest standards! So, when someone is searching your cars will stand out and have a lot better chance.

    Do you post anything on social media? Facebook( not market place - your own business page) , Instagram, Tic Toc, X (Formerly Twitter]? all matter of keeping your name in front of people.

    • Like 1

  4. Posted

    This is how The IMDA Works for it's members, thanks to @Jack Williams and Car Dealer Magazine for covering the story.

    The Independent Motor Dealers Association has praised the DVLA for its response to ‘nightmare’ delays which left dealers ‘pulling their hair out’.

     

    In the summer of 2021, IMDA boss Umesh Samani told Car Dealer that the agency was ‘absolutely horrendous’ and accused it of making dealerships ‘like graveyards’.

     

    At the time, industrial action at the body’s Swansea offices had caused huge backlogs, with some dealers left waiting as long as five months for V5 documents.

     

    Back then it seemed like the relationship between independent dealers and the DVLA was at breaking point, but two years on things couldn’t be more different.

     

    After reading Car Dealer’s article, the DVLA and the IMDA opened dialogue on how the two firms could better work alongside each other.

     

    That has resulted in a complete transformation of the relationship and Samani has now praised the body for its work.

     

    Among the changes has been a dedicated team being set up at the DVLA which holds regular meetings with the association.

     

    Samani told Car Dealer: ‘Back then it really was a nightmare for many dealers. However, thanks to the stories that Car Dealer Magazine ran, the IMDA and DVLA made connections to see how they could help and improve their service.

     

    ‘They were pleased that we had reached out to them to explain the situation that some dealers were facing.

     

    ‘From that, the DVLA now has a dedicated team that holds regular meetings with the IMDA.

     

    ‘If any of the IMDA members have issues, we can contact them directly and the matter is dealt with very quickly and efficiently as to avoid long backlogs.’

     

    Samani’s glowing comments come just days after the DVLA was placed under review as part of a wider government programme aimed at assessing the effectiveness of public bodies.

     

     

    The investigation is expected to last until the winter and will judge the agency’s efficiency, efficacy, accountability and governance.

     

    A DVLA spokesperson told Car Dealer: ‘Our user groups provide a valued opportunity to work closely with a wide range of stakeholders including IMDA, and support us in delivering services that work for our customers.’

     

     

    Jack Williams

    Story here

     

  8. Posted

    As already said its not just women, over the years stopped and help many change wheels, both men and women. many have no idea where to start. .. But if you think about it even if you don't know would be easy to watch Youtube and attempt if you were stuck, but they are just not interested and will wait for hours to be rescused ( thats when they have a spare in the boot) ..Don't forget the 'locking bolt' .. times customers tell us in the workshop they've left it at home safe ........ a 2 minute job tunns into a nightmare/ abort job or re-book back !! 

  11. Posted

    1 hour ago, Marian TDM said:

    Hello everyone,

    As per title, recently I bought a BMW 530GT 61 plate with UK number plates and UK V5 document.
    After testing the car I done a bank transfer and went online and transferred the V5.

    After 2 week DVLA is sending me a letter saying that the car has been permanently exported and unlicensed and because of that, they are unable to issue a V5.

    They would like me to complete a V55/5, 'Application for a first vehicle tax and registration of a used motor vehicle'. Along with the application they also want me to pay import duty through Notification of Vehicle Arrival (NOVA) at HMRC.

    I am looking for some advice, can I do anything about it? The seller was private and I bought it for myself.

     

    Thank you for your time and advice.

     

     

    Had a customer a few years back trading his Mondeo in, we couldn't do the cherished transfer sent it all off to be told the car has a 'export' marker on it from. DVLA had taken RFL money and it was MOT'd every year. the customer had to prove he'd owned it in the time it gained an export marker. It took 3 months plus to resolve it all. Luckily wasn't an issue as it just sat round the back and wasn't of big value.Guess you may have to check the dates /ownerhsip change etc.Good luck.

  12. Posted

    Always good stuff James, the team working hard to get the latest info fast !!

     just one observation, we know Cazoo is a hot topic for everyone in the industry but can we have some postive stories fo how good a job ' US  INDEPENDENTS'  are doing :) ! #Justsaying 

    jeep up the good work! 

  13. Posted

    5 minutes ago, David Horgan said:

    I sell performance cars too , plus cheapies as well and most cars in between if I'm honest . Trick is to be like a chameleon and change to suit each customer. Smile like and assassin when they leave . 

    Those T&C's would have put the 4 car buyers I've had this morning well and truly OFF coming i reckon , S3 , Golf R , Golf GTD , SEAT Cupra R all sold , 

    Each and every customer this morning was a completely different personality , age , and in different financial situations , different questions and different priorities , eg one was obsessed with tyres , paint condition for the other , toys inside the car on another's list , test drives and methods of payments , , me sending that list of which i would term as negatives would in my mind put them off even coming . 

    Now i have decades of people skills so its easy for me to talk , BUT , adapt and learn . manage each and every situation the same but in different orders , listen and learn when to strike like viper , seal the deal is the way to sell . Takes time , but its fun learning 

    Don't for gods sakes send that list out to customers , We are supposed to create positive vibes not a list of don'ts . You would be amazed how many customers tell me horror stories about other traders treating them wrong , deposits for test drives , not there when they arrive , spoken down to , pushy vibes , making negative talk on customers appearance is popular negative .

    People skills as Rory says don't come over night , cant be taught either but and I stand corrected if I'm wrong wont start with a list like that . 

    Remember the customer buys ONE car every 2 to 6 yrs , they dont know our job and never will , Like the guy this morning Tattoos all over him 21 yrs old , no clue what he was asking . first question has he asked has it been painted do i know , he needed to be guided through the whole process. He thanked me for making it easy for him and took his Golf R home with a smile from ear to ear 

     

    reading your list I'll tell you now he would be gone with the wind , 

     

    Did ask if you'd missed anything :rolleyes:

     

    Like @Rory RSC and @David Horgan they've covered it well.!  We all learn and adapt .. I try not to put too many barriers up but the odd one or two who we think are 100% buyers at the start don't buy! but in reality I belive in giving them all respect and treat them like how I would like to be treated. 

    Have I missed anything :) 

    Happy selling 

  14. Posted

     

    Just like to wish everyone a very happy New Year!

    2021 was a real roller coaster ride and majority had a fantastic year!

    All the best to everyone for 2022

    Always great to see new businesses start up and the established adopting to new challenges.

    Cheers all

    Umesh

    • Like 1

  16. Posted

    Think we all know the rules about trade plates on the outside and must be displayed vertically! In reality its almost impossible with vehicles today, The IMDA have spoken to DVLA about this and they are obviously aware of the situation , they also know that most dealers put them inside the windscreens etc, all they keep saying is “the rules are clearly stated of how they should be displayed, but looking into how this can be changed”, as soon as we have an update we’ll keep you posted but we are pushing to get better things in place.

  21. Posted

    Hi Tom

    Welcome and good on you to make that move!

    As already said but defo "Video's sell cars' been saying that for many years - IMO Don't do 'silent movies' or 'Musicals' needs voice over with features of cars etc etc, I promise you you'll see instant results from videos.

    Pictures I've quickly looked at the BMW 3 Series in white, main image looks good but then the back ground as you move around spoils the effect imo, move the car round so no clutter in the back ground. 

    Good luck!

    Umesh 

     

  22. Posted

    No Appointments, No Viewings, No Road test, as it says " click and collect - or - click and deliver", the whole transaction must have taken place remotely , so paid for in full and they simply collect!Customers not allowed in the premises.  That's the rules, but there are many trying to 'work' their way round it. 

     

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1

  24. Posted

    19 hours ago, Holmfirth Cars said:

    ok so if the customer views a car on our premises & collects the car from our front gate, is this sale exempt from the DSR ?? 

    Don't belive so as we're in lockdown customers are NOT allowed to view cars only BUY remotely, which means they must have paid for goods prior to collection/delivery which puts it in to DSR.