umesh

Advanced Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content Count

    992

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    66

Posts posted by umesh

  2. Posted

    Just to say guys and girls, we're beavering away in the back ground and you'll soon see exactly whats to come .....  ' Exciting times ahead ' 

    #'IMDA - If you haven't as yet  registered simply click here www.theimda.co.uk And if anyone has resisted and not received an email in the last month - please register as you've added your details incorrectly ( We've seen a lots bounced emails as incorrect and obviously we don't know YOUR correct details! ) 

     

  4. Posted

    On 9/9/2017 at 6:09 PM, trade vet said:

    Have you noticed,it is usually franchised dealers which have these problems.I recall a main dealer who often had new,unreg'd cars stolen unnoticed from their ' secure' compound. While most of us could have a 50-100 car pitch,walk in at any time,scan the stock and know which car was missing or probably if one was wrongly priced up by £50 !

    #franchised Funny you should say that .... A few a go friend of mine worked at a franchised dealer that had been taken over [ same sales manager - that;'s the important bit ] .. Comes to my friend who was in after sales asking about some cars which were showing up on stock and if he knew anything about it ?

    All these cars had sat at their compound for just short of 12 months - Brand new ( Pre reg) about 10 I think of memory .. How could someone FORGET all all these cars ??? And the fact that he was in charge when they were registered !

  5. Posted

    2 hours ago, Mojo121 said:

    I heard of a dealer the other day that got took for £40,000 over a period of time. My question was how did they not notice? 

    Big/ bigger dealers £40k doesn't really show a shortfall in the cash flow / system , I've heard about Ten of thousands£££  with some BIG players and it took months and months before they find an issue /shortfall ! 

    Just very sad that these people are put in place of trust and abuse that trust! 

    Heard a few years back small franchised dealer had new sales man , He was always willing to work wekkend's etc , The owner thought wow, this is a great find, ... as time goes on owner steps back a little bit more ! 

    Salesman off ill one week customer comes in with an issue on a car he'd bought over the weekend - a cheapie , no trace of sale or that vehicle - Long story short , you can guess .. the salesman was selling majority of the swappers for cash - most deals showed no PX , Can of worms opened that day - I Remember him telling me how heart broken he was and thought there was at least 7/8 cars a month being sold by the salesman and pocketing all the money ! 

    • Like 1

  6. Posted

    Been there too many times , but if you've promised then you have to stand on ! 

    I do explain and tell them how it is and just say if it falls through for any reason then you'll let them know , mostly appreciate the truth and respect it , only last weekend had identical situation - the customer was a no show so I called the 1st guy and told him it was up for sale - came straight down and bought it.

  9. Posted

    13 hours ago, GreenGiant said:

    Had one in today - bought a nearly new sports coupe for £22k last year. In today for service and properly moaning that the cost (£210) is way overpriced and we're ripping him off. His usual establishment (grotty MOT centre) said it will be £96 and he thinks we should match it. On questioning, he says that they don't use OE parts and he provides his own oil, he doesn't want the pollen filter changed and he wants to come to us because they told him they hadn't serviced one of these before and didn't know if their equipment was up to it. And he can't see why that would justify the price difference.

    Happy to spend all the money on the car, then doesn't want to pay to look after it.

    Can't wait for the part exchange value discussion.

     

    Always amazes me - they spend thousands of ££££ on a car and moan about £200/500 for a service , just like when we get high performance cars in the tyre shop asking us for part worns or 'cheapest' ... Had an M5 In for 4 wheel alignment a few months back - he'd just had a part worn fitted by a garage around the corner - Massive bulge on the inside wall ! #deathtrap 

  10. Posted

    You've got to have a website ! thats your shop front regardless of how many cars you have , people need to know all about you / your business etc ! And you'll also be amazed at how many keep an eye on your website for new stock arriving to buy for themselves or recommend others to your cars/website ! 

    • Like 3

  11. Posted

    Had one when i was just learning back in 1983 - Customer on a Morris 100 [ Yeap one of those ! ] Guy came in looked at it said Can I come back in a couple of days and take it for a long test drive - I explained I would have to be with him- He said Of course you do , but I need to make sure it drives well up those hills.

    Comes in to the dealership as appointed , was based in leek , Staffs  - we start driving out of Leek towards Buxton , No major concern at this stage as that'e the most hilly part [ Very Scenic ! ] 

    We continue , continue ..right into Buxton some 12/13 Miles - Centre of Buxton he pulls over , walks around the car - Thanks I'll be in touch ! Never saw him again !! 

  12. Posted

    2 hours ago, MrC said:

    What the feck is wrong with some people. I spend a fortnight looking for a decent VW T5 donor van for a conversion, there is not much between Auction price and retail once you have given the BCA tip so I'm happy to give good money for a good van.

    I spotted one at a place called Discount cars in Dudley a 200+ mile M6 nightmare round trip, So I spoke to the dealer over the phone explained that I needed a really clean and well looked after van, I did expect the odd age related mark. He went on to tell me how mint this can was and I would not be disappointed.

    I dont usually discus price over the phone but due to the distance we talked money  and agreed on a price subject to viewing.

    Set off in the morning to be fair the M6 was ok and 2hrs later I pull up at a shonky set of units behind a Lithuanian car wash place....

    I cant begin to tell you guys how bad this van was, zero prep,  not one decent panel or panel gap and Stevie Wonder had drank a gallon of paint and pissed it on. Stone chips and rust has just been badly painted over and even little bits of what was a wrap where painted over.

    I was fecking furious, and all he kept saying in his thick Dudley accent.. Was "Well we think it looks good" I could have swung for the crunt. Pisser was the M6 was shut at Thelwall on the return journey and it to me 5 hrs to get home.

    Why waste people time, if some is travelling a distance I give a walk around honest over the phone appraisal.

     

     

    " Well we think it looks good" 

    Is even more worrying...! What would he describe as bad then !!

  15. Posted

    1 hour ago, jimreidvehicle said:

    Umesh , I'm paying 1p vat more than you on each sale arghhhhhh!! lol

    Jim ... You know what they say about the pennies ..... ! :)

    Spot on with using book keepers and accountants ! Concentrate on the job in hand let the experts do their bit .. Cheaper and more efficient in the long run !!

    As I explained to some one a few weeks ago doing their own valeting to save £50 , Took them sometimes 2 days to get the car mint but saved £50 not paying someone else .. I pointed out they could earn a lot more with their time dedicated to buying/selling/marketing their cars/business than saving £50! #JustSaying 

    • Like 1

  17. Posted

    Thanks Rory, Appreciated.

    Bit more here as we go forward with who's who and WHY ! Hope that helps?

    IMDA ' Independent Motor Dealers Association' Launched.

     

    A ‘not for profit’ trade body for independent motor dealers has been formed by a group of seven motor dealers and industry experts. The Independent Motor Dealers Association (IMDA) says it aims to be the voice and support for the independent motor dealer in the UK.

    The founder members of the IMDA are, Jim Reid , Umesh Samani, Phil Weaver, Stuart Saunders, Chris Roach, David Bilsborough and Philip Nothard.

    In a statement, the IMDA spokesman and Crewe based owner of Cheshire Cars, David Bilsborough, told Motor Trade News “We believe that independent dealers deserve the right to have an association that will represent their interests. With the amount of change that the industry has seen and the amount yet to be seen it has never been needed more than at present. The association will be run on a ‘not for profit’ footing. This was voted for by all of the founding members early on in the discussions.

    “The association will represent each and every member equally. By having one voice to represent our member’s opinions and concerns at a national level and engaging with other bodies and associations for the good of all. The association will also provide a point of reference for best practice and alongside everything that is needed every day to run a successful and transparent motor dealership. We have already received many offers of support and help from suppliers to set up and deliver cutting edge training and advice without the need to leave the work place. At present no association purely represents the independent motor dealer. The IMDA will provide the platform for the representation to take place for the independent dealers.

    “We have already proven that there is an appetite for change and support via our association, by the many numbers of dealers and suppliers alike who have signed up with their initial interest at this early stage. We have all been working extremely hard behind the scenes to get into place a constitution plus a mission statement with pillars which has now been achieved. We have also voted and agreed upon a Chairman and Vice Chairman a Secretary and Treasurer. We are asking all perspective new members to express their interests in joining the IMDA by using our landing page at http://www.clickandjoin.co.uk/”

    78453369-7a8d-423c-80a1-0d15ea4f6be0.png
    f963a40c-47fb-4d6c-ac1b-0cf24778a553.png
    Please share this with fellow like minded dealers.
     
    color-twitter-48.png
    color-link-48.png

  18. Posted

    Love Cars - BHM -There is no voice for the Independents , it snot going to change the world over night but if we all join forces as independents then we have some chance of making important changes - its an Association to help us all.

    We can all sit and moan all day , every day but if we want change we have to act and make things happen , its only officially launched yesterday in the press but already the number of interested numbers is incredible, showing there is interest from so many.

    Watch this space but in the mean while it would be good to know what things you would like on the agenda [ Realistic !]  And spread the word. 

    The IMDA 'Providing the voice and support for the Independent Motor Dealers'

  19. Posted

    On 11/08/2017 at 4:04 PM, jimreidvehicle said:

     

    The UK Motor Industry’s best kept secret……….

    Did you know that there is not one Association in the UK that is dedicated to support Independent Motor Dealer’s?

    Well that’s just about to change.

    The Independent Motor Dealers Association (IMDA) is almost ready to launch, but we need YOUR help.

    If you are an Independent Motor Dealer, a small driver/owner Franchise Dealership or a Supplier to the Motor Industry we would like you to join us in ‘Providing the voice and support for Independent Motor Dealers’ as a ‘not for profit’ association.

    Because we understand how busy you are we have made it really easy and quick for you to register your interest in joining and it will literally take less than 2 minutes. Simply click on www.clickandjoin.co.uk and register your name & company, then we do the rest.

    Thank you in anticipation of registering your interest.

     The IMDA 'Providing the voice and support for the Independent Motor Dealers'

    195 Views - No comments - Any feedback from fellow dealers ? Good ? bad ? Your thoughts would be appreciated !

  20. Posted

    As already said - Its different for all of us ! Dealers who say they can't survive without AT and spend thousands because it works for them , and I know personally a numbers of dealers who don't spend a penny with AT and have a very successful business. 

    You have to work out what is viable to YOU ? You won't get instant sales over night I don't believe just by being on AT - Just read the forum and you'see for yourself the mixed sentiments. 

    Not sure of your stock or the margins you are working on , do you need to sell one car a month to pay the AT package to break even ? you know your own margins / sales required - do the sums and if you feel you want to try it give it a try for 3/6 months - One thing is if it isn't working pull the plug the move on - don't sit on the fence thinking too long , find an alternative ! 

    Hope it helps :) 

    Umesh 

     

    • Like 1

  22. Posted

    Always closed from day one , 20 Years but have meet customers with appointments - Only a odd one not turned up and the odd one I didn't deal. ( Usually PX not quite as described !) 2 Sunday appointments this year - did deals on both. 

    I do qualify as much as one can for Sunday appointment's and only if I have nothing else on,   but to be honest many have said they would come back when open , the odd one/two deals I may have missed - well that's life - I don't worry about it as I do like my time off and have other interests !.

    Each one to their own its a personal choice.

  23. Posted

    2 hours ago, BHM said:

     

     

     

    As for keeping the forecourt tidy I pull out the weeds once a week.

    you've got some fast growing weeds ! :)

    Don't forget those 'cleaver' ones who then type your reg no into buying platforms and get a valuation pretending they are selling that car !! 

    We all have various reasons works for me - doesn't work for everyone. 

  24. Posted

    I only use them for the pictures , all the cars outside don't have them but all the cars in the showroom do  ! Just looks NICE ! ... :) 

    As said genuine /interested parties call for Reg Numbers etc - but no one has ever questioned why I cover them .... And it does 'help' stop cloning.