umesh

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Posts posted by umesh

  2. Posted

    Season’s Greetings!

    Just like to wish everyone the very best whichever way we’re all going to be spending Christmas.

    Keep safe, keep healthy and here is to a F A N T A S T I C 2021!

    Umesh

    PS:

    I’ll just put this out, if anyone wants a chat please feel free 07976822700 the phone’s always on! Happy to have a virtual brew or a beer.

    #InItTogether

    • Like 2

  3. Posted

    Don’t get asked about showing V5 these days, maybe the odd one, once in a blue moon, and it's always in my office infront of me ..

    One of my customers was selling his car privately a few months ago, someone agreed to buy it then a few hours before collection rang him and asked for the ‘doc ref no’, my customer not sure said he’d call him back and asked me what he should do?

    I told under no circumstances should he give that out until the guys been and paid in full the sale has gone through, because he wouldn’t give the details the ‘buyer’ never turned up !

    He rang me back a few days later to thank me again, it’s just a good job he was on alert to make that call.( I'd explained it was get a new V5 in his name etc etc) 

  4. Posted

    It will all depend on the customer type, like many dealers I've had customers buy unseen purely from video, images, reviews etc, they either paid in full and collected or had the cars delivered ( And pay to have them delivered!). 

    Not all customers are will do this as some NEED to see, touch, and they simply will not buy but we have to think there are many that will buy, after all where ever they go they won't have a choice as this is the ONLY way to buy. 

    Or take a deposit and hold the car until after lockdown ( when ever that may be!) last time I had about 6 customers who did that and waited until they could see/collect.ALL collected and had paid in full prior to collection. 

    • Thanks 1

  6. Posted

    3 hours ago, trade vet said:

    Could it be the director of brand awareness.To quote CJ the Sunshine Deserts MD  ( Fall and rise of Reggie Perrin ) ‘I did not get where I am today without knowing a brand awareness director when I see one ‘.

    "Reggie Perrin" - If you know you know :) !!  most on here will ge Googling that I reckon @trade vet !!

    • Like 1

  7. Posted

    Majority pay with bank transfer with no issues at all. the very odd one or two ususlly elderley people who don't have online banking pay with debit cards with me. you'll be amazed " if you ask, they'll all pay via transfer- its the new way :)" 

  8. Posted

    4 hours ago, johny1980 said:

    Hi All,

    I note some dealers offer a service for selling customer cars, ie a fixed fee or percentage.

    I'm just wondering how it works in regards to the  service itself and the accounting in particular. 

    It's something I am considering but I presume you are taking on the warranty risk?

    Any input welcome.

    Like everyone said " Don't do it" ! Risky and I know of a few who've got caught out. remember also if you do sell a car, pay for the car once you sell it, have you enought cash to buy it if it's a problem car? you'll be holding the baby. too many risks.

    I've done the odd one or two over the years for good friends,  but with people I don't know who've 'offered' the opportunity as they see it I won't, if they don't accept my bid to bid I don't really want to get involved on SOR. 

  9. Posted

    20 hours ago, DCS01 said:

    Just wondered how the market was out there?  As previously mentioned after losing a used car buyer role to covid I used some house equity to start. Managed to do 7 August with 5 to 7 in stock. I invested everything I made back in. But only did two last month (albeit only had 3 advertised for 10 days)

    All of my cars are priced right, and I brought at the right price and I haven’t got anything I think is a bit edgy,  but just a bit concerned the phone hasn’t rung. 

    Maybe just need some reassurance. Obvs we are still in choppy waters. 
     

    Thank god I still kept part time for Hermes because I think I might have driven myself mad checking my phone.

    Be confident AND Remember it's not all about 'price'!

    Not seen any of your ads, just make sure the adverts stand out, do video's to build trust and show the cars off, accurate decriptions etc. its the whole picture you build for the customers. Check prices but you if you're too cheap that won't help either, tweak them up if needed. 

    Good luck. 

  10. Posted

    Very easy, sent them a personalised video of the car about 2/3 minutes explain how nice your car is and the fact that they need to have realistic expectations of what their budget will buy them. Not a slagging one but just a professional reply! Converted a couple of deals last month but they weren’t being as silly but fi I hadn’t bothered or simply sent silly reply back I’d have lost them!

    Good luck! Can’t win them all but if you don’t try you’ll never know.

    • Like 3

  13. Posted

    43 minutes ago, David Horgan said:

    .

    Answer was . There wont be anyone here at 5 pm as we close at 5pm  you have the rules so please abide by them or spend your money elsewhere :lol: ASTONISHING 

    Be one of those firms in 6 months time that's blaming Covid for putting them out of business .

     

    Doesn't make sense! thats a big order ! as you say will be blaming covid for shutting doors for good not the fact they turned business away!

  14. Posted

    On 7/16/2020 at 4:05 PM, David Horgan said:

    Cant see the point of a business taking a loan if they cant make it pay , surely a business would have to be able to buy extra stock and sell it to earn the extra money .

    Many business types  are not in the fortunate spot are they , take a hairdresser , gym etc they cant use extra cash sensibly 

    Car traders have the opportunity but only if they have the space and advertising capacity for extra stock . 

    Plenty of people near us have had the money and its been spent on various items from Quads , Caravans , American muscle cars , Motor bikes , New Speed boats , that's just what i can see :o not going to earn extra profit from those items :(

    Going to be some funny happenings next year when pay back starts isn't there , 

    Great opportunity if they make it work though 

    Spot on Mr H ! 100%

    Hope all is well with you.

  15. Posted

    Can't over think and second guess what's going to happen, Think we all know when the furlough stops, job losses start things will change massively but in the meanwhile just got to be positive and get on with it. 

     

  16. Posted

    9 hours ago, Rory RSC said:

    It’s a quarter off my bill at a time when I’m doing good. 
    nearly everything is selling via AT at the moment (free) and to get it for less is very much welcome whilst everything builds back up. 
     

    I think may might be a record breaking month for us, in March I was a bit worried if we would actually sell a car.

    Go Smash it @Rory RSC ! well done 

  17. Posted

    15 hours ago, Tom said:

    Umesh only posts on here when its about Autotrader. :rolleyes:

    Not all all guys, I saw it early on on social media and thought it was worth sharing for those who might not have spotted it :)

     

    15 hours ago, BHM said:

    He needn’t bother on my account. Hasn’t the IMDA got its own forum for AT propaganda?

    The IMDA has its forum ... you'll be dissapointed to hear that AT is rarely discussed and what i've said myself is always open and up front, I don't have an agenda against AT or any other platforms. I say things as they are! 

    11 hours ago, New year revolutions...... said:

    I watched his zoom and liked him but dont understand why he would promote autotrader,now go back to 1988 and I would have held the semi automatic for them as they broke the local paper monopoly

    frightening to believe they now take this position and in my opinion abuse it

    now we have President Trump saying twitter is abusing its position

    I agree

    after I'm dead I firmly believe big business is going to override government 

    be afraid

    Wasn't promoting simply posting what their PR dept has posted.

    14 hours ago, trade vet said:

    I think he said he had ditched AT ?

    Cancelled - retracted- cancelled- retracted whilst the free offer during lockdown was happening and did take 3/4 reservations from AT in that time, it was a no brainer to keep the cars on there with the free advertising. 

    • Like 1

  18. Posted

    Auto Trader continues support into June, with a series of new measures, including a 25% discount and its biggest ever stock offer

    27th May 2020

    Following the government’s confirmation that automotive showrooms in England will be able to reopen from 1st June, Auto Trader has signalled its ongoing support for its retailer partners by offering a 25% discount on all advertising packages throughout June, as well as extending its double stock offer until at least 16th July[1]. For customers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Auto Trader will remain free while retailer forecourts are required to remain closed. March payment terms for all customers have been extended by a total of 60 days and packages will also remain free for all customers for the remainder of May.

    From before the lockdown began, Auto Trader has been committed to supporting retailers, providing free advertising packages and extended payment terms to help manage cash flow challenges. During the period of the lockdown, while the business has been free, it has delivered over 400 million ad views and more than 750,000 leads[2] to its customers.  

    In addition to these measures, to further assist customers in their recovery, Auto Trader has invested in a consumer marketing campaign to drive awareness that retailers are back and open for business. Auto Trader is in a unique position to support the industry to get back to business with circa 1.1 million potential car buyers currently visiting its marketplace every day and through its app which has been downloaded by over 14 million UK consumers.

    What’s more, to reassure anxious car buyers, Auto Trader has introduced a range of free online features to help highlight the safety measures retailers have put in place to make the car buying experience safer. The business has also accelerated the launch of AT Market Insight, an innovative tool designed to provide retailers with bespoke market analysis.

    Nathan Coe, Auto Trader’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “This recent government announcement is an important step forward for the automotive industry. We will continue to support our customers, which is now about helping them to sell as many vehicles as possible, which is the focus of everyone at Auto Trader. We understand that returning to trading will be challenging for our Retailer partners, but we are confident we can help given our scale and the unusually high levels of demand we are seeing on our platform.”

  22. Posted

    Anyone interested, it's free to join organised by The IMDA with one of our partners.
     
    "Free Digital Marketing Training for Car Dealers".
    Course Overview:
    This is a free series of webinars to help you plan and prepare for the future. You can benefit from our 13 years’ combined experience in helping car dealers, motorhome dealers and our automotive industry clients grow their dealerships and part shops.
    Description:
    We’ll help you make the most of the digital channels with this free training.
    In the first webinar you’ll be provided with an overview of the digital marketing channels available to you including their pros and cons, and we’ll provide some insight into where you should focus your efforts now and as we move forward and dealerships re-open.
    These are just some of the topice which will be discussed
    • An overview of the digital marketing channels and where to focus effort now and moving forward – information drafted for the first webinar already
    • Your Website
    • Search Engine Optimisation
    • Review Sites – Google My Business
    • Paid Search – Google Ads, Microsoft Ads
    • Paid Social – Facebook Ads, LinkedIn Ads
    • Social Media Marketing
    • Email Marketing
    • Remarketing & Retargeting
    1st one starts next Thursday May 7th 14.00
    10 in total every two weeks
     

  23. Posted

    Helping us picture a brighter future

    Just like during winter or any prolonged period of darkness you require a shining light to show the way forward. This current crisis caused by the COVID 19 pandemic has certainly had some really dark days for business and that is no different for the Motor Industry. There have been many ‘shining lights’ helping light the way for dealers and we hope our association The IMDA have done our bit to help. However there has light much brighter than others and that is Car Dealer Magazine’s very own @James Baggott who, not unlike a pair of super powerful ‘cornering LED headlamps’ has not only managed to give our industry a much clearer vision but has also even helped illuminate what’s just around corner, helping us to decide how to adjust our speed and road positioning to prevent us from crashing. So well done Mr B for all your hard work, assistance and fantastic industry insights with your Zoom interviews, credit where credit is due.

    The IMDA