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Thanks Nick, Very useful to have the additional contact info. I've always said it would be very useful if ALL manufacturers had a non removable sticker/plate on the 'B' Pillar with all the factory fitted options listed! Even some of the main dealers who have access to their own systems don't list the valuable options !

‘Specification Check’ As we all know it’s the spec that sells the cars, or makes it desirable to buy or not to buy ! More and more dealers particularly on ATM wanting a bid on car they’re trying to deal/or have keep saying “spec check†etc As we all know it’s not always that easy (well I don’t think so ..is it just me!) and sometimes the spec check isn’t correct i.e. I have a E250 CDI Avantgarde According to ‘Mercedes’ main dealer it doesn’t have Sat Nav or parking sensors – my car does ! I guess it puts the onus onto the person bidding as it’s a get out clause , but like in the example above the options make it more desirable to buy IF the buyer knew the options, but if it was spec checked most would either walk away from it or bid low ,and the dealer not being able to deal the customer ! no one wins! I get a friendly friend to spec check any Audi – VW ‘s that I’m looking at , BMW & MINI Pay the premium per minute calls but where do I go for rest of the franchise’s ? What do others do? Are there hotline numbers for all franchises that you’d like to share?

Why ? No Contact ? Some time ago Jim started a topic called 30% which was more about mystery shop. Sometimes I do wonder about other business and what happens to why they follow up , here are a couple of examples of what has recently happened to me: 1- Contacted a company on behalf of the business next door about some graphics on their van couple of weeks before Christmas , told them who it was for & what was required. A week went by no contact so I just emailed ( 3 people same as 1st email) as to any news? Email straight back sorry – short staff as big projects on but promise 1st week of Jan with quotes! Told them that was perfectly fine. 2- Another company have demonstrated a product which I am quite keen to go with about October time, I have demo model but need a modified part to make it more suitable for me to see effectiveness. After a meeting in late November is was confirmed 1st week of January modified bits will be sent to me! You’d be thinking the sales person needs sacking for not following up ! in both scenarios ‘owner- directors’ are the people I’ve been dealing with.... So the questions . 1- Are they too busy with other ‘bigger’ contacts? 2- Forgot? 3- Can’t be bothered? A quick email or phone call ‘just keep’ in touch would reassure me – normally I’d send a reminder email asking if they’ve forgotten but this time I thought I’d see how long before any contact was made. Any comments ? thoughts?

It is all about 'customer experience' Interesting about the Lexus US Story that is exactly what differentiates them and makes them stand out. Above and beyond is exactly what we all expect that's builds loyalty and of Couse high recommendations .

Personally I like the ad ! It tells the customer exactly what I does ..i.e. search for a car ! There are too many adverts these days that I feel are trying to be too cleaver and miss the actual point of what they are telling the audience or the viewer has to wait till the last minute to see the brand/message..by which time you've lost interest ! Please share the 'hits' after the campaign starts and obviously you'll also be able to see directly as & when the advert is aired to the numbers on the website!

What a story James ! I bet you were thinking when does this nightmare stop !, please wake me up to find it was for real! Maybe a 'block buster ' movie ! You SHOULD have bought one of those shirts !

James - I did use your services for PR when I was "5th Most influencer on twitter - motor trade " and the your team managed to get for me was superb ! it got into the midlands new papers! massive circulation ! I felt it was good value for money , hassle free and obviously saved me a lot of time by not having to keep on to the newspapers to see if they would run the story. People will read 'a story' more than an advert. Proof : the story that the local press ran when I won the awards for 'Dealers Dealer of the Year ' ' Social Media User Of The Year ' with a reference to me meeting Theo paphitis for the #SBS Awards sold me 2 cars directly from that article ! I'd paid for the small advert at bottom of the 1st page - but didn't expect to see the picture take the full page ! http://www.specialistcars-stoke.co.uk/downloads/friday-6th-december-frontpage.pdf http://www.specialistcars-stoke.co.uk/downloads/friday-6th-december-article.pdf I've managed to also get couple of other local papers run the story!

How many dealers actually check all their cars for outstanding recalls before retailing them?

Pleased to say a better start here , hope it doesn't slow down ! Have plenty of great stock ! Seems very mixed views out there with regards to sales/activity from what I'm hearing ?

Smart repairs ! So so many so called smart repairs I've seen and tried a few over the years are appalling ! I WILL NOT use them ,even if its a bumper corner - all my cars go to the proper body shop. the only 'smart repair' I use but don't' class him as smart repair is dent devils - Mr.Magic he really is , fantastic job, honest , decent man and always willing to do that extra to make it perfect. I've seen cars so many cars with 'sub standard' finish and as we all know these quick fixes don't last and if the customer is going to come back to trade that car back in again you're going to have to pay again either if the customer notices it or when it comes back into stock !

Jim , I have used PR Company with great effect , it was value for money. Think it all boils down to what's been offered and what returns you expect or get back. Many newspapers these days don't know a good story when its handed to them on a plate, fortunately my local paper The Sentinel' has a great motoring journalist John Swift who has always supported me / other motor dealers. When I won the Car Dealer Mag awards John had already rang the showroom after me after reading the tweets! next day he was with me with a photographer and gave me a fantastic write up in the motoring section ! Page & Half With other local papers like you .. constantly badgering them hoping they would do something - managed to persuade a couple others and worth the effort. Would the PR company do the same? would be push, push push? guess its all down to what they charge ? was just about to mention 2 very famous PR Gurus/ companies but they're in the media all for the wrong reasons !

Good stock as we all know will always command good money ! I won't pay silly, silly, money but at times you have to be brave and pay the money to make money, empty spaces will only return nothing ! Had plenty - stocked up even more ..Now lets make it #BOOM !

As we all know its been going on for years and will continue to do so.. Sadly it doesn't reflect the 'true' picture as every tom , dick and harry ( No offence to any T,D,H !) will be coming into my showroom and saying "isn't it GREAT NEWS -BEST EVER YEAR ...." NOT knowing the figures are manipulated ! I suppose on the flip side..IF customers gain the benefits, the dealers win too , don't we? except for the poor ones who have field full of cars that need to be paid , stocking charges etc and lets not forget what effect it has on the 'late' used values ! Every manufacturer is simply buying business ! Lets just have 'correct ' reporting actual sales rather than registrations !

I thought Makro tried it - pretty sure it was done by D.C.Cook & Makro - Joint Venture? More with new than used if memory serves me right?

James ! Mind reader - Was thinking I should have posted a link with the topic ! http://www.directline.com/car-insurance/claims/written-off.htm Different ad than the TV one I've seen but same message !

Insurance company selling used cars? Not sure if anyone else spotted the advert last night Direct line insurance shows a car being damaged by a truck ...goes on to say IF your car is a write off ,we can either pay you to go and buy, or we’ll get a car for you and even to the point you can upgrade and we’ll find you a better car? Does this mean they are actively trying to replace/upgrade the customer’s car themselves? Do we have another ‘used car’ retailer or are they simply ‘trying to help’ the customer?

Can't be £30 a month - Bet its £30- per week ! No one in the right mind would not try it £30 per month if offered

Autolink - I too sometimes get a big hung up on the fact its 3/4 deep in the showroom , its dark, wet - ALL the cars are going to get wet ! what if he doesn't buy ? BUT Then I think if I'm prepared to get the cars out they feel more obliged ? in all honesty I no longer worry if they all get wet ..only a couple of weeks ago had that scenario whilst the customer was making the excuse of getting my cars all wet ..I'd got the showroom open and was getting the car out for a test drive , they said but your showrooms wet now ..to which I said a mop will soon fix that .. test drive done - car sold ! Going back to the locking up time , again I think its a gut feeling I've probably sold more over the years by giving the time/test drives than not, of course we get the 'test drive' pilots but if 80% buy then I'll live with that! Unaccompanied test drive sell cars ! the odd one or two will ask for me to got with them as they are unfamiliar with the area but most love the fact they can go out on their own and as @Gavin said - time to look at their car in detail ! As Jim already said the good old gut feeling !!!

Just spotted this article / warning on ATM Community - just in case some might not have seen it ! Not sure how this can happen but obviously a big concern for all . "Anonymous - December 2013 SCAM: Wanted to let everyone know, so hopefully nobody else gets stung. We have been "scammed" via the internet this week, to the tune of £49,000. The scam goes as follows: We bought 3 vans off genuine suppliers, over the phone and by email. They then emailed us an invoice & bank details for payment. In between the email leaving the supplier's computer, & arriving in ours, the bank details have been changed. If you email the supplier to ask if it's right that the bank details have changed, the "scammer" emails you back (as them) saying its correct. We've lost £49,000 this week. The bank doesn’t want to know, as our bank is secured, we've basically just paid the "wrong" people. Local police not interested, pass you onto the National Fraud Team, who are dealing with 2000 of these per day. Please share so nobody else out there gets scammed."

Back to basics Comes to mind! They have to drive it to appreciate it - simple ! Are we not back to building the desire to own ?

Stephen - Images You have the research ..however having just sold a few cars to customers from some distance 'they told me' was because of the number & quality of images I have on my website , some I do get a bit carried away with but examples are Audi A8 to Hastings ,A4 S Line to Highlands, Passat CC to Gloucester to name a few ! Number & Quality definitely sells cars for ME!

December normally goes very quiet for me , but very pleased to be able to say its been the best December I've ever had since I started in 1997. !!

I need to watch more TV !! Not seen the Audi R8 .. That's awesome ! I still like the old classic by Honda Cogs ! Cant believe it was done in 2009!

I mention I'd heard this was happening in the US and AT were thinking of bringing it here, It appears its already started and is in trail with various dealers ? Are you one of the trial dealers? what are your thoughts with AT doing this ? will it benefit YOU or hinder? Article link: http://www.am-online.com/news/2013/12/20/dealer-ratings-and-car-reviews-under-trial-by-auto-trader/34130/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Bonus ! A great idea to keep everyone motivated and as a THANK YOU for all the hard work during the year . But I hear of so many people who moan about getting bonus‘s in the fact it was only a small amount or if their colleagues got more.. It’s a BONUS! Some base it on performance individual or department or simply set amount for everyone in the business, will they expect it automatically next year regardless of the ‘business performance’? Parties are great for bonding excise but think people seem to appreciate money in the pocket more so ! I’m opening between Christmas & Newcastle year : Closed 25th/26th – Open 27th & 28th Closed 29th –open 30th/31st – Closed 1st .! Merry Christmas to everyone – THANK YOU for all your support & help guys! Wishing you a very Happy , Healthy and prosperous 2014.