umesh

Just read an article that says form next year :https://www.abi.org.uk/Insurance-and-savings/Topics-and-issues/Insurance-industry-access-to-driver-data Insurance companies may start asking for driving licence numbers before quoting - as One on Five under declare their motoring convictions! I personally think its a great idea. What do you think about that ?

Think we keep going around in circles and beat ourselves up ! I am still with AT ..Just about having cancelled once and get enticed back with their retentions team! Like everyone else I keep looking at the invoices that keep coming in for advertising.. AT the biggest one for only 12 cars ! I do sell cars off it but its a very close call amount sold to amount spent ! ( I'm NOT the cheapest and never will be - don't want to be!) Motors simply doesn't bring in enough leads in , eBay I've trialled it a few times - doesn't work for me! We also have to think , when we ask customers where they saw the advert, they cannot always remember or do they simply say AT Due to 'brand' memory/ recall ? A few years ago there were two very similar 'free car mags' in the area , so very difficult to always get the right feedback as both were similar name 'Auto- Exchange' ' Auto-weekly' so when you asked they would say 90% of the time " the free one I picked up at the supermarket. Auto something" Not good to get accurate feedback - so I had a green & blue ad - I would simply ask after them saying the above - what colour please ! I got my information! and it was surprising how many times after saying i.e. auto-exchange - it was actually auto-weekly ! So who's going to have the best platform that offers real value, lots of leads at that price that will stop us moaning but actually shouting how good it is!

Its so, so mixed .. no real pattern -! Id' say busier Mondays/ Fridays if I had to try and pick ..Saturdays some I've had very busy others totally dead! May be I ought to open only on 2 days the both days would be very busy !

Green Giant Totally agree with you ! # means very little to lots of people ! but to those it means something they can tap into that market and market to them!

Shocking !! Do they really understand what they have done - the cost implications ? the hassle factor ? sadly they will just get a telling off ...a bit of community work ! the dealer will have to pick up the pieces and pay a fortune for years on his insurance!

Advertising - Marketing Now we’re glued to the TV from time to time , couldn’t help but see the latest ‘ seasonal’ adverts from the BIG boys of retailing ! We have #bearandhare [john Lewis ] #magicandsparkle [Marks & Spencer ] Morrisons / Debenhams – think they’ve missed a trick – No # hashtag ( I can’t see one anyway! ) ..And I’m sure many others will follow! I’m told John Lewis sales have rocketed since the advert was screened ! John Lewis / M&S /Debenhams adverts are quite long .....and ONLY at the end they mention the brands, is this to keep us on suspense so that we watch till the end? All very cleaver but I’d have thought a cleaver ‘branding’ sign passing in the back ground so forth would create awareness ? Any thoughts?

autolink100 !! I am so glad I'm not over in the states ! or should I say we have better control here ! - I Certainly would NOT want that rule bringing over here, after all we are the 'professionals' and these customers are trusting us to provide a quality product. I think there are far too many out there already trying to shy away from their legal obligations selling un road worth vehicles. I think it would just open up a floodgate of 'rogue' traders scamming the customer's ! Sell a quality product , look after the customer - explain what they are exactly getting AND 90% of the time you don't have an issue! and the other 10% well no one said it was a perfect life Am I on my own?

Well guys I wear shirt and Tie !! Have always done so since I started 16 Years ago.. Its a 'personal ' preference, But I have no problems with others not wearing ties etc,as Jim pointed out ' smart, clean, casual presentable' simple as that !! I have seen quite a few in my times with dirty old jeans , scruffy/dirty boots etc etc - Doesn't give a good impression !!.. I always reverse it and think 'what does the customer see - feel?'

Thought I’d just mention this on here with all this adverse publicity about Citizens Advice and the number of complaints being received the customers can easily check a dealer’s reputation instantly! There are many on this forum who have grasped the importance of positive feedback , I have sold cars to new customers who have read positive comments about me and given them the confidence that they’re dealing with someone who actually cares about the business. For those not aware of www.carbuyingadvisor.co.uk why not check it out and see how it can benefit your business ? FREE trails available http://www.carbuyingadvisor.co.uk/register.aspx#.UnzW38RFAfE The site also shows some frightening ‘negative’ testimonials which will obviously have a negative impact on those not looking after their reputation!

Totally mind blowing ! Who really understands it fully and with changes happening all the time its difficult to keep abreast of it all. Do you pay an 'expert' to do these ...that doesn't work after paying a fortune ( because they all have a reason why it didn't work! ) or do you keep dabbling with bits of information you keep reading here & there ... I personally wouldn't pay some of the so called experts so I guess I'll keep dabbling !

Models - Option packs - all very very confusing ! Even some of the 'main dealers' selling their own products don't know the options on the cars so what chance do rest of the industry have? I've always said they ought to have a 'factory fitted' options list attached to the car i.e. door pillar to show full specification /options , would benefit customers AND dealers ! I bought a car few weeks back customer told me some of the options so valued the car with those... when the car arrived and I had the opportunity to get it spec checked by a dealer it had lot more extras making it even more desirable !

Just spotted this article by Sophie about the number of complaints about used cars. http://cardealermagazine.co.uk/publish/used-car-sale-problems-labelled-as-top-complaint-made-by-motorists/77436?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter "MORE than half of faulty used cars reveal their problems within a month of purchase" Would be interesting to see the list of faults, are they actual faults ? also what age/ price band are all these complaints? I saw a 'review' on a website a few weeks ago about a customer complaining about what was wrong with a car he'd bought for £895 - [Eight Hundred and ninety five pounds ] yes the car has to be road worth and a heap of junk , but what can you really expect for that price? So is it down to customer expectations ? We've all had cars perfect when we sell them and no reason the 'engine light' comes on - so that classed as fault ? Wrong use of fuel ? different type of driving?

Never sold one off the side of the road ! If you're going to do it - do it right FROM THE START!

Hi Clare - All looks well on the new website !

Road side Traders are a nightmare to all the legitimate motor dealers throughout the country , all you have to do is drive around the corner from you live spot them! On my way into work I used to see couple of waste ground areas with approx 7-8 cars on each , the giveaway was the ‘nice’ bright coloured signs / same hand writing on all – same tel number , now you’re not telling me this is just some one selling the odd car from home, its a full time business WITHOUT the overheads and I bet he /she does fill in VAT forms every quarter ! I had a VAT visit a few years back and I told the VAT inspector about my concerns that these people seem to get away but not only not paying their cat/ possible taxes, rent / rates etc but possibly could be selling cars which may be dangerous ...after a long conversation the answer was “we don’t have enough resource to catch them all but are looking into it†Last week trading standards officer called in looking for a ‘motor trader’ who’s advertising from this area , he can’t find him – I’ve never heard of him and the address is same street as me ! I told him again about my concerns about the ‘side street motors’ ... his answer ! you’ve guessed it same as the VAT inspector ...but he said “when we get complaints we investigate†I asked how could they possibly find the seller as more than likely the mobile number is a pay as you gone and that’s long been binned !!! If they wanted to clamp down on this they could simply say , we’re going to have a purge for i.e. 2 weeks every inspector out , how many would they catch – make a big song & dance in the paper s – TV about it and I bet some of them would disappear – well that’s a start as far as I’m concerned ! But sadly they’re not interested – that’s work , pick on US – They know here we are !

PS - Just spotted this article : http://www.lawgistics.co.uk/read-news/574 Ref CAT D & Claims against dealer. ( Thought it may be of interest !)

CAT D or C Cars I will not sell them - simple - reputation to maintain. Personally when I've had to value them for P/X I've said 'half book value' that's IF I can get some one to take them off me. I know of few customers who've actually bought them as they think they represent good value for money. I guess its all down to what the car is and HOW good a repair job is or what the damage was! But looking as some of the comments on here there might be a business for someone who's up front and advertises them for what they are especially if you have photographic evidence of damage/repairs! Good luck

Phil "Less likely to travel for a fiesta" I did have a couple travel from Preston to stoke to buy a fiesta ! the 20+ pictures gave them the reassurance that I had nothing to hide - so travelled down and bought ! So impressed they've promised to see me for their next car! but do agree special/rare cars people will travel the world.

William Totally agree, everyone has different needs/ wants . When I was running a dealership I found out what motivated each one and its not always money -then tried to incentive that person. One of them loved the latest model ..so I'd sit there let him spec the car up and say right you do this and its yours ! Month in he always achieved what we'd agreed !

Talking to a fellow motor dealer earlier and we got talking about motivation! Well lack of to be honest, He is struggling to get the sales staff buzzing! I bounced a few ideas with him some he’s’ tried and lots that don’t do anything! What do you use to keep your staff motivated, performing at their best, offer world class service to customers and make some money at the same time for themselves and the dealer.

Lots travelling from all over the country to buy the right car, but local business is I feel more important as this is what its more about , repeat, recommendations are more likely than if simply selling a long distance away.

I still do local news paper advertising, it works for me! think there are still the old fashioned customers who like to read / see it in the 'papers' ! tried Radio a few times , very expensive but not seen good returns - although I feel there should be its never been good , probably good for branding!

Thanks guys for your support and comments ! Very much appreciated ! #blushing

Have to say loving the blackshaws video's that 'MJ' a cool cat ! well done guys!

An early attempt : – Don’t laugh J!! Some other marketing videos’ just for a laugh : Feel free to add your thoughts would love to know .. Good bad , hopefully not ugly !