AutocarsHull

Some questions on advertising effectiveness please ?.... 1 How are people finding Motors after their comprehensive advertising campaign? 2 We cancelled Ebay Motors Pro last year as we were wading through and tired of people asking if we would take a used mountain bike/goat/ frisbee in swap against a 5 series, has the quality of enquiry changed for the better ? PS We sell prestige stock £7k upwards.. 3 If you have Autotrader advertising (and the associated cost !) how do these compare? Looking forward to your thoughts....... Karl

Where do we start.......... Yes, Autotrader sell cars, that's the positives over...... Outragously expensive and as said by a rep, 'we know it works'. Arrogance throughout the company seems as standard in terms they think they can charge what they like because you need us. Shocking. Our rep is nice enough BUT we only see her when they have another 'product' to sell us or as per the visit 5 weeks ago the price is going up £70 a week come January ! Thats nearly twice the motors.co.uk TOTAL monthly subscription !!! I'm sick of their arrogance and we would drop them today if we had another viable choice as an internet based business. They now have their hands on autotrade mail, which had a £40 per month subscription, now £67 pcm + Vat. Im sorry if this sounds negative, but Autotrader would probably make good bankers......

If the DVLA state there is no financial benefit to the new changes, can we all work out how much rfl we have in cash terms if cashed in, because this will all be lost to the dval/govt when sold. We are running at about £2300. Please post yours !!

Just wondering whats peoples plans are on the forum as to how they are going to run 'staff cars' going forward once they new rules come in, and existing taxed cars have been sold??

Umesh, It is as you rightly say "simply daylight robbery". Firstly, the DVLA stop 'the trade' cashing in valid tax discs a few years ago now, and now we are getting thoroughly turned over again !! If we have cars with valid rfl until say April 2015, how can it be right for this to be invalid with NO REFUND when we sell it after October?? THE DUTY HAS BEEN PAID until the expiry date ! This is purely and simply about money with no regard for the public or trade for that matter, who it just so happens do quite a lot of administration for the dvla. Dusgusting.

As well as a routine registration/mileage hpi/vmc check, make sure you protect against stolen/cloned cars by doing a V5 check on HPI using the document reference number from the V5. This ensures the V5 is not stolen, and that is the latest and correct issue of V5 for the car you are checking.

Exactly ! Same here. This entire situation about the paper disc being abolished is about one thing.... pounds sterling to the DVLA, first and foremost, and the're trying to fit the practicalities around that.

In a conversation this week with the DVLA, we were told that you can park on the highway on trade plates, as long as its business use.......seemed strange but hey, it was the DVLA.

You do indeed get what you pay for Wheeler Dealer 1, whatever it is in life. Unfortunately, the internet lists by price, and so retail buyers are naturally led by this. We do not buy cars from auction, all our stock is main dealer, px or bought privately locally. The cars are prepped to a high standard, have a quality warranty, and we do describe accurately, unfortunately, we then have to compete on price with someone who has quickly popped a car through the local hand car wash and taken photos in front of someone else's industrial unit. Its here your reputation can set you apart, either on your site, or social media posts to your facebook/twitter.

Interesting article in The Telegraph.... https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/drivers-not-adequately-warned-over-011241813.html?cmp=fb

Having just had a very lengthy and complicated conversation with an operative at the wonderful DVLA, this is our understanding of the situation regarding cars in stock with valid RFL come October 1st. If the DVLA have been notified that 'the vehicle is in trade' prior to 1st October , then the RFL stays with the car until expiry, even when re registered to the next owner. If the car has not been registered as in trade come 1st October, then the RFL on the car is refunded back to the previous keeper when it is re registered after this date, as this will inform the dvla of the disposal of the vehicle by the previous keeper. It is the notification of disposal of a car which triggers the RFL refund. If anyone has any ideas on how we can continue to drive taxed trade cars going forward after the 1st October without self registering/taxing used cars, we would love to know ??!! Cheers Karl Ridley @AutocarsHull

We've had a similar problem, Mercedes 350 CDi Saloon, intermittent Satellite Navigation problem shortly after delivery. We took the decision to resolve the problem and fit a new Navigation unit, we now have what I would describe as a customer who will champion our business, customer sent us a very complimentary testimonial letter, providing the customer is not obviously trying it on, its ALWAYS worth promoting your good reputation and resolving the issue, have a read of his letter and click on the tweet itself @AutocarsHull.

I have to say , during David Combes presentation from Lawgistics at CDC14, I was stunned to the level the new consumer directive has altered the consumers rights. As Umesh quite rightly points out, most customers are quite reasonable, and for those of us who prepare our cars correctly there shouldn't be an issue, even when small things happen, its how you put them right and in those circumstances they can become your best customers, however I had a very worrying thought...... What happens if the media, someone such as Watchdog or another consumer programme, highlights these new laws on a national level, in detail to handing cars back and opens the doors to the masses, is there not the potential for each and every one of us to be in trouble by the possible abuse of the law by unscrupulous 'customers'?

Having previously worked in my early days with the Ford network, and for a long time with BMW, I've attended quite a large number of launches, meetings and conferences and the like, all of which tend to follow a stiff and slightly stuffy approach if I'm being honest. #CDC14 was like a breath of fresh air, very well organised, very well thought out informative speakers, but above all friendly, interesting and made some great contacts. Pre book me for next year as it was simply superb.