metcars

Interesting position for the government to been in. On the one hand to have the best health interests of the public foremost, but on the other have their big party donors itching to open the doors of industry. I wonder how they will sell it to us? Play down the danger? Playup the economy? Or step back and let every slowly return to work out of desperation while saying “no don’t do it”

How’s the buying?

As I understand it, nothing was going to put that fire out. It would probably just have happened again the next week?

Same, my preferred local tyre place was run by Polish. Straight shooters as far I could tell. They had a fire?

The Eastern European scrap guys just love that German prestige stuff. I’ve got a guy here at the corner of my road rebuilding them in his front garden. He’s always got a couple in various stages of repair. I gave no idea how or where he advertises as I’ve never found him. His cars are parked all over the place yet he never attracts any ‘heat’? He’s got a lovely house, big garden and workshop, wife and kids at school. I reckon if you totalled up his own cars and his stock it’s worth more than my house? Or at least it was......?

I’ve watched this guy and he seems to be doing a stand up job. But sadly he is not representative of the majority of salvage repairers, who focus on the minimum spend and maximum profits. My involvement with salvage was pre copart back in the ‘90s. But the prices were getting silly and comparable with straight auctions even back in those days. The majority of the cars were going over to Europe. You’d see the lorries parked outside ready to go. Im guessing that back home they could register them in their own country and the history was wiped clean, which made all those BMW/Mercedes much more lucrative to sell? im not sure who the typical Copart customer is these days? YouTubers, dreamers, who knows? Brexit will have an impact that’s for sure.

Yes! Love me a cheap smoker! All that ‘showboating’ in a German convertible might impress the girlfriend but otherwise makes you look a knob

Does anyone remember Universal Salvage? Their site at sandwich in Kent. Where everyone stood behind the viewing barrier and the guys drove the cars around in a lap! And the little golf cart made into a mobile rostrum!

+1 And when you say bosses you mean the ‘suits’ still working from home a safe distance from the factories. Its an interesting situation because when will it ever be ‘safe’? What can the government do to make it safe for us to return to normal life? There’s no cure and no treatment, it’s all down to how strong your immune system is, if and when you catch it. Or at least for the poor souls that don’t have huge savings to live on indefinitely.

You’ll have to start doing some of those hilarious walk around videos instead? But seriously, this is great if you are selling 5yr old BMW’s, but that’s not all of the motor trade!

I’m clapping for James tonight, maybe fireworks too!

Very observant. Interesting times ahead. I think there’s also an assumption that all customers are happy to buy cars the same way, like ordering a takeaway? They’re not. So a chunk of the motor trade will be able to function a chunk will not. Although it has to be said plenty of the usual suspects have been trading bangers on FB for weeks regardless. Their antivirus cleansing protocol involves an oily rag?

Yeah I’m in that group. I’m in a difficult position. I have to put my health first. But, if I was a younger fitter guy I’d be fighting get back on with the job, so I certainly wouldn’t criticise anyone.

Because it's still not safe?

Thanks James. But the threat of catching the virus is just the same now as it was a month ago? It sounds a bit cavalier of Boris to tell us lot to ignore the danger and get on with it. And when I say danger, I mean danger for people like me, that will easily be in a life threatening condition if they catch it! So I'm sitting here wishing everyone good luck and keeping safe!

So the popo are in reality keeping our streets safer meaning less crime. Which is good? Again lower risks for insurance

That’s true but two thirds less cars on the road is significant? True, but some insurance companies have observed the change in risk and voluntarily refunded customers? Considering how much we pay, even a months worth of ‘reduced risk’ refund will be a pizza? But consider there are more Police, being more active (not sitting in the station eating biscuits). And how many fewer motorists there are on significantly quieter roads.

James, have you had Mr CAP and Mr glasses on yet?

I love watching these old films. There’s a few old BL and Ford sales training films that are hilarious!

According to the department of transport vehicle use has fallen by two thirds. That must have an impact on premiums?

I noticed an article online about insurance companies offering discounts due to the ‘Rona. This had crossed my mind, premiums are built on ‘risk’ and the risk has changed significantly for many of us. So, discounts all round and cheaper premiums on the way?

The auctions will do the least they have to. The last thing they want is to be obliged to accurately describe anything!

Contactless, embrace it, it’s the future! Seriously, physical auctions eventually will become a thing of the past. The only way it will work is if the auctions give honest appraisals?

I wonder how many traders that acquire stock from ‘private’ advertisers just turn up and hand over the cash without attempting to chip the price?

Good post. Couple of points though. Online deliveries are the future, for everything, not just cars. And obviously in the not too distant future we will acquire our stock in similar way, because the car auctions will move away from physical auctions, and instead bidders will all become account holders. Forced to rely on online auctions dubious online descriptions but also use their own logistics? So, yes, contactless business is the future? I’m not sure about us moving into a slump. Im not a clever money person, but I know a few. They say sit tight, don’t throw investments on the fire? Personally, when the government send the great unwashed back to work, and as long as that’s everybody, then the economy should spike back up! It might take a couple of weeks but businesses didn’t close because of lack of demand, they shut on orders of government. The widget factory will open on Monday and start making widgets for the businesses that needs them. I know that sounds a little over simplified but that’s how I see it! just as an aside, I’ve been viewing a lot of dealers video descriptions. I suspect that some clever young tech person is going to make a lot of money selling this ‘dark art’ to dealers. I was going to post some of the more hilarious ones but it feels a bit mean when those guys obviously think they have done a good job? Being able to use a video camera, having a voice that doesn’t sound like a music hall act, and having the ability to edit professionally are obviously going to be things worth paying for!