SC Derby

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Posts posted by SC Derby

  7. Posted

    Yeah, I've had a couple of Insignia 1.8 petrols that have been fine, but I believe the Insignia 6 speed diesel has a questionable gearbox as well as the other issues?

    With regards to Vectras. I bet I have sold 30-40 petrol Vectras in the past 3 years and still never had one returned, except for windowash not coming out of the back wiper (easy fix lol).

    Not bad, that.

  8. Posted

    We had a lot of problems a few years back with the 1.9 Vectras/Astras/9-3s 

    many flywheels and egr valves/injectors/engine lights

    Even on 40-60k cars.

    Anwyay, I miss selling them as they do shift on quick, my question is if you buy the Automatic version I'm guessing that rules out DMF issues?

    I really want to get back into the 9-3 and 9-5 TDi's and see a lot of them are Auto.

    Cheers.

  10. Posted

    I only use the guides for part exchanges to be honest and even then I still use my normal method as well.

    Work out what I can retail it for, work out prep costs, work out the margin I want/need.

    IF, after taking all that off, I can buy it at that price then I will, if not, leave it.

  11. Posted

    This is a very strange industry in which we operate.

    I have had a base model Vectra Life with A/C in for 5 weeks, not really had a sniff, 2007 plate 75k, for £2290, probably slightly over priced. I only really bought it as a cheap stock filler when I was stocking up early July.

    This morning a  lady rings up from 80 odd mile away, apparently it's the exact car her husband wants (we all sit and dream of base model Vectras lol), although he's not passed his test, they do not want to lose this car, can they put holding deposit on until Saturday and WILL have the car as long as it comes MOT'd with no advisories. I even agreed to deliver it to them (Yorkshire) for £50.

    If it represents value to this lady where are all the local 20 mile radius buyers in the meantime ??

  14. Posted

    Worked the opposite way for me this morning, although it has been one of 'those weekends' with all the odd ball customers coming out at once!

    But yes, guy rings over the weekend of a 50k Titanium X Estate Mondeo I've got as 'due in' ( I had 3 enquiries on this vehicle over the weekend).

    The car gets delivered to me this morning at 9am and we start cleaning, he shows up at 10am and asks why it isn't clean yet despite me explaining 3 times it has been DUE IN and has literally JUST arrived. 

    Anyway he says it's got too many scratches and dints so he will leave it. To be honest there is not one 'dint/dent' on the car, and there was about 5 scratches, 4 of which have now gone with T-Cut and one is still there to be smart repaired (£40 max).

    So yes in a way my tactic has bit me on the bum on this occasion but it has worked very well in the past. I'm certain the next chap will have this car as it is really, really nice.

    Worked the opposite way for me this morning, although it has been one of 'those weekends' with all the odd ball customers coming out at once!

    But yes, guy rings over the weekend of a 50k Titanium X Estate Mondeo I've got as 'due in' ( I had 3 enquiries on this vehicle over the weekend).

    The car gets delivered to me this morning at 9am and we start cleaning, he shows up at 10am and asks why it isn't clean yet despite me explaining 3 times it has been DUE IN and has literally JUST arrived. 

    Anyway he says it's got too many scratches and dints so he will leave it. To be honest there is not one 'dint/dent' on the car, and there was about 5 scratches, 4 of which have now gone with T-Cut and one is still there to be smart repaired (£40 max).

    So yes in a way my tactic has bit me on the bum on this occasion but it has worked very well in the past. I'm certain the next chap will have this car as it is really, really nice.

    Next customer coming on same car at 4pm, so tactic obviously does work!

    • Like 1

  19. Posted

    I do 60 hours a week (in the office) and maybe a few more at home pricing vehicles etc but to be honest I enjoy it and I only get bored when I am off.

    I suppose age must come in to in, at 28 I am happy to carry on with these hours for a few more years yet.

    It's just as stressful getting staff in and making sure they do it right anyway :)

    • Like 1

  20. Posted

    It may just be down to total luck but I have been putting adverts on AT and Ebay for cars 'due in this week' and a couple of pictures (if I have bought them online and they are reasonable pictures and not disgracefully dirty).

    I have probably listed circa 15 cars in this way so far this month and have sold 2 before they even arrived, and one more yesterday where the chap booked an appointment the day before and rang every hour since then to see if it was in and valeted yet. One customer said and I quote - 'I clicked on your advert as it looked different from the rest and I knew you hadn't had the car sat around two months'. 

    Anyway just thought I'd feed back my experience, and also see if anyone else has had any success doing this. I used to think it wasn't worth the hassle especially if the car turns up a total dog or with a hidden problem but I've had success with it recently.

  22. Posted

    I had the same Saturday, bloke and his dad came to view a Civic I had sold that morning, took a shining to the Mazda 3 right at the back, asked for it out at 3.45pm.

     

    Moved 5 cars, then it needed jumping cos they'd been sat in it with the radio and lights on for 20 minutes messing with all the dials. Anyway they drove it for 25 minutes, 'really liked it' but need to bring the wife back to see if she likes the colour (grey!?)

    Can you have it out for us at 11am tomorrow?

     

    So I did get it out for them and did they come back? Did they buggery!

     

  24. Posted

    For me its a case of weighing it up, will i sell MORE cars because i am set up for finance, unless it is considerably more than i am doing now i am not sure if its worth the hassle and cost. This is why i am asking any other traders at this price range how they find it either with or without finance. If i was doing cars £4000 and over i would say finance is a must as this sort of money is harder to come by for customers. The vast majority of the cars i sell go on the card and many customers love the 0% credit card options, i think this is easily done on say a 2995 car.

    What worries me slightly is that many customers who CAN afford to buy or have access to a credit card will instead choose to take finance if you offer it. This means that you are not actually selling any more cars just offering a different way for people to buy, i am only interested if my turnover will increase dramatically.

    surely the commission you can make should come into it, 5 deals a month say average of £150-£200  commission

    nice sweet bonus at the end of each month?

    • Like 1