GreenGiant

Congrats to all nominees and good luck on the night. A bit gutted that I didn't make Social Media User of the Year nominee, but I'll get over it .

...now owned by AutoTrader. So, look forward to frequent subscription price hikes and rubbish 'enhancements' that nobody needs or asked for. The original concept and format was great and worked well. Now that it has gone all corporate, I like many others will save a bit of money and look elsewhere. Sorry, but that's how it is. File under 'G' for GreedyGreedyBoys along with AutoTrader, Glass's Guide and BCA, Any others?

If I was in charge... OK, let's chuck these out there... Start: Licensing Motor Traders Campaigning for Car tax to be abolished in favour of extra tax on fuel - the more you use, the more you pay Get the general public to understand that Profit is not a dirty word Stop: Pre-registrations Manufacturers from dictating how we should run our businesses Over Supply of New Cars

Might as well do. Couldn't c*ck it up any worse.

If and when you do get through you can rest assured that many words will be spoken, but nothing will be said. You will be told that the new system is functioning in line with expectations, the massive cost savings (remember?...25p a car) will benefit everyone in the longer term and there will inevitably be a period of time for customers to adjust habits formed over many years. There won't be any apology for the poor communication about the change, or the lack of consultation, nor for the extra workload put upon us for having to train their customers for them. They will not be able to categorically promise that the updates are happening in real time, but their data says they are. There will be no evidence of an increase in cloned cars (ie, same make, model & reg no) seemingly being in different places at the same time and, in essence, the whole thing has been a jolly splendid success.

Taxed a couple at the Post Office last Saturday morning - one a keeper change, the other our Parts van renewal. Neither showed online as taxed until Tuesday morning. I know I've been banging on about this for a while, but what is the bleedin' point of introducing this 'digital' system if the data isn't updated instantaneously and the info shared with Plod or whoever the DVLA have agreed to share it with (yours for a mess of potage - you only have to ask) in real time? It is not fit for purpose if it doesn't immediately update. The potential for erroneous prosecutions, clampings and fines is there for all to see. And you can rest assured that when (not if) someone (one of your customers?) gets stopped for driving an 'untaxed' car, they will automatically be deemed guilty until proven innocent. Can't the fools who thought this up see that?

Oh dear.... can opened......worms everywhere....

Sensei, my friend, the Spelling and Grammar Police will be coming for you... Incorrect usage of 'there', 'their' and 'they're' always gets the hackles rising, but to invent a random new one (thier?!) will unleash the beast I fear.

These days, BCA do have an engineer's report as well as a condition report. Although these are charged to you as a buyer.. as well as to the seller, effectively two charges for the same thing .And if you buy online you have to pay extra... and so does the seller - double bubble, yet again.. But if you buy an 'Assured' car there is a bit of a comeback. Although this costs more too... to the buyer and seller. And if you have any margin left after having to bid against your own customers (or the wall!) to pay well over the odds for an edgy standard spec hatchback, and then having had to pay all the hidden 'extra' charges the auction house slap on, you then have the added privilege of AutoTrader taking the rest of your hard-earned for some superduper package that will give you the edge and definitely increase your enquiries.... 'cos they say it will, so it must be true. And the prices are going up again in January. Greedy, greedy, boys; all of 'em. I sense that the backlash against AutoTrader is only just beginning. A quick read of their own forum is a bit of an eyeopener. Has anyone else noticed a drop off in enquiries since the 'new' Search facility was introduced? And why is the new design of both BCA and A/T's websites so similar?

.......So many worms....... which one looks the juiciest?......they all do!......let's start with the obvious........ "You cant get a discount every where you go." Nobody said you can. But, I repeat, there's no harm in asking. "If you knock hundreds of pounds off a car all the time then who's an idiot." Nobody said you have to. But, I repeat, there's no harm in asking. "When people come in asking for up to £1,300 off a car thinking they can get it, then my description above applies." Nobody said you have to give it. But, I repeat, there's no harm in asking. Above all, I certainly wouldn't be assuming my potential customers are idiots. There's only one way that's gonna end up, my friend and being a skint, angry, lonely old man sitting in the shopping centre shouting at everyone, isn't on my bucket list, thanks. This is the way of the world. It's the 'moneysavingexpert, vouchercode, hotukdeal, comparethemarket' mentality that now applies. Everyone is told that there's a better deal somewhere, and it's their job to find it. It's our job to prove that ours is the best one. Simples.

Interesting points and I see how the theory of making it difficult for non-trade customers might be attractive to us. But... How much longer do you want the queues at the payment windows? Can you honestly see the auction staff wanting to get involved with explaining the whole new DVLA system to every single customer? (After all, that's our job innit?) And then having to do the taxing online? And then re-invoicing? No, me neither. The new rules clearly state that the responsibility for taxing the new car lies with the purchaser. I wonder how much info the auction houses are giving purchasers in this regard?

I think 'idiots' is a little harsh... if someone comes in to me on the last day of the month and offers me a profit on a 120 day bottler, albeit hundreds of pounds below advertised price, I'm likely to take it. So I suppose there's no harm in asking. Besides, do you pay full retail for absolutely everything you buy? (And if the answer's yes, who's the idiot now?) I know, why don't we compile a list of our answers to the "Parker's says your car is too dear" conundrum. Maybe the best ones could end up published in CD mag next month! (James?) Here's mine to kick off: "Parkers sell magazines and tell you this car is too dear. I sell cars and tell you their magazine is too dear, but you still bought it. Now what?"

As long as the yellow slip 'arrived' at the DVLA no later than yesterday, of course. And there's no way of checking. By the way, is this where I get to say 'I told you so'? Nah, I think I'll wait until it completely implodes and the Motortaxenoberfuhrer's apologies and backtracking have begun...

Just spotted another anomaly in the nonsense "DVLA will automatically issue a refund from the date of receipt for any full remaining months of vehicle tax" Up till now, the refund was dated from the date of posting of the claim form, if it is now the date of receipt of the yellow slip, that adds another couple of days to the transition period. So if you sell your car on the last few days of the month, chances are you will lose the following month's tax as well! With no right of appeal or dispute. Nice. I'm appalled (although not surprised) at how little has been heard from the Trade Bodies on this. It is incomprehensible to me how easy it has been for the DVLA and HMRC to steamroller this farce (cos that's what it will become) over us all. And what's that BS about not driving a car that's 'in trade' as there's no registered keeper? Who just invented that rule? Honestly, i'm gonna pop an aneurism soon. "Ooh it will save around 10 million pounds" says the chief tealeaf. That's about 25p a car on the road, mate. 25 pence! And for that we've got lost jobs, inconvenience, disgruntled customers, misinformation, a double-taxation scam and bugger all assistance, I bet you still get your bonus though.

Unless you happen to be BCA of course...

That's impressive and I'm glad it works for you. I don't generally sell many cars under £5k so we're not treading on each other's toes. As of Aug 2013 (last published figures), approx one third of the population have active Facebook accounts. Which I admit is a lot. But not as many as the two-thirds who haven't. Hey, we can't be all things to all people, can we? What we do is find our position in the market and crack on. Or, as matey from the DVLA would say, "Access your niche and exploit it" And i'm more crunchy nut cornflakes than muesli

I could be pedantic and say that you should be saying 'keeper' rather than 'owner', but I won't cos I'm not like that.

Youi're absolutely right, my friend. It's because I don't spend my free time poking, snapping and tweeting irrelevant cr@p around the universe.. ....just on here...

Nothing over 45 days old boy We don't put them into trade - it's the responsibility of the previous keeper. Interestingly, I've checked a few more and all of those cars that the yellow slip has been deffo sent to the DVLA, ie passed to Trade, are showing as SORNed (is that a word?). However, the following appears on the DVLA website: Motor traders You don’t need to make a SORN on a vehicle if you’re a motor trader or vehicle tester and all the following apply: it’s only temporarily in your possession (until you sell it) it’s being kept at your business premises the registered keeper has notified DVLA that the vehicle has been sold or transferred to you So, what's occurring? Isn't SORN a different beast from Trade with restrictions on use?

Thought I might have a bash at Social Media User of the Year What d'ya reckon?

I would. But I'm not sure an actual conversation using, you know, words and stuff is something he'd manage... My main issue with it is the fact that it is anything but social. I was in my local the other day and there was a couple, obviously on some kind of date, who spent more time staring at the little screens in their hands than actually talking to each other. Wouldn't surprise me if they were texting each other. How sad is that? Anyway, I don't think I'm on my own. For example, if the Big Question today had been: Would the world be a better, more tolerant place without Facebook & Twitter? ..the Yes campaign would have smashed it out of the park.

I just checked a few of mine and they are coming up as either still taxed (ex-Motability especially), Untaxed or SORN. None of them are 'passed to Trade' Should I/we be concerned?

Episode Two "ding-a-dong-dong ding-a-dong-dong ding-a-dong-dong-ding" Hello.... hello? Oh. Scotty, it's you! Sorry, I didn't recognise your number. Oh, you changed it..... you've got a new iPhone... good for you. What are you ringing me for at this time of the morning? I'm fine thank you, but what do you really want? So. you've had some time to think and want to know how I feel about having another go of things? Really? You been on the ginger wine? You think you may have been having a mid-life crisis. The thought of being a little bit of an outcast not quite so appealing now, is it? What happened to the idea that I'm a selfish control freak and you couldn't stand being near me? Ah, that was just things we say when we're angry was it? That's OK then. Here's the thing... I'd got quite used to living without you. Nothing really changed and, to be honest, although my mates were a bit confused as to why you would even think of leaving, they soon got used to you not being around. It might be a bit awkward if we turn up at the pub together as if nothing had happened. Still, in time, I suppose they'll accept it. In time, I suppose I will! So, if I say yes, what do you want me to do? Give you a bit more of a say in the big decisions that affect both of us... OK Stop patronising you... I don't think I did, but OK Share our finances properly and openly... OK Stop laughing at your football team... Can't promise, but I'll try You'd like us to visit your family more often; not just when we want something... OK But above all, make it look like I care about you and your feelings? Aw, come over here you big lummox and gimme a hug, you know I care! The truth is, I never wanted you to go - we're better together, you know! ...what's for tea?

Heh heh heh... reminds me of the old BSM Metros we used to knock out back in the early nineties. Registered to 'Engineering Educational Trust' or something equally obscure!