Afternoon Folks,
Long time lurker, but my first post here to you all. Hello!
Im fresh into the motor trade after a 10+ year absence from a similar role. This time though im on my own and trying to build up experience aswell as reliable sources of stock as so much has changed.
Im at the cheaper end of the market, 2-5K currently, and I have to say anything I have sold has went quite smoothly to date which has been helpful. My biggest issue has been finding reliable supplies of stock (waiting for the 'you and us both mate!' lol).
So far I have found the 'cheapest' avenue to be private sellers, not getting perhaps the best quality in terms of stock as owners appear to be more transient these days with their purchases, and care tends not to be the order of the day when it comes to regular upkeep of their vehicles. However, it allows me to be fairly choosey about what I buy.
Private sellers are fine for the odd car each week, but I would like to have 3-5 cars per week running through my hands. I have already hit all the major expenses in terms of trade insurance, trade plates, a secure storage site etc so it makes sense to up the numbers. I think the most I have had so far has been 3 in one week, and I struggled finding them to be honest.
Im selling mostly on ebay, so prices are low but there is still money to be made with my business model if I buy right. I attended a couple of recent BCA auction days in an attempt to find stock and found 90% of the cars making CAP clean, and some even making CAP retail, which shocked me as these were fairly run of the mill (abet clean, JCT600 sale) with the odd nice Mercedes or Audi. Once fees are added none of the cars I was interested in would make me any money.
Back in the day we sold our part-x stock to independent traders, but so much of that kind of stock now seems to end up back in auction. Having said that, I still get the impression that some main dealers offer their stock to trade buyers first before sending to auction whatever is left, but it is getting through the door with them that is the issue.
Im new to the country after moving several years ago with another career, so all the dealers here are new to me. Im also long out of things so quite rusty at everything but willing to start as a new boy and learn the ropes all over and not afraid to be told im doing it wrong.
So with this in mind, can I ask your opinions of what the best approach to these main dealers to buy their stock would be? Should I make for the Sales Manager straight away and handover a business card in person or should I make initial enquiries via phone/email to admin departments to ask who handles part exchange disposals?
Is there better options out there for stock sourcing?
Should I bite the bullet on the BCA auction cars and make very little on the first dozen or so trades until I get moved up the account card level and the fees become cheaper? Or are the cars that go under the UKCGR trade sections making less money than those from main dealer disposals?
Like I said, green behind the ears here but willing to take some advice from anyone offering.
And I do appreciate any responses and your time in responding :-)
Cheers,
Noel -
