Rory RSC

Facebook advertising is peanuts if you do it right. It will only get more expensive but it’s a hugely effective way to get your name out there when done right.

You can hide comments where it’s visible to the poster but not to others on page. You can also just banter them back, it’s social media after all. boosting has little success. Targeted adverts works better.

2 bottles of wine and a box of chocolates from customers. jesus I’ve had one gift and one tip in all my time.

Nail on head. Additionally to this younger buyers who perhaps don’t care about autotrader. also if you google Fiesta ST / Landrover Freelander Black / BMW 320d M Sport CarGurus pulls up higher than autotrader. they then adjust search to 10/20/50 miles based on postcode and CarGurus may just drop your car under their nose. after that they then retarget the hell out of the customer. Strong platform.

I couldn't care less they all get treated the same and if its our issue it gets resolved, if its not they don't because we are under no obligation to do so. Prep right, treat folk fairly the rest falls into place.

I usually work to Autotraders suggested profit margin of £150 / £200 per car. Anything else is just greedy to be honest.

Same day payments here. No chance waiting 3/4 days. Same as Dave Horgan hit the end of day on the bigger payments or full car payments so they come through right away.

Far to much like no chance of them paying up a fine and generating any money. Probably similar ethos to proceeds of crime.

I truly hope that is the case and not someone trying it on. I wouldn’t be so relaxed.

There aren't that many used car dealers who are absolutely loaded.

Can't help but have some admiration for the brazen ability to have been ripping people off for what must be getting up for 15/20 years now back in the import days. Lawsuit, after lawsuit no fucks given.

The best way to get started is just to do it. There will never be the perfect time, you will never have enough money or enough stock or anything else but the key is getting cracking, getting stuck in and learning. learn what works, what sells, what doesn't what attracts good customers and what attracts the bad. Starting part time is fine, doing a few on the side is fine basically you are arranging appointments at times to suit you around your other job. A lot of it is mindset, are you a positive person who looks on the bright side and finds ways of doing things, overcoming challenges and getting shit done or do you throw in the towel at the first hurdle and blame others. Got to be really critical in business often of yourself and identify your own shortcomings. If partnering with someone make sure you are not both doing the same thing. There is no point. Find someone who has strengths in areas you don't.

Drive away now instantly - Card payment I don't mind to take the fee or transfer if you can / we are not to busy to wait about. 1 sales person with 3 or 4 customers milling about card payments far easier. Deposit placed and coming back - Transfer only before collection no real reason for any excuses.

They can cancel them even after sending the payment and you seeing it leave if they wanted to. Negligible chance but i won't let anyone go until money shows in my account and ask anyone collecting a car to have made payment in advance not turn up in the office pissing around with wifi, bank fobs etc. Santander seem to block every customer payment and then text about 2 hours later asking if they have sent it, seen it etc. They could cancel it then if they wanted and be a couple of hours from you. Small risk, small chance but personally not one I will take.

I would love to charge admin fees to every customer. Huge profit potential.

I have never once had an auto gearbox fixed with an oil change to date. Not even one.

Very true and as your volume of sales goes up, your overheads don't half shoot up to.

I am a big beleiver that we learn a lot more from our failures than our successes and I don't think you would let history repeat for a second. Just go gradually.

Buying cheap vans with no vat is harder than sourcing cars

Its not organised at individual dealer level its organised by group / franchise owner. Small single site main dealers are few and far between and increasingly rare. You have to get into the big groups or alternatively try something new like bike dealerships maybe ( can't see the hells angels at a harley dealer being to into it but something to think about)

You will find they do it after and then ring you with issues like that private plate one you had where they think its a cat d or something else untoward. Always found it weird doing the check after purchase but tends to happen quite a lot.

What a feeling, can't beat the buzz of a deal good work.

If 2/3rds of your stock come back with problems right away just check you are prepping right. If you are and its just genuinely something has just happened we could not have forseen don't be to hard on yourself. If its a case of we should be better than this up the prep game. I hate bank holiday weekends, more and more. Had yesterday off in today and closed completely Sunday with Monday off. Im a grafter and when its deathly quiet is the only time I hate being at work. The lads managed 2 yesterday one was pre confirmed the other remote finance prop who came and collected. Bit of a result

Its a question only ever asked by someone that would have never paid asking price.

Id be in favour of it just being done and dusted one way or the other.