grant8064

60/61 Astra 5dr Petrol Auto 60K Black, grey or white. Couldn't give a monkeys about spec or paint required.

Have you ever attempted to communicate with their 'highly trained staff' before?

Just had one back an Audi on us with the clearest case of buyers remorse anyone has ever seen...i'd say I prefer BMW man because of that, but we don't sell BMWs!

Checked the rear quarter window seals and door seals? That's where ours usually leak from

Likewise, enjoy the short break everyone!

Very true. I've a lot of time for the ones on part ex to clear stuff that are honest and upfront about there situation, been there, know what it's like. I know which punters I prefer selling a car to though!

Phew...and breathe. Could have been a lot worse. Yet to do it myself but i'm sure I will. Our local indie station just prints 'Fuel' on the receipt and I usually question myself and pray as I turn the ignition on.

We're south east and switched heavily to petrol at the start of the year. 80% petrol but still do some diesels when it's appropriate, 4x4, estates etc. Motivation was all the media coverage and living near a 'green' city. I think if we were based north of the big smoke/somewhere rural we'd still be stocking lots of diesel. End result is prep costs are down and post sale warranty/repair costs are substantially down...can't even remember the last time we had a turbo go pop or something needing a forced regen which is nice. Tempted fate a bit there...

Average on sales but managed to buy nine yesterday, usually manage three or four on a good day. Cheapest decent desirable stock has been for at least three months round our way. Fill your boots I say!

Our local indie charges £35 online bid fee per car bought. If the £60 fee for in person bidding per won car through a rep meant you were less likely to get run up by one bid (because they know said bidder has a capped price and no emotion/motivation to go higher/get carried away) it would be worthwhile. Would also be worthwhile if they could cost up paint and dents on your behalf over the phone rather than relying on crap photos/reports but you'd need a good relationship where they know what your paint/dent man charges. Wouldn't use it myself but I can see the benefits for an on the ball volume buyer aware of cosmetic recon costs.

Always found the best thing is to slow the action right down, really slow and deliberate. I used to be an auctioneer and it really messes up your flow on the rostrum, often gets you wrong footed on a commission bid and sometimes makes other bidders think before acting rather than getting lost in the moment. When I used to sell I had a begrudging respect for dealers slowing me down/throwing me off rhythm.

Like. We usually do it as part of handover, makes life easy for billy...they're paying retail for assistance and convenience. On the topic, i've heard a lot of talk about people getting their DD's declined online if they're taxing multiple vehicles over a period of time on the same debit card. I assume to deter home traders taxing everything monthly and parking it in the local streets. Not sure how much truth is in it, could just be Chinese trade whispers.

Order forms and warranty booklets are Lawgistics. They have 20% off warranty booklets at the moment btw! Invoice is a templated word document with logos and company header/footer on, we just change the customers details and vehicle details. I have a different one for each finance company, one for retail, one for unroadworthy scrappers etc.

Snap. Changed brokers recently which has helped but a lot of it has been down to the billys lately

I've got one you can have...only had it in stock 8 months! Gearbox and engine seems pretty bombproof but the rest of the car falls apart/lights up every time we move it. Standard German.

I think we're both winners in this competition!

Can't be as insane as the one we have. Six months and 10k into ownership and he'll see us in court because his tyres and brakes have worn...couldn't make it up!

We've tried to buy a couple out the block in the past and they've made way way above book...doesn't mean much I know. Meant to be popular with caravan owners

I'm clearly the only one that thinks it isn't too bad. New chair from a breaker and a good valet. If I was doing over a 1000 miles a week looking after my company car wouldn't be a priority...I might get my fat passenger a gym membership though!

I know it's only the 4th but if it carries on like this forget the turkey, it'll be bread with bread sauce! Done one. Our oldest car in stock. I don't mean longest, I mean oldest. 1998 V70 petrol, so clean it would put a three year old one to shame. 21 services, one owner and the new owner doesn't seem to care less that it's about as good as a old barge can get.

As Nick says, the real money is in the part ex chain...nothing like the fun of a run of five or six random bits off the back of something boring from the block. The only thing i've found genuinely interesting was an old Mazda BingoBongo. We didn't really want to get involved but offered what we thought was fair money. After a bit of research, knowing nothing about campers at the time, we realised the difference between a side conversion and a full on conversion. Bit of welding, coolant warning alarm fitted (no vehicle should really require one of those as standard prep) and a fresh ticket and paint and it paid for the month and some. Biggest lump we've ever taken on something and a great talking point on the forecourt too.

We're with Clickdealer. Were nowhere to be seen online previously, since changing we're #1 to #3 for most search terms in the local area.

We do OK with spares/repairs on eBay. Sometimes takes a couple of goes but lately they've all been paid for, collected, ID presented, recovery truck etc. Taken a while to get the eBay template right. Had a strange amount going to the Caribbean lately.

Nice looking thing that. We'd be £1495 minimum all day long but it's gonna be very location based IMO

+1 Just adds to the head scratching