XFS

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Posts posted by XFS

  2. Posted

    I,m not sure that it's easy for any Tom, Dick or Harry. The way I see it good cars are hard to buy and it's a steep learning curve. Mistakes cost and it's a harsh lesson. I,ve learned a few harsh lessons in my time. But I guess my goal is to avoid screamers at all costs, rather than con people.

    I suppose if you are unscrupulous it's possible to con people. I buy a lot of "private" stuff usually in the 8k to 12k range and it's amazing the con men traders you encounter, but mostly they are so easy to spot, I,m genuinely surprised that the public fall for it and I almost think if they do, it's their own fault. The con men traders are easy to spot and deal with, the genuine private con men are much more of a menace. It's amazing how willing otherwise honest people are to turn into ruthless con men...or women as soon as a car is involved...

  5. Posted

    16 hours ago, metcars said:

    People think that being a car dealer is about selling cars, but for me its more about buying them. That's what makes this job interesting. I enjoy reading the market and researching 'hot' prospects, the cut and thrust of auctions, prepping and repairing. The selling is for me only 10% of the job. This is why I couldn't work for a large dealership, I couldn't just stand in a showroom all day, I may as well just sell carpet or photocopiers? 

    Just my opinion?:)

    Sums up how I feel. Every time I sell a car, It means I can buy another one. That is the only exciting part of selling for me, other than that it's that pain in the ass part of the job you have to tolerate to be able to enjoy the good parts.

  9. Posted

    9 minutes ago, Rory RSC said:

    For what its worth every time I send a car to auction I never get anywhere near what its worth.

    Appreciate maybe you don't want the liability of selling something like this.

     

    I would write the most honest advert with clear pictures and advertise as a trade sale with no warranty px clearance car.

    2 options ebay auction or an autotrader advert.

     

    Most high mileage Audis like this I have sold within 24 hours with zero prep to ukranian/eastern europeans who export them. No messing around, dead simple they are hunting for them and 160k is barely worn in for them :D 

     

    I have done this on a few cars and had zero issues I have just been brutally honest and explained it is not my type of retail stock.  at 2k you phone will not stop ringing be prepared. 

    Thanks, sounds good. The one thing I want to establish though is where do I stand legally. Does clearly stating its a trade sale with no warranty protect me in any way if something goes wrong?

  10. Posted

    I,m a relatively successful part time trader. I play by the rules and do ok.

    I,ve landed myself with a car I don't want. Very limited space and anything I can't make a decent turn on is just eating space for no reason.

    I normally sell £10k plus cars, avoid trade ins unless retail standard. I make sure all cars are right, offer a comprehensive warranty and don,t get comebacks. That's the way I like it. I,m not that familiar with consumer rights as I,ve not had to deal with anything contentious.

    So, I have this Audi A6 Avant on a 57 plate, 160,000 miles, 2 owners from new FSH. New test, drives fine, good tyres, sat nav, no faults mechanically. New discs and pads.  Looks like shit though. A grade 4/5 at auction,nothing desperate, just battle scarred and a bit scabby.

    Cap clean says £2600. I need to get £1500 for it. Been through the block once, no bids.

    Do I spend £500 trying to pretty it up and retail it....risking warranty claims and horror of horrors my first "screamer"

    Or can I legally advertise it as seen for spares or repairs only and sell as is with no warranty or come - backs ?

  12. Posted

    I wish I had one of those stocking loan things ( not really prefer to be my own banker) and space ( about 3 times what I have!). Difficult to sell anything right now, but I,ve been offered quite a few which I know there would be really good profit in round the corner. Can't buy unless I sell though. Catch 22

  14. Posted

    So today I,m offered an Audi Q7 at 15k. I though, mmmm. that sounds ok. Cheapest similar car currently for sale on Autotrader is priced at £16995. Average seems to be around 18k. However, cap clean price is only £12800! I checked and double checked thinking I've got something wrong. Even at some £2200 over Cap clean I,m sure there is profit in this car. At another time I would probably buy it, but right now price seems irrelevant as nobody wants to buy anything of mine no matter what the price is. Not one enquiry in a fortnight!

  15. Posted · Edited by XFS

    I know this has probably been done to death, but today I was looking at a popular car that is so out of tune with Cap and actual auction and selling prices I've had to check and check again.

    So, I was offered a Mini at £6400 which made me prick my ears as it sounded cheap. Checked Cap and its at £8250 clean, so I'm getting excited, car is ok, needs a bit of paint, but nothing drastic, probably grade 3 at worst at BCA, but more likely grade 2. Then I check what the model is actually selling for on Autotrader, cheapest is £7400, average is £7800 to £8400. Cap retail is £10200. Auction price is probably £7600/£7800 plus premium, so no point spending £400/£500 to put it in top retail condition. If I buy it, the way forward I'd leave as it is and put it on the block.

    So this car is going to cost someone best part of 8k. Then a few hundred in refurb. How and where do they make profit? 

  16. Posted

    I'm a part time trader specialising in particular makes so I wouldn't claim to be anything of an expert, but my experience is that guides are simply that - a guide. Of the last 3 cars I've bought, one was bang on Cap clean price, one was £400 over Cap clean price, one was £1150 below Cap clean. I think the first two were the correct money given their spec and saleability, the third was about £500 under what I would have happily paid, so a bargain.

    i can price each of these cars towards the lower to average end of the price spectrum for the model, but in each case the car is at the higher end of the spec/desirability range for the model.

    I decided what I would pay for each car based more on what similar cars were selling for and how much I could reasonably sell it for, rather than guide price, although obviously having a guide figure is helpful.

    I don't worry much about car supermarkets, I don't think they are that cheap given that often their cars are very low spec and are often stocked (and presumably bought) purely on price.

    Of course, I am low volume, so I'm sure selling average family cars is more competitive and difficult, especially when you see the prices they often sell for at auction in comparison to what you would think they would retail for. I find auctions difficult to comprehend and usually anything I want to buy is miles out of reach.