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Maybe a bit conversational but here goes ! 

I have no problem in everyone knowing who i am , name, dealer etc etc .. 

I just feel sometimes I see various posts and would be good to know more about the person/dealer/area /stock profile etc etc to give me better understanding about that dealer , I click on the name - , when it goes to profile nothing more ! 

So i'm none the wiser about who that person is or about their business !

If the full details were on there I'm sure we could possibly help each other more as we would understand each others businesses more , not only that but if I'd sold a car in a certain area had an issue with the car one of the trusted fellow dealers could help out - visa versa ! 

Just a thought ?

what do YOU all think?

umesh 

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I'll go first then...

Unsurprisingly i'm Grant and run a forecourt.

I came from a totally different sales sector and it's also the first time I have run a business but it's going really well.

12 months in and I think I have learnt a lot...finance props, buying right, PDIs, cashflow control, liasing with a mostly helpful garage and the all important bit SELLING!

So much more to learn so i'll be picking your brains regularly and asking mostly stupid schoolboy questions no doubt!

 

Edited by grant8064
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11 minutes ago, grant8064 said:

I'll go first then...

Unsurprisingly i'm Grant and run a forecourt in the south east with my brother in law.

I came from a totally different sales sector and only learnt to drive a couple of months before we opened for business just over a year ago (nothing like a bit of pressure to help you pass). It's also the first time either of us have run a business ourselves but it's going really well.

12 months in and I think I have learnt a lot...finance props, buying right, PDIs, cashflow control, liasing with a mostly helpful garage and the all important bit SELLING!

So much more to learn so i'll be picking your brains regularly and asking mostly stupid schoolboy questions no doubt!

 

What's the name of your business / garage. I already guessed you were called Grant! Lol

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3 minutes ago, Ocsltd said:

What's the name of your business / garage. I already guessed you were called Grant! Lol

PM'd you

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Good topic. I'm Mike. Been in the trade since the early '90s. Two divorces and I've been a single parent for nearly 20yrs, which has been more of a struggle than work to be fair. Working from home these days, given up empire building:D

I've often wondered if this forum needs a 'lounge' or 'off topic' for socialising.

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Maybe an admin could have a look into making a private section of the forum. I'm sure a lot of us would like to share certain info but at the moment anybody can browse this forum, including our customers. Some of our posts are showing up in the Google results when searching for some or our dealership names.

 

Edited by M.J
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12 minutes ago, M.J said:

Maybe an admin could have a look into making a private section of the forum. I'm sure a lot of us would like to share certain info but at the moment anybody can browse this forum, including our customers. Some of our posts are showing up in the Google results when searching for some or our dealership names.

 

Good idea IMO 

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7 hours ago, Tom said:

Somebody message James

Hopefully James will be on the ball and making changes as I type this ... :) ! 

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Hello... finally caught up on this one. I'll look into the private members area. We've got something similar for the Trade Cars To Sell section. 

How would we grant access to this new Lounge and who would we let in - that's the question. Your thoughts on that front would be welcomed. Happy to help set it up but I think there needs to be some sort of criteria for entry...

I'll be listening.

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For the people that would like to join the private area maybe they would have to message you their dealer details, web, contact number, etc to confirm they are genuine traders.

 

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Level system someone that posts, contributes actually sells cars rather than thinking about doing so.

you can soon sort the genuine members who post and contribute regularly. 

Someone could have 100 posts full of nonsense might not be in whereas someone with 20 straight talking useful posts could be in. 

 

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Adding to the above, they must also suffer from insomnia and high blood pressure, work more hours than a junior doctor and of course, have a drink problem.

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Is a copy of a motor trade certificate really proof that the person is a full time trading motor dealer? There are lots of part timers, students, etc who are knocking out a few cars from home who can supply a trade certificate. 

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5 hours ago, James Baggott said:

How about we do it the same as the Buy & Sell section - a copy of your trade insurance to prove you're a dealer gets you access? 

This is sensible and 'realistic'. I can't see the point of endless security requirements just to talk about selling cars? We're not opening a bank account?

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32 minutes ago, M.J said:

Is a copy of a motor trade certificate really proof that the person is a full time trading motor dealer? There are lots of part timers, students, etc who are knocking out a few cars from home who can supply a trade certificate. 

I think it's got to be the 'sheepskin jacket and original glass's guide ' [ Other guides are available ] :) !! 

Joking apart its got to be 'closed' account for bonafida dealers only ! On TCD Everyone dealer is checked out to ensure they are who they say they are or else they don't get on on the forum ! 

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35 minutes ago, metcars said:

This is sensible and 'realistic'. I can't see the point of endless security requirements just to talk about selling cars? We're not opening a bank account?

Fair enough, just suppose it depends on how open you would like people to be in that section of the forum. 

 

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We've had this discussion before. We were all 'new' once and just because somebody is just starting out doesn't mean they aren't "bonafida". Plenty of home traders been working for 30yrs+, plenty of experts with 250k startups fail in 12 months? Who is worthy?

46 minutes ago, M.J said:

Fair enough, just suppose it depends on how open you would like people to be in that section of the forum. 

 

I'm quite happy to talk to newbies or empire builders. It's private individuals and customer/punters that I don't want to have access. Talking about selling cars to other guys that sell cars is not in itself highly secretive.

This forum needs to decide if its happy to support new business or just look after "the old guard".

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I always wanted this forum to be open to all. But understand the benefits of a closed area. Perhaps I check each person out who wants to be part of the closed area personally and that way we allow the right people access. However, would that make the open forum redundant?

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11 minutes ago, James Baggott said:

I always wanted this forum to be open to all. But understand the benefits of a closed area. Perhaps I check each person out who wants to be part of the closed area personally and that way we allow the right people access. However, would that make the open forum redundant?

Yes maybe a little. I don't know about the rest of the weirdos in here but I would be happy if the whole forum were closed to dealers only, after all it's a car dealer forum for car dealers surely? I'm sure none of us have anything to hide (??) but at the same time, some of what we discuss could look very different to the public, who have no idea what's involved in this god awful trade we love so dearly 

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I used to post on here a bit but after a customer pointed out one of my posts to me I stopped. I agree as it's a dealer forum any tom or dick shouldnt be able to read it, a few trade secrets are given here which after a simple google search a customer could read. 

I personally think a few more would join if it were closed. 

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