andymc1973 199 Posted March 9, 2017 you forgot someone at the sharp end to appraise cars whilst you piss about in your ivory tower x Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rory RSC 596 Posted March 9, 2017 17 minutes ago, andymc1973 said: you forgot someone at the sharp end to appraise cars whilst you piss about in your ivory tower x That is my number one trade secret I can't give it all away. I will take some pics of my ivory tower - Its falling apart here every time it rains Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
XFS 70 Posted March 9, 2017 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
umesh 336 Posted March 9, 2017 8 hours ago, Rory RSC said: All this doom and gloom was around 3-4 years ago when I first started. A lot of traders actively discouraged me. In that time I literally started with nothing and now hold 40-50 cars in stock, selling on average around 40 a month. Being totally honest I work very hard, have next to no social life, don't take holiday or days off so 7 days a week working but I have managed to build a very strong reputation and a knack for buying desirable stock which sells promptly. It can be done. If you want any help PM me. An understanding girlfriend Rent of a yard Autotrader bill Ebay motors bill Motors bill Cargurus Trade insurance trade plates Buisness insurance staff or someone to run around at the least 2 x mot stations to use 2 x paint shops to use 2 x auto electricians to use 2x repair garages to use A diesel specialist a good scrap yard your friendly with Merchant services Your own transporter CCTV Equipment Overflow space - as someone said for me to have cars ready to retail i need another few getting prepped and others sitting in hand over zone i also have a dead zone for cars i want to forget about haha ) FCA / Credit consumers license for finance trade acounts with bca, manheim, local etc A good accountant. a good selection of tools A snap on booster pack, nothing else cuts it for me. Your own diagnostic and battery recharging equipement A complaints procedure a warranty company who will actually pay out. Friends to help you A firm but fair attitude, the public with try it on. Awesome Rory , seen you grow over the years - well done you must be PROUD of your achievement t ! continue success mate ! ..but take some 'me' time ! OR you'll burn out! I'll have to pop over soon for a coffee .... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reggaj 12 Posted March 9, 2017 10 hours ago, Rory RSC said: All this doom and gloom was around 3-4 years ago when I first started. A lot of traders actively discouraged me. In that time I literally started with nothing and now hold 40-50 cars in stock, selling on average around 40 a month. Being totally honest I work very hard, have next to no social life, don't take holiday or days off so 7 days a week working but I have managed to build a very strong reputation and a knack for buying desirable stock which sells promptly. It can be done. If you want any help PM me. An understanding girlfriend Rent of a yard Autotrader bill Ebay motors bill Motors bill Cargurus Trade insurance trade plates Buisness insurance staff or someone to run around at the least 2 x mot stations to use 2 x paint shops to use 2 x auto electricians to use 2x repair garages to use A diesel specialist a good scrap yard your friendly with Merchant services Your own transporter CCTV Equipment Overflow space - as someone said for me to have cars ready to retail i need another few getting prepped and others sitting in hand over zone i also have a dead zone for cars i want to forget about haha ) FCA / Credit consumers license for finance trade acounts with bca, manheim, local etc A good accountant. a good selection of tools A snap on booster pack, nothing else cuts it for me. Your own diagnostic and battery recharging equipement A complaints procedure a warranty company who will actually pay out. Friends to help you A firm but fair attitude, the public with try it on. Nice copy and paste Rory, All in, very valuable advice. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rory RSC 596 Posted March 9, 2017 2 hours ago, Reggaj said: Nice copy and paste Rory, All in, very valuable advice. The copy and paste section was something I saved to favourite from pistonheads a few years back. Makes perfect sense once you get going.you need that right network around you and to have everything in place regardless of how many cars you deal with otherwise you never get anywhere. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hot1 1 Posted March 9, 2017 Thank you for the reply Rory, this is what I wanted to hear, I appreciate its not an easy job, if it was everyone would be doing it! How ever sometimes it comes across as such doom and gloom that it amazes me that we have any traders! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
justina3 518 Posted March 10, 2017 If i had my time again i would not be involved in sales thats for sure. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TDB 31 Posted March 10, 2017 SIMONB......My thoughts are after 29 years doing this that times have changed so much that the part time dealer/home trader etc are 100% making more than us. Nothing wrong with that at all ....its us with pitches/overheads that has it all wrong I'm sure of it! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
metcars 397 Posted March 10, 2017 1 minute ago, TDB said: SIMONB......My thoughts are after 29 years doing this that times have changed so much that the part time dealer/home trader etc are 100% making more than us. Nothing wrong with that at all ....its us with pitches/overheads that has it all wrong I'm sure of it! Aah yes "the pointed finger points and always points down" Its a hardy perennial on this forum. You don't 'need' a showroom to offer service and quality. Plenty of crooks wear sharp suits! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TDB 31 Posted March 10, 2017 8 minutes ago, metcars said: Aah yes "the pointed finger points and always points down" Its a hardy perennial on this forum. You don't 'need' a showroom to offer service and quality. Plenty of crooks wear sharp suits! I like that metcars! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
metcars 397 Posted March 10, 2017 48 minutes ago, TDB said: I like that metcars! Sneaked that one in there! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mikey 19 Posted March 11, 2017 Shouldn't that have been... Plenty of crooks wear sharp showrooms! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sparky 274 Posted March 11, 2017 On 3/10/2017 at 0:25 PM, TDB said: SIMONB......My thoughts are after 29 years doing this that times have changed so much that the part time dealer/home trader etc are 100% making more than us. Nothing wrong with that at all ....its us with pitches/overheads that has it all wrong I'm sure of it! Imagine how much better off you would be without paying any VAT. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betginge 73 Posted March 11, 2017 On 09/03/2017 at 8:13 AM, Rory RSC said: All this doom and gloom was around 3-4 years ago when I first started. A lot of traders actively discouraged me. In that time I literally started with nothing and now hold 40-50 cars in stock, selling on average around 40 a month. Being totally honest I work very hard, have next to no social life, don't take holiday or days off so 7 days a week working but I have managed to build a very strong reputation and a knack for buying desirable stock which sells promptly. It can be done. If you want any help PM me. An understanding girlfriend Rent of a yard Autotrader bill Ebay motors bill Motors bill Cargurus Trade insurance trade plates Buisness insurance staff or someone to run around at the least 2 x mot stations to use 2 x paint shops to use 2 x auto electricians to use 2x repair garages to use A diesel specialist a good scrap yard your friendly with Merchant services Your own transporter CCTV Equipment Overflow space - as someone said for me to have cars ready to retail i need another few getting prepped and others sitting in hand over zone i also have a dead zone for cars i want to forget about haha ) FCA / Credit consumers license for finance trade acounts with bca, manheim, local etc A good accountant. a good selection of tools A snap on booster pack, nothing else cuts it for me. Your own diagnostic and battery recharging equipement A complaints procedure a warranty company who will actually pay out. Friends to help you A firm but fair attitude, the public with try it on. A Warranty company that pays out ? do you care to enlighten us Rory Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andymc1973 199 Posted March 12, 2017 yup, each week I put a set amount aside Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Max Branning 149 Posted March 14, 2017 On 3/9/2017 at 11:20 PM, Hot1 said: Thank you for the reply Rory, this is what I wanted to hear, I appreciate its not an easy job, if it was everyone would be doing it! How ever sometimes it comes across as such doom and gloom that it amazes me that we have any traders! Everyone is doing it...thats half the trouble. Any tom dick and harry can pop to the local car auction buy a few death traps and flog them on facebook off their driveway...It has been said before but unless their is a bit more regulation on who can buy from auctions etc then it will never change and will only get worse.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andymc1973 199 Posted March 14, 2017 yup at wilsons up my way they have no issue with taking cash payments, attracts the scum bags Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
metcars 397 Posted March 14, 2017 But, it has to be said that "any tom dick or Harry" can set up doing anything from plumbing to brick laying. Off the books and all with potentially dangerous results for the consumer. In my small collection of family and friends consisting mostly of self-employed tradesmen they all have stories to tell of being under cut and low balled by 'chancers' unqualified and here today gone tomorrow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
XFS 70 Posted March 14, 2017 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... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grant8064 219 Posted March 14, 2017 I think it happens in all walks of life really. The only difference is some jobs need actual skills. If i'm totally honest anyone can sell a car if it's cheap enough and chucked online somewhere for people to see. Joe Bloggs goes to the block, buys anything above book, fifty quid Eastern Europe valet, £30 on AT and retail for £500-£1000 below anyone else. No matter how dodgy it is some mug will buy it. But it is short term. Sooner or later they'll buy three dogs in a row and go bust or get stuck with something for months. The real skill of selling cars, in my very very humble opinion, is doing it long term. Doing it properly. Building a reputation. Being honest. As much as I hate paying tax and VAT I hate home traders cheating the system even more. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
