New Member Introduction

[Mark101 536]

Hello All

I have been reading various posts on this forum and I have to say how great it is that you all share your success and failures so openly, it really helps us Newbies (or maybe not so new) regarding the pitfalls, where to advertise nowadays and source stock (although no-one seems to know that right now).  So I decided to register and join in the chat and perhaps I may be able to contribute some assistance as well as receive some from time to time.

I originally started buying and selling cars when I was 18 for a while, more of a hobby alongside my first job until I started to find better jobs which then took over.  Having said that in the early noughties, I started again on a serious level – opening a pitch initially and started making some serious cash before I invested in the workshop and the staff from next door, at which point it went a little pear shaped and I got out.

Since then I have been out of the motor trade, working in senior level corporate companies at board level for some 12 years or so, that was until July last year, when I just decided this wasn’t for me anymore and have since been taking some time to consider what I want to do next.

Anyway; long story short, I am a mad petrol head, I know many people describe themselves as such but I am the real deal.  So after about 8 months of being messed around by my new pet hate (recruitment consultants), I decided to give it another bash and before I hit the VAT threshold (it comes all too quickly), thought I would fill my boots and buy a few motors to sell.  Learning from experience, this time it will be me, no staff, just a friendly and well respected local garage whom will perform any workshop tasks and trading from home where I have enough space to trade comfortably, whilst trying not to cheese off my neighbours.

Sorry for the long intro but just wanted to give you an insight rather than bombard people with questions from the off. 

All my best, Mark

 

[MattR 177]

Welcome and good luck!

[umesh 336]

Welcome and hope it all goes well ! 

Most of us on here are willing to help and support.

Umesh 

[Mark101 536]

Thank you Both for the welcome

[andymc1973 199]

petrol head? I'll give you a month till you hate cars

[justina3 518]

16 minutes ago, andymc1973 said:

petrol head? I'll give you a month till you hate cars

I was about to say the same thing.

 

[NOACROSS 414]

So true. Maybe six months at best. Or perhaps we’re just miserable like my wife often says about me no)

 Lesson one: the only car to like is a sold car! Or the one with juice in it you can use for the weekend. 

(What’s to like? Is it me?)

[Mark101 536]

I had a pitch and workshop (approx 30 cars, ranging from £1500 runarounds to £7,500 cars) for about 4 years (not that long I know) and I never, ever stopped enjoying the industry, the cars or my customers and always looked forward to work - I packed in because the overheads which I admit I jumped in to too quickly crippled me during a long and very quiet sales period in around 2005.  When I worked alone, I made some great margins, trading from a £100 per wk open pitch and a portacabin office.  My immaturity and naivety led me to believe I could take on a large 3000 sq ft workshop/bodyshop and staff it as I was selling cars so frequently and at very healthy margins - I hadn't experienced any "hard times" until then, believing that this is how things would always be.  Lessons learned and now I am happy trading up to a dozen cars from home at any time all by myself and outsourcing as much as I can.  Will I make as much money as I did as a recent employee, probably not - am I happier, 100%.

[trade vet 697]

1 hour ago, NOACROSS said:

So true. Maybe six months at best. Or perhaps we’re just miserable like my wife often says about me no)

 Lesson one: the only car to like is a sold car! Or the one with juice in it you can use for the weekend. 

(What’s to like? Is it me?)

Exactly...I would always get excited about a newly arrived swapper with fuel in,it could be anything,but I would still it use for a day or two.....How many times have I said....’we are hear to sell cars,not fall in love with them’.

[Mark101 536]

1 hour ago, trade vet said:

Exactly...I would always get excited about a newly arrived swapper with fuel in,it could be anything,but I would still it use for a day or two.....How many times have I said....’we are hear to sell cars,not fall in love with them’.

Couldn't agree more trade vet and when I was 18 (I am 44 now) I was guilty of buying cars that A) I liked personally and B)) cars that I could run on my trade policy when none of my mates could insure a plastic pig for less than a years wage.

Nowadays, I just like every car - my daily driver is a Q7 but I've just picked up one of my two retail Coopers from the garage (I do well with them before I get slammed) and that's a real hoot too, as was the Fiat 500 I swapped over for MOT.

The only issue now is TAX - I used to use whatever had some remaining rent before cashing in a complete months but of course now, nothing is taxed (apart from the Q7).  I am waiting on my trade plates arriving, so have winged it since I properly set up a couple of weeks back.  I find the police say they don't have the resources to patrol like they used to but I bet you a tenner I get pulled!

 

 

[harry1 1]

All the best with it Mark, hope it goes well

[Mark101 536]

Thanks harry1 

[Arfur Dealy 823]

8 hours ago, Mark101 said:

I had a pitch and workshop (approx 30 cars, ranging from £1500 runarounds to £7,500 cars) for about 4 years (not that long I know) and I never, ever stopped enjoying the industry, the cars or my customers and always looked forward to work - I packed in because the overheads which I admit I jumped in to too quickly crippled me during a long and very quiet sales period in around 2005.  When I worked alone, I made some great margins, trading from a £100 per wk open pitch and a portacabin office.  My immaturity and naivety led me to believe I could take on a large 3000 sq ft workshop/bodyshop and staff it as I was selling cars so frequently and at very healthy margins - I hadn't experienced any "hard times" until then, believing that this is how things would always be.  Lessons learned and now I am happy trading up to a dozen cars from home at any time all by myself and outsourcing as much as I can.  Will I make as much money as I did as a recent employee, probably not - am I happier, 100%.

Mark welcome. If you can trade from home with up to 12 in stock and without hardly any overheads you should make a jolly good living.  

Do your best to keep your neighbours on your side, don’t take up anyone’s parking spaces, don’t get cars delivered to your home, be very discreet. I would also befriend a local garage, give them all your mechanical work and once “trusted” ask if it’s ok to meet your punters there. Because as soon as your neighbours within your area “gets wind” that you are using your home for Motor Trading there will be complaint letters to the council, jealousy and a genuine hatred towards you. Be warned, I know this from years of experience. 

Other than that, its hard work but very rewarding. 

I wish you the very best of luck.

[Mark101 536]

6 hours ago, Arfur Dealy said:

Mark welcome. If you can trade from home with up to 12 in stock and without hardly any overheads you should make a jolly good living.  

Do your best to keep your neighbours on your side, don’t take up anyone’s parking spaces, don’t get cars delivered to your home, be very discreet. I would also befriend a local garage, give them all your mechanical work and once “trusted” ask if it’s ok to meet your punters there. Because as soon as your neighbours within your area “gets wind” that you are using your home for Motor Trading there will be complaint letters to the council, jealousy and a genuine hatred towards you. Be warned, I know this from years of experience. 

Other than that, its hard work but very rewarding. 

I wish you the very best of luck.

Thank you for your kind words and I have to admit, the neighbour situation is my biggest fear, although nothing has been said as yet, I struggle to get the feeling out of my head.

I should be delighted when someone wants to view a car but instead, I just worry how it looks to have a neighbourhood stranger crawling under cars, reving the engine etc.  This is one of two drawbacks over running a pitch.

I do have quite a lot of land to the side of my property and with some adaptations, that would shield the business completely from the neighbours but again that is costly and not fool proof.

I like your advice about the local garage venue though, thanks for that top tip.  How do you other home traders manage the situation?

Thanks again and what a nice warm welcome I have received.

 

[trade vet 697]

9 hours ago, Arfur Dealy said:

Mark welcome. If you can trade from home with up to 12 in stock and without hardly any overheads you should make a jolly good living.  

Do your best to keep your neighbours on your side, don’t take up anyone’s parking spaces, don’t get cars delivered to your home, be very discreet. I would also befriend a local garage, give them all your mechanical work and once “trusted” ask if it’s ok to meet your punters there. Because as soon as your neighbours within your area “gets wind” that you are using your home for Motor Trading there will be complaint letters to the council, jealousy and a genuine hatred towards you. Be warned, I know this from years of experience. 

Other than that, its hard work but very rewarding. 

I wish you the very best of luck.

Mark....if I was going to set up like you,I would look at Arfur’s punter friendly website......and you will see what I mean.

[Arfur Dealy 823]

15 minutes ago, trade vet said:

Mark....if I was going to set up like you,I would look at Arfur’s punter friendly website......and you will see what I mean.

Nothing on my website at the moment as I’m on holiday, it’ll be back up mid April. You can still watch my YouTube videos.

 

 

[Mark101 536]

Interesting concept Arfur Dealy thanks for sharing trade vet.