Mark101 536 Posted March 21, 2018 Obviously, I am now back in this game after 12 years out and starting to gear up. Please can you tell me what you recommend in terms of website and the associated costs. As I am a home trader, I will only have a maximum of 12 cars at any one time, so I am wondering whether it is worth the investment as I advertise of Ebay and AT and that surely gives me better coverage than my own "little" site - is that enough? I have looked at some of your sites and they look fab but you have many more cars than I do/will have. I just know if I make an enquiry with one of the many providers, I will be bombarded with rep calls every minute and I am not sure if it is worth having my own site (or at least not yet). Thank you in advance. Mark Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arfur Dealy 823 Posted March 21, 2018 Mark, surely you understand you need your own website to be believed and trusted by your customers. CarDealer5 is fantastic value Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattR 177 Posted March 21, 2018 You must have your own website - it wont cost anywhere near what your ebay and AT bill will be and will give you credibility with your customers. you will lose more in lost business than the website will cost you without one. AT provide one which works well for me. It also helps customers who are looking for cars for sale nearby. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EPV 631 Posted March 21, 2018 1 hour ago, Arfur Dealy said: Mark, surely you understand you need your own website to be believed and trusted by your customers. CarDealer5 is fantastic value I've got a privately made one but I'm giving some serious thought to defecting to CD5, their back end stuff is excellent. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark101 536 Posted March 21, 2018 Great, thank you both. I get the credibility standpoint but I presumed (listening to all the AT complaints regarding cost) that it would be hugely expensive. Please can you give me an idea of expected set up and ongoing costs please, so I know if someone tries to "have me over." Thanks Guys Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NOACROSS 414 Posted March 21, 2018 (edited) You 'could' use your ebay (motors pro) Showroom for your website until you decide to take the plunge. You'll need to buy a domain name of your choosing first from somewhere like easily.com or Godaddy etc. Then copy and paste the very long ebay showroom address from the address bar into your account you set up, and have this new company address (e.g www.mark101.com or something better obviously that you've chosen) forwarding to the ebay showroom address. So basically it forwards to the ebay showroom. Hope that all makes sense, and I wouldn't pay Autotrader for anything if it was me. Otherwise, Click Dealer are brilliant, but I'd wait a while if I was you. Take small steps for a few months is my advice. Build it slowly. Edited March 21, 2018 by NOACROSS duplicate words 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arfur Dealy 823 Posted March 21, 2018 8 hours ago, Mark101 said: Great, thank you both. I get the credibility standpoint but I presumed (listening to all the AT complaints regarding cost) that it would be hugely expensive. Please can you give me an idea of expected set up and ongoing costs please, so I know if someone tries to "have me over." Thanks Guys https://www.cardealer5.co.uk/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
whitestone679231 113 Posted March 22, 2018 Click dealer, and when we went with them many moons ago there was no hard sell, cost wise it’s the cheapest and biggest forecourt you will ever have, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
James Bush 95 Posted March 22, 2018 When I started up i didn’t have a website and soon realised how important it was for customers to see an online presence. After been scared to death by the costs I went with a My 1&1 website which you build yourself, fairly easy once you get your head around it I think it cost around £6 per month and gives you a email address as well so you don’t have to use a gmail or Hotmail one which I think gives the customer confidence. I now how a cardealer5 one, their basic package isn’t that expensive and then you can up spec it with what you need. Looking back if I knew about cardealer5 at the time I’d have just gone with them in their basic package. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
umesh 336 Posted March 22, 2018 Mark, You've got to have a website , essential. Many Options and all worth considering depending on what you want. as already mentioned Cardealer5, Click Dealer and even Starkwood offer a starter option ! By using one of these they all have Reg Number look up and feeds to various portals which will make life easy for you. If you want any further help just shout! 01782 822 700 umesh@autochange.co.uk Umesh Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rory RSC 596 Posted March 22, 2018 Clickdealer - If only every company we deal with could be as helpful as the team there. Genuine decent people who always do what they say they will. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark101 536 Posted March 26, 2018 Thanks for your help on this - I have just signed up to a Car Dealer 5 package - should be live by the end of the week. On 3/21/2018 at 9:12 AM, umesh said: Mark, You've got to have a website , essential. Many Options and all worth considering depending on what you want. as already mentioned Cardealer5, Click Dealer and even Starkwood offer a starter option ! By using one of these they all have Reg Number look up and feeds to various portals which will make life easy for you. If you want any further help just shout! 01782 822 700 umesh@autochange.co.uk Umesh Thank you Umesh, I had missed this reply - very kind and you're fairly local to me! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EPV 631 Posted March 26, 2018 4 hours ago, Mark101 said: Thanks for your help on this - I have just signed up to a Car Dealer 5 package - should be live by the end of the week. Thank you Umesh, I had missed this reply - very kind and you're fairly local to me! You could do a lot worse than mimic what that fella does. Absolutely spot on digital marketing! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
umesh 336 Posted March 27, 2018 10 hours ago, EPV said: You could do a lot worse than mimic what that fella does. Absolutely spot on digital marketing! Thank you kindly EPV #Appreciated Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rory RSC 596 Posted March 27, 2018 11 hours ago, EPV said: You could do a lot worse than mimic what that fella does. Absolutely spot on digital marketing! I think have a look at the guys who are doing a good job ( Like Umesh) but rather than Mimic take inspiration from and try to come up with something even better. Some tosser has opened a new garage down the road from us and ripped off chunks of our website direct copy and paste and has mirrored social media stuff so much its like I have opened a second branch only become dyslexic and developed a stammer whilst speaking in my videos in the process Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
It's me 615 Posted March 27, 2018 30 minutes ago, Rory RSC said: Some tosser has opened a new garage down the road from us and ripped off chunks of our website direct copy and paste and has mirrored social media stuff so much its like I have opened a second branch only become dyslexic and developed a stammer whilst speaking in my videos in the process exactly the same here,however before he started using autotrader he was using ebay privately and i looked at his buying history to see he had bought 12 main dealer service stamps and lots of service books off ebay too guess what every car hes selling has all work done including new timing belts and every one has full service history hopefully it wont be long before he trips on his own laces Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattR 177 Posted March 27, 2018 16 minutes ago, s and b said: exactly the same here,however before he started using autotrader he was using ebay privately and i looked at his buying history to see he had bought 12 main dealer service stamps and lots of service books off ebay too guess what every car hes selling has all work done including new timing belts and every one has full service history hopefully it wont be long before he trips on his own laces Thats what gives us all a bad name. surely a visit from trading standards could be arranged? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EPV 631 Posted March 27, 2018 9 minutes ago, Matt Reid said: Thats what gives us all a bad name. surely a visit from trading standards could be arranged? I’m not one for grassing but that sort of thing makes me want to make an exception Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
It's me 615 Posted March 27, 2018 2 hours ago, Matt Reid said: Thats what gives us all a bad name. surely a visit from trading standards could be arranged? not going there im afraid ive reached an age where i realise i cant change the world so ive given the baton away Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
umesh 336 Posted March 27, 2018 On my door step ( Few hundred yards) , thought worth sharing !! https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/jailed-car-trader-scammed-customers-1033078 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trade vet 702 Posted March 27, 2018 42 minutes ago, umesh said: On my door step ( Few hundred yards) , thought worth sharing !! https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/jailed-car-trader-scammed-customers-1033078 That appears to be a stiff sentence when you see what others have recently received at Stoke Crown Court for far more serious offences.Must be the usual car dealer offence sentance premium,it’s a good deterrent.Meanwhile the guy who allegedly according to Vince Cable,was instrumental in destroying,stealing and then profiting from selling off peoples businesses at Nat West was never charged.He is now boss of Santander earning £1.8m ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark101 536 Posted March 27, 2018 Website now LIVE - thanks guys for all your input. Only quickly uploaded "stuff" so it will improve in the coming days. Thanks again, Mark Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GreenGiant 287 Posted March 27, 2018 5 hours ago, s and b said: not going there im afraid ive reached an age where i realise i cant change the world so ive given the baton away Although you can't fix everything - it doesn't mean you shouldn't fix anything... Just saying. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark101 536 Posted March 27, 2018 On a PAYG package from AT - Do any of you know whether I can link to Dealer Website (or am I being thick?) I am presuming I need to commit to a package for that but cannot find any pricing on their website (there's a surprise). Anyone know roughly what a starter package should cost because the figures you guys are saying scare me. Cheers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EPV 631 Posted March 27, 2018 About £700 for a 7 Car package. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
