Advertise before all prep is completed

[Nick M.K. 574]

I have this long-standing debate with a friend, outside this forum. 

He thinks that all prep should be completed and the vehicle ready to go before he publishes his ad. 

I think that a vehicle should be advertised as soon as it arrives provided you have the ability to show it as it will look when ready. Photoshopping scratches (that will be repaired in a bodyshop) a classic example so there is no misleading involved. My thinking is that customers often spend several days looking at a car advert online before they first make their contact. It's these few days I like to save by placing my ad, then finish the prep and not have so much waiting time. Bear in mind that all my viewings are by appointment with no walk-ons. 

[David Ayers 171]

I've got a forecourt.

Cars are placed on website as they are bought. With the strapline of "In soon"

Once they arrive I place some photos before the car is valeted. Photos are retaken once valeted. 

Had a guy come in Thursday for 13 plate Qashqai despite it clearly saying in soon and no photos. He is just so keen to have the car. Wants to give me a deposit without seeing it. 

So I agree with you Nick

Get it advertised. Get it sold!

[EPV 631]

I used to be in the “get it spot on, photo and video it” as I do a detailed set of photos and videos but having taken advice from others I am waiting too long. So I need to find a way of getting the car photographed and up for sale prior to prep. I think if the car is cosmetically sound then mechanical or electrical work can take place after it’s up for sale. If it needs paint it’s discouraging for people to see it like that imo. 

[NOACROSS 414]

Well, I'm gonna be the other side of the coin viewpoint. 

Whenever I've advertised a car that's not prepared correctly it causes stress.  Whether that's successfully getting a deposit and then rushing to get the job done for the now impatient punter- or failing to get it sold as the car lets itself down, and no matter how much you assure them you'll get it all done, they can walk & I think you often get one opportunity to market and sell the junk.  I don't like any more excuses 'not to buy' than can be helped.  You should only have the price as the only thing they can (try to) argue about.

A good car will sell and I think presentation is a reflection of you and your business. I don't see the urgency myself.  However we have a site so maybe from home with only a few cars in stock it is felt that they need to be advertised immediately.  For me that still doesn't make sense but we're all different (I'm not).

Edited June 30, 2018 by NOACROSS

[Rory RSC 596]

40 minutes ago, Nick M.K. said:

I have this long-standing debate with a friend, outside this forum. 

He thinks that all prep should be completed and the vehicle ready to go before he publishes his ad. 

I think that a vehicle should be advertised as soon as it arrives provided you have the ability to show it as it will look when ready. Photoshopping scratches (that will be repaired in a bodyshop) a classic example so there is no misleading involved. My thinking is that customers often spend several days looking at a car advert online before they first make their contact. It's these few days I like to save by placing my ad, then finish the prep and not have so much waiting time. Bear in mind that all my viewings are by appointment with no walk-ons. 

On website once they arrive pre prep. Most important bit of prep is getting the car online with 5/10 pics you can still generate interest. 

Sold a 5 series on Tuesday morning by 10am I had taken in as a part ex at 5pm monday night had not cleaned it just took a few pics and chucked it online with the intention of refurbing the alloys and washing it + mechanical prep etc tuesday. Customer came out liked the car as it was I said would be doing alloys and a clean plus MOT etc and he gave me a deposit. If I was still thinking about it it would not have sold. He picked it up today having  paid bank transfer during the week. 

 

[palomine motors 2]

Stock goes on the website as soon as bought, even if not physical. Advertised on AT as soon as physical, with basic photo's until the glitter sprinkle is complete, then multiple photos and video

[c_cars 56]

I’ll go with the general concensus, it gets an advert once physical, even if it’s just with a handful of photos.

Next question, thoughts on using auction house photos? 

[Nick M.K. 574]

14 minutes ago, c_cars said:

Next question, thoughts on using auction house photos? 

I've done it once. BMW i3 from BCA Brighouse, my advert was live around 20mins after I had won the online bidding, a record for me. Only 4 of their external photos were usable but they were very good, photo booth, white background, car was spotless and luckily I had a set of interior photos of the same spec and condition i3 so my advert looked pretty complete. 3 calls before I had even collected the car. The person that eventually bought it only got in touch after I had done my usual 100 images session so I can't say that I benefitted but at least I tried. 

[Row 71]

I'm with getting it on a.s.a.p with a few basic pictures if that's all I can do until valeted and workshop checked, work's for me but I am by appointment only.

[metcars 397]

Depends on what needs doing to it?

[trade vet 702]

2 hours ago, Nick M.K. said:

I've done it once. BMW i3 from BCA Brighouse, my advert was live around 20mins after I had won the online bidding, a record for me. Only 4 of their external photos were usable but they were very good, photo booth, white background, car was spotless and luckily I had a set of interior photos of the same spec and condition i3 so my advert looked pretty complete. 3 calls before I had even collected the car. The person that eventually bought it only got in touch after I had done my usual 100 images session so I can't say that I benefitted but at least I tried. 

Brighouse and you didn’t get stitched up,it’s a Yorky closed shop !

[Nick M.K. 574]

2 minutes ago, trade vet said:

Brighouse and you didn’t get stitched up,it’s a Yorky closed shop !

Must've been years ago, I've bought a few from there lately, all way behind book, all matching their grades, certainly better than my daily haunt Blackbushe. Wish it wasn't 200 miles away from us. 

[DHill 16]

1 hour ago, Nick M.K. said:

Must've been years ago, I've bought a few from there lately, all way behind book, all matching their grades, certainly better than my daily haunt Blackbushe. Wish it wasn't 200 miles away from us. 

It's funny how Brighouse is local to us but I find it expensive.. So I end up buying quite a few from Blackbushe.

[BHM 994]

12 hours ago, trade vet said:

Brighouse and you didn’t get stitched up,it’s a Yorky closed shop !

As bad as Leeds?

[Rory RSC 596]

5 minutes ago, BHM said:

As bad as Leeds?

Used to do really well there when it was SMA used to head across every Monday for the 4pm one. Pull them all out onto the car park and do a couple of trips back for them and have them advertised the next morning.
Switched to BCA and don't think I have had more than a couple prices shot up.

[Jack Regan 116]

Advertise as Arriving soon ... wouldn’t post any pics until prep done .

the amount of posts I’ve read of photos being criticised on here I’m surprised that any you would put pics up here wheels need refurbish and paintwork needs doing.

[EPV 631]

4 minutes ago, Jack Regan said:

Advertise as Arriving soon ... wouldn’t post any pics until prep done .

the amount of posts I’ve read of photos being criticised on here I’m surprised that any you would put pics up here wheels need refurbish and paintwork needs doing.

I think the point was that you don’t show that sort of thing. No close ups of wheels and paintwork blemishes edited out if needs be. 

[Nick M.K. 574]

Yes, as EPV says, photoshop scratches and scuffs and advertise before the car even goes into a bodyshop. 

[Rory RSC 596]

10 pics are better than no pics.

Bad pics are better than no pics.

Just sold a civic that came in yesterday afternoon. Quick wash and 20 pics online and its gone this morning, If I was waiting for its MOT, service and full valet it would not even be advertised. 

[Nick M.K. 574]

13 minutes ago, Rory RSC said:

Bad pics are better than no pics.

Yes and no.

For your Civic the bad pics were enough to sell it but when you have 40-50 stock advertised (and we are talking specialist prestige cars here) you need ALL your stock to appear sharp. People that want to buy a £25K car might be put off by adverts for scruffy old cars alongside the ads for your retail stock. Some will not even know what p/x to clear means and will wrongly conclude things.

[metcars 397]

2 hours ago, BHM said:

As bad as Leeds?

Back in the day, when we had to drive up to Leeds on a regular basis we used to get nasty messages left on the windscreen by the locals.

[Rory RSC 596]

It wasn't that bad actually to be fair it came in fairly tidy looking.  Works on cars of all price points with the view to have them looking better within 48 hours. Can't video until fully prepped as that is not forgiving.
Civic Link

 

[Nick M.K. 574]

When you said bad pics I imagined much worse. These "Bad" pics are actually better than the good pics of other people :-)

Tricky to take photos in this sunshine but on some colours they come up well. 

[trade vet 702]

1 hour ago, met said:

Back in the day, when we had to drive up to Leeds on a regular basis we used to get nasty messages left on the windscreen by the locals.

That would be right...from the Yorkies.However I did OK at CMA Leeds,but Brighouse.....I remember seeing these mental prices there so I sent down a desirable Jag Coupe to sell.Never got a bid,they wanted me to slash the reserve so I rescued it,Years later I met one of the Brighouse heavy tackle kingpin buyers ...full Yorky spec.He told me what went on and it all fell into place.They operated a ‘bounce out system’.

[SC Derby 259]

I’ve sold 3 with online auction pics last month

not proud of it but it continues to work