JimmyGlen 13 Posted October 31, 2018 Scraped 10, not dressing this up, this is up there with one of our worst months ever. Last year we sold 21 Time to hit the reset button in the morning and see if we can do better next month. Just hope the enquiry level picks up, the finance declines go down and the customers stick to their appointments and actually show up! Stevie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lastyboy 23 Posted October 31, 2018 1 hour ago, trade vet said: Thank you....it might look OK,We are getting traders in wanting to buy stuff we haven’t got and ‘chucky reps’ touting for business but otherwise it is very quiet...As for retailing,.I might just crash the prices and start again and try something different,I have done that before. Trying things different can be good. Only issue is whether or not you can buy enough stock to do that something different Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rory RSC 596 Posted November 1, 2018 Should have hit close to 50. scraped just over 30. Positive was that we had good profits in them but overall it was a tough month and I would say our quietest of the year. November and Decemeber were strong last year so lets hope we see the same Again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
umesh 336 Posted November 1, 2018 Been challenging every where, just the odd exception who did well. Like most quietest month but good profits that helped, what a difference 12 months makes - Last september / october best two months for about 3 years! Here's to a great November to everyone! Keep smiling and taking the tablets ! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dave2302 387 Posted November 1, 2018 Best October in 3 years here, but more so through the Workshop than Sales Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Area 51 33 Posted November 1, 2018 2 hours ago, umesh said: Been challenging every where, just the odd exception who did well. Like most quietest month but good profits that helped, what a difference 12 months makes - Last september / october best two months for about 3 years! Here's to a great November to everyone! Keep smiling and taking the tablets ! Totally agree.. perhaps selling tablets as a side line is the way too go...? Good to keep smiling though, and dont mention vegans... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mat C 77 Posted November 1, 2018 We were on 10 on the 13th ( we stock 12/13 cars ) so were on to have a decent month - Finished on 11 and 1 carry over into Nov - Worst Month for a long time. We'll blow money this month, a real sickener. We're fully stocked and have some ( for us ) lumpy stuff so could really do with someone turning the tap back on....... Please..... We haven't sold a car for over 2 weeks, which never happens. I've re priced, checked pics, videos, even mopped the floor and tidied up and got rid of some weeds etc.. for some reason its just not happening. New Month today, new year for our accounts and hopefully the tide will change. Squeaky bum time for sure... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NOACROSS 414 Posted November 1, 2018 Fair-to-middling for us after a good start it tailed off a bit. 20 from 40ish, but some nice profits, some old faces gone and quite a few decent PXs stood in at the right money with a very decent future. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark101 536 Posted November 1, 2018 3 minutes ago, Mat C said: We were on 10 on the 13th ( we stock 12/13 cars ) so were on to have a decent month - Finished on 11 and 1 carry over into Nov - Worst Month for a long time. We'll blow money this month, a real sickener. We're fully stocked and have some ( for us ) lumpy stuff so could really do with someone turning the tap back on....... Please..... We haven't sold a car for over 2 weeks, which never happens. I've re priced, checked pics, videos, even mopped the floor and tidied up and got rid of some weeds etc.. for some reason its just not happening. New Month today, new year for our accounts and hopefully the tide will change. Squeaky bum time for sure... We have all been there mate - I was for the first two weeks of October but the tap suddenly got turned on. Only did 6, so low numbers but the margins were all into 4 figures (and one by nearly 3x that), so returns were one of my better months (May being best to date). Good luck Mat but I'm sure you won't need it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mat C 77 Posted November 1, 2018 22 minutes ago, Mark101 said: We have all been there mate - I was for the first two weeks of October but the tap suddenly got turned on. Only did 6, so low numbers but the margins were all into 4 figures (and one by nearly 3x that), so returns were one of my better months (May being best to date). Good luck Mat but I'm sure you won't need it. Cheers, I know its quiet out there but this is killing me. I know it'll come good as it always does, but doesn't hurt all the same. We've got a big service job in this week so at least I can keep the lights on, but still, need more. Last October was tough too but this one was really bad. I'm a very lucky guy too, so hopefully some of it will just arrive in 3....2....1... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stockedup! 63 Posted November 1, 2018 23 minutes ago, Mat C said: We were on 10 on the 13th ( we stock 12/13 cars ) so were on to have a decent month - Finished on 11 and 1 carry over into Nov - Worst Month for a long time. We'll blow money this month, a real sickener. We're fully stocked and have some ( for us ) lumpy stuff so could really do with someone turning the tap back on....... Please..... We haven't sold a car for over 2 weeks, which never happens. I've re priced, checked pics, videos, even mopped the floor and tidied up and got rid of some weeds etc.. for some reason its just not happening. New Month today, new year for our accounts and hopefully the tide will change. Squeaky bum time for sure... Total opposite here, one in first 10 days(Squeaky bum time) and then 17 for the rest of the month(16 of them in 16 days) so finished on 18 which is poorest number this year but mainly good profits and swappers to go on with. I always have 32 ish ready for sale and another 10 awaiting prep. Keeping overheads low is paramount. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anglo9 26 Posted November 1, 2018 Blimey ! Been out of the game for 3 months as I lost my yard , new one ready in a few weeks and I'm raring to go...or maybe not having read this ! On the upside missed a crap month it seems... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ocsltd 133 Posted November 1, 2018 Very quiet month here, managed to scrape a couple more deals at the end of the month, with one paid and gone on the last day which was a bonus! The only good thing about a quiet period, is there is usually a purple patch just around the corner.... Chin up everyone, we'll all be running around like headless chickens soon and moaning we're desperate for stock!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
It's me 612 Posted November 1, 2018 43 minutes ago, Mat C said: Cheers, I know its quiet out there but this is killing me. I know it'll come good as it always does, but doesn't hurt all the same. We've got a big service job in this week so at least I can keep the lights on, but still, need more. Last October was tough too but this one was really bad. I'm a very lucky guy too, so hopefully some of it will just arrive in 3....2....1... hi mat i really like your business but warn that every business has its day and specialising can easily turn into a bummer if sales for your preferred market stop as they always do eventually please dont see my post as negative as it might just be a blip but i dont see as many minis on the road as i used to Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twerp 69 Posted November 1, 2018 1 minute ago, boring dave said: ... but i dont see as many minis on the road as i used to I agree. R56 series starting to get old and the new car never really took off despite being out 4 years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mat C 77 Posted November 1, 2018 12 minutes ago, boring dave said: hi mat i really like your business but warn that every business has its day and specialising can easily turn into a bummer if sales for your preferred market stop as they always do eventually please dont see my post as negative as it might just be a blip but i dont see as many minis on the road as i used to Hi Dave, thanks for the 'Like' I think the market is still there ( he says having not sold a car for 16 days! ) i was just moaning as my partner is bored of looking at my sad face! it always comes good.... well it has done for the last 20 years! I think the Mini market is still busy, we're very selective about our stock but its all kind of come at once, a few cashback high value deals and then all our capital's tied up and someone unplugs the phone. could just do with a few ££ back in the bank and re assess. We're going to possibly extend our service department in the new year so will scale down the sales side ( possibly just specialise in JCW models ) and stock 6-7 examples of these and push the service side as we seem to do well out of this locally and without really forcing it. There's definitely room for improvement and definitely more margin in servicing 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sparky 274 Posted November 1, 2018 24 minutes ago, Mat C said: Hi Dave, thanks for the 'Like' I think the market is still there ( he says having not sold a car for 16 days! ) i was just moaning as my partner is bored of looking at my sad face! it always comes good.... well it has done for the last 20 years! I think the Mini market is still busy, we're very selective about our stock but its all kind of come at once, a few cashback high value deals and then all our capital's tied up and someone unplugs the phone. could just do with a few ££ back in the bank and re assess. We're going to possibly extend our service department in the new year so will scale down the sales side ( possibly just specialise in JCW models ) and stock 6-7 examples of these and push the service side as we seem to do well out of this locally and without really forcing it. There's definitely room for improvement and definitely more margin in servicing And a lot less hassle as well I would imagine. I've been working on a couple of bolt on businesses for the last year so when the quiet times do come there is still some income coming in to take the pressure off. Agree with stockedup!, it's all about the overheads, or rather lack of them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Autolink100 34 Posted November 1, 2018 Very quiet down here in Kent and has been since beginning of September. The phone and email has been so quiet however somehow we ended up on 13 for the month out of an average of about 25 which isn't too far off where we need to be. Also had some good margins so overall not the disaster that i thought but its very quiet out there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rory RSC 596 Posted November 1, 2018 3 hours ago, Mat C said: Hi Dave, thanks for the 'Like' I think the market is still there ( he says having not sold a car for 16 days! ) i was just moaning as my partner is bored of looking at my sad face! it always comes good.... well it has done for the last 20 years! I think the Mini market is still busy, we're very selective about our stock but its all kind of come at once, a few cashback high value deals and then all our capital's tied up and someone unplugs the phone. could just do with a few ££ back in the bank and re assess. We're going to possibly extend our service department in the new year so will scale down the sales side ( possibly just specialise in JCW models ) and stock 6-7 examples of these and push the service side as we seem to do well out of this locally and without really forcing it. There's definitely room for improvement and definitely more margin in servicing It’s very interesting you say that - I have full capacacity to ramp up workshop and employ another mechanic and have often considered it but justness never really seen it through. Money is good in these sort of jobs and I think it’s definitely something I want to explore in the new year also. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jack Regan 116 Posted November 3, 2018 2 weeks ticking over , then 2 weeks of nothing, seems to be a reoccurring pattern. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AutoJacob 34 Posted November 3, 2018 On 11/1/2018 at 1:47 PM, Mat C said: Hi Dave, thanks for the 'Like' I think the market is still there ( he says having not sold a car for 16 days! ) i was just moaning as my partner is bored of looking at my sad face! it always comes good.... well it has done for the last 20 years! I think the Mini market is still busy, we're very selective about our stock but its all kind of come at once, a few cashback high value deals and then all our capital's tied up and someone unplugs the phone. could just do with a few ££ back in the bank and re assess. We're going to possibly extend our service department in the new year so will scale down the sales side ( possibly just specialise in JCW models ) and stock 6-7 examples of these and push the service side as we seem to do well out of this locally and without really forcing it. There's definitely room for improvement and definitely more margin in servicing Have things got any better yet? Still quiet for us.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mat C 77 Posted November 4, 2018 15 hours ago, AutoJacob said: Have things got any better yet? Still quiet for us.. Yep, taps back on! My price changes obviously worked. 6 Enquiries Thursday / Friday tuned into 4 Deals Friday / Saturday so we're Now on 5 already for Nov and got some cash back in the bank. So strange how a couple of deals can completely change your outlook. Enquiries seem better quality all of a sudden, wheras everything we got whilst we were dead seemed dross or lunatics! I'm staying lucky and holding out for a decent November.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rory RSC 596 Posted November 4, 2018 1 hour ago, Mat C said: Yep, taps back on! My price changes obviously worked. 6 Enquiries Thursday / Friday tuned into 4 Deals Friday / Saturday so we're Now on 5 already for Nov and got some cash back in the bank. So strange how a couple of deals can completely change your outlook. Enquiries seem better quality all of a sudden, wheras everything we got whilst we were dead seemed dross or lunatics! I'm staying lucky and holding out for a decent November.. Glad to hear its turned around for you just what you need to have you feeling on form again. 10 here so far out of nowhere dealing socks are back on Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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