RJEauto 18 Posted November 20, 2018 Hi All, Really struggling this week to buy any worth the money stock, anyone else having the same issue? We're using A4C, Dealer, Sytner, Local Auctions and trawling through private ad's and I've only managed to buy 1 in the past 10 days, was hoping to buy 4/5! We can stock around 25-28 here and we're currently only holding around 19. The majority, priced between £2500 to £6500. I work backwards on everything so I've made a spreadsheet where I can input my screen price, prep&collection costs and that will give me my max bid. Not sure if I'm pricing too cheap or trying to be too greedy with my margins but I'm struggling. Watching between 40-60 daily online, probably bid on 10 p day avg but no luck! Anyone else in the same boat or have any guidance? Thanks -Kelly- Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NOACROSS 414 Posted November 20, 2018 Welcome to the motor trade I’m afraid! Selling is (often) the easy part. You make your profit buying. You can try BCA, Manheim etc obviously but it’s no easier on there I can assure you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BHM 994 Posted November 20, 2018 Snap. I went to a local auction yesterday & saw much going at retail prices. As for online bidders, Manheim are going to send a couple of them some right old scrap with knackered engines. Strong bids, but what online can’t hear are knocking engines etc. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RJEauto 18 Posted November 20, 2018 Thanks both. I knew buying would be the hardest part just wasn't expecting it to be this hard. I can't understand how some people can afford to pay the prices they are paying. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
James01 21 Posted November 20, 2018 Exactly the same here everything seems to be fetching very strong money and slightly short on stock. Saying that I would rather hang tight than have overpriced stock I'll still be looking at in 3 months time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NOACROSS 414 Posted November 20, 2018 2 minutes ago, RJEauto said: Thanks both. I knew buying would be the hardest part just wasn't expecting it to be this hard. I can't understand how some people can afford to pay the prices they are paying. They’re either working for peanuts, have a massive ‘extended family’ if you know what I mean, are not paying VAT or are desperate to buy/have stocking plans that they don’t know how to manage properly and will pop eventually. “Many are called, few are chosen Terry” 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EPV 631 Posted November 20, 2018 Yet there are at least two forumites off here that have recently said that buying has been a lot easier lately. YMMV! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NOACROSS 414 Posted November 20, 2018 Plus there are thousands of bored traders in the same boat, and each will bid ‘just that bit more, another fifty quid...’ and repeat. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
James01 21 Posted November 20, 2018 I managed to buy some fantastic great value stock at the beginning of the month but just like selling it seems to come in waves. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Ayers 171 Posted November 20, 2018 Just now, James01 said: I managed to buy some fantastic great value stock at the beginning of the month but just like selling it seems to come in waves. Spot on. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grant8064 219 Posted November 20, 2018 Our local has about 100 in tomorrow, typically we list 15 and end up with 5 of them. We can't even find one car to mark down on the list. Had a busy month so could do with stock but we all know what it's like this time of year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EPV 631 Posted November 20, 2018 18 minutes ago, David Ayers said: Spot on. +1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nick M.K. 574 Posted November 20, 2018 100 cars a day? And here is me doing 20-30 kilometres of walking on an auction day at Blackbushe. 1500 average daily entries. Some very expensive, others DIRT cheap. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sparky 274 Posted November 20, 2018 1 hour ago, RJEauto said: Thanks both. I knew buying would be the hardest part just wasn't expecting it to be this hard. I can't understand how some people can afford to pay the prices they are paying. You wait to see what happens in January. As smashy and nicey once said, you ain't seen nothing yet. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DCS01 27 Posted November 20, 2018 1 hour ago, NOACROSS said: They’re either working for peanuts, have a massive ‘extended family’ if you know what I mean, are not paying VAT or are desperate to buy/have stocking plans that they don’t know how to manage properly and will pop eventually. “Many are called, few are chosen Terry” Extended family. Haha. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SC Derby 259 Posted November 20, 2018 I've got space for 3-4 but not managed to buy anything this week. Got a reasonably price Qashqai from Sytner last week though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EPV 631 Posted November 20, 2018 Bought two today, one for cap clean the other cap average. Assuming they won’t need much other than standard prep I can’t not make a decent profit. There’s bargains about.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trade vet 701 Posted November 20, 2018 Bought 2 out of UKCG trade section today.He who dares etc. 59 XC70 Volvo D5 big miles,nav,leather.good history,44+tip and a cheapie 56 C2 Citroen,30k,one owner,950+tip.( how much !,I can hear)....both of them are OK and ready to go,how lucky was that ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
david gott 58 Posted November 20, 2018 It must be where we are but we get some really strange cars from locals, today a chap rings, would you like to buy my Kia mentor (I’ve never heard of the bloody thing and there’s none on trader) 16k miles, automatic on a 52 plate, he wanted £600......dealer auction that would make a grand at least Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RJEauto 18 Posted November 20, 2018 1 hour ago, EPV said: Bought two today, one for cap clean the other cap average. Assuming they won’t need much other than standard prep I can’t not make a decent profit. There’s bargains about.... You're right, just difficult to find them! I better start looking harder I think Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blenheim Car Sales 111 Posted November 20, 2018 past year dealers aint sold the full target new car sales are 20% down........................ thats 20% less used stock so same number of dealers are after smaller numbers of stock, Ad to that larger pitches with stocking plans they are almost forced to pay "whatever" price to keep there business model workable, Additionally everyone who is not in the trade seems to be in the trade you have a look at the taxis the builders the plumbers down your local auction house, These guys work for beer tokens £100-£200 is all they scrap for, no tax no prep no warranty ect, Loads of eastern Europeans are also there too being gangster paying no taxes no VAT its depressing as Legit businesses are having to pay more than these undeclared hustlers are paying The price range you are at is also where mot in trade would be, "price range" cars get them in and out.............. start again I have also found is seriously hard the last 4 weeks to buy good stock sensible prices everything is way over clean and its just suicide to bid against those people, I use the same places as you have mentioned, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rory RSC 596 Posted November 20, 2018 34 minutes ago, Blenheim Car Sales said: past year dealers aint sold the full target new car sales are 20% down........................ thats 20% less used stock so same number of dealers are after smaller numbers of stock, Ad to that larger pitches with stocking plans they are almost forced to pay "whatever" price to keep there business model workable, Additionally everyone who is not in the trade seems to be in the trade you have a look at the taxis the builders the plumbers down your local auction house, These guys work for beer tokens £100-£200 is all they scrap for, no tax no prep no warranty ect, Loads of eastern Europeans are also there too being gangster paying no taxes no VAT its depressing as Legit businesses are having to pay more than these undeclared hustlers are paying The price range you are at is also where mot in trade would be, "price range" cars get them in and out.............. start again I have also found is seriously hard the last 4 weeks to buy good stock sensible prices everything is way over clean and its just suicide to bid against those people, I use the same places as you have mentioned, Boohoo. Who cares. Seriously. Loads of stuffs unfair I wouldnt waste a single second going on about it just focus on doing what you do and do it to the best of your ability. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mojo121 229 Posted November 20, 2018 1 hour ago, Rory RSC said: Boohoo. Who cares. Seriously. Loads of stuffs unfair I wouldnt waste a single second going on about it just focus on doing what you do and do it to the best of your ability. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lastyboy 23 Posted November 20, 2018 As has been said on here so many times, buying is the hardest part of the job. I buy quite a few private, have a little ad in the local rag saying i buy cars for cash with full history. Do 3-4 a month from that. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrV 66 Posted November 20, 2018 And heres me thinking by following a few videos on YouTube I'd be a successful car trader HAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites