Where do you stop?

[Brunswick 10]

Hi folks,

We have in the last few years been supplying nearly new - 3 year old cars which of course come to us requiring minimal preparation.  We are finding that this market has been becoming fruitless in terms of margin in the past 18 months or so due to main dealers focusing their efforts on used cars rather than the new market.  We do get some nice retail part exchanges however which we would otherwise struggle to buy at sensible money and my question is how fussy to you think I need to be with preparation older stock?

The reason I ask is the reaction I get from our paint and workshop guys when I present a job to them sometimes.  An example would be a 61 plate BMW 320d, 58k miles, leather, park assist, xenons etc with FBMWSH very tidy inside and out apart from 3 wheel edges all similar to the one pictured and a scuff on the front bumper which has all polished out except for what can be seen in the second picture.  Do you think I'm fussy painting all the wheels and the bumper corner or is this now expected with a 7 year old car.  I hate the term "..its a used car Sir" but I'm being told that I'm trying to make every car like a 12 month old one but not convinced.   My reason for asking is that on numerous occasions I have sold an immaculate 5 -6 year old car and 6 months later seen it parked with all 4 wheels mullered, a dings in the doors and or a cracked bumper etc.  Would you touch up or spend the money?  Interested in your thoughts...

 

Edited November 28, 2018 by Brunswick

[Merlot 3]

For all that it is I would just touch them in yourself with a proper colour match touch up kit, £10 ish.

That’s really nothing for the age and miles

Same silver colour should do bumper and alloys. 

 

Edited November 28, 2018 by Merlot

[David Ayers 171]

Either touch in the bumper or paint it for sure. £50 smart repair.

The wheels are ok. However would the car look better with grey wheels. You could add value to the car with a change of colour.

[NOACROSS 414]

I tend to do all the prep, even on an older car. After all it is SOMEBODY‘S new car and if you competition’s car is slightly better prepped, then that may be enough for them to get the sale  

However, even I would only touch up those bits on your example and certainly wouldn’t use the paint shop. 

[SC Derby 259]

Definitely touch up/in both. Neither justify the extra spend imo.

[Dave2302 387]

Agreed, I would touch those examples in.

 

[Brunswick 10]

Thanks Guys, I share your thoughts regarding SOMEBODY'S new car.  The amount of times I kick myself for over prepping a car like this when you see a total wreck of a px only fit for scrap role in, I wonder if I could have saved a few hundred £'s as they're not that fussy.

Edited November 28, 2018 by Brunswick

[SC Derby 259]

Some of the best car's we sold both prep wise and the odd minter we've bought in, I've then seen them out and about or in local tesco say 3-6 months later and they are already wrecked, you just think whats the point? It's usually the most fussy customers in the first place too...

cars*. Need edit button.

[David Horgan 564]

Always leave the customer something to have a dig at eg a little wheel scuff .

When they ask what is going to be done about the wheels because of the scuff , tell them its priced into the deal , BUT I can get it done for you at £100 , amazed how many forget the scuff and its never mentioned again , all because you have put the ball into their court and now they have to decide .

BUT some of the others will have it done and with these people it hasn't cost you the £100 , 

Win WIN . 

[Blenheim Car Sales 111]

its reconditioning not a restoration 

[EPV 631]

Piss easy touch in on the bumper and leave the wheels. Anyone fussing over light kerb rash on a 7 year old car will be a pest anyway 

[Dave2302 387]

I had a fitter who worked for me when i was down south, had a buyer coming for his old van, white escort with loads of scabs, he took a big bottle of tippex outta the office and touched in all the little scabby bits, billy bought it, it rained a couple of days later, the guy came back moaning it had gone rusty over night 

[Nick M.K. 574]

Knowing where to stop the prep takes a long long time. And comes after many sales where you know it should've been done but for one reason or another wasn't and the customer still bought WITHOUT moaning about it, ask money off or even point it out. 

In your example touch up and leave wheels is what I'd do. If the wheels were slightly worse I would redo them and change colour as David suggested.

[Arfur Dealy 823]

1 hour ago, Brunswick said:

Thanks Guys, I share your thoughts regarding SOMEBODY'S new car.  The amount of times I kick myself for over prepping a car like this when you see a total wreck of a px only fit for scrap role in, I wonder if I could have saved a few hundred £'s as they're not that fussy.

The secret to prepping correctly is balancing whether it'll add value or make it more desirable, some billys aren't looking for a mint car, they could be after a dog car or alternatively it could be their weekend prized possession. Go with your gut.

BTW, welcome Brunswick. Simon   

[Brunswick 10]

Thanks Simon, appreciate your advice.  We've had a rough few months with the nearly new stock so I am looking to move into a slightly older market which doesn't compete head to head with main dealers, getting a gauge of prep standards helps,   That said I've noticed some 7-8 year old stock on main dealer fronts this week which makes me wonder if they are struggling to?  Just waiting for the "Trade Select" & "Trade To Go" banners to come back out to get confirmation of this.

[Arfur Dealy 823]

3 minutes ago, Brunswick said:

Thanks Simon, appreciate your advice.  We've had a rough few months with the nearly new stock so I am looking to move into a slightly older market which doesn't compete head to head with main dealers, getting a gauge of prep standards helps,   That said I've noticed some 7-8 year old stock on main dealer fronts this week which makes me wonder if they are struggling to?  Just waiting for the "Trade Select" & "Trade To Go" banners to come back out to get confirmation of this.

No problem do you do videos ?

[justlooking 48]

21 minutes ago, Nick M.K. said:

Knowing where to stop the prep takes a long long time. And comes after many sales where you know it should've been done but for one reason or another wasn't and the customer still bought WITHOUT moaning about it, ask money off or even point it out. 

In your example touch up and leave wheels is what I'd do. If the wheels were slightly worse I would redo them and change colour as David suggested.

Interesting a couple of you guys have suggested a colour change, if anthracite or black etc isn't the factory colour you could argue that this would put people off?

or are you suggesting a colour change based on it then standing out from the crowd, one I've always ummed and arrd over and ended up sticking with original.

[trade vet 703]

The vast majority of punters do not want to buy stuff with visible stone chips and scratches.They don’t want friends and neighbours pointing them out.I have often made the mistake of leaving the odd stone chip on a bonnet to save money and it hasn’t sold. You then find later by getting it painted,it sells.

[Brunswick 10]

I have done in the past however HS2 has literally just dug up my video location so I need to find another.  Video's are interesting, I wonder whether I should highlight this sort of imperfection (assuming it has been touched in) or skate over it, is the video too long / not long enough, should there be a commentary/music/neither.  I'm sure if I searched the subject it will have been covered here at length before.  

[Arfur Dealy 823]

4 minutes ago, Brunswick said:

I have done in the past however HS2 has literally just dug up my video location so I need to find another.  Video's are interesting, I wonder whether I should highlight this sort of imperfection (assuming it has been touched in) or skate over it, is the video too long / not long enough, should there be a commentary/music/neither.  I'm sure if I searched the subject it will have been covered here at length before.  

PM'd you.

[Nick M.K. 574]

1 hour ago, justlooking said:

Interesting a couple of you guys have suggested a colour change, if anthracite or black etc isn't the factory colour you could argue that this would put people off?

I am a huge advocate for changing wheel colour especially because for me it's free. (I pay for the refurb but any colour, matt, satin or gloss is included). People want to stand out, preferences change and what could've been the norm in 2006-2008 is no longer the case. 

Every week I see brand new BMWs and Range Rovers at our wheel place getting a complete change to Gloss Black (usually) before delivery. 

[David Ayers 171]

I’m sure there must be an app where you can take a picture and then see what it looks like with different colour wheels. 

Or is that just photoshop?

[Mark101 536]

I would touch in the bumper with a touch up pen and ignore the wheels.

If a customer mentions them, use an offer to refurb as a way to close the deal.

[SC Derby 259]

We still pay 100+vat for wheel refurb and that includes any colour change

not gone up since I started (nearly 8 years) 

[Nick M.K. 574]

I started refurbing around 2006, £35 per corner, now it’s £50. I can’t stand kerbed alloys but love buying them kerbed at the auctions.