Auction buyers....

[MrV 66]

Out of pure interest, do any of you chaps use "auction buyers" to source your stock?

I'm not for one second saying I'm considering it, I've noticed a fellow colleague of mine has started doing it in the Midlands and I wondered are these guys in that much demand? 

[Trident 24]

5 minutes ago, twerp said:

The guy I have used does 40/50 per week at £60 minimum

Not a bad wage for 3/4 hrs a day 

Bloody hell!!!

[MrV 66]

When I worked at the well known auction site in Walsall there was a blonde woman there every day buying on behalf of clients, every sale she was there, must of been making some real ££££

17 minutes ago, twerp said:

It's something I've considered myself, but how do you find the clients? 

Targeted advertising I'd guess, get a little website up, email every trader or dealer you can find

[Mojo121 229]

34 minutes ago, twerp said:

It's something I've considered myself, but how do you find the clients? 

Go to auctions. Buy. Talk to people. 

18 minutes ago, MrV said:

Targeted advertising I'd guess, get a little website up, email every trader or dealer you can find

Bad guess.

[c_cars 56]

It’s a good business especially if you can do your wage on a Monday and be home by mid afternoon, though I’m sure online buying has had an effect on it now.

I had two extremes amongst those that I’d buy for; a Mercedes specialist who was fussy to extremes, the other a supermarket that’d just give me a list of vehicles and max bids. Thursday was always my best day, Birmingham in a morning and Walsall in the afternoon.

 

[MrV 66]

7 minutes ago, twerp said:

If thats who I think it is, thats his wife who does a few days a week. They're great.

You'd think so, but those in the hall would rather do their own bidding which is why they are there.

I think its the strapped up £1m stocking loaners and small franchise groups who would be best. 

Also people like me and lucas who come into the trade knowing nothing about buying, these buyers could take (some of) the risk away of buying misdescribed lemons. There's 2 sides to it, you'll have one side saying "what a load of bollocks, if you can't be arsed buying yourself your in the wrong game" and then there's the "I don't mind putting the risk into someone else's hands" side

[c_cars 56]

1 minute ago, twerp said:

I used to do that day too back in 2009-2013
 

I was a little before that, 2004-2006; a good day on a Thursday would mean Friday off!

[c_cars 56]

2 minutes ago, twerp said:

No way, then you'd miss Nottingham Friday morning !

Nottingham wasn’t a regular of mine, only for specific vehicles to order; I’d be in Tewkesbury on a Friday morning. 

[justina3 518]

Margins are tight enough as it is without paying someone to do your job for you. 

So your argument is you don’t know what you buying, so how do you know it’s any good when someone turns up with it ? 

 

[MrV 66]

12 minutes ago, justina3 said:

Margins are tight enough as it is without paying someone to do your job for you. 

So your argument is you don’t know what you buying, so how do you know it’s any good when someone turns up with it ? 

 

Isn't that why "someone" would pay these "professionals"? 

[Arfur Dealy 823]

4 minutes ago, MrV said:

Isn't that why "someone" would pay these "professionals"? 

No, all they do is walk round it doing a telephone appraisal to the potential buyer, they do not guarantee anything. They’ll watch it start up when it’s just about to go through and describe what they can. They are then told to bid appropriately, anybid is put down to who they were bidding for 

[ExCouncilJobsworth 27]

4 minutes ago, Arfur Dealy said:

No, all they do is walk round it doing a telephone appraisal to the potential buyer, they do not guarantee anything. They’ll watch it start up when it’s just about to go through and describe what they can. They are then told to bid appropriately, anybid is put down to who they were bidding for 

So they won't use their own auction account?

I was thinking they'd use their own account. But who would pay for the car? Does the dealer pay directly or does he pay the buyer after the buy has paid auction?

[stockedup! 63]

6 minutes ago, ExCouncilJobsworth said:

So they won't use their own auction account?

I was thinking they'd use their own account. But who would pay for the car? Does the dealer pay directly or does he pay the buyer after the buy has paid auction?

They just give you an opinion and hopefully don't miss anything horrendous but remember they don't get to drive. I have done it for retailers many moons ago but it can be a bit tricky at times.

[ExCouncilJobsworth 27]

6 minutes ago, stockedup! said:

They just give you an opinion and hopefully don't miss anything horrendous but remember they don't get to drive. I have done it for retailers many moons ago but it can be a bit tricky at times.

So you could take that opinion...bid yourself and tell matey to do one as presumably its just a gentlemans agreement in place...

[stockedup! 63]

6 minutes ago, ExCouncilJobsworth said:

So you could take that opinion...bid yourself and tell matey to do one as presumably its just a gentlemans agreement in place...

You could but the game is a small place overall, c"""s tricks won't get you far for long IMO.

[c_cars 56]

15 minutes ago, ExCouncilJobsworth said:

So you could take that opinion...bid yourself and tell matey to do one as presumably its just a gentlemans agreement in place...

This is why I only had a few trusted dealers that I’d do it for.

Plus, the people you’re buying for would usually be too busy with other things hence the need for a buyer in the first place.

[Arfur Dealy 823]

16 minutes ago, ExCouncilJobsworth said:

So you could take that opinion...bid yourself and tell matey to do one as presumably its just a gentlemans agreement in place...

What I do in my video is exactly what they do over the telephone. 

[Mark101 536]

There is no way I would pay anyone to do the part of the job I enjoy the most and probably the bit I do best.

[grant8064 219]

Our local indie charges £35 online bid fee per car bought.

If the £60 fee for in person bidding per won car through a rep meant you were less likely to get run up by one bid (because they know said bidder has a capped price and no emotion/motivation to go higher/get carried away) it would be worthwhile. Would also be worthwhile if they could cost up paint and dents on your behalf over the phone rather than relying on crap photos/reports but you'd need a good relationship where they know what your paint/dent man charges.

Wouldn't use it myself but I can see the benefits for an on the ball volume buyer aware of cosmetic recon costs.

[trade vet 702]

5 hours ago, twerp said:

It's something I've considered myself, but how do you find the clients? 

It helps if you are a retired auction centre manager.

[CCC 31]

4 hours ago, c_cars said:

This is why I only had a few trusted dealers that I’d do it for.

Plus, the people you’re buying for would usually be too busy with other things hence the need for a buyer in the first place.

It's an interesting one. I'm sure I could earn £60 doing something else than standing in an auction hall for a couple of hours freezing my toes off. But it would have to be someone you trust implicitly I guess. And, has been said, finding the diamonds in the rough is half the fun.

Not convinced on online buying, bought one that was OK and as described but as we'd guessed mysteriously bid up to our max.  plus needed transporting, and had another one cancelled last minute due to undeclared write-off.

[ExCouncilJobsworth 27]

4 hours ago, Mark101 said:

There is no way I would pay anyone to do the part of the job I enjoy the most and probably the bit I do best.

Plus everyone's opinions differs.

Perhaps there is a noise which is something small and cheap to repair but mr buyer thinks its something completely expensive...

[Mark101 536]

6 hours ago, CCC said:

It's an interesting one. I'm sure I could earn £60 doing something else than standing in an auction hall for a couple of hours freezing my toes off. But it would have to be someone you trust implicitly I guess. And, has been said, finding the diamonds in the rough is half the fun.

Not convinced on online buying, bought one that was OK and as described but as we'd guessed mysteriously bid up to our max.  plus needed transporting, and had another one cancelled last minute due to undeclared write-off.

What gets me is this:

Hammer Price +

Buyers Fee +

Online Bidding Fee +

BCA Assured Fee +

Transport = Landed Cost

 

[metcars 397]

Has anyone considered offering an auction buying service to the general public? As horrific as it sounds, I'm seeing a few guys doing this regularly. One guy I've noticed (a regular face), has been dragging this posh couple around for weeks trying to buy a Gwagon. I assume you're paid by the hour?

[MrV 66]

1 minute ago, met said:

Has anyone considered offering an auction buying service to the general public? As horrific as it sounds, I'm seeing a few guys doing this regularly. One guy I've noticed (a regular face), has been dragging this posh couple around for weeks trying to buy a Gwagon. I assume you're paid by the hour?

That's what Chris @ Flipping cars does and very successfully