Am I wrong if I only want to buy Auto gear?

[Lucas 9]

I found myself can't have interest in buying manual car. Maybe because I am not good at driving manual even though I can drive it. Will this be a problem as a trader? Is it possible to keep all the stock in Auto only? What is the pro and con if I really want all Auto? Silly question, but I really thinking of it. Just a thought. Thanks.

[justina3 518]

Nothing wrong with being a specialist. 

I would research your local garages that can work on autos not all garages will.

 

[MrV 66]

4 minutes ago, Lucas said:

I found myself can't have interest in buying manual car. Maybe because I am not good at driving manual even though I can drive it. Will this be a problem as a trader? Is it possible to keep all the stock in Auto only? What is the pro and con if I really want all Auto? Silly question, but I really thinking of it. Just a thought. Thanks.

I came up with the idea of selling only "first cars" such as Corsas etc, it doesn't work, sell cars, sell anything you can that will make profit, anything. Niches in this industry only work if you are at a high level such as performance, exotics or possibly vans, in my humble opinion.

I've looked at everything, MOT ability vehicles such as vehicles adapted for disabled use etc, electric cars only etc etc but to do that I'd need to stock newer more expensive cars, which I can't. 

[AutoJacob 34]

At first when you're starting small you can cherry pick but when you get bigger you'll find that your so fussy that attending auctions will consume your entire week trying to find the "right stock", like Benji said buy anything with money across it as long as it has a decent reputation and isn't falling apart.

[EPV 631]

40 minutes ago, MrV said:

I came up with the idea of selling only "first cars" such as Corsas etc, it doesn't work, sell cars, sell anything you can that will make profit, anything. Niches in this industry only work if you are at a high level such as performance, exotics or possibly vans, in my humble opinion.

I've looked at everything, MOT ability vehicles such as vehicles adapted for disabled use etc, electric cars only etc etc but to do that I'd need to stock newer more expensive cars, which I can't. 

Sorry but this is wrong.

I occasionally drift outside of my "zone" very occasionally but my zone consists of German, estate or SUV, high spec, leather.

I would never sell an Astra or Fiesta with cloth seats. 

You need to like what you sell imo, to some degree. That doesn't mean only sell what you really like but if you find small cars with cloth seats and no toys soulless (like I do) then don't convince yourself you can grow to like them. Fine, if you don't care, will sell anything, don't like cars, don't like driving etc then it doesn't matter. But to say niches only work if it's performance or exotic is wrong.

Lucas, if you hate manual cars, don't sell them. There's a garage local to me that has been going for 40 years, they only sell Automatics, only ever been Automatics, only ever will.

Follow your nose, as Mr Dealy says.

33 minutes ago, AutoJacob said:

At first when you're starting small you can cherry pick but when you get bigger you'll find that your so fussy that attending auctions will consume your entire week trying to find the "right stock", like Benji said buy anything with money across it as long as it has a decent reputation and isn't falling apart.

Which is why the internet is such a great invention when used properly. Last week I bought 4 cars, from Manchester, Mansfield, Wimbledon and Colchester. I was in my PJ's at the time.

[AutoJacob 34]

46 minutes ago, EPV said:

Sorry but this is wrong.

I occasionally drift outside of my "zone" very occasionally but my zone consists of German, estate or SUV, high spec, leather.

I would never sell an Astra or Fiesta with cloth seats. 

You need to like what you sell imo, to some degree. That doesn't mean only sell what you really like but if you find small cars with cloth seats and no toys soulless (like I do) then don't convince yourself you can grow to like them. Fine, if you don't care, will sell anything, don't like cars, don't like driving etc then it doesn't matter. But to say niches only work if it's performance or exotic is wrong.

Lucas, if you hate manual cars, don't sell them. There's a garage local to me that has been going for 40 years, they only sell Automatics, only ever been Automatics, only ever will.

Follow your nose, as Mr Dealy says.

Which is why the internet is such a great invention when used properly. Last week I bought 4 cars, from Manchester, Mansfield, Wimbledon and Colchester. I was in my PJ's at the time.

Each to their own.. you keep buying online but until the Assured Reports and Condition reports have a massive improvement I'll keep using my own judgement and eyes to buy cars.

[Lucas 9]

Thanks, Mates. Your comments make a lot of sense to me. Thank you!

[EPV 631]

19 minutes ago, AutoJacob said:

Each to their own.. you keep buying online but until the Assured Reports and Condition reports have a massive improvement I'll keep using my own judgement and eyes to buy cars.

I rarely pay much attention to either. 

Sometimes a grade 3 is a "what the fuck were you on when you assessed that" and a grade 4 is a mop and a few touch ins from a grade 2. The assured reports aren't much better.

I've bought over 60 cars online this year, from all over the country and had serious issues with just one.

As you say, each to their own.

[NOACROSS 414]

I primarily only buy auto-and I haven’t physically gone to an auction in about four years, with no issues with anything I can recall. I also agree that you can be pleasantly surprised when a car turns up. However, James and I disagree on Germany’s ‘finest’ ;o)

It’s important to buy what YOU like yes, but equally important not to forget that you aren’t the target customer. 

As much as possible I try to accommodate most tastes and needs-but we have the space to stock 50 plus if needed. 

For you Lucas or anyone starting out- definitely go with your gut and buy what gives you the fizz. 

[Lucas 9]

Thank you, NOACROSS. 

[EPV 631]

4 minutes ago, NOACROSS said:

I primarily only buy auto-and I haven’t physically gone to an auction in about four years, with no issues with anything I can recall. I also agree that you can be pleasantly surprised when a car turns up. However, James and I disagree on Germany’s ‘finest’ ;o)

It’s important to buy what YOU like yes, but equally important not to forget that you aren’t the target customer. 

As much as possible I try to accommodate most tastes and needs-but we have the space to stock 50 plus if needed. 

For you Lucas or anyone starting out- definitely go with your gut and buy what gives you the fizz. 

Quite right. If you're not the remotest bit bothered about what you sell as long as it's got profit in it, then power to you. I like certain cars, or more specifically I hate certain cars so I refuse to buy them on the basis I can't sell something and make someone else want it if if my hear isn't in it. 

"Yes sir, here we have a lovely Kia Soul, aptly titled because mine died when I bought it. It has no specification, absolutely nothing going for it other than you're here now so you may as well buy it"

NOACROSS you'd vomit heavily in your mouth if you saw what I've just put proxy bids on for tomorrow's finest

[Ccstew 2]

A bit of background, I am very new to the trade, just moved from home to a very small pitch. I still buy what I like however I have recently needed to broaden my horizon and have been very pleasantly  surprised. I had a very nice Kia Soul Auto (sorry EPV) which I was surprised with how good the build and quality was, and a Ford Focus which was a good spec but what a great car, So I have now started looking at everything that catches my eye. I love estates and autos, but now also see the appeal of good quality everyday cars, no I don’t try and compete with the big boys and always have to buy them at a great price but this has really changed my plans and made me love this trade even more.

i also buy online at auction and absolutely panic each time as to what I am going to get, although I do find if you ring the auctions and ask if someone can go look over the car before hand and call you while at the car they seem very helpful and calms me a bit. I do still spend my week at local auctions finding other stuff and getting a feel for things which I recommend to anyone for experience. Also I need to start sorting delivery as the drive home is nerve racking,  5 hours in a car you don’t know I always sweat buckets. 

[Mark101 536]

59 minutes ago, Ccstew said:

ring the auctions and ask if someone can go look over the car before hand and call you while at the car they seem very helpful and calms me a bit. 

What? I am lucky if they help me find a car that I have a pass out for.

[Ccstew 2]

Ahh see maybe it’s the way I sweet talk them. Honestly I didn’t know you could do this until I was at an auction and one of the sales staff was wondering round a car describing it on the phone to some one, so I asked what he was doing and hey presto ever since it works.

[ExCouncilJobsworth 27]

13 hours ago, EPV said:

I rarely pay much attention to either. 

Sometimes a grade 3 is a "what the fuck were you on when you assessed that" and a grade 4 is a mop and a few touch ins from a grade 2. The assured reports aren't much better.

I've bought over 60 cars online this year, from all over the country and had serious issues with just one.

As you say, each to their own.

Cannot agree more.

A recent grade 3 or 4 Civic was like a grade 5 yet the assessor couldn't agree at first. So i pointed out a few similar graded cars.

Got my money back. 

99% online for me and had a clutch issue with one and some body issues with few others partly due to my fault and not inspecting pics properly

[Ek cars 17]

Always buy Auto BMW Lucas and never go near a Auto Mercedes.

[EPV 631]

13 minutes ago, Ek cars said:

Always buy Auto BMW Lucas and never go near a Auto Mercedes.

Is possibly the weirdest advice I've seen on here. I would say the polar opposite personally, which just goes to show how we can all differ wildly! Automatic Mercedes sell very well for me and I struggle with Automatic BMW's unless they are SUV's. Manual Mercedes seem to be the anti christ round my way.

[Mark101 536]

2 minutes ago, EPV said:

Is possibly the weirdest advice I've seen on here. I would say the polar opposite personally, which just goes to show how we can all differ wildly! Automatic Mercedes sell very well for me and I struggle with Automatic BMW's unless they are SUV's. Manual Mercedes seem to be the anti christ round my way.

You missed that James - EK was throwing a red herring.

 

[EPV 631]

38 minutes ago, Mark101 said:

You missed that James - EK was throwing a red herring.

 

It has been known for things to go over my head!

[justina3 518]

22 hours ago, Ccstew said:

Ahh see maybe it’s the way I sweet talk them. Honestly I didn’t know you could do this until I was at an auction and one of the sales staff was wondering round a car describing it on the phone to some one, so I asked what he was doing and hey presto ever since it works.

I asked bca to do this once and was told it’s not there policy as there almost guaranteeing the vehicle and it’s condition over and above the report already placed on the car.

you must sweet talk very well. 

[Ccstew 2]

Hmm BCA,  I have to admit in the small time I have been trading, I hate BcA they are a necessary evil to me, they do not seem to care about small independents and the amount of running up of prices depresses me every time I go ( Newcastle and Brighouse) so I must admit I have never asked them, but Manheims, Glasgow Central, Aston Barclay, G3 all seem very helpful, although just as corrupt, they do go a bit further to help.