GentlemanJames 0 Posted March 12, 2019 Afternoon all, By way of brief intro; Having spent 5 years in main dealers, 3 years ago I went solo and founding my company. Specialising in sports and prestige £5-12k mark. Margins are tight, but turnover is good and I keep the fixed costs to a minimum. I tend to take in about 5 PX’s a month – some as we all know providing great opportunities to retail again. Previously the higher mileage, scruffy, EML on, rattles on the suspension etc has been put on ebay. Honestly described in generally sold without any issues. While I understand my obligations under the CRA 2015, the ebay stuff seemed to attract the right sort of buyer who was well aware on what to expect when buying a 15 year old 150k mile merc e class for example. Recently however, I seem to be getting more and more comebacks, quoting the CRA 2015 and what court they will take me to etc. While I will always resolve such matters amicably I am becoming increasingly fed up with disposing of the cheapies and incurring great costs in time and money to resolve afterwards. Which leads me on to thinking shall I just sell them to my local BCA blackbushe in the mixed vendor section? Are there ANY comebacks AT ALL when selling through BCA? Engine blows up on the way home for example or gearbox fails the next week? Where do I stand? I’m looking at the entry forms I picked up this morning and I see it asks for a mechanical condition section. I’m no mechanic, does that still make me qualified to complete? Do most people leave it blank? Does it make any difference? BCA have said any know faults need to be disclosed, and rightly so, but does filling out the mechanical condition section bring any legally binding comeback? I have a high milage XC90 with quite a few warning lights on at the moment I was thinking as a good starter to sell though BCA – the engine seems to be running fine at the moment but with EML on am I allowed to put “good” on the engine condition report?! Just interested to hear anyone’s thoughts and experiences on selling the cheapies through BCA and any problems they have incurred. Thanks all, James Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andymc1973 199 Posted March 12, 2019 you will get nothing for them Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom 164 Posted March 12, 2019 Take cap below and half it this is what multi vendor will make. Better off with ebay really! In the mechanical section of the form you just cross it all out and put SOLD AS SEEN in big writing over it. There will be no comebacks this way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GentlemanJames 0 Posted March 12, 2019 Cap below and half?! Really?! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grantlfc81 88 Posted March 12, 2019 Sell privately and do hand over in Asda carpark and wave it good bye 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pip 12 Posted March 12, 2019 I never do well when putting anything through the block unless I’ve nicked it. I can watch a vehicle make say 3 grand and I can have an identical one same mileage,condition,and year and mine will make a grand less. Just put it on e bay, facebook or gumtree and be honest and list all faults. Selling at bca is like chucking money down the drain. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trade vet 703 Posted March 12, 2019 Hi James We all have the same problem.Getting trade bids on iffy swappers is hard enough but if you put them into the likes of BCA the trade entries section is regarded as the dregs of the sale and it is hard to get bids.You need a franchise dealer entry ticket to attract bids.You may be better trying a small independent auction.We have a trader guy and we often let him hawk them around....Sorry ,not much help. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arfur Dealy 823 Posted March 12, 2019 If you are selling on ebay and getting comebacks then you either aren't being honest or brutal enough. Don't mince your words or make it out to be nothing less than you are selling shite, the plastic traders love shite, be honest sell it as shite and invoice them justifiably as scrap, unroadworthy & tailored away. You can however sell the dream...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
It's me 615 Posted March 12, 2019 14 minutes ago, Arfur Dealy said: If you are selling on ebay and getting comebacks then you either aren't being honest or brutal enough. Don't mince your words or make it out to be nothing less than you are selling shite, the plastic traders love shite, be honest sell it as shite and invoice them justifiably as scrap, unroadworthy & tailored away. You can however sell the dream...... o000000000o suits you sir Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
awc1000 93 Posted March 12, 2019 james, forget bca or manheim, buyers are not interested in anything that is not direct i.e the trade have touched it, and on the odd occasion you do get lucky they will rob you blind on commission. the only real answer is ebay auction under a specific disposal account, don't use your ebay motors account, use a war and peace add regarding the car being sold as parts / spares / repairs, same again with the invoicing, couple that to being picky who you sell it too should be enough too minimize much grief. or find yourself a decent local auction who will appreciate your business and not rob you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dealer 54 Posted March 12, 2019 Previous thread on this very subject Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GentlemanJames 0 Posted March 12, 2019 Thanks for the replies all. Think you’ve made my mind up - back to Ebay but even more brutal on descriptions! Agree some people will pay silly money for tat - I’ll never forget a Zafira I practicaly told the guy not to drive it home and he was thrilled with it. Just been put off recently. I’ve dabbled between no Reserve auctions and BIN with offers. Any preferences? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CCC 31 Posted March 13, 2019 Having same debate on a Mini Cooper. Electric windows and locking not working, short mot. But not sure if we want the hassle, might get it sign written and use it to encourage people to come to us for buying stuff. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dealer 54 Posted March 13, 2019 If in doubt........ Rat it out! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Willoughby 15 Posted March 13, 2019 I'd rather use a classified advert on ebay rather than an ebay auction listing, if its cheap you can get the idiots who win without viewing, then pitch up to collect and moan "its not what I was expecting" .....and you are back at the start..... With a cheap classified ebay advert you sell it to the first buyer to pay and drive away, also if you think the buyer could be trouble just tell them "this car isn't for you" - there's also no feedback issues.....Oh and never never never accept paypal...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andymc1973 199 Posted March 13, 2019 ebay, gypsies, tramps and thieves Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
It's me 615 Posted March 13, 2019 1 hour ago, andymc1973 said: ebay, gypsies, tramps and thieves do you want to cher who sang it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattR 177 Posted March 13, 2019 I trade my junk out to local mechanics. You will know mechanics and bodyshop workers who love to make a few quid on the side. If you dont, go to your local industrial estate and find them. It takes the hassle out of the job, have 2 or 3 of them on board and you will always get out of the shit with NO HASSLE. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rory RSC 596 Posted March 13, 2019 19 hours ago, GentlemanJames said: Cap below and half?! Really?! Very true. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarkTVS 209 Posted March 13, 2019 We generally put the scrap on gumtree/scumtree and it sells within a week, though it Is made extremely clear that it is sold as spares or repairs. Usually we make £100/£200 on them aswell, they always get at least a basic valet. For example we got a 2009 Ford Fiesta Zetec S in last wee with 110k cap below was £1950 but I gave him £1100 for it as it was BCA grade 6 or 7 if it existed, 2 dangerously bald tyres, needing near enough every panel painted and a few replaced, interior was filthy, quick valet and sold within 2 days for £1250 signed as spares or repairs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
It's me 615 Posted March 13, 2019 4 hours ago, MarkTVS said: We generally put the scrap on gumtree/scumtree and it sells within a week, though it Is made extremely clear that it is sold as spares or repairs. Usually we make £100/£200 on them aswell, they always get at least a basic valet. For example we got a 2009 Ford Fiesta Zetec S in last wee with 110k cap below was £1950 but I gave him £1100 for it as it was BCA grade 6 or 7 if it existed, 2 dangerously bald tyres, needing near enough every panel painted and a few replaced, interior was filthy, quick valet and sold within 2 days for £1250 signed as spares or repairs. hi mark not trying to tell you how to suck eggs but unless you insisted the car left your premises on a trailer then you would be liable if the person you sold it to got a pull or worse was involved in a fatto,never sell cars with dodgy brakes suspension or bald tyres,nobble the ignition if you have to so itss defo trailer away just elpin........ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarkTVS 209 Posted March 14, 2019 17 hours ago, boring dave said: hi mark not trying to tell you how to suck eggs but unless you insisted the car left your premises on a trailer then you would be liable if the person you sold it to got a pull or worse was involved in a fatto,never sell cars with dodgy brakes suspension or bald tyres,nobble the ignition if you have to so itss defo trailer away just elpin........ We do advise the customers that they should not be driven without a mechanical inspection and advise they should be transported away and they sign a disclaimer to this effect. All defects we are aware of we also note on the invoice. No issues as yet to be honest. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
It's me 615 Posted March 14, 2019 1 hour ago, MarkTVS said: We do advise the customers that they should not be driven without a mechanical inspection and advise they should be transported away and they sign a disclaimer to this effect. All defects we are aware of we also note on the invoice. No issues as yet to be honest. Section 75 of the Road Traffic Act makes it an offence for anyone to sell a vehicle that is not roadworthy personally if i was to sell a dangerous car through say ebay i would have some part worns fitted before offering it just to cover my bum Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarkTVS 209 Posted March 14, 2019 Ok therefore bca are in breach of this with just about 50 percent of the stuff they sell then? Laws are a great thing but whether it would stand up in court is another thing. Police round here cant even make a speeding find stand up in court most times. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EPV 631 Posted March 14, 2019 9 minutes ago, MarkTVS said: Ok therefore bca are in breach of this with just about 50 percent of the stuff they sell then? Laws are a great thing but whether it would stand up in court is another thing. Police round here cant even make a speeding find stand up in court most times. BCA don’t retail cars. I see what you’re saying and I think as long as you’re getting a piece of paper signed that states the buyer is aware it’s SOR and that it must be trailered away, whether they drive it or trailer it is their business. You can’t force someone to get a trailer. They could tell you they have one parked up outside, out of your sight. What are you supposed to do, force them to drive it onto a trailer? Course not. I would say however that selling a car for £1250 as SOR when it’s retail price is say £1900 could be viewed by TS as an attempt to circumvent the law (CRA) Not that it stops hoards of supermarket car traders doing exactly that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
