2018 Plate Audi A3 S Line Won't Sell

[tradegirl 112]

2 hours ago, XFS said:

Selling from home without finance ....you need to stock vehicles which attract customers who don't need finance.

A bread and butter  2 year old Audi is not that vehicle. There are hundreds out there and nearly every one will end up on some sort of finance deal.

I trade from home, don't offer finance and don't find it hard to sell 18k cars...thats my normal price point, but I would be wasting my time trying to sell stuff the car supermarkets/franchise guys are selling on finance. 

You sell £18k cars from home with no finance?

Forgive me, this is a genuine query, but what car is £18k and wouldn't be available on a finance deal from the dealer?

[MarkTVS 209]

11 minutes ago, tradegirl said:

You sell £18k cars from home with no finance?

Forgive me, this is a genuine query, but what car is £18k and wouldn't be available on a finance deal from the dealer?

I’m guessing extremely niche stuff perhaps Porsche 911’s, Mercedes SL’s or similar?

[tradegirl 112]

8 hours ago, MarkTVS said:

I’m guessing extremely niche stuff perhaps Porsche 911’s, Mercedes SL’s or similar?

Oh ok. That makes sense.

[XFS 70]

9 hours ago, tradegirl said:

Oh ok. That makes sense.

 

18 hours ago, MarkTVS said:

I’m guessing extremely niche stuff perhaps Porsche 911’s, Mercedes SL’s or similar?

Not really. I would stock an SL, but probably not a 911

A typical car for me might be a low mileage, FSH, 1 owner older S4 Avant or a low miles petrol Merc CLS, or E class Estate or maybe a Porsche Boxster or a MK 1 Audi TT,  Alfa Spider  but today I bought an Alfa 159 which I know I will make a big margin on and it only cost 5k. It is low miles, 1 owner and great history, so its a car people will travel as far as they need to for.

I sold a car to Southern Ireland today.

What works for me is;

1. I can afford to pick and choose cars and pick them to suit whom I perceive my customer to be.

2. I won't buy unless the car is absolutely right for me. I would rather have no stock than the wrong stock.

3. I make trading from home a positive not a negative.

4. I make not offering finance a positive not a negative.

If I were dealing in 5K cars I would be going for rare rather than mainstream bread and butter. Big petrol Estates,  Low miles Alfas, Saabs. Old jag XF's with good history, good Spec. Cars for mature people who don't give you hassle and don't need finance.

Edited August 23, 2019 by XFS

[EPV 631]

27 minutes ago, XFS said:

 

Not really. I would stock an SL, but probably not a 911

A typical car for me might be a low mileage, FSH, 1 owner older S4 Avant or a low miles petrol Merc CLS, or E class Estate or maybe a Porsche Boxster or a MK 1 Audi TT,  Alfa Spider  but today I bought an Alfa 159 which I know I will make a big margin on and it only cost 5k. It is low miles, 1 owner and great history, so its a car people will travel as far as they need to for.

I sold a car to Southern Ireland today.

What works for me is;

1. I can afford to pick and choose cars and pick them to suit whom I perceive my customer to be.

2. I won't buy unless the car is absolutely right for me. I would rather have no stock than the wrong stock.

3. I make trading from home a positive not a negative.

4. I make not offering finance a positive not a negative.

If I were dealing in 5K cars I would be going for rare rather than mainstream bread and butter. Big petrol Estates,  Low miles Alfas, Saabs. Old jag XF's with good history, good Spec. Cars for mature people who don't give you hassle and don't need finance.

Love the profile. I’d love to know where you get a steady stream of such cars as well as they’re exactly the type of cars I sell!

[XFS 70]

31 minutes ago, EPV said:

Love the profile. I’d love to know where you get a steady stream of such cars as well as they’re exactly the type of cars I sell!

Ah, now... that...is the slight flaw in my cunning plan...

Its not easy, but some days you get lucky. One bank holiday this year I bought a load in one day...then couldn't get near anything for weeks. 

You miss more than you hit, thats for sure.

I was convinced I was going to buy an E46 M3 at Preston yesterday. Cap clean said £9300, I thought well I can go to 14k...surely I'm I'm with a shout. I was nowhere near. £15800 plus premium bought it. 

 

[EPV 631]

7 minutes ago, XFS said:

Ah, now... that...is the slight flaw in my cunning plan...

Its not easy, but some days you get lucky. One bank holiday this year I bought a load in one day...then couldn't get near anything for weeks. 

You miss more than you hit, thats for sure.

I was convinced I was going to buy an E46 M3 at Preston yesterday. Cap clean said £9300, I thought well I can go to 14k...surely I'm I'm with a shout. I was nowhere near. £15800 plus premium bought it. 

 

Yep, most of that stuff is a “Chuck the book out” type of stock. Certainly more interesting than some stock profiles but each to their own. Good luck to you. 

[XFS 70]

19 minutes ago, EPV said:

Yep, most of that stuff is a “Chuck the book out” type of stock. Certainly more interesting than some stock profiles but each to their own. Good luck to you. 

And to you to. We need it!

[JDM1983 28]

2 hours ago, XFS said:

 

3. I make trading from home a positive not a negative

Do you mean from a customers perspective, and if so, how do you present the benefits of buying from a home trader?

[TangoVictor32 90]

13 hours ago, JDM1983 said:

Do you mean from a customers perspective, and if so, how do you present the benefits of buying from a home trader?

Guessing he means picking the right stock unlike the OP and wasting valuable storage space (driveway)...

Selling bad cars and bangers woulf annoy your neighbours too... Like xfs mentioned sell cars to older people that dont give you hassle. When they turn up they won't be effing and blinding so the whole neighbourhood hears them... Park across someone elses drive and then rev the bollocks out of the banger you're selling...

Plus there's the benefit of working by appointment....choosing his hours...and not doing 120hours a week like the rest of us!

14 hours ago, XFS said:

 

I was convinced I was going to buy an E46 M3 at Preston yesterday. Cap clean said £9300, I thought well I can go to 14k...surely I'm I'm with a shout. I was nowhere near. £15800 plus premium bought it. 

 

Manchester on Weds had a 2007 VW Caddy with 70k odd on it... Cap clean £2k... Hammer price £3650....

And 

AND

It had no v5 !!

Each definitely to their own 

[XFS 70]

13 hours ago, JDM1983 said:

Do you mean from a customers perspective, and if so, how do you present the benefits of buying from a home trader?

I have a nice place which presents the correct image for what I am selling and I treat my customers well and they receive a relaxed personal service in a way they would not from a franchised dealer. In short, I can offer a better service than most franchised dealers.

However, all this stops in 3 weeks. I am moving. I will be doing my "day job" in Europe for the next few months, then I get a unit from the 1st March next year and will be virtually full time. However I will be operating my car business on exactly the same principal as I did from home.

[TangoVictor32 90]

35 minutes ago, XFS said:

then I get a unit from the 1st March next year and will be virtually full time. However I will be operating my car business on exactly the same principal as I did from home.

Good luck to having no life 

[JDM1983 28]

4 hours ago, XFS said:

I have a nice place which presents the correct image for what I am selling and I treat my customers well and they receive a relaxed personal service in a way they would not from a franchised dealer. In short, I can offer a better service than most franchised dealer

If I think about it, I have a similar setup. I’ve never really perceived the advantages though, more thought of it as: I don’t seem as professional trading from my home, buyers would rather see a nice commercial premises. I should take a more balanced view!

[XFS 70]

49 minutes ago, JDM1983 said:

If I think about it, I have a similar setup. I’ve never really perceived the advantages though, more thought of it as: I don’t seem as professional trading from my home, buyers would rather see a nice commercial premises. I should take a more balanced view!

Definitely. Setting aside the first rule of selling ie. turning any potential negative into a positive, trading from a nice home is definitely a major positive in my book.

Same with finance. I spin not offering finance into a positive point, not negative, not least because for me it is a positive. It is my choice not to offer finance.

[Rory RSC 596]

19 hours ago, XFS said:

Definitely. Setting aside the first rule of selling ie. turning any potential negative into a positive, trading from a nice home is definitely a major positive in my book.

Same with finance. I spin not offering finance into a positive point, not negative, not least because for me it is a positive. It is my choice not to offer finance.

I coudn't really get to positive about not bringing in £10k+ a month commission cheques 

[XFS 70]

18 minutes ago, Rory RSC said:

I coudn't really get to positive about not bringing in £10k+ a month commission cheques 

Clearly finance is a big part of your business. 

Right now, I don't want it as part of mine. I may have to reconsider in the future. But I am old, I am not ambitious, I don't need to sell loads of cars. I like everything to be on my terms, I like to pick and choose my customers and I want as little admin as possible.

I understand my business model won't work for most people. To each their own. 

[Casper 272]

25 minutes ago, XFS said:

Clearly finance is a big part of your business. 

Right now, I don't want it as part of mine. I may have to reconsider in the future. But I am old, I am not ambitious, I don't need to sell loads of cars. I like everything to be on my terms, I like to pick and choose my customers and I want as little admin as possible.

I understand my business model won't work for most people. To each their own. 

I totally get you I'm a great believer in treating my customer how I would like to be treated its worked for me so far ..  

[XFS 70]

16 minutes ago, C B said:

@XFS I’ve totally heard you when you say you don’t need the money, don’t need this that and the other and I’m totally with you on the sell from home nice house positives blah blah blah. I do exactly the same myself but as much as you say you want to do business on your terms etc etc I still can’t get my head around why you don’t want to be able to offer finance?

I simply don't need the paperwork and additional hassle and my target customers usually don't need finance. I have a finance guy I can refer to if absolutely necessary, but its rare. I don't take swappers either unless its something I can sell with confidence and a clear profit. I want the customer in and out, deal done as simply as possible.

When I move to a unit, and have a larger stock,  I probably will offer finance on a restricted scale. ie. lender of my choice, prime only.

[Mark101 536]

16 hours ago, XFS said:

I simply don't need the paperwork and additional hassle and my target customers usually don't need finance. I have a finance guy I can refer to if absolutely necessary, but its rare. I don't take swappers either unless its something I can sell with confidence and a clear profit. I want the customer in and out, deal done as simply as possible.

When I move to a unit, and have a larger stock,  I probably will offer finance on a restricted scale. ie. lender of my choice, prime only.

Why would you move to a unit when you’re after a lifestyle business?

If you’re not hungry and don’t need the income, I would stay as you are.

[XFS 70]

49 minutes ago, Mark101 said:

Why would you move to a unit when you’re after a lifestyle business?

If you’re not hungry and don’t need the income, I would stay as you are.

Change in domestic circumstances. Wont have the space to stock enough cars at home next year. And it will be my full time job.

Luckily, I still won't be under any pressure, so the basic business model will remain the same.

[Rory RSC 596]

XFS know if you don’t take part exes why not offer finance. 

It costs nothing to set up. Over the course of a year you will make some money in comm.

even through a broker you can do nothing to pay for 6 months giving people not trading in chance to sell theirs. It takes minutes to prop and get an accept. If anything trying to work efficiently and easily like you are it’s probably easier and brings you in more money. 

[trade vet 697]

Out of interest,I have known one or two people who have started up in this job later on in life.They usually have good iron clad pensions from a previous occupation and operate quite well by picking and choosing who they deal with.

[XFS 70]

4 hours ago, Rory RSC said:

XFS know if you don’t take part exes why not offer finance. 

It costs nothing to set up. Over the course of a year you will make some money in comm.

even through a broker you can do nothing to pay for 6 months giving people not trading in chance to sell theirs. It takes minutes to prop and get an accept. If anything trying to work efficiently and easily like you are it’s probably easier and brings you in more money. 

Thanks. I will definitely take this on board, it does make sense for when I expand.

I am in a different situation from a lot of people in that I do work hard, (although people perceive I have the "dream job"...which is not work at all) and cars have always been my release. I started buying cars and trading a bit when I was about 13, thats quite a while ago.

Now its my wind down plan. Doing something I really enjoy for the next 10 years or until I peg it. Whichever comes first. I have no real interest in retiring. 

Edited August 26, 2019 by XFS

[Casper 272]

2 hours ago, XFS said:

Thanks. I will definitely take this on board, it does make sense for when I expand.

I am in a different situation from a lot of people in that I do work hard, (although people perceive I have the "dream job"...which is not work at all) and cars have always been my release. I started buying cars and trading a bit when I was about 13, thats quite a while ago.

Now its my wind down plan. Doing something I really enjoy for the next 10 years or until I peg it. Whichever comes first. I have no real interest in retiring. 

Keep doing what you enjoy Xfs good luck .. 

[Ashley 0]

I don't know how you would make a living from that.

I work on a bigger margin with £1000 cars, so at £19,000, that's £17,000 gross profit.

Anything under three years old is main dealer territory. I leave alone.