BCA Auction

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Discussion

RDG3000

Original Poster:

11 posts

123 months

Friday 6th December 2013
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I went down to the BCA Bridwater last week as VW/Audi were having a disposal sale.
I'd pre-printed the auction brochure and gone through it finding like for like vehicles on Autotrader , what I wasn't expecting were the silly price's. Most vehicles were going through at higher price's than autotrader, add to this the huge buying premium and I do wonder what exactly was going on. Most vehicles' were being picked up by a chap from Audi, but he seemed to be rather carefree with his bidding. I'm sitting there looking at a Audi which I know I can get for £14000.00 at an Audi dealership in Bridgend and he bids well over this and beyond. This seemed to be the pattern for the day - unless you wanted a VW estage or saloon and they were cheap.
I just wondered if these guys get discounts if they buy more than 10 cars, I know there buyers premium is peanuts compared to the average Joe but seriously this chap even one the raffle !!!!
I'd love to hear people's thoughts on this as I know my prices and these price's seemed to be a joke.

Small Car

877 posts

198 months

Friday 6th December 2013
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I think BCA have a range of fees, normal punter, through bronze silver gold and black.

I traded for a while and had gold and that was a premium of something like £150 on a £5k car. I think a normal punter would pay say, £600, so a dealer can be more competitive. I don't know of any discounts though.


CarlT

3,423 posts

246 months

Friday 6th December 2013
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Buyers fees remain, but they sometimes do free delivery if you buy 10. Prices are driven by demand, if there is not much stock around - then prices will be driven up.

tleefox

1,110 posts

147 months

Friday 6th December 2013
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I went to a VW fleet disposal at Bridgwater earlier on the year to look at Passat CC's.

Most we're going through at between £14k & £15k depending on mileage, colour, spec etc. I bought an approved used one from VW with all the bells & whistles, 1 year VW warranty for £15.5k.

MarsellusWallace

1,180 posts

200 months

Friday 6th December 2013
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I stopped buying from BCA many years ago.

Most times I found that the handful of cars I was interested in went for too much money,and in an attempt to not come away empty handed ended up buying cars I didn't really want and hadn't researched or looked over properly.This meant ending up with cars that were not quite right,whether it be an incomplete service history,wrong colour,wrong spec,hidden damage or mechanical problems,missing spare key...the list goes on.To top this off you have to pay BCA their buyers premium as well.The number of times I have deeply regretted what I had bought before I'd even driven it out of the compound!

I think a lot of smaller dealers are set in their ways and a bit lazy too.They have gotten into the routine of going to BCA a couple of times a week,have a moan about the job with some others they know there,then buy the same old rubbish time and time again.Other bigger dealers may need to fill 20,30,40 or more holes in the forecourt every week and BCA gives them the opportunity to buy these numbers effectively.

RDG3000

Original Poster:

11 posts

123 months

Friday 6th December 2013
quotequote all
I noted that VW, Audi and available car were all there, this was a fleet disposal, mostly cars under 3 years old, some with nice low mileages, I did my research first as I've always got my head in autotrader ( at the moment autotrader cars seem to be cheaper than eBay!?!) I know my prices and had set my price, the first car ran through which was a VW UP, I went for £500 over what I could ge one for on Autotrader...at a dealer, this trend continued for the day. I'd found a dozen or so cars on autotrader, same spec, mileage within 3k or so all cheaper and I must admit as car after car went through I'd considered these " dealers" being in la la and as there prices would only go up once they hit he forecourt.
I must admit that I was disappointed bu needed to go as its my closest BCA now that Cardiff have closed, I went 4 years ago and had a nice deal but it would appear that thoses days are long gone ( sadly)

JimmyConwayNW

3,056 posts

124 months

Friday 6th December 2013
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Check out some of the Scottish auctions if you want to see some bargains go through wink

Rollcage

11,327 posts

191 months

Saturday 7th December 2013
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Or Birmingham. Ueed to go there a lot, back in the day.

Moseley Road FTW!

CarlT

3,423 posts

246 months

Saturday 7th December 2013
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RDG3000 said:
I noted that VW, Audi and available car were all there, this was a fleet disposal, mostly cars under 3 years old, some with nice low mileages, I did my research first as I've always got my head in autotrader ( at the moment autotrader cars seem to be cheaper than eBay!?!) I know my prices and had set my price, the first car ran through which was a VW UP, I went for £500 over what I could ge one for on Autotrader...at a dealer, this trend continued for the day. I'd found a dozen or so cars on autotrader, same spec, mileage within 3k or so all cheaper and I must admit as car after car went through I'd considered these " dealers" being in la la and as there prices would only go up once they hit he forecourt.
I must admit that I was disappointed bu needed to go as its my closest BCA now that Cardiff have closed, I went 4 years ago and had a nice deal but it would appear that thoses days are long gone ( sadly)
The dealers can't be in 'la la land', they would not be buying them if they didn't see a profit opportunity. Maybe the price you was looking to pay was too low!

RDG3000

Original Poster:

11 posts

123 months

Saturday 7th December 2013
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Price too low? Err no.
When I'm clutching a printout from auto trader for an Audi a4 tdi on a 10 plate with 32k miles on that comes with 12 months " all component warranty" from an Audi dealer, I strangely expect the same car to run through an auction for between 10 to 12k when Audi themselves can sell me the car for 14k.

Upatdawn

2,182 posts

147 months

Saturday 7th December 2013
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Demand forces prices up....or down, dealers will then work on P/X values and the 6-8% finance commission per sale, plus 3-5 years old is right "in the zone" for reselling and a VAG group car cant fail, if its the right colour and mileage, even a Shhhkoda, were the cars "VAT qualifying" (VAT inc/reclaimable) unlike many BCA sale cars?

MarsellusWallace

1,180 posts

200 months

Saturday 7th December 2013
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Don't forget not every customer scrutinises prices on the internet so even cars they have given too much for will sell-eventually.

There aren't many smaller dealers getting rich from the car auctions at the moment.

threespires

4,289 posts

210 months

Saturday 7th December 2013
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Rollcage said:
Or Birmingham. Used to go there a lot, back in the day.

Moseley Road FTW!
I went one day & a chatty pal came with me. I saw a nice Rover 2000 that I fancied for £1,000. So I bid on it and won.

I went to pay the deposit & saw I'd not bought the Rover but had in fact bought an Austin 1800. My chatty pal had distracted me from the job in hand.

Just reading the log book was enough to make my heart sink. Then I went outside to see what I'd bought. Every step closer to the 1800 made my heart sink more. It was horrible.

I took it back to the workshop & after much derision from the lads, we set about giving it the valet of it's life.

It was entered for Moseley Road next sale & I made £200 profit on it. Phew!

~~

My first auction job was the day I passed my test at 17. I arrived home after the test & was immediately given a gallon can of fuel, some trade plates & told to hitch hike up to Measham to pick up a Vauxhall Victor F Model.

RDG3000

Original Poster:

11 posts

123 months

Saturday 7th December 2013
quotequote all
I've found out that car craft normally pay over the odds...you have to wonder why, call in and try and pay cash and you'll see why. They rely don't want to deal with you, they like you to take finance as this is where they make the cash.

RDG3000

Original Poster:

11 posts

123 months

Saturday 7th December 2013
quotequote all
You mention the vat reclaimable. I noted to, vat reclaimable and margin ( im not at regegistered) can the dealer claim this vat back OR has he got to passedit on?

va1o

16,029 posts

206 months

Sunday 8th December 2013
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I got my current daily driver from there. Paid about £800 under the book trade price so even with the fees was pretty cheap and considerably under retail price. Has since needed a bit of TLC and tidying up but I'm still quids in and shouldn't make a loss when I move it on.

You just need to be a bit shrewd about it. The sub 3-year old desirable spec ex-lease cars will all go for strong money as that's what everyone want since they are ready to retail and easy to sell on. Anything outside of this or needling a a little work will go for less. Also don't go there after one specific car.

Considering going again soon and playing lucky dip on a high mileage TDI hehe

ruff'n'smov

1,092 posts

148 months

Sunday 8th December 2013
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It's all quite simple.
The Main Dealer will make money on.
Finance
Extended warranty
Servicing
And other products
So they can afford to 'lose' on retail price of car.

I could be completely wrong

Upatdawn

2,182 posts

147 months

Sunday 8th December 2013
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threespires said:
I went one day & a chatty pal came with me. I saw a nice Rover 2000 that I fancied for £1,000. So I bid on it and won.

I went to pay the deposit & saw I'd not bought the Rover but had in fact bought an Austin 1800. My chatty pal had distracted me from the job in hand.

Just reading the log book was enough to make my heart sink. Then I went outside to see what I'd bought. Every step closer to the 1800 made my heart sink more. It was horrible.

I took it back to the workshop & after much derision from the lads, we set about giving it the valet of it's life.

It was entered for Moseley Road next sale & I made £200 profit on it. Phew!

~~

My first auction job was the day I passed my test at 17. I arrived home after the test & was immediately given a gallon can of fuel, some trade plates & told to hitch hike up to Measham to pick up a Vauxhall Victor F Model.
We used to buy from "lower value" (i.e. tatty) auctions like Castle Brom, give em a good valet amd knock em through measham and make a quick £200 plus fees

and buy heavyweights from NCA Northampton

Manchester/Stoke (or any reccesion hit area) could be cheap

I even once bought a Mk3 Cortina with tax and test from a BCA for £50 just to get me home and made £200 on it up here

MX7

7,902 posts

173 months

Sunday 8th December 2013
quotequote all
RDG3000 said:
I've found out that car craft normally pay over the odds...you have to wonder why, call in and try and pay cash and you'll see why. They rely don't want to deal with you, they like you to take finance as this is where they make the cash.
I'm not sure if it's true or not, but Ford make more money via finance than they do by manufacturing cars.

I don't think that the auctions are worth it anymore. By the time I've spent the best part of the day at an auction, I could have viewed four or five local cars.

TooLateForAName

4,729 posts

183 months

Sunday 8th December 2013
quotequote all
MX7 said:
I'm not sure if it's true or not, but Ford make more money via finance than they do by manufacturing cars.

I don't think that the auctions are worth it anymore. By the time I've spent the best part of the day at an auction, I could have viewed four or five local cars.
Was certainly the case when I worked in dealer ops.