Ask a car salesman anything...anything at all.

[twing]

cheesesliceking said:

Why did you think this was a good idea?

I was thinking exactly this! Why on earth would you put yourself through this?

Reagrds,
Another salesman

[Mexman]

TheLordJohn said:

Hats off for starting this topic.
Some interesting questions and responses.

Fingers crossed it remains reasonably civil!

It will remain civil.
Just honest answers will be given.
If any other sales guys want to join in and help, then feel free.

[TurboHatchback]

Do you ever negotiate on price or is it totally fixed, also related to that what is the typical margin on a £4k car? I ask because I've found traders never seem to haggle and will let you walk out the door rather than drop even £100 whereas with private sales it's pretty much expected for the price to include some decent wiggle room.

[sc0tt]

How many times do you call someone before you get the hint they are not interested?

[Mexman]

TurboHatchback said:

Do you ever negotiate on price or is it totally fixed, also related to that what is the typical margin on a £4k car? I ask because I've found traders never seem to haggle and will let you walk out the door rather than drop even £100 whereas with private sales it's pretty much expected for the price to include some decent wiggle room.

You would hope to start out with around £1300 gross margin on a 4k car.
Minus recoditioning cost..., servicing, MOT, valeting, tyres etc...then deduct VAT margin, and warranty costs.
Average profit per unit runs at £415 where I work, sometimes more, sometimes a LOT less, even a loss occasionally.

[Mexman]

sc0tt said:

How many times do you call someone before you get the hint they are not interested?

I hate prospecting with a passion
Trust me, I don't want to keep ringing you either!

[Mexman]

twing said:

cheesesliceking said:

Why did you think this was a good idea?

I was thinking exactly this! Why on earth would you put yourself through this?

Reagrds,
Another salesman

Bit of fun and banter hopefully.
No dealer bashing!!

[Jimmy No Hands]

Watching sheepishly from the sidelines.

Yours truly,

Also a used prestige salesman. (I don't own pointy shoes either)

[Rebew]

Mexman said:

TurboHatchback said:

Do you ever negotiate on price or is it totally fixed, also related to that what is the typical margin on a £4k car? I ask because I've found traders never seem to haggle and will let you walk out the door rather than drop even £100 whereas with private sales it's pretty much expected for the price to include some decent wiggle room.

You would hope to start out with around £1300 gross margin on a 4k car.
Minus recoditioning cost..., servicing, MOT, valeting, tyres etc...then deduct VAT margin, and warranty costs.
Average profit per unit runs at £415 where I work, sometimes more, sometimes a LOT less, even a loss occasionally.

What is the benefit of selling at a loss for a used car dealer? A loss leader makes sense for a supermarket but surely you aren't selling at a loss just to bring in more trade? Is it just to clear old stock as if it wont sell then its just taking up space?

[wack]

How do you dispose of unsold stock , auction or trade swaps to keep the forecourt looking fresh , how long do you keep a car before getting rid of it

[Weirdhead]

Mexman said:

Its more stuff you don't want to find, bottles of lube, Viagra pills, dildo's, and strange stains usually.

That's exactly what I'd want to find, bar the stains.....

[R4PID]

swagmeister said:

Thats a strange one, I always find it takes 10 minutes to type what can be said in 5 minutes. Maybe you are a slow speaker.

Why has this thread not been set-up as an audio conference then? No time for e-mails but responding to Q's on PH is fine or is today your day off? :-)

[Mexman]

Rebew said:

Mexman said:

TurboHatchback said:

Do you ever negotiate on price or is it totally fixed, also related to that what is the typical margin on a £4k car? I ask because I've found traders never seem to haggle and will let you walk out the door rather than drop even £100 whereas with private sales it's pretty much expected for the price to include some decent wiggle room.

You would hope to start out with around £1300 gross margin on a 4k car.
Minus recoditioning cost..., servicing, MOT, valeting, tyres etc...then deduct VAT margin, and warranty costs.
Average profit per unit runs at £415 where I work, sometimes more, sometimes a LOT less, even a loss occasionally.

What is the benefit of selling at a loss for a used car dealer? A loss leader makes sense for a supermarket but surely you aren't selling at a loss just to bring in more trade? Is it just to clear old stock as if it wont sell then its just taking up space?

There is no benefit, for example, sold a used car recently, after service, MOT, cambelt kit that the customer insisted on having done, rear bumper and quarter panel painted, ended up with a profit of about 30 quid.
Sometimes recon costs just run away with you, but once you are in for a penny, you are in for a pound, and you've just gotta carry on with it.

[R4PID]

How do you see the medium of 4K video progressing being used sell more cars remotely in the future?

[TheLordJohn]

Mexman said:

Sometimes recon costs just run away with you, but once you are in for a penny, you are in for a pound, and you've just gotta carry on with it.

Then, fingers crossed, there are more 'good' ones with a little over what you need (profit wise) to help balance it all!

[Mexman]

R4PID said:

Why has this thread not been set-up as an audio conference then? No time for e-mails but responding to Q's on PH is fine or is today your day off? :-)

My one and only day off today, so it may go quite when I'm back at work for another 6 days straight as of tomorrow

[TheLordJohn]

Mexman said:

R4PID said:

Why has this thread not been set-up as an audio conference then? No time for e-mails but responding to Q's on PH is fine or is today your day off? :-)

My one and only day off today, so it may go quite when I'm back at work for another 6 days straight as of tomorrow

You literally can't win with some people...!

[Mexman]

Jimmy No Hands said:

Watching sheepishly from the sidelines.

Yours truly,

Also a used prestige salesman. (I don't own pointy shoes either)

Chicken!!
Join in

[sidekickdmr]

Why have you turned your PM/email off, I want to send you a message!

[Mexman]

wack said:

How do you dispose of unsold stock , auction or trade swaps to keep the forecourt looking fresh , how long do you keep a car before getting rid of it

We run with everything, no matter how long it takes to sell
Problem is, once you have spent £500 or more on recon costs, getting out of the car by trading it or auctioning it is now gonna be difficult.
Most dealers will operate a 30,60,90 stocking policy.
After 30 days, you need to ask yourself why it has not sold.
Is it price?, then adjust, or is it condition?, then re valet it, sort out that scuffed bumper corner.
60 days?.....same again.
90 days?, need to get rid, reduce it down to what it owes you on paper forgoing any profit and move it on.