Just seen my old car pop back up on Autotrader.

 

I sold the Rapid to an online car buying service and found the process simple and "relatively" transparent.

 

The car was a late 2014 1.2 TSi 105 bhp SE tech and had covered 20k miles. The online offer was £7150, but £250 was deducted for stone chips and a further £75 went on the admin fee. This represented a downward shift / amendment of 4.5% from the on-line offer.

 

I'd been offered around £6k by a Skoda main dealer and £5.5k (by on online retailer) against a new Peugeot 3008. 

 

The deal is done in 10 minutes. I was curious to understand the business model worked and the chap indicated most cars went to auction and they aimed for £100-200 profit per car. He mentioned they process 25000 cars per annum, so even the "admin fee" scales up to a big number. The chap I dealt with told me they buy around 85% of cars they make an offer on, assuming the sellers turns up for their appointment.

 

I'd used the on-line valuation aspect of such companies many times, in order to get a feeling for a cars true market value.

 

The car is now back up for sale at £8295, which, given the likely auction indemnity fees (payed by the new owner) leaves a relatively thin profit margin - more than likely >£1k. After overheads / tax and over-valuing any potential part exchange it could potentially amount to a few hundred £. Not much of a return for potentially tying up significant capital.

 

I've read a lot of negativity around such car buying services, but my experience was quite the opposite. I'd tried to sell the car privately, but a few weeks with no interest (or insurance!) made up my mind to move it on. Once the decision was taken it was all concluded very quickly.

Edited 31 July, 20178 yr by pinkpanther
Spelling!

My old car: Car ad

Edited 31 July, 20178 yr by pinkpanther

I'd never considered buying a cat online. Generally we trawl the local papers looking for adverts for kittens or suchlike.

3 hours ago, Rustynuts said:

I'd never considered buying a cat online. Generally we trawl the local papers looking for adverts for kittens or suchlike.

 

You should always buy a cat from a charity. They're full to bursting with the fall out from feckless owners and ruthless profit seekers who care little for the parent animals' welfare.

 

We used Cats Protection recently and now have a lovely little 7-month-old kitty. The £75 adoption fee includes all the injections and spaying so a bargain in my book.

 

Not sure why there's a link to an ad for a Skoda Rapid on this interesting thread about cats though?

We got ours from the RSPCA - it had been chipped so it was dead fast for a kitten.

 

Had to give it back a year later due to our kids allergies. It was like handing back on a PCP but without any financial penalty.

Topic heading updated - the joy's of posting with a tablet

 

 

Might buy a new car online but not used. Too many pitfalls there.

 

As for cats I'm on my 3rd rescue cat. SSPCA 1st one was a duffer and they (SSPCA) didn't look after it properly and it died within a year of a condition it would have had when they had it.

 

Had two from cats protection and both are healthy although one is a little ****e.

 

Cats or cars take your pick

No cats for me, with the exception of the myriad others, belonging to neighbours, who eat the birds in my garden and defecate frequently and often

Edited 1 August, 20178 yr by pinkpanther

Yes,  little 8as7ards aren't they?

 

We have to keep a permanent on cat scarer in the garden to protect our doves, and if that fails there's always the hosepipe or  nerf gun.

9 hours ago, camelspyyder said:

Yes,  little 8as7ards aren't they?

 

We have to keep a permanent on cat scarer in the garden to protect our doves, and if that fails there's always the hosepipe or  nerf gun.

 

Interested is the cat scarer - is it the ultra-sonic type?

 

I'd pondered one of these, but was unsure how effective they are - any advice gratefully received.

Online car buying to cat scarers in ten posts. Brilliant thread drift  

By way of an update to my original post (0nline car buying service) - a friend recently tried Tootle, as a means of disposing of his car. He had a response within 1/2 hour and a (localish) trader made an offer, which was >£500 more than WBAC / Evans Halshaw etc.

 

Unfortunately the reality was somewhat different as in person he was offered considerably less. By chance he received a phone call during the appraisal and actually sold the car for the full asking price

 

The principle behind Tootle appears sound and I'd bear it in mind, alongside other car buying services, should the need arise.

 

 

On 01/08/2017 at 22:17, pinkpanther said:

 

Interested is the cat scarer - is it the ultra-sonic type?

 

I'd pondered one of these, but was unsure how effective they are - any advice gratefully received.

Still curious if the cat scarers work?