Comments on: Will all cars one day be sold this way?

By: Rob - Hornchurch

Rob - Hornchurch — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:42:31 +0000

I bought my current car from autoquake.

Pros – cheap price, good range

Cons – no tax

I would say that the car could have done with a bit of clean, but apart from that I can’t really complain.

By: cameron

cameron — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:26:19 +0000

I know Mark, its mad out there, I’ve never seen it like this before and much the same have been in it for too many years. The massive shift in values and supply over the last year is no good for any of us and ultimately no good for the punter. I too get fed up with hearing the bad news, as I type this the motor manufacturers are again in the headlines on the radio in the background for all the wrong reasons. The lack of new cars produced and sold is going to have a direct affect on the used car market at every level. Autoquakes projections above are simply unrealistic in this market place but I guess if you’ve managed to convince others to let you have cars sale or return, then you have to keep the front up by talking big talk in the hope that it all comes good. Personally I’m downsizing for a while-back to basics for the time being, its not all bad news and it doesn’t mean a going backwards, its just trying to adapt to an different marketplace. This is no time for bluff and bull.

By: Mark Robbins

Mark Robbins — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:47:47 +0000

Fair and good point Cameron, and as Keith rightly says its all down to perception, however the one thing i still dont get about this business (and ive been in it for more years than i care to remember) is why when the “doom laden bells” are chiming for our industry both in the press, on the nightly news and indeed here on the net, are cars making silly money at auction!!!! even the usual unwanted low spec stuff is making bundles? we are hearing about shortage of stock, but theres no shortage of cars, just the right ones! as MTI recently stated, are dealers going to be left with egg on their faces? a resounding yes looks lightly.

By: cameron

cameron — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 11:59:47 +0000

They’re not actually that cheap, we regularly just under cut them on Autotrader, maybe they are compared to an old school used car showroom but they are fewer and fewer these days. Autoquake’s cars tend to be bog standard stock ex-lease cars, there’s only a limited number of people who want these in the first place, have manged to sell there existing car and are happy to make the buying decision without driving, seeing and touching first. I agree with Keith, they’ll only survive if they continue to get access to stock with the help of a strong stocking plan, they have to keep the numbers up and must be able to dispose of them quicker than the auction houses can, which at the moment is no mean feat. If their limited market dries up unfortunately for them they’ll soon be the wrong side of things. I agree with you Mark price is a major factor but as you know retailing cars is a very different ball game to cheap flights and groceries otherwise Tesco and Easyjet would be doing it! At this level and in this climate absolute control and high volume is the only way to suceed and even if you can get forward in the motor trade the fruits of success will not compare with business’s selling every day consumables.

By: Mark Robbins

Mark Robbins — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:53:24 +0000

Last month they had a New Shape 06 Ford Focus TDCi at £1,000 less than any other medium on the net, no matter how hard i tried (and it was very !) i simply could not find cheaper anywhere, it was the right colour, spec, and mileage, needless to say it wasnt there long, no matter what the public says about service, expectations, quality etc: they always want a bargain / or lower prices, look at the success that is Tescos, Asda, Morrison, Easy Jet, Ryan Air, all of these companys have their share of critics, but still they continue to grow, Why? Price and nothing else…………………………….

By: Keith Holland

Keith Holland — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:01:53 +0000

I think you have to hand it to them, their site is very slick and you can see where they have spent a lot of the money. I personally believe that with mediums like these it is purely a case of customer perception

”Am I saving money? “Is it a great deal?’ and I’m happy I don’t have to engage with a salesperson who may try and fool me around and try to trip me up”

It’s basically doing exactly what is says on the tin, however if someone was to really look a little harder at the operation are their cars really much cheaper? Or is it an illusion? This takes us back to overall perception. Whatever the case they are certainly offering a viable alternative for some customers, and let’s face it the one stumbling block appears to be no part-exchanges then the type of buyer who will go to an industrial estate in the back-end of beyond and collect their car will most likely be the same people who want every last penny for their existing car. So my guess is they would rather put up with the aggravation of having lots of tyre kickers come round their house if it means they will get a few hundred pounds extra for their old car and then take themselves up to Autoquake.

I feel the operation will continue to be very successful as long as they can keep locating stock because, we in the trade all know the auctions are having a field day at present and most fleet/leasing companies can sell their stock at auction and get their money back far quicker than the 40 days it may take Autoquake to move their cars on. I could see this being a real problem for them and certainly may prove to be a firewall to their companies’ further growth.

By: Mark Robbins

Mark Robbins — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:47:22 +0000

As for taking the money and running, No frills, No service, No care, the cars they offer ARE cheaper than Main Agents and Supermarkets, its like everything in life isnt it? you cant get “Business Class” service for “Economy Seat” money !! When will the car buying public understand this?

By: Cameron

Cameron — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:03:18 +0000

Take a look at the the managment team and board members on their site, there ‘bios’ have all been on there for 2-3 years. How did they all get paid by the sale of just 700 cars in 2007 Hmm? I’ve watched this company for some time, they’ve got more cars around them and they’ve invested alot of money on the website with beautiful happy people on the home page, cheap marketing slogans and lengthy egotistic statments about how new and exciting it all is. Its just a facade because at the end of the day they’re nothing new, they’re just selling cars like the rest of us. There are very few shortcuts in this industry particulary at the moment. So called business academics always fancy the motor trade as a quick easy buck, I’ve seen it all before-seduced by turnover. The bottom line is selling used cars is a hard and dirty job with little reward. It doesn’t matter how much front end marketing you throw at it the end job is just the same-you can’t sanitise it. Most people use the internet as a starting point to look for cars but then will head to a dealer to see the car and meet the buyer before making a decision. Stock control is massively important too, they were probably better off keeping it small, thats why many of the car supermarkets come and go. They may have an arrangement with their suppliers for stock but that won’t last if they don’t shift depreciating assets quickly. This company will struggle in the same way as we all are now to make a living from used cars. In the motor trade these days there’s no subsitute for hard work and effort, no matter how many CEO’s you bring to the table.

By: pc brown

pc brown — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:45:35 +0000

What happens if you have an accident on your way home and you have no tax?? Its seems outrageous that they charge £59 for admin and are happy to let you drive off illegally.

By: becky b

becky b — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:34:45 +0000

I wouldn’t spend £9k of my hard earned on a car that I had to feel guilty over wanting a proper test drive!
The value of this type of transaction deserves care and time from the company selling, the internet is an excellent meeting place, not a tool to keep your customers, spending thousands of pounds, at arms length.
Autoquake’s website looks cheery and helpful, the reality from this article looks like its the same old ‘take your money and run’ outfit. No frills, no service, no care, no effort eqauls short term high profit for the dealer and leaves the customer feeling rather empty after what is (like or not Autoquake) an emotional event.
There are a few operations like Autoquake around who basically want lots of sales but limited interaction with their customers. Its not a ‘new concept’ its easy to cut the cost of any product when your not investing any time and effort with your potential customer.
Buying a car for a very high majority of us is not the same as ordering a book from Amazon or groceries from Ocado and with Ocado I don’t have to travel up to a hut in the middle of nowhere to wait for my potatoes.