question about trading

[VR4AWD]

Hi to whoever this concerns

iv been looking at the traders section and how to become a trader

I own a mitsubishi, proton & hyundai repair and modification specialist company in dundee that iv been trying to get off the ground for over a year or more

i am now setting up the company with all the right things like vat etc etc

however i am putting all my own money into this business and not getting help from anyone with loans etc or bank loans

i would like to help out on the forum as much as i can as i own many models of mitsubishi and a real enthusiast with all things mitsubishi, once i have spare cash i will be paying for full membership to help out with site costs.

the only thing i cannot afford at the moment is the rates for the traders section to be a authorised vr4 trader

what our company offers

general & major servicing.
general repairs.
standard engine swaps.
clutch fitting service.
post mot work.
R&D service and fabricating all our own parts for mitsubishis.
our own range of fabricated parts.
engine conversions.
brake conversions.
suspension upgrades & conversions.
welding services.
cars for sale.
cars for breaking.

plus lots more

we have a fully kitted workshop with

Fully alarmed
2 four post ramps one of which is an mot setup bay.
1 two post ramp.
Tyre fitting machine.
Wheel balance machine.
2 wheel brake testing rollers.
Full shop is air line fed.
huge compressor with backup compressor.
Workshop is gas heated with extra wall heaters.


as i say i would like to be a trader but for me to use the site as a trader i am unsure if i have to become a paid trader to offer our services, and as said the only thing i will struggle with is paying for diff levels of trader packages

we are traders on other sites and we generally off upto 20% discount on major work like engine conversions etc

and offer upto 10% discount on spares and general repairs.

[Spirit]

Sorry to be sceptical, but if you can afford all that equipment and to give away 10% to 20% discounts then you can afford the Trader costs IMO.

Even one of our committee members has had to pay to become a Trader, and he puts in many hours of his own time into running the club.

£50 for membership and silver Trader status is peanuts ! I doubt you could place a single ad in your local rag for that price.....and this is for 12 months !

[Wodjno]

Sorry to be sceptical, but if you can afford all that equipment and to give away 10% to 20% discounts then you can afford the Trader costs IMO.

Even one of our committee members has had to pay to become a Trader, and he puts in many hours of his own time into running the club.

£50 for membership and silver Trader status is peanuts !

I agree Pete..

[VR4AWD]

Sorry to be sceptical, but if you can afford all that equipment and to give away 10% to 20% discounts then you can afford the Trader costs IMO.

Even one of our committee members has had to pay to become a Trader, and he puts in many hours of his own time into running the club.

£50 for membership and silver Trader status is peanuts ! I doubt you could place a single ad in your local rag for that price.....and this is for 12 months !

all equipment is part of my rent and was there when i took on the workshop so i havnt paid for any equipment and also getting rent discount on the workshop as i carry out all my own repairs to building etc and also fix the workshop owners cars which in turn he gives me discount on the place but is still expensive that i struggle to pay every month

and i also like to help clubs for mitsubishi owners which is why i offer discounts for mitsubishi sites only on repairs etc as it saves them money rather than going to mitsubishi themselves or to garages that do not know or own mitsubishi cars

i will just leave becoming a trader i was just trying to help your members thats all, il just stick to offering my help on other mitsubishi sites and my own forum along with ebay

[Roberto]

Just a question VR4AWD.

How long would it take to make back £50 from members of CVR4, if you did have proper Trader status, an advert and a helpfull attitude?

I'm not a mechanic or a Trader, so just wondering?

[Spirit]

Plus of course the cost can be put down to advertising, so is tax deductable too !

[VR4AWD]

Just a question VR4AWD.

How long would it take to make back £50 from members of CVR4, if you did have proper Trader status, an advert and a helpfull attitude?

I'm not a mechanic or a Trader, so just wondering?

i have no idea tbh but if i was getting an income from the forum then i would happily pay to put money back into the club

as im only just starting the business full time im very limited on cash and it mostly goes on my rent so im not making any profit as yet

we currenty have 3 galants im breaking that have been posted but as of yet because im a new member people will be wary of using me just now, once i get more well know and with people possibly using me through the site then i will gain the trust of members and as said once i would be getting an income from the site i would happily put money back into the club not a problem

[VR4AWD]

Plus of course the cost can be put down to advertising, so is tax deductable too !

please read my previos reply to the other member

and iv no idea about the tax deductable thing as its the first time running my own business so im struggling to understand everything

and as yet im not vat or tax registered etc but slowly working on it

[Roberto]

It's allways the debate with a new business.

Start-up money, need business, but do I advertise to get the business, or grow the business, then advertise. Or advertise to grow the business.

Never am easy call, but I hope it all works out for you.

But if you are going to work on Galants a lot, then being a full member I would have thought would be a must, then how much would it be to streech to Trader status?

[Roberto]

and iv no idea about the tax deductable thing as its the first time running my own business so im struggling to understand everything


Might be worth talking to a Professional about setting up a business then.

Could well end up saving yourself a load of much needed money.

[Spirit]

Hmmm, see this is what some people get annoyed with.

You have already had the benefit of free advertising for the cars you are breaking (even though nothing has sold yet), and you want to earn from the club BEFORE you are willing to put money back into it ! Not the best way to do business IMO.

Don't take this personally mate, don't know you from Adam......but there cannot be one rule for one etc.

[Turbo_Steve]

You're welcome to post and use the club as a member, VR4AWD, but if you're going to use the club to promote your services or products, you have to make a contribution: it's brilliant value for money - you're getting a potential UK audience of 2000 readers.....for 12 months - For the price of less than a tank of fuel.

If you honestly can't stretch to £50 to build your client base then I fear you either believe your products will "sell themselves", or you've spent a lot more than that getting yourself to the top of Google.

[OnBoost!]

Yes,as Steve said,the £50 is a small sum to pay in return for the business you will get from the club.

[AlanDITD]

i will just leave becoming a trader i was just trying to help your members thats all, il just stick to offering my help on other mitsubishi sites and my own forum along with ebay

Sorry mate, i did kinda feel a bit bad for you till this point.

Not realy the correct attitude if your looking for freebies.

50quid to gain you trader status, trader staus = 50 quid, sale of a bumper or bonnet = 50quid. Its not rocket science..you could make that money back in one sale.

speculate to accumulate as i understand it.

I wish you good luck, i have a feeling you may need it.

[VR4AWD]

But if you are going to work on Galants a lot, then being a full member I would have thought would be a must, then how much would it be to streech to Trader status?

as already stated iv got no argument about putting money back into the club and paying for trader status once people start to use me on the business but as of right now i cant afford everything at once

[VR4AWD]

Sorry mate, i did kinda feel a bit bad for you till this point.

Not realy the correct attitude if your looking for freebies.

50quid to gain you trader status, trader staus = 50 quid, sale of a bumper or bonnet = 50quid. Its not rocket science..you could make that money back in one sale.

speculate to accumulate as i understand it.

I wish you good luck, i have a feeling you may need it.

i wasnt trying to make people feel bad for me with that sentance, iv just worded it wrong thats all, i was just saying i will have to try and keep promoting my place on the other places mentioned above until i can afford to put money into all mitsubishi clubs for full trader status and advertising

[Roberto]

So, what happens if you are working on a car and can't fix it - for any reason at all?

The answers may well be posted here, but qite likely in the members area.

Even one of, if not the best Evo/VR4 garage in Engerland asks questions of members on here.
One go fix, done cheaper or a lot easier pays the cost for a whole year.

But it sounds like you are too tight for money, so be it. But if I was you I'd go with out something for a week or two to make sure I had access to the fountain of knowledge that's CLUBVR4, but each to thier own.

[VR4AWD]

Hmmm, see this is what some people get annoyed with.

You have already had the benefit of free advertising for the cars you are breaking (even though nothing has sold yet), and you want to earn from the club BEFORE you are willing to put money back into it ! Not the best way to do business IMO.

Don't take this personally mate, don't know you from Adam......but there cannot be one rule for one etc.ok thanks anyway i will just leave trying to become a trader as i dont want to sound like im wanting freebies, i just cant afford everything at this moment in time

i will just become a paid member when i have some spare cash and just help out with members problems when and whenever i can

thanks again

[Wodjno]

Isn't that like saying.. Give me some stock to fill my shop.. And i'll give you the money for it if i sell it ??

If it was that easy there would be no risk to any business and everyone would be doing it..

Think of it like this.. There is a lot, lot, lot, lot lot of information here on the site in the members section(For paid up members £20) And i'm sure you don't know or have all and everything there is to know about VR4's ?
So just by paying the £20 Full membership fee, you would be quids in as all the help you need to work on Members cars would be here at hand..

But if fully paid up members(Just normal folk off the street, not mega rich people) (Well maybe some) can afford or think it's worthwhile.. Then i don't see what the problem is ? Stick it on a credit card for a month and it'lkl pay for itself /yes

No Brainer is what i think.. /Hmmm

Don't cut your nose off to spite your face.. Not being part of this community is going to be far less financially rewarding than Being..


Cheers

Wodj

[Spirit]

Sorry mate, but speculate to accumulate is often the best method.

I would try and get some capital behind you even if you have to borrow it.

If you can't afford things like advertising, and have no capital, what will you do if something like a ramp breaks down tomorrow ?

When you run a business you cannot expect to be debt free at the start.

[SGHOM]

1: pay the £20 membership fee
2: introduce yourself properly
3: prove you can service/maintain galants
4: gain the trust of members
5: pay the £50 traders fee
6: watch the money roll in

[elnevio]

To be fair, Mike has already done 2:

And as for 5:, you get a discount off that in respect of any previous membership. :deal2:

[Atik]

Its a tough one when you setup a business. I've personally been there and done that and got the 10,000 leaflets still stocked in my cellar that I didnt get around to delivering because I couldnt afford to pay to get them delivered out!

The steps that SGHOM has listed out seems to be the best option. You have signed up to the largest 8G and VR4 community in the world. The level of information available for just regular paid up members is HUGE. Then when you have established yourself a little more, the trader status will come as a byproduct of doing well on the forums. The £20 membership fee is deducted from the Trader fee so you never double up on your costs.

Again, been there done that with trading self employed, in the fact that I was working 6-7 day weeks, 10-12 hour days without advertising! Build a good rep, and you will find that opens you more doors than you could ever hope for.

And at first read, the comment that Alan quoted did seem a bit like you throwing your toys out of the pram, but its good you have cleared that up.

[miller]

I applaud you for going alone, I know of you from over on the Colt forums and know you have a good rep amongst that community of which im sure you will be very quick to build up on here.

There is a decent lack of traders on here from up your way so personally i think you are on a winner.

I know from personal experience of how every penny counts when setting up a new buisness, and at times that £50 can seem very daunting as it must do to you right now. Maybe re look at your figures or sacrifice a couple of nights out as im sure its well worth it. The sooner you get your first satisfied customer reporting on here the better.

All I can do is wish you the best of luck for the future. If i had a spare £50 im sure id be 'dragons den' offering it now!

Good luck

Mike

[Turbo_Steve]

Dragons Den! Good idea!

"I like you're business model. I like your idea. Your stock and products are great, but your public relations lets you doon. And for that reason....>AHM OOT!<"