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DEALER NEWS ROUND-UP
Page 57
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"LOOK AFTER YOUR TRAILERS" Look after your trailers if you want them to hold their value it the second-hand market. That's the advice of GeorgE Alexander, chief editor at Glass's Commercial Vehicle Guide
"40n trailers can attract firm bids, but any visible damagE can significantly affect the prices they fetch." he says. "It car reduce their value to little more than what they'd fetch ii broken up for spare parts, or for scrap.
"The condition of a curtainsider matters too," he adds "Curtains should be free from tears if the trailer's full value it to be realised."
There's more demand for clean, late-registered usec fridge trailers than there is supply, Alexander says. It's thE same with 12.2m (40ft) and 13.6m flat trailers too, he adds, bui only for those in good condition.
"The market is awash with poor examples," he remarks.
CLOSED FORD SALE BY BCA A Ford closed sale held by British Car Auctions at itE Nottingham branch saw Transit Connects fetch an average o, BO% of the new price. A mixture of 21 short and long-wheebasE models came under the hammer, and they were all sold.
SPECIAL EDITIONS BOOST SALES
Turning out special editions of used tractor units is helping Si Helens Renault dealer Woodwards boost sales.
It offers the Equippe, a Premium 400 tractor unit with e Privilege cab finished in metallic paint—with a choice 01 colours—and festooned with extras.
"It's got a wood dashboard, air horns, and spotlights as wel as a TV, a fridge, twin bunks, and polished wheel trims," says used salesman Mark Callaghan. 'We've got a 4x2 available, E 6x2 is being prepared, and we aim to have two or three of eact in stock.
"We're putting them out on three-year finance leases," hE continues. "The 4x2 is available at £570 a month, with the 6x'; on offer at maybe £10 to £15 more."
The oldest Premium to be converted will date back to 1999 "They all come with a year's MoT," he adds.
"We reckon the Equippe will appeal to the owner-driver but we've had interest from one or two motorsport teams aE well," says Callaghan.
MARKET UNFAZED BY CRISIS
The global crisis has yet to affect the used truck export mar ket, says British Car Auctions. "Bidding by and on behalf o' overseas buyers remains exceptionally strong, with Malaysia Portugal and Eastern Europe all typical destinations for ex-Uk stock," says a company spokesman,
PRICES UP AS STERLING FALLS
Sterling's decline in value against the euro is forcing some inde pendent importers to increase the price of the trucks they sell "We're having to charge 5% more for the vehicles we bring in," says Sean Clarke, managing director of Hunslet, Leeds based M1 Commercials. 'The currency movement has slowec down demand slightly, but people are still placing orders.
"We may start offering them the opportunity to pay ir euros rather than sterling," he continues. "Then the currency gamble will be theirs rather than ours."
John Rogers, managing director of Northampton importer FM Rogers, says his firm hasn't been too badly hit. "We'vE bought euros ahead at favourable rates," he comments.
Some manufacturers are still trying to make life difficult for independent importers. says Clarke. "The measures they arE taking contravene European competition legislation." hE contends.