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Rate cut hits used market

31st July 2003, Page 47
31st July 2003
Page 47
Page 47, 31st July 2003 — Rate cut hits used market
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Used sales are slowing down, reports Martin Smith of Huddersfield independent dealership Macs Truck Sales. And the recent cut in interest rates might not be the benefit it appeared to be at first sight, he adds.

"What it means is that hauliers who might otherwise have bought second-hand can now afford to buy new," he says.

!veto dealership Stormont Is also finding that demand for used trucks is falling. "We've seen a marked deterioration in the market," reports managing director, Bill Sangster.

"Demand for second-hand Cargo 7.5-tonne tippers seems to have fallen off, and we've ended up with quite a few in stock," reports David Littlejohn, managing director of Irmo dealership Grays Trucks"That's when we've just picked up an order for 15 new ones. That said, there's plenty of interest in second-hand multi-wheelers, and 17-tonne dropsides equipped with grabs are always popular."

Mercedes dealer SA,B is going from strength to strength in the used market, says managing director, Ron Holmes. "Actros is doing especially well," he remarks.

He detects a slowdown in the commercial vehicle market overall, however.

Niche market trucks with special equipment are always sought after, but the challenge lies in identifying the niche and exploiting it, says Smith. "We've been supplying quite a few eight-wheelers with cranes," he says. "We do the conversion work in-house to keep the price down.


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