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January sales set record
Page 77
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JANUARY WAS A great month for used sales. "It was lhe best January I've known in 20 years," says Phil Holmes, used sales manager, eastern region, at Scania dealership Keltruck. "It broke all records.
-We had the best January we've had for the last four or live years," says Allan Hilton, used vehicle salesman at Kings Lynn. Norfolk, dealership Ford St Slater Daf. "Fortunately we Jidn't run down our stock too much in December so we were Able to take advantage of it, although I could have done with more vehicles.
"There was plenty of demand for everything. Late-registered :rucks were snapped up because peojile are having to wait so long for new vehicles. All this means .hat things are looking good for :he next few months."
Ron Counsell, sales manager at Cardiff Renault dealership Englands Truck, had a healthy lanuary too: "It was one of the pest we've had for the last four tears. We sold half a dozen used Magnums, which was unusual, and things overall seem to be going in the right direction."
"We had a very bad November and December, but things have taken off since — 95XF Super Space Cabs are selling well, as are late-registered 85CFs." says Ralph Porter, used truck sales specialist at Cardiff Dat "As far as rigids are concerned there's plenty of demand for 7.5-tonne tippers, and lots of interest in the few LEs that are starting to trickle through now," he says. Early LEs can fetch up to £5,000 more than late 45 Series.
But it seems franchised have been busier than some independents. Martin Rhodes says: "January was a fairly busy month for most people, but many of them have been finding that the flow of business isn't consistent.
"They're frantically busy, then things suddenly go quiet, then they're frantically busy again," Rhodes adds. "It all seems to be a bit and miss.
"Dealers are nonetheless buying in stock as though their lives depended on it, and paying strong money too."
And Dave Higgs of DH Commercials says: "We had a quiet January."
That's echoed by David Griffiths, sales manager at Rowley Regis, West Midlandsbased Brandrick Commercials: -There was a bit of an upsurge towards the middle of the month, but otherwise January was fairly slow. It's never the best month of the year."