INTERNET SALES
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Auction giant Manheim Europe plans to help operators buy used trucks over the Internet courtesy of its Cybertruck site, which will be open to approved account holders, says national HGV and plant manager Jeremy Martell.
Prospective buyers will key in their requirements, including make, model, body type, mileage and price; they will then be shown a range of vehicles that match these parameters. The prices are fixed, Martell stresses—it is not like bidding at a live auction.
The trucks all come from major leasing companies, have a full service history, and are from three to five years old. tithe customer sees a vehicle that he likes, and confirms that he wants it, he'll be invoiced for it and it will be delivered within 48 hours.
"We'll put them on the web site for a week to a month, and if they don't sell they'll be sent to a conventional auction," Martell explains. The site is at www.manheimeurope.com.
PRESTIGE UPGRADE
Renault Trucks is offering a free 12-month driveline warranty upgrade on all Prestige vehicles bought through the manufacturer's Choice used vehicles programme before the end of November. The standard warranty is for six months.
MERCEDES' CANTERS
Mercedes dealers will start to sell Mitsubishi Canters from 3 December. Their branches will display Mitsubishi's emblem as well as the Mercedes logo, but Canters will be han
died by separate sales people. "Approximately 40% of our dealers have already recruited sales staff who will look after Canter," says Bruce Whitfield, Mercedes' director commercial vehicles.
CONSTRUCTION SALES: 1
The construction industry is showing no signs of faltering, judging by auction results.
In a recent Commercial Vehicle Auctions sale at Doncaster, N-reg 1995 and 1996 lveco six and eight-wheel brick and block carriers with Fassi and Atlas cranes were fetching £14,000-15,000.
And a sale at Manheim's Colchester, Essex branch also attracted keen bidding for sixwheeler brick and block carriers with rearmounted cranes.
"Builders are in a pre-winter rush to get everything finished," says national HGV and plant manager Jeremy Martell.
CONSTRUCTION SALES: 2
"Demand remains very strong for six and eight-wheel tippers. Prices are very firm indeed and skip loaders continue to do well," says John Connolly, manager of British Car Auctions' Belle Vue, commercial vehicle auction centre.
Recent prices achieved at Belle Vue include £22,000 for a 1997 P-reg MercedesBenz 2527 6x4 tipper; £18,000 for a 1995 N-reg Volvo FH12 6x2 rigid with a Palfinger crane; and £17,000 for a 1992 K-reg Daf 80.300 6x4 rigid with a Hiab 220 crane.
"There is a noticeable value in preparation, and anything well presented always stands a chance of doing better than something that isn't," says Connolly. That goes for everything from minibuses to tractive units as well as multi-wheelers.