This is the third and last installment about what happened when the car Clive was selling was stolen during the test drive.

So once again in Cliffs own words…

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the advice, I think I will let them drive 80% of the time with me in the passenger seat, and relatives/friends in the back, I will just pull the car out to an easier place to start off.

My car is described by the recovery company as “Quite badly damaged” and they have refused me entry until the police have completed their forensics. It seems that I will have to leave the car with them as I cannot afford at this time to pay the recovery and storage charges. The police say that I am liable to pay.

I am told by the detective that this crime is very rare and he is sure they have done this before, I have been asked to do Photo-fits of the criminals and to attend a line-out identification and testify in court when they catch them.
I will update you on the outcome.

Nevertheless I am not giving up, I am going to and start again with a very cheap car and work up a to a £3000 float again. I have learnt from this experience and am now more determined to be more successful than ever.

I feel I work much harder than my competitors as I travel to buy cars from all over the UK using trains and buses – not just locally or within a 60 Mile radius. Human nature dictates that most people will generally take the easiest option and that they are generally lazy.

I tend to travel up to 250 Miles (Four Hours), I have not been up to Scotland yet but probably will as the cars are much cheaper there than down here in the South West

It also do all my own repairs, paintwork and valeting – I am a trained Mechanical engineer and a was a professional Smart Repair specialist before for 5 Years at the local Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Land Rover Main dealers.

It is much more travelling and work but I reap the rewards from making more of a mark-up and more importantly having a car prepared ready for sale faster.
As I grow and sell more cars per week I agree that I will have to contract the repairs to other businesses and this will slow me down and be a false economy, but for now it is working well.

Many thanks and I look forward to your new book.

Clive

The police found Clives car in the nick of time just before they would have torched it.

The lesson to be learned from this story is to: ALWAYS ACCOMPANY POTENTIAL BUYERS DURING THE TEST DRIVE!

Thanks again to Clive for taking the time to share his auto theft story with the rest of us.

Steve