Discover the secret of a far-off island nation that could save your car sales business as the economy spirals into recession and fuel prices soar ever higher.
Oil Prices and Recession Will Kill Your Business
Unless you have been kidnapped by aliens and whisked off to a galaxy far, far away, you will be aware that oil prices are reaching new peaks on a daily basis. And how's this for a one-two punch: As fuel prices go up, the world economy stalls and starts heading the opposite way. Ouch! Not good news for anyone in the car sales business.
Here you are, with customers who are increasingly nervous part with their hard-earned cash to buy your cars, while at the same time they are wondering how they are going to be able to run the gas-guzzling beast if they bought a new one anyway. Quite the sales killer.
Don't Be A Dinosaur
So what's the answer? Are you going to sit back and try and wait this thing out? Good luck. Even the big automakers are changing their tune and aiming at fuel-efficient hybrids for future model releases. So how about it? Are you willing to try something a little different?
The Car Dealers Lean-Times Sec ret Weapon
Well there's a little secret that a few wily car dealers have been holding close to their chests for years now: You can get good-quality, low-mileage secondhand cars from Japan. Cars that, as far as your customers are concerned, are barely used. And not only that: Cars that have been tried, tested and developed in Japan's urban driving jungle to be some of the most fuel efficient in the world.
Good value, good quality, fuel-efficient vehicles, hey? Interested? You would be crazy not to be! But where do you get these deals? There are quite a few companies that export used cars from Japan, but all are not created equal.
Never Buy From Stock
Think about this: Buy from a company with several hundred cars in stock, and you know right away that the only way they can cover the overheads and capital outlay for these vehicles is by passing it all on to you the customer. But this is the majority of the used vehicle exporters in Japan. So if they are not the answer, then what is?
Japanese Car Auctions - The Big Net to Catch the Best Deals
Now, I am going to tell you where you can access a choice of vehicles that absolutely dwarfs the biggest selection of stock any Japanese car exporter can offer. Where you will be able to select from not hundreds, not even thousands, but tens of thousands of cars almost every day. The place, or should I say "places", in question are the Japanese car auctions.
There are over 90 auctions run weekly all around Japan. Each one will have anything from several hundred to over ten thousand vehicles up for grabs. But there is a huge barrier for you: Only car dealers registered in Japan can buy from them. That's right, the huge choice and wholesale dealer prices are there, but tantalizingly out of reach surrounded by a thick impenetrable wall.
The Insider
If only you knew someone on the inside. Someone who could get you access. Someone who would not only be able to get these cars for you, but know how to get them from Japan to you. A company with no expensive "stock" waiting around for a customer. A company that bids in the auctions for car dealers around the world, deals with all the Japan-side bureaucracy and ships the car. And a company with truly bilingual staff who help you along the way.
So if you are a used car dealer looking for a way to really grow your business while those around you are fading away, I would really recommend you think long and hard about sourcing your cars from the car auctions in Japan. Your bank account and your customers will both thank you.
About the Author
Stephen Munday lives in Japan where he works for a company called Provide Cars which buys vehicles from Japanese car auctions for used car dealers around the world.
This article is (c) Stephen Munday 2008. Permission is given to reproduce this article in whole with the URLs correctly hyperlinked.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
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