I no there's obviously allot of people already selling mini spares new and used. I own a mobile valeting company ATM but during the winter months works slower and 2 be honest I don't really like valeting in the cold! im a trained mechanical engineer and i no my way around a mini! been around them pretty much my whole life.
ive already got a few minis that are broken in my garage so starting costs and storage shouldn't be a problem! just wandering what peoples opinions are? thanks connor
Worth Starting Up Selling Spares?
Started by
phantom_build
, Sep 19 2012 06:56 PM
13 replies to this topic
#2
OllieTheWelder
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Posted 19 September 2012 - 06:59 PM
I doubt you could make a living out of it.
#3
SA MINI
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Posted 19 September 2012 - 07:06 PM
^ not true ^
You will find breaking them is an easy way to get cash.
You just need to keep getting the cars in to make a regular thing out of it.
breaking any car in general is an easy way to make some money .
You will find breaking them is an easy way to get cash.
You just need to keep getting the cars in to make a regular thing out of it.
breaking any car in general is an easy way to make some money .
#4
Twisty
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Posted 19 September 2012 - 07:08 PM
I would say if you have the premises and a couple of cars to dismantle i would test the water and see how it goes. As said above it will be tough for it to be a big money spinner but if you can find the right cars at the right price then it could well be a goer.
I for one would like to know of a reliable source of used spares, as would plenty of others. good used spares are always in demand. If you have spare time in the winter months you could also offer a refurb service on used spares, this could bump the price up of your items and generate more profit for you.
Good luck if you do take this on, and let us all know.
Steve
I for one would like to know of a reliable source of used spares, as would plenty of others. good used spares are always in demand. If you have spare time in the winter months you could also offer a refurb service on used spares, this could bump the price up of your items and generate more profit for you.
Good luck if you do take this on, and let us all know.
Steve
#5
oltonlad
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Up Into Fourth
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Posted 19 September 2012 - 07:09 PM
I no there's obviously allot of people already selling mini spares new and used. I own a mobile valeting company ATM but during the winter months works slower and 2 be honest I don't really like valeting in the cold! im a trained mechanical engineer and i no my way around a mini! been around them pretty much my whole life.
ive already got a few minis that are broken in my garage so starting costs and storage shouldn't be a problem! just wandering what peoples opinions are? thanks connor
fair weather valeter then...............
#6
phantom_build
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Posted 19 September 2012 - 07:10 PM
^ not true ^
You will find breaking them is an easy way to get cash.
You just need to keep getting the cars in to make a regular thing out of it.
breaking any car in general is an easy way to make some money .
I agree! breaking cars especially more modern expensive cars is very rewarding. only problem is i like minis and would like to concentrate on them! for me the biggest problem is sourcing enough cars to break. and then the moral side of it! taking more and more minis off the road!
#7
phantom_build
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Posted 19 September 2012 - 07:12 PM
I would say if you have the premises and a couple of cars to dismantle i would test the water and see how it goes. As said above it will be tough for it to be a big money spinner but if you can find the right cars at the right price then it could well be a goer.
I for one would like to know of a reliable source of used spares, as would plenty of others. good used spares are always in demand. If you have spare time in the winter months you could also offer a refurb service on used spares, this could bump the price up of your items and generate more profit for you.
Good luck if you do take this on, and let us all know.
Steve
agree totally! sourcing the cars is a big problem! there's a well known car breakers that sell them as auctions and they have easily one a week with minor accident damage! thing is refurbs require funds and more time. and then in my opinion they will just sit on the shelf for longer periods?
#8
Tupers
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Posted 19 September 2012 - 07:12 PM
I think you'd be better off doing mechanical work rather than breaking as Minis worthy of being broken aren't exactly easy to find anymore. That and the fact that you're actively stoping a Mini from going back into service.
#9
Tupers
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Posted 19 September 2012 - 07:14 PM
You could always buy peoples unfinished project cars finish them and sell them on. As long as you know what you're buying and set yourself a strict budget you could make a decent side line in it.
Edited by Tupers, 19 September 2012 - 07:15 PM.
#10
donjarr
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Posted 19 September 2012 - 07:15 PM
Hi m8
From what I have seen there seems a fairly large market in second hand parts, so might be worth trying doing the second hand refurbed (as in clean the parts up and paint where they can be so they are ready to go straight in the car) parts market. However it's going to be one of those try and see things. If you've got bits to start you off try selling those and if they sell use the money to buy some more. If it does take off might be worth contacting local scrap yards and offering to take any scrap mini's off their hands to break down. You could also try selling consumables like oil filters and wiper blades etc etc. If you've already got a valeting company approach Unipart and see if you can open a trade account with them.
It will be a risk, but if someone had said to me 10 years ago in 10 years time I would have my own company selling model parts and accessories and film prop replica parts, all of which I make myself I would have laughed, but I tried it and am expanding constantly, and now work less hours and make twice as much, so try it and see, and don't let people put you off.
From what I have seen there seems a fairly large market in second hand parts, so might be worth trying doing the second hand refurbed (as in clean the parts up and paint where they can be so they are ready to go straight in the car) parts market. However it's going to be one of those try and see things. If you've got bits to start you off try selling those and if they sell use the money to buy some more. If it does take off might be worth contacting local scrap yards and offering to take any scrap mini's off their hands to break down. You could also try selling consumables like oil filters and wiper blades etc etc. If you've already got a valeting company approach Unipart and see if you can open a trade account with them.
It will be a risk, but if someone had said to me 10 years ago in 10 years time I would have my own company selling model parts and accessories and film prop replica parts, all of which I make myself I would have laughed, but I tried it and am expanding constantly, and now work less hours and make twice as much, so try it and see, and don't let people put you off.
#11
phantom_build
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Posted 19 September 2012 - 07:26 PM
Hi m8
From what I have seen there seems a fairly large market in second hand parts, so might be worth trying doing the second hand refurbed (as in clean the parts up and paint where they can be so they are ready to go straight in the car) parts market. However it's going to be one of those try and see things. If you've got bits to start you off try selling those and if they sell use the money to buy some more. If it does take off might be worth contacting local scrap yards and offering to take any scrap mini's off their hands to break down. You could also try selling consumables like oil filters and wiper blades etc etc. If you've already got a valeting company approach Unipart and see if you can open a trade account with them.
It will be a risk, but if someone had said to me 10 years ago in 10 years time I would have my own company selling model parts and accessories and film prop replica parts, all of which I make myself I would have laughed, but I tried it and am expanding constantly, and now work less hours and make twice as much, so try it and see, and don't let people put you off.
thanks for the advice! night to meet someone that doesn't just concentrate on the negatives all the time! im going to do a little bit more research see where i get anyway! connor :)
#12
waddle
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Posted 21 September 2012 - 12:56 AM
a reacouring theme on here is people who are looking for a 'mini friendly ' garrage and people complining about not having tools/time to work on there minis, if you have the facilitys this could be an opening in the market depending howmany minis there are round you and if there are any other mini places neerby , people like things been made easy for them, for example when my mini goes in for mot and fails on bushes bearings and ball joints, i have a whole new subby made up and painted ready to bolt on fully made up , you could make things up in units and sell them on, thus making it more simple and quicker to fit
few ideas of what i think would sell well
recon subbys, new are 400,can get a crap one on ebay for 30 and weld and paint it
refurb the hubs , easy just to bolt on at mot time
also you could offer refurbs on peoples parts, wich would keep overheads down while youor testing the water as you dont have to pay for bits
just my 2pence, but i have a guy neer me who did some bits for me while i was tied up with exams and i think many other people would rather pay someone like £5 a ball joint than faff doing it themselves
few ideas of what i think would sell well
recon subbys, new are 400,can get a crap one on ebay for 30 and weld and paint it
refurb the hubs , easy just to bolt on at mot time
also you could offer refurbs on peoples parts, wich would keep overheads down while youor testing the water as you dont have to pay for bits
just my 2pence, but i have a guy neer me who did some bits for me while i was tied up with exams and i think many other people would rather pay someone like £5 a ball joint than faff doing it themselves
#13
waddle
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Posted 21 September 2012 - 01:00 AM
... but in ancer to your question , no not just spares, you need an angle!
#14
Cooperman
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Posted 21 September 2012 - 12:11 PM
The problem with Mini is finding cars to break up for spares. The value of good original-spec Minis is increasing all the time, so cars in a state which would scrap other makes & models now get restored, which is good really.
If you can find a good source of parts you could do very well, as Tim at Mini Mail has done over many years.
At the moment it's the rare parts for early cars which make good money, like parts for the Mk.1 & 2 Cooper & 'S'.
A Mini parts seller would need to source new parts and bulk-buy, as Mini Spares, Mini Sport, and other companies do. But to get the sort of prices they get a large order is always needed. The alternative is to make specialist parts yourself anmd, for example, I'm currently looking at making Innocenti Door Bins as they are unobtainably and ideal for Mk.3 cars onwards. But I doubt I'll make a profit after I've paid for the tooling as the volume will be low.
However, give it a go. It's unlikely you'll lose money.
If you can find a good source of parts you could do very well, as Tim at Mini Mail has done over many years.
At the moment it's the rare parts for early cars which make good money, like parts for the Mk.1 & 2 Cooper & 'S'.
A Mini parts seller would need to source new parts and bulk-buy, as Mini Spares, Mini Sport, and other companies do. But to get the sort of prices they get a large order is always needed. The alternative is to make specialist parts yourself anmd, for example, I'm currently looking at making Innocenti Door Bins as they are unobtainably and ideal for Mk.3 cars onwards. But I doubt I'll make a profit after I've paid for the tooling as the volume will be low.
However, give it a go. It's unlikely you'll lose money.
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