Idle Time

There hasn't been a lot going on the past couple weeks.  It usually happens during the cold weather months right after the first of the year.  So, I planned to snowmobile in the upper part of the state.  Problem is, there's no snow.  So, I get to be retired.  Nice for a while, but cabin fever definitely settles in.  Today I made a 460 mile round trip and it was nice to get back on the road again.

So This Guy Walks Into a Car Dealership

After a while, you end up going to a particular dealer multiple times, and you kind of get to know the person who does the trades - usually a manager of some sort.  When you find out that the trader has been replaced, left, gotten fired, whatever, it's kind of like losing someone you considered a friend.

Then there are the "cold calls."  First time in a new city, and as you walk in the door, you're looked at like something the cat dragged in.  Sometimes the dealer is having a really bad day, and takes his frustration out on you.  I had one dealer who (unknowing by me,) wanted the car delivered with a full tank of fuel.  When I didn't have it filled I was told to, "...take that f#$%^g car down the road to the f@#$%^g gas station and fill the f@#$%^g thing up."

At a time like that, there are three courses of action.  One, tell him to fill the f@#$%^g car up himself, and while he's at it, shove it someplace where it won't fit.  Not a good course of action.  Second, go fill the car up and tuck your tail between your legs and take your whipping.  Better course of action, if you have no self respect.  Third, tell the guy, "Tell you what.  I'm going to walk out the door and come back in again.  Let's start this trade all over again."  Works better, and sometimes the guy realizes that it's not your fault.

Most are ok, they know you're only doing an easy job you're not getting paid a lot to do.  Besides, if you tell the guy you have friends in the area, (whether you do or not,) he thinks you might throw some business his way.

Getting Paid

Of course, doing dealer trades is partially about getting paid.  How drivers get paid varies by dealer.  Most pay by the hour, but some pay by the mile, and some use the map circle method. Pros and cons are:

By the mile - Nice if you do multiple trips during the day or long trips. but if you cool your heels between trips waiting for papers or whatever, you aren't getting paid.  Same if you have to wait at another dealer, you sit on your own time.

Map Circle - The dealer takes a map of the area, draws some circles on it, and you get paid for whatever circle you end up going to.  For this to work for the driver, you have to drive like hell to get where you're going and back to make a decent wage.  I once made it to Cleveland and back (the $65 circle) in 6 1/2 hours, and the manager wasn't too happy.  His comment, "I'm paying you $10 an hour for this trip."

Per hour works out best.  The thing to remember is that most of the drivers doing dealer trades are, like me, retired people who are driving for a little extra income and to get out of the house for a while.  Therefore, we're looking for a decent wage, but not looking for doing dealer trades as our primary income.  Driving dealer trades is not recommended for someone looking for a full time job.  Sometimes a couple weeks can go by without any driving.

What, me blog?

I've never been one who thinks what I do is special - like most, I just do it.  In this case, I am a dealer trader.  I take cars from one dealership to another, then bring a different car back.  It's a part time job, it's not difficult, and over the course of a year there are a lot of cars changed, a lot of miles driven, and a lot of different people, places and roads traveled.

Why a blog after doing this for 12 years?  Beats the hell out of me! So since I have no idea how this is going to end up, come on along for the ride.