18th February 25. A very green experience

I was stupidly talked into doing a freebie today. With my customer wanting a sold, new unregistered van collected from Chesterfield . Their thinking was, of course, they were doing me a favour, by giving me a van that had to go to Chesterfield for paint repairs. Thus not having to pay for a train etc to get there. Bless them.

Thankfully everything changed when the group decided that all vehicle movements now have to go onto a new platform that has appeared from nowhere.

To explain. There are a few vehicle movement platforms around. Some have been going for years. Others now popping up having been the brainwave of tech people and software companies. Now, I embrace technology and how it's used in many different parts of the industry. But these software companies get an idea, find the funding. (A lot easier for them than most given the stupidity of investors) Then try and hit the certain industry sector involved. Great? No. This particular company decided to do it without any experience in either the automotive retail sector. Or, the vehicle movement side. So my customer, who remember, I worked for. Fell for it. Not unsurprisingly.

So this company has no idea how to price a job. Nor did they have any digital appraisal tools. Or a clue, if I'm honest.

But it certainly helps me. As now every job is paid by the mile with a fixed price for the first fifty miles. So if there is a car to deliver and one to return. You get paid twice. Result!

So, I collected the first van which, as you can see is very green, and very expensive. When did a normal size Transit van become over £50,000?

This one apparently came from Ford with paint blemishes and needed to be rectified. It was going to Chesterfield to a Ford approved bodyshop.

The green monster delivered, I Uber'ed my way to collect the new van from the Ford Compound for the drive back to Aylesbury.

This was more like it. Although the green van was very good to drive, being automatic and having a few extra touches tech wise. Although no Sat nav on a £50k van seemed wrong. Maybe not yet set up. Android auto worked well though.

The new van was a very basic affair but felt right. This I could use as a van. It was made for chucking stuff in an out of. Driving long distances, chucking stuff on the dashboard like half finished sandwich box's copy's of old Sun newspapers etc. a proper van.

This of course is for others, I'm OCD about having nothing in a car, or van apart from the minimum you are carrying. In the boot or van loading area only!

I attached my trade plates and headed towards the M1 southbound stopping to put the minimum required fuel in always, if possible before you get onto the motorway to save the paying the stupid premium for fuel.

Arrived safely back, delivered the van and walked the exact mile from the dealership to home. Why did I never walk, when I worked there. Clears the head.

Tomorrow is another day.