Wheeler Dealers’ Mike Brewer forced into U-turn after ‘broke within months’ warning
Wheeler Dealers star Mike Brewer has vowed to make major changes to his business after being caught out by a motoring con.
Wheeler Dealers presenter Mike Brewer has revealed he has made a major U-turn to prevent his business from “going broke”.
Mike has promised to end remote car sales from his One Automotive company after being on the receiving end of a major car crime.
A motorist purchased a Volkswagen Golf GTD and provided all the paperwork necessary to secure the machine.
However, he was unable to attend Mike’s Leamington Spa dealership so the sale was conducted remotely.
After shipping the vehicle off, Mike was later contacted by his bank that the individual charged for the car had disputed the purchase.
It emerged the person who drove off with the car was not who he said he was and Mike was forced to pay back the money.
He admitted his decision to change policies when asked by Car Dealer Magazine whether he had been put off selling vehicles remotely in the future.
Mike replied: “No of course not. I'm not going to do this deal again and yes it has put us off remote sales.
“Our business cannot suffer a £10,500 loss. It simply can't. We will be broke within a couple of months. We just don’t have that kind of profit in the business.
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"So yes for us it’s fundamentally going to change the way we do business. There will be no more remote sales.
“The customer has to be there in person or we have to go to the customer in person to the address that has been registered to their identity, to their driving licence.
“That is the only way these transactions can ever take place and I suggest it should be the same for every dealer out there that has a very similar way that they do business.”
It comes as Mike admitted he was “hurt” by the situation as he opened up about the consequences of losing the vehicle and money.
However, it’s not the first time Mike has been targeted by thieves with criminals taking a fully restored classic Ford Fiesta last summer.
The vehicle was reconstructed by Mike and co-host Marc Priestley as a tribute to the American brand.
But, the model was stolen from a hotel car park just hours before it was set to be displayed to fans at a motoring show.
