Luscombe cuts trade-stock dwell by listing at appraisal

Multi-franchise dealer Luscombe's treats trade stock as an opportunity rather than a write-off line, according to managing director Sam Luscombe, and the mechanics are worth copying rather than admiring. Running three franchises from a single site, the group now lists trade-in vehicles on Dealer Auction the moment they're appraised, not after they've sat depreciating on a forecourt waiting for a decision.

Dealer Auction, whose platform Luscombe's uses, argues that even a single-figure percentage increase in CAP performance across the year can equate to "hundreds and thousands of pounds" (Dealer Auction) write-up.

Why this matters: Fleet-facing dealers and remarketing teams sitting on part-exchange stock should audit how long vehicles dwell between appraisal and disposal. Listing at appraisal rather than after reconditioning is a process change, not a capital one, and the CAP-performance arithmetic here suggests it's worth testing against your own numbers before assuming the status quo is good enough.