Today we’d like to introduce you to David Parrott.
David, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started selling cars in 2002 for Bill Heard Chevrolet. Over the past several years I worked for several dealerships the last being Global Imports BMW where I worked for 4 years. I left Global Imports and went to work for Contact At Once a company that provides chats to car dealerships. I left there and really wanted to get back in the car business. As I thought about the extremely long hours I would work for car dealers I decided why not try this on my own? If I can be successful working for someone else I can bring that skill set to business ownership. I was always very good with technology since I was a computer specialist for many years prior to the car business and that has been the key to my success in the car business is to embrace technology instead of resisting it the way so many dealerships do.
In January of 2013, I took the class to learn to become a dealer and it really concerned me all the rules and things they warned can land you in jail! I actually decided there was just too much risk. I finally called GIADA and they explained that it wasn’t as hard as all that makes it sound. Just stay current on your paperwork and make sure you don’t do anything that is blatantly breaking the law and you will be fine. It was a lot of work getting all the proper paperwork and finding a location. There was a bond, commercial insurance, utilities, setting up a landline, signage, business cards, etc… Finally, I got everything done so finally it was time to buy some cars! Then I found out there was a lot of red tape still to be done to get into the various auctions.
I dug in again and began getting all the paperwork to the various auctions and finally I was ready to go! On a shoestring budget at this point, I was able to buy just a couple cheap cars and I mean under $1,000 per car was my budget. I quickly found when you buy cars cheap there is usually a reason they are cheap! I have always been pretty good mechanically so I fixed all the problems with the cars and detailed them and shot the pictures and listed them on various websites and I was finally in business! Since then I have learned a lot of very hard lessons. One of the most important lessons I learned is something a very good friend of mine taught me and that is you either spend a lot of time checking the cars out before you purchase them or you will spend a lot of time and money fixing all the broken things you didn’t realize the car had! It’s your choice spend time up front or on the back. It’s much cheaper to do the research on the front end is a lesson I have learned so so well now. I also learned to be careful who you purchase the cars from at auction.
The smaller the seller’s business is the greater the chance you will get burned is the rule of thumb. It’s not always the case I have bought many great cars over the years from independents but the majority of my best inventory have always come from franchised dealers. I decided early in my business to keep it small so I could run everything myself. It’s a double-edged sword because there is so much to keep up with it is overwhelming sometimes. I research the cars, buy the cars, get the cars home, clean and repair the cars, sell the cars, do all the paperwork, handle accounting, pay all the bills. It can be overwhelming at times but I get to drive any great car I have ever dreamed of having and then I sell it for a profit! Some of the great cars I have had are Porsches, Corvettes, Mustangs, BMW’s including my favorite 650 convertible, Mercedes including an AMG convertible I just purchased this week, and many more. I get to drive them all till they sell for free and the company pays for the gas! I also run my business out of necessity by working by appointment since most of my time is spent reconditioning the cars. Makes no sense sitting in an office waiting for people to come. Working by appointment ensures I have time to make sure the car is clean and ready to show before the client arrives. I am now 60 years old and it isn’t easy doing all this work but it is so rewarding when I see that customer drive off with one of my quality automobiles you just can’t describe the feeling.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The biggest challenge has been buying cars with hidden problems I didn’t realize they had. It is way better to spend the time checking the car out before you buy than spending the time fixing expensive problems!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Motorsports Auto Group – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I specialize in clean quality low mileage cars for under $10,000. I am most proud of the condition of the vehicles when I sell them. I spend a lot of time polishing and detailing the cars personally. It’s not easy but when the customer sees the car it really helps make the sale. Most dealers the size of mine miss this important step.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
My plans for the future are to keep improving the quality of vehicle I keep on my lot. Some of the largest profits I have made have been on the more expensive cars that I really stepped up on like a beautiful Porsche Carerra S convertible. It’s a little riskier but has really paid off. I am constantly looking for the cutting edge marketing methods. One I am now using is Letgo. Craigslist is always working well but you are constantly battling with people deleting your ads and it takes a long time to list your cars. I think innovative companies like letgo will be a big push in the future.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1465 Dahlonega Hwy
Suite 3
Cumming, Georgia 30040 - Website: www.bmwbirdman.com
- Phone: 404-304-9164
- Email: bmwbirdman@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MotorsportsAuto
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
