| Worksheet entry | Record this |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | VIN, currency, availability date |
| Preparation | Itemised work and verification |
| Origin services | Named tasks and handover point |
| Transport | Current provider scope and exclusions |
| Destination | Locally confirmed items and assumptions |
Build comparable groups before comparing money
Separate new and used offers, then original CS55 and PLUS. Record the generation, build date, gearbox and delivery condition. A mixed set of offers can look inexpensive while containing vehicles that do not meet the same buying brief. Keep each VIN visible and record when availability was last confirmed.
For new vehicles, verify registration status, delivery mileage, pre-delivery checks and included accessories. For used vehicles, note the evidence supporting mileage and service history. A low displayed odometer with missing records is not equivalent to a documented history simply because the numbers look similar. The history review helps identify which differences should stay visible in the commercial comparison.
Ask where the quoted responsibility ends
Record the currency and the named delivery point. Ask which origin services, inspection, preparation and transport tasks are included, and which are separately quoted. A vehicle-only figure and a price including movement to a handover location describe different scopes. Do not call one cheaper until the scopes have been aligned.
Have destination charges and requirements assessed by the relevant local providers using current candidate details. An old shipment or another country's example is not enough. Keep their dated estimates with the worksheet and mark assumptions that still require confirmation. The export guide organises the responsibilities behind these figures.
Turn inspection findings into a preparation budget
List the work identified in the report and obtain an appropriate quotation. Tyres, keys, cosmetic repairs and unresolved powertrain symptoms should not be hidden inside one unexplained allowance. Ask which parts and labour are included and whether reinspection is needed after the work.
Keep an undiagnosed issue separate from a confirmed repair cost. A low purchase figure cannot make the eventual expense known. If the missing assessment could change the decision materially, complete it before approving the offer. The inspection guide provides a consistent way to classify those findings.
Track three kinds of numbers
Use separate labels for confirmed quotations, working estimates and unresolved items. Add the source and date for each entry. When converting currencies for your internal comparison, record the assumption and retain the original amount. This makes the calculation understandable when another colleague reviews it later.
Show a confirmed subtotal and a clearly marked provisional total when important entries remain pending. Do not present the provisional result to a buyer as a guaranteed delivered cost. Assign each missing item to the party able to clarify it, so the next enquiry is a specific question rather than another broad request for the lowest price.
Compare two offers in the same sale condition
Suppose one original CS55 has completed preparation and a current inspection, while another still needs a key and assessment of a warning message. The second may be worth investigating, but its lower advertised price does not settle the comparison. Establish the missing work and evidence, then compare the condition each offer promises at release.
The same discipline applies when a PLUS has more equipment. Value the features that are verified and useful to your customer segment, not a complete list copied from a regional brochure. The equipment guide helps keep the price discussion attached to demonstrated function.
Show the reason for a revised total
When an inspection adds work to the preparation plan, retain the earlier subtotal and issue a revised version with the changed items identified. State whether each change is a confirmed quote or still an estimate. This makes the effect of the finding visible and prevents a new total from appearing without explanation.
If a seller instead offers a different car at the original price, treat it as a new comparison. The same number does not establish the same condition or commercial value. Obtain the replacement's identity, specification and evidence before deciding whether the offer still fits.
A simple dated worksheet is sufficient if everyone uses the current version. The important point is that the purchasing decision remains attached to the scope and evidence that supported it, including any unresolved assumptions that could affect the eventual cost.
Keep the approval current
Confirm quote validity and stock status before proceeding. If the seller changes the VIN, delivery point or preparation scope, ask for a revised offer and review it against the original brief. Keep the prior version so the purchasing decision retains an understandable history.
Send the destination, quantity, accepted families and budget basis through the dealer enquiry. Request current prices for the condition and delivery basis you need. A useful response is a current offer tied to a candidate, with clearly stated inclusions, exclusions and the evidence needed to approve the purchase.
