Book reviews.

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Successful 2-Wheeler Dealing

M Ridgeway, P Stanley and E Rudin, October 2000.

The first collaborative work by the three writers, '2-Wheeler' sees us being taken through the 2-wheeled world. The writers are all bikers, and it shows through their inside knowledge and irreverent attitude towards authority. If you have a sense of humour bypass as well as a suit, you needn't buy this book. You will be taken through every stage of buying and selling motorcycles. From trawling adverts to 3-minute checkovers, cleaning, writing adverts, and haggling and sales techniques in 15 short and snappy chapters - it's all here.

The off-mainstream style as well as the blunt advice may not appeal to all, as it relies heavily on Ridgeway and Stanley's' attitude and biking background, smoothed out slightly by Rudin's marketing skills and level-headedness. If you want to buy and sell bikes with the aim of making rather than losing money, this is for you. In fact, it is the only book we know of that reveals this sort of information. With winter coming on, a good read and great advice for the cold and wet months ahead.

Easy Money from Fast Cars

P Stanley, E Rudin and M Ridgeway, February 2001.

This is the second book by all three writers, and leans more heavily on Stanley's car trade experience. More serious and with less of Ridgeway' joshing, it is nearly half as long again as '2 Wheels', with over 40,000 words. The 12 chapters cover everything from the basic steps of any trade, right through to winning techniques at auctions, and there are 5 tear-out appendices to use as ready reminders when 'on the road'!  

On the way, more than a few sacred cows get slaughtered and quite a few 'everyone knows' get shot down in flames. There are plenty of details, lots of advice, and the book is a lot longer and more solid with facts than 'make cash from cars' type books. If you really want to get on and are prepared to work at it over the months rather than simply dream, this will be the one for you!

The Hagglers' Handbook

M Ridgeway and E Rudin, May 2001.

The Hagglers' Handbooks is aimed squarely at the motorist who has no wish to go into business, but does want to buy at the lowest price and sell on at the highest price. Ridgeway's rough edged dealing background blends well with Rudin marketing skills to give rock solid advice along with a tinge of humour. No business plans but plenty of tricks, shortcuts, techniques and advice on how to dodge the more excessive tricks used by the car trade professionals.

Mind you, there are plenty of downright sneaky tricks that you can pick up yourself - if you want to go that far - at least you will know what to watch out for! The 11 chapters take you smoothly through the subject, with some nice graphics to help point out the important bits. If you are a motorist who wants to get ahead after a lifetime of being robbed, then this is the book for you.

Streetwise Haggling

M Ridgeway, October 2001.

A solo effort this time, with Ridgeway giving vent to his rougher sales and haggling background without the others calming influence! A straight foreword guide for all who were intrigued by the haggling chapters in '2 Wheels' and 'Fast Cars', this is the only street guide we know of which covers basic haggling techniques. A lot is revealed, from how a haggle really works, through to advanced techniques along with memory and confidence building exercises.

Shorter and more concentrated than the other books, the 5 long chapters hand down the essence of the subject without getting you too deeply involved in details. The training plan takes you from bare novice through to skilled haggler in nice easy stages.  For the beginner it is more than you will ever need, and Ridgeway is currently working on an 'Experts guide' for release in early 2002.