Price misleading - is it legal?

bargain888

Hi, we recently saw a car we liked on advertised on Autotrader. We clicked on the linked and obviously redirected us to the car trader's website. Anyway, the car was advertised for £8500. We thought it was a resonable price and seem by far the cheapest at that time for the car that we wanted. We drove there, it was at least 25 miles, with the kids!.

When we got there, we were told by the salesman that the price quoted was for customer that did not have a part/exchange. If you do then the price is £10,500.

Basically, what I would like to know is "Can they do that?. It was not stated on their website that the price was for a non p/t exchange transaction. I thought that all prices quoted for cars does not take into account of whether a part exchange was involved. Although we were furious, we thought it was best not to say anything. They had wasted our time and petrol and I am not happy.

Has this happened to anyone and is it legal for them to do that?

Thanks.

vikingaero

I would put it down to experience and deal with a more ethical garage.

Steve_xx

Goods that are on sale are what is legally termed "invitations to treat". The price is simply an indication of the price that would be acceptable and you are free to make an offer at that price or to negotiate another price. The seller does not have to sell the item at that price.

Though I would agree that what you experienced is annoying, but it is not illegal.

Wig

Ask trading standards. Retailers are not allowed to offer discounts for cash as opposed to any other form of payment. This basically amounts to the same thing IMO.

vansboy

Register the matter with Trading Standards, so they are aware of this dealers way of doing things. They'll follow it up, if they get more complaints.

Then put it down to GOOD luck - that you didn't buy from a dealer with such poor ways of promoting his busines!!

VB

Inactive

My only suggestion would be to ring next time and verify things before making such a journey.;)

mluton

My mate seen an advertised car on autotrader, did a 50 mile journey to see it and the price was £1000 different.

We had printed evidence of the advert and they had to honer the deal.

He canceled the car and got his deposit back 3 days later after seeing another car closer to home of better spec in the end.

Weather this was a sales ploy or not they did honor it.

albionrovers

Why does it matter if it's legal or not?
You obviously ain't going to deal with this crook ever again. Nor am I.
Move on.

anewman

Might be worth a complaint to autotrader - if they have something against their advertisers doing that then they may take punitive action. But by the sounds of it you were redirected to a website other than autotrader's so they might not be able to do anything about it.

I can't imagine anyone doing this routinely would sell many cars, so leave them to it.

I would hazard a guess that he saw your car and it's probably in some way desirable to him hence this approach?!

hewhoisnotintheknow

if something seems far cheaper than everything else it probably is too good to be true, i always ring before going to actually check the car is still there

Hintza

I read this and thought you had a point OP. But on reflection the garage doesn't need to offer to take your car.

They have offerd the car for sale at the price quoted £8,500. If that is reasonable then you buy and dispose of your car privately.

Basically they are telling you they don't want your car. Not great way of doing business but they are probably full of stock and just want to shift some and not add to their burden.

Would you want to be sitting on a pile of cars just now?