Unusual Car Selling Techique? What do you think?

Kay_Peel

My daughter needed to buy a car within the next two days. She sorted out her finances, did her research and saw the car she wanted to buy. She visited the garage, spotted the car and asked for the keys. She sat in it - liked it - and wanted to take it for a test drive.

What do think the salesman said?

'We don't do test drives. You can buy it and bring it back in 24 hours if its not to your satisfaction. We will deduct £100 before returning your money, to cover our costs'.

Yeah right. :rotfl:

What do you think was going on there? Was it just the case that he didn't want to sell it for some reason, or what? I can't say I've ever heard of such a thing before, so I'd be grateful for your observations and comments.

Thanks.

ben500

Test drive would have shown up the vehicle as a wreck maybe, turn up for a refund and all you end up with is egg on your face and a lemon to drive to work in.

pitkin2020

as above, also might not have had trade plates fro insurance purposes, but even so who is going to buy without a test drive at the very least you go with the salesmen driving so you can hear the car and make sure it sounds ok. Dont think he will last long in business

laurel7172

Saw a young female, thought he could get away with a scam.

I remember once sending my OH back to the same garage with a car under which the mechanic had stood, whistling through his teeth and muttering about specialist parts. Oddly, it didn't need specialist parts once a man took it in.

Even two years ago, I had a salesman imagine that, distracted by his arm around my shoulder, I wouldn't notice that the fantastic deal I was being offered was a six month old car for full new list price. His arm around my shoulder was definitely distracting, but not in the way he flattered himself.

Oh, I did enjoy telling him, when he rang up with another fantastic deal that he'd had to work really hard to find, that I'd bought the identical car the day before-for 40% less!

hollie.weimeraner

Some of the major car supermarkets (Motorpoint etc) don't do test drives but most of the vehicles they sell are covered by manufacturers warranty. Personally I bought a car from Motorpoint and had no problems - I certainly wouldn't have bought it had it not had the manufacturers warranty.

mrcow

We bought our car from a car supermarket and couldn't test drive. I think it depends on the dealer.

Kilty_2

hollie.weimeraner wrote: »

Some of the major car supermarkets (Motorpoint etc) don't do test drives but most of the vehicles they sell are covered by manufacturers warranty. Personally I bought a car from Motorpoint and had no problems - I certainly wouldn't have bought it had it not had the manufacturers warranty.

Wow that sucks - won't be buying a used car from Motorpoint then......

continualdiamond

What a weird way to run a business, i personally could not buy a car without test driving it. You have to feel comfortable driving the vehicle.

I had always liked the newer beetles so test drove one a few years ago and absoultely hated it, just didn't feel comfortable driving it at all.

Couldn't be doing with the hassle of bring it back if you're not happy with it, move on, next garage.

pitkin2020

mrcow wrote: »

We bought our car from a car supermarket and couldn't test drive. I think it depends on the dealer.

thats fine to a point, if you know exactly what you want i.e just going from a mondeo to a mondeo but i would still never buy a car with a test drive.
I suspect they dont do test drives due to the amount of cars they are (or could be) selling on a daily basis with the number of staff they have on site, as usually a sales person would have to go with the potential buyer

emmell

I wouldn't buy a car without a test drive or want the hassle of having to take it back if I didn't like it, especially with £100 to pay. Once they have got your money they may try to talk you into another car (without a test drive) and you will be stuck in this cycle forever.
When I used to sell cars (p/t, trading from home) we had trade plates, so I can't see why a bigger outfit with premises shouldn't have them.
I would leave well alone.
ML.

mikey72

Every car supermarket I've been to has offered test drives.