Unusual Car Selling Techique? What do you think?

rev_henry

I've had places say that they'll let me test drive if I agree to buy it if its ok on the test drive, but never that, sounds strange to me.

Kay_Peel

Many thanks for your insight and comments. It's helped us to make sense of a total time-wasting episode.

Update: daughter looked over the second car on her list this morning, took it for a test-drive, spent 90 minutes haggling over the price and shook on a deal. True to their word, they are getting the car prepped as I write and she collects it at 5pm.

She doesn't hang around, my daughter. Mind you, she wouldn't have been so well informed without all the web-links, advice and thoughts of the MSE Motoring Board. You are brilliant,

Thank you.

mermaid85

Sounds ike a dealer round my area, and his cars are crap!!

Not to mention of course the admin charge you are likely to get for adding then removing from your insurance policy, as well as the £100 he wants to retain

karenx

Kay_Peel wrote: »

Many thanks for your insight and comments. It's helped us to make sense of a total time-wasting episode.

Update: daughter looked over the second car on her list this morning, took it for a test-drive, spent 90 minutes haggling over the price and shook on a deal. True to their word, they are getting the car prepped as I write and she collects it at 5pm.

She doesn't hang around, my daughter. Mind you, she wouldn't have been so well informed without all the web-links, advice and thoughts of the MSE Motoring Board. You are brilliant,

Thank you.

Make sure she has changed her insurance over before collecting it :cool:

movilogo

If I can't get a test drive, I won't buy from there - simple

hewhoisnotintheknow

the thing is, this scam does work as there are so many thick people about, just like these nigerian scammers who scam people

rictus123

Erm well whoever said some a young female and tried to scam her, il second that. Did noone go with her? Even if you dont get to test drive, get the dealer to, watch and see if they have troubles driving it even though they might try to hide it. Make sure they show you the car with full steering lock on.

DKLS

mrcow wrote: »

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

The Car people let you drive any number of cars without any hassle. I wouldn't consider buying a car without a decent test drive, and running a few of my own tests.

ukjoel

I am not defending lazy salesman but typical demo involves.

Moving 3 cars to get to the demo one.

Finding keys for 3 aforementioned cars

Realising one of these cars isnt tagged correctly so keys are god knows where.

Having to start at least one of the cars with jump leads and a charger (fingers crossed the charger is charged)

Finding a space to put the car you just moved cos someone has dumped their service car in the sales parking spot.

Filling the demo car with petrol (often empty - and often the 5litre tanks are empty so need to pop down petrol station first)

Checking the car hasnt just been sold to same customer (without test drive) by sister dealer in next town (who has seen it on your computer and offered customer another £50 discount to take it from him)

Meanwhile your manager wants some cars moved or adverts changes and thinks your being a lazy sod trying to hide out the back and avoid the work.

And after all that less than 50% of booked demos ever turn up for them.


I am sure anyone who has ever sold cars will add a number of the steps above I have missed but customers never realise what goes on behind the scenes.

A lot of these issues could be resolved by better organisation and management but the general rule is squeeze as many cars on a site as possible and sod how difficult that makes it for people trying to sell them.

Thats why many supermarkets dont allow test drives - they move cars a couple of times a week and the rest of the time they sell sell sell.

I am not saying its right but as someone I used to work with used to say in that situation ' Welcome to the motor trade son'