false advertising?

lovelyjubb

hi all, not sure if i've put this in the right place, but any advice would be appreciated.
i have seen a car advertised at a well known large car dealership online for £8,971 but when i went to see the car it had £10,971 on the window.
does the salesman have to give me it at the price it was advertised online?
thanks in advance

harveybobbles

Nope. They could advertise is as free online if they wanted.

Internet h'advertising is a grey area.

mikey72

Ask trading standards, they may decide to look into him.

anewman

Could be a genuine error. Any more examples of underpricing online you noticed? Did the car seem insanely cheap? (Perhaps it did since you were inclined to go look). Do you really think a car dealer has anything to gain from advertising at £2k less online when everyone will go in and spend half an hour complaining about it and few will just get that extra £2k out of their back pocket?

harveybobbles

Most garages like Car Craft/Great Trade Centre always advertise a car too cheap so that it sits at the top of the sheets on autotrader etc... And you can bet your bottom dollar than when yoy get there or phone up to ask about it, they will say "oooo we sold that one, but do have a nother similar one.... and its 2k dearer..."

mikey72

harveybobbles wrote: »

Most garages like Car Craft/Great Trade Centre always advertise a car too cheap so that it sits at the top of the sheets on autotrader etc... And you can bet your bottom dollar than when yoy get there or phone up to ask about it, they will say "oooo we sold that one, but do have a nother similar one.... and its 2k dearer..."

Which is totally different to saying.
"Yes we've still got it, and it's £2000 dearer if you want it now you're here"
A one off mistake is ok as well, but if they're reported to TS every day they'll be having a word.

Keith

anewman wrote: »

Do you really think a car dealer has anything to gain from advertising at £2k less online when everyone will go in and spend half an hour complaining about it and few will just get that extra £2k out of their back pocket?

They have something to gain...

Searching autotrader it moves them amongst the cheaper private sales, meaning they may catch the sale but still make a profit.

On the forecourt, the price is 2k higher, they can then offer a "deal" to a punter and catch a sale.

harveybobbles

mikey72 wrote: »

A one off mistake is ok as well, but if they're reported to TS every day they'll be having a word.

But it wont be a one off mistake. And reporting them to TS will make no difference as TS aint interested in false prices like that.

These tyes of garages have been doing this stunt for years.

mikey72

Ignoring it won't stop it though. A complaint will at put it on the map with TS, and if there's enough complaints against the garage it'll work.

anewman

Keith wrote: »

They have something to gain...

Searching autotrader it moves them amongst the cheaper private sales, meaning they may catch the sale but still make a profit.

On the forecourt, the price is 2k higher, they can then offer a "deal" to a punter and catch a sale.

Haven't looked on autotrader in a while but I remember seeing loads of under-priced cars with "real price is..." in the description. Kind of annoying and makes me completely disinterested altogether. If I choose sort by price I want sort by price :mad:

harveybobbles

mikey72 wrote: »

Ignoring it won't stop it though. A complaint will at put it on the map with TS, and if there's enough complaints against the garage it'll work.

TS wont do a THING about it as its internet advertising. I've been trying for years.