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arnold clark not a real sale
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I've seen something on the telly recently which I'm almost sure was advertising one of these investigative journalism pieces on that very subject. Not before time either, it's an absolute mockery. I'm looking out for it now on the planner.
Personally I refuse to go into any shop which has a permanent sale on. I also had an interesting experience in one of them about 10m years ago when I offered to pay cash and asked for a discount. It's not how they do things apparently. They can offer you 0% finance or you can pay the full price but they're not able to offer discount for cash.
To me that says two things, and I was quick to point them out to the smarmy salesman.
1. The sofas are overpriced to pay for the finance.
2. They don't want cash sales because they want a full profit on each item sold.
After that experience (which was in GB) we bought most of our furniture from Reids although they weren't whiter than white either. I spent a week one day in one of their stores arguing that I didn't want insurance on the suite and tables I'd just bought. :mad:
I can shed some light on this as 10 years ago I worked for DFS.
There are two "proper" sales a year where every item is genuinely reduced, it may be just £60 off a £799 sofa but it is a real sale discount.
The other "sales" are really just promotions and there will be 10-15 ranges that were sold at a higher price and would have been on display in one store only prior to this- usually Darley Dale in Matlock. These ranges will be available to order in any store and will be in every salesman's sales book, obviously no one (or very few) buys one. But technically DFS are not breaking the law.
There are just two weeks of the year that DFS doesn't have a sale on (usually just after the Easter promotion has finished) and footfall into the stores drops by about 70% when there is nothing advertised on tv- this is why DFS spends more on adverting v revenue than any other company in the UK and has a constant promotion- it works.
A lot of ranges are made in house (most fabric furniture) and many other ranges come from long established UK furniture manufactures. The gear is good if you buy the right thing. I am 13 years into my ownership and it is as good as the day I bought it- just like a car I look after it and I bought the right thing for the job- Leather for long wear and fixed foam cushions that last. I would see customers all day long buying the most unsuitable items then complain a year later when they had trashed it, you wouldn't buy a smart car to tow a trailer but if I tried to advise them on more suitable items that would better match their needs I was just perceived as trying to rip them off or up sell them.
DFS would rather you pay cash in full on the day you order rather than pay on credit and this was reflected in the way I was paid. The longer a customer takes to pay the less a salesman earns. A an order containing 3-4 pieces of furniture could pay up to £60 if paid in full, the same order paid over four years could earn a salesman £12. DFS will never give cash discount as if you do it once you have to do it every time and it is not a business model that you want to get involved with, with a load of gypos demanding discounts.
The DFS business model works- which is why every other furniture retailer copies the same business model and they all try to get premises next door so DFS advertising brings people to the retail park and they hope to get a few crumbs that fall from the DFS plate.
I wish that 10 years after leaving I earnt as much money as I did then. Sales was/is ruthless but had a great time doing it.0 -
Like others, I have worked in retail and yes there is a goods sold at maybe one or two stores prior to sales for several months so they can go down in price, most items that were reduced without this "provisio" was usually discontinued items or a special deal from the manufacturer being passed on.
As for AC, dont know about the rights and wrongs of their real sale, I do see a lot of moaning about them on here and some other places, but reckon they must be doing something right to keep selling to customers and retain them, they had a turnover of 2.5 billion this year0 -
That vehicle is certainly not cheap unless a very high spec vehicle
Its the popular SXI spec, not something poverty spec, like say, an SE model.
Not heard anything positive about Arnold Clark though my sister bought a C4 Picasso from them two years ago which was fairly troublefree.
Have you disowned her for not buying from CarGiant? :rotfl:
http://www.cargiant.co.uk/pda/detail.asp?id=614383&mk=Vauxhall&md=Corsa
That is a 2013/62 plate Corsa for £7499 + fees (£100 or so)
And heres the same car for less from a Vauxhall main dealer
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201310049108340/sort/default/usedcars/seller-type/trade_adverts/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/body-type/hatchback/make/vauxhall/postcode/bt622hb/page/1/fuel-type/petrol/maximum-age/up_to_1_year_old/maximum-mileage/up_to_15000_miles/transmission/manual/model/corsa/radius/1500/keywords/2013%20SE/quantity-of-doors/5?logcode=p
Where you wont be charged "admin" fees and should be able to get a discount.
I know where i'd rather get it.
You are better off going to a similar car supermarket type place.
No, you're better off objectively checking all sources - via autotrader - for the best deal on a car thats right for you.
No frills, no hard sell(usually) and turn down any warranty, finance insurance, paint protection or seat protection products.
Salesmen with the personality of bog rats, beat them off with a stick as they try to charge you for extras everyone else includes as standard, bend over and get stiffed for "admin" fees, and sub dealer standard cars often in unpopular specs - like that SE one you're trying to palm off on the O/P.
Buying inside the manufacturers warranty period is a very good idea.
Because you've No Mission of getting CarGiant to stand over their cars.
Motorpoint seem decent enough from what I have been told
If you dont live near a CarGiant you can get stiffed there instead.
Though I always recommend CarGiant.
*Sigh* - Yes, we know.0 -
Its the popular SXI spec, not something poverty spec, like say, an SE model.
Have you disowned her for not buying from CarGiant? :rotfl:
And heres the same car for less from a Vauxhall main dealer
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201310049108340/sort/default/usedcars/seller-type/trade_adverts/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/body-type/hatchback/make/vauxhall/postcode/bt622hb/page/1/fuel-type/petrol/maximum-age/up_to_1_year_old/maximum-mileage/up_to_15000_miles/transmission/manual/model/corsa/radius/1500/keywords/2013%20SE/quantity-of-doors/5?logcode=p
Where you wont be charged "admin" fees and should be able to get a discount.
I know where i'd rather get it.
No, you're better off objectively checking all sources - via autotrader - for the best deal on a car thats right for you.
Salesmen with the personality of bog rats, beat them off with a stick as they try to charge you for extras everyone else includes as standard, bend over and get stiffed for "admin" fees, and sub dealer standard cars often in unpopular specs - like that SE one you're trying to palm off on the O/P.
Because you've No Mission of getting CarGiant to stand over their cars.
If you dont live near a CarGiant you can get stiffed there instead.
*Sigh* - Yes, we know.
Well said Paul, but sadly after a couple of shandys he'll be back defending the bograts.0 -
Its the popular SXI spec, not something poverty spec, like say, an SE model.
Have you disowned her for not buying from CarGiant? :rotfl:
And heres the same car for less from a Vauxhall main dealer
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201310049108340/sort/default/usedcars/seller-type/trade_adverts/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/body-type/hatchback/make/vauxhall/postcode/bt622hb/page/1/fuel-type/petrol/maximum-age/up_to_1_year_old/maximum-mileage/up_to_15000_miles/transmission/manual/model/corsa/radius/1500/keywords/2013%20SE/quantity-of-doors/5?logcode=p
Where you wont be charged "admin" fees and should be able to get a discount.
I know where i'd rather get it.
No, you're better off objectively checking all sources - via autotrader - for the best deal on a car thats right for you.
Salesmen with the personality of bog rats, beat them off with a stick as they try to charge you for extras everyone else includes as standard, bend over and get stiffed for "admin" fees, and sub dealer standard cars often in unpopular specs - like that SE one you're trying to palm off on the O/P.
Because you've No Mission of getting CarGiant to stand over their cars.
If you dont live near a CarGiant you can get stiffed there instead.
*Sigh* - Yes, we know.
Your opinion would count for more if
1. There was only one CarGiant. In West London. Hythe Road to be exact.
2. If you actually knew where SE sits in the range. As they always fit the poverty spec ones with half leather seats
I think you are getting confused with Active.
SE replaced the Design spec which was one down from Elite.
So where do you propose people buy their cars then?
Auction isn't an option for many as they may need to finance. And not pay main dealer mark ups.
Yet again people who have no knowledge of something other thsn what they have read on the internet feel the need to comment for no reason.
I am glad you spent so much time dissecting my post in minute detail.
I only skimmed yours as it is largely uninformed and pointless.
Have a nice day now.0 -
Captain_Flack. wrote: »Well said Paul, but sadly after a couple of shandys he'll be back defending the bograts.
Have you ever actually bought a car?
Are you actually old enough to drink?
How many cars have you bought from CarGiant?
Are you actually old enough to drive?
There those questiins should keeo you occupied.
Maybe a nice multi quote that so many uninformed persons on here are so found of.0 -
And Motorguy.
Can you please stop trying to compare a car hundreds of miles away from London with London prices.
You are really jealous of success aren't you
You seem really bitter. You also seem to know lots about SOGA. I take it you sold a few that needed lots of work done did you?
Just because somebody runs their business more successfully than you did is no reason to hate on them.
I had a Renault 25 that the heater matrix went in 2 weeks after buying it from CG.
They fixed it in a week. No quibbles. No arguments.
I suspect you would argue it wasn't covered under SOGA?
Lets see. I have had good reliable service from CG and previously GTC for 20 yrs.
You are a failed small car dealer that went back to IT work.
If you don't want to read my opinion then do the forum a favour.
Don't.
Inferring i am in a commission or work for CG just makes you and those who infer it look stupid and immature0 -
And the one i have linked to from CG has 17" wheels which were an option.
So it is better equipped.
Amazing what they put on these poverty spec cars isn't it.
Lol0 -
So where do you propose people buy their cars then?
I propose people look at all the options and cars available to them and judge for themselves which is best. Not just "assume" that one particular outfit is best.
And not pay main dealer mark ups.
As i've said before, and is easily proven, very often you can get Grade A cars from franchised dealers for the same price or less than Grade B stock from Car supermarkets.
Yet again people who have no knowledge of something other thsn what they have read on the internet feel the need to comment for no reason.
I started out in the motor trade at 18, two years at a franchised dealer. I left there to move into IT. I spent the next 10 years underwriting most of the trade ins for the dealership i had worked for and either retailing them or trading them on to a small network of other traders. After that i spent the next ten years or so buying and selling part time.
More recently i took a couple of years out selling cars full time, at a rate of 20-25 a month. To be honest, i really enjoyed it but it became all consuming and didnt pay fantastically well - at least relative to what i can get in IT with very little effort.
So i'd say i've probably bought or sold maybe 3000+ cars over the years, and i'd say made a profit on 95% of them. I've also bought my own cars from main dealers, car supermarkets, big dealer chains, small independents, auctions and privately.
And whats your experience? Buying a handful of cars from Car Giant?
Whos providing the objective viewpoint then based on real experience?0 -
You are really jealous of success aren't you
You seem really bitter.
Not at all. Jealousy would imply i would have aspirations to run an outfit like that. I genuinely dont.
You also seem to know lots about SOGA. I take it you sold a few that needed lots of work done did you?
Oh aye. Its hard to throw sixes all the time. As a motor trader it is part of my obligation to the customer to understand the SOGA. And any grey areas i rang Consumer Direct / Trading Standards for advice - its a two way street and people forget that. Very helpful and very nice people to talk to.bigjl wrote:
Just because somebody runs their business more successfully than you did is no reason to hate on them.
I dont "hate" anybody. Fair play to them. All i'm saying is theres lots of buying options out there and people need to be aware of that, and not listen to someone droning on about Car Giant as if they are the "be all and end all"bigjl wrote:
I had a Renault 25 that the heater matrix went in 2 weeks after buying it from CG.
Remember i said they usually kept unpopular specs / cars noone else wanted?
bigjl wrote:
I suspect you would argue it wasn't covered under SOGA?
Of course it would be. Lets not pretend they're heroes for fulfilling their obligations under the SOGA though.bigjl wrote:
Lets see. I have had good reliable service from CG and previously GTC for 20 yrs.
You've a retail customer whos bought a handful of Grade B cars from a supermarket, and paid "admin" fees for the privilege.bigjl wrote:
You are a failed small car dealer that went back to IT work.
I'm a motor trader with 20+ years experience in or around the motor trade. I'm offering objective advice based on my experience over that time.
I returned to IT because it pays me handsomely and i do a 37.5 hour week and come home and forget about it.
All i'm doing is offering objective advice to people and ensuring they know how to buy the best car for the best price.0
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