Bought faulty car from trader on autotradr

motorguy

Joe_Horner wrote: »

The thing is,[STRIKE] if we allow for half[/STRIKE] the 3.6 million sales being from traders[STRIKE] (it's higher than that but I'm trying to make the traders look as bad as possible)[/STRIKE] even 60 000 out of [STRIKE]1.8[/STRIKE]3.6 million sales is a remarkably small [STRIKE]3.4[/STRIKE] 1.7%.

In other words, 1 complaint for every [STRIKE]30[/STRIKE] 60 or so cars sold - if you buy a used car every 3 years over a 6[STRIKE]9[/STRIKE]0 year driving career, [STRIKE]you may have one cause for complaint on average[/STRIKE], you're unlikely to have any reason to complain at all. And that's assuming that (a) every one of those 60k complaints are upheld and (b) they're all against different traders.

Just retweaked that with actuals.

musafir05

motorguy wrote: »

And can you produce any evidence that of the 3.6 million used cars bought each year in the UK, "most" dealers dont stand over their cars?

For every ONE complaint there is on here, theres roughly another 99 purchases that have no issues at all. I'll leave you to work out the percentages.

I agree most of the high-street traders look after their customers and provide a genuinely good aftercare service. Majority of the small-time traders online, intend to purchase a large set of cars from auction and flock them using eBay or autotrader.

Remember moneysavingexpert is not the only forum online used my people to submit horror stories and ask for assistance. Just because your past purchases went well, it doesn't mean others would have similar experience.

motorguy

musafir05 wrote: »

I agree most of the high-street traders look after their customers and provide a genuinely good aftercare service. Majority of the small-time traders online, intend to purchase a large set of cars from auction and flock them using eBay or autotrader.

Yup. Correct. And if you look at that report, most of the problems lie with small independents and small time traders - and a lot of the real problems lie with inexperienced traders who dont know what they *have* to stand over, and also not managing the customers expectations in the first place. I've seen trader friends of mine selling £500 cars and then have people coming back 2 months later with a slipping clutch and shouting about "by law i'm entitled to a three month warranty", when in actual fact if the correct terms were explained in the first place, there would have been no issues (and no, i wouldnt advocate a dealer selling £500 cars - too much hassle)

musafir05 wrote: »

Remember moneysavingexpert is not the only forum online used my people to submit horror stories and ask for assistance. Just because your past purchases went well, it doesn't mean others would have similar experience.

Yup. Exactly. My experience is both as a motor trader and a private buyer.

During my time as a motor trader i was averaging selling 20 cars a month. Typically i'd see a significant "fault" with a customer car every month, so you're looking at a 5% failure rate. That stacks up very well against OFT stats as i tried to ensure cars were prepped to the standard i would expect myself if i was buying. Of those significant faults, probably once every six months i'd to ring TS to get their advice on how to handle a particular situation, as i felt the customers expectations were unrealistic. I would take their advice on what to do. Several times i did a full refund to the customer, moreoften i resolved the problem without quibble.

You would be surpised however how often a customers expectations are totally detached from reality.

As a car buying private buyer, i've probably bought maybe 50 cars. Wifie has had ten, son has had six so far. Cant say i've ever had a situation whereby there was a fault that wasnt resolved amicably with the dealer - even though that may not have been via a "first time resolution". And those purchases have been for cars between £500 and £50,000.

So i'd say i've got a pretty wide experience background. And i'd also say anything i've said on this thread has come from OFT papers, not just "made up" like some of the stats people are throwing around.

colino

Just to stir the pot, the OFT bit of paper on my desk says 84,000 complaints (neither verified as correct. non-malicious or double or treble counted from one transaction) measured against seven million plus second hand car sales last year.

musafir05

I've looked at the report and other reports which were carried out by oft. The report was carried out in 2010, therefore outdated. you can't be arguing with people using outdated source. Alot has changed due since 2010 in the second-hand car market.

Judging by your last comments you seem to have a grudge on customers due to bad past experience as a car dealer. It is common in a customer-based business to take slack from customers. Some customer intend to push the limits and others are inexperience. If you sell lower-value cars then you would automatically attract inexperience customers who want alot from an old £500 banger.

I am glad you were a genuine and reliable dealer and we need more people like you in the second-car market. But the truth is not every dealer in the industry is truthful.

I didn't see anybody creating false stats to convey there points across.

musafir05

colino wrote: »

Just to stir the pot, the OFT bit of paper on my desk says 84,000 complaints (neither verified as correct. non-malicious or double or treble counted from one transaction) measured against seven million plus second hand car sales last year.

Mr motorguy is using a single report which is outdated therefore in the current age unreliable, plus alot has changed since 2010. He has had bad experience as a ex-dealer therefore he is taking shot at customers to please his ego.

motorguy

musafir05 wrote: »

I've looked at the report and other reports which were carried out by oft. The report was carried out in 2010, therefore outdated. you can't be arguing with people using outdated source. Alot has changed due since 2010 in the second-hand car market.

Yes, as Colino has said, sales have went UP, and relative complaints have went DOWN!

Thanks for pointing that out!

:beer:

musafir05 wrote: »

Judging by your last comments you seem to have a grudge on customers due to bad past experience as a car dealer.

Where did you get that impression? I gave you facts from my experience. Customers are perfectly entitled to bring back a car with an issue. I'd no issues with that - comes with the territory.

musafir05 wrote: »

It is common in a customer-based business to take slack from customers. Some customer intend to push the limits and others are inexperience. If you sell lower-value cars then you would automatically attract inexperience customers who want alot from an old £500 banger.

Indeed. And yes if you were selling £500 bangers, you're asking for trouble.

musafir05 wrote: »

I am glad you were a genuine and reliable dealer and we need more people like you in the second-car market. But the truth is not every dealer in the industry is truthful.

Totally agree. It would appear that a very small minority car, given the latest OFT stats there from colino.

musafir05 wrote: »

I didn't see anybody creating false stats to convey there points across.

Really? So were your stats TRUE of this statement you made? "most of these traders suddenly have a change of heart after hearing about the cost involved"

Can you show say, OFT figures showing "most" dealers dont stand over their cars?

motorguy

musafir05 wrote: »

Mr motorguy is using a single report which is outdated therefore in the current age unreliable, plus alot has changed since 2010. He has had bad experience as a ex-dealer therefore he is taking shot at customers to please his ego.

As Colino pointed out, the most recent report shows sales UP and complaints DOWN as a relative percentage. :beer:

I didnt have a bad experience as an ex-dealer. I loved my time at it. Best years of my life. Long hours, and not fantastic profits - getting too old for that

motorguy

musafir05 wrote: »

Mr motorguy is using a single report which is outdated therefore in the current age unreliable, plus alot has changed since 2010. He has had bad experience as a ex-dealer therefore he is taking shot at customers to please his ego.

And for clarification i was using that particular report to back up what i already knew - and others have added that their experience and understanding shows a similar view. And Colinos stats show an even better picture.

Still waiting for your stats on "most dealers not standing over their cars"?

Looking forward to that. :cool:

nobbysn*ts

motorguy wrote: »

As Colino pointed out, the most recent report shows sales UP and complaints DOWN as a relative percentage. :beer:

I didnt have a bad experience as an ex-dealer. I loved my time at it. Best years of my life. Long hours, and not fantastic profits - getting too old for that

Why is it in every thread about a used car from a dealer, you always try to derail it by touting the same old stories about how wonderful dealers are, and customers should always think themselves lucky if they even show any interest after the money's changed hands. Give a rest, and if you have nothing actually useful to say, say nothing instead.