Two car quotes from same dealer.

Langtang

I went to my local Honda dealer a couple of weeks ago. When I got the finance figures, I was pleasantly surprised. I ordered the car and paid a £500 fully refundable deposit.
A couple of days later, someone mentioned a website - Carwow.com - which I checked out. I entered the details of the car I had ordered, and waited for offers to come in. To my surprise one offer came from the same dealer I'd ordered my car from, and it was almost £5k cheaper!!
Obviously, I went in to see the dealer and showed them the Carwow offer. They told me that I would get the best deal available when the car arrives, but could not tell me for definite that it would be the cheaper option. The monthly payments went from £314 per month to £177. I asked if the cheaper option were not available at delivery time could I potentially beliable for paying £314 pm. They could not, or would not commit themselves to answer anything other than I will get the best deal at the time of delivery.
How do I stand with walking away and getting my money back?

neilmcl

Well if the deposit is "fully refundable" then tell them you want to back out unless they can give you a definitive price for the car. Telling you they will get the best deal when the car is delivered isn't really on, unless they can give you, in writing, a guarantee that the deposit will be refunded should you not accept the deal post delivery.

jimjames

If you signed the paperwork and paid the deposit on the agreed price of £5k more then I wouldn't expect them to charge the lower price. Rather than waiting I'd cancel now and place order again at the lower price. Fully refundable deposit seems pretty pointless though.

Langtang

My question would be why are there two different prices for the same product within days? Do they look at you as you come through the door and decide that you can afford the higher price and so charge you it?

jimjames

Langtang wrote: »

My question would be why are there two different prices for the same product within days? Do they look at you as you come through the door and decide that you can afford the higher price and so charge you it?

Because it's done online via another site. Have you never experienced only pricing being lower than going into store?

AnotherJoe

Langtang wrote: »

My question would be why are there two different prices for the same product within days? Do they look at you as you come through the door and decide that you can afford the higher price and so charge you it?

TO an extent, yes, initially you were in a 1-1 competition with them, once you went via carwow, they were in 'competition' with every other Honda dealer out there and you had much more leverage. I wouldn't worry about it, since you have a fully refundable deposit simply cancel and then accept the carwow quote.

This is a great validation of carwow , I've never used it but will definitely try for my next car after reading this!

motorguy

Langtang wrote: »

I went to my local Honda dealer a couple of weeks ago. When I got the finance figures, I was pleasantly surprised. I ordered the car and paid a £500 fully refundable deposit.
A couple of days later, someone mentioned a website - Carwow.com - which I checked out. I entered the details of the car I had ordered, and waited for offers to come in. To my surprise one offer came from the same dealer I'd ordered my car from, and it was almost £5k cheaper!!
Obviously, I went in to see the dealer and showed them the Carwow offer. They told me that I would get the best deal available when the car arrives, but could not tell me for definite that it would be the cheaper option. The monthly payments went from £314 per month to £177. I asked if the cheaper option were not available at delivery time could I potentially beliable for paying £314 pm. They could not, or would not commit themselves to answer anything other than I will get the best deal at the time of delivery.
How do I stand with walking away and getting my money back?

Is there a trade in involved? Dealers often use discount you would otherwise receive to bolster up the price of a trade in.

I would insist they commit to a firm price on the car now - after all, even if you walk away and LOSE the £500 deposit, you're still £4,500 better off by going to carwow

eddddy

Langtang wrote: »

My question would be why are there two different prices for the same product within days? Do they look at you as you come through the door and decide that you can afford the higher price and so charge you it?

A key reason for the £5k difference is that a chunk of it goes in commission to the salesperson you spoke to at the Honda dealership, and another chunk to their sales manager etc.

So the salesperson will do everything they can to persuade you not to take the Carwow route - as they get no commission.

It's unlikely that the salesperson will be able to match the carwow price (or if they could, they would get no commission).

So probably best to cancel, and re-order.

bigjl

Langtang wrote: »

My question would be why are there two different prices for the same product within days? Do they look at you as you come through the door and decide that you can afford the higher price and so charge you it?

Because the one via CarWow is likely including a hefty fleet discount negotiated by CarWow.

I would suspect a similar price differential if you used DrivetheDeal or Broadspeed.

Langtang

Well, well. I misinterpreted fully refundable. He meant that when the car arrives in the showroom, I will get my deposit back. It doesn't mean that if I cancel the order (which I have now done) I'll get my money back.
I've now ordered a car from a Garage that replied to my car wow ad with a quote. I'm saving £7128 over the price I'd signed up for, so I can take the loss on the nose.

Crabman

Langtang wrote: »

Well, well. I misinterpreted fully refundable. He meant that when the car arrives in the showroom, I will get my deposit back. It doesn't mean that if I cancel the order (which I have now done) I'll get my money back.
I've now ordered a car from a Garage that replied to my car wow ad with a quote. I'm saving £7128 over the price I'd signed up for, so I can take the loss on the nose.

Could you please clarify - have they retained your "fully refundable" deposit even though you cancelled the order?