sales tactic or genuine mistake

DUTR

motorguy wrote: »

Not if the salesman is doing his job right it wont.

Good cars are harder to find than good customers.

The car/products will sell themselves, all the rep needs do is sort the transaction, I'd say most of the time the buyer already knows what they want before they leave the house, especially on that style of car.

motorguy

DUTR wrote: »

The car/products will sell themselves, all the rep needs do is sort the transaction, I'd say most of the time the buyer already knows what they want before they leave the house, especially on that style of car.

Uh huh. Thats what i'm saying.

If its a good car, well presented, sensibly priced and the salesman can subsequently do their job right - by not putting doubt in a prospective buyers mind for example - then yes the car will sell. Might be tomorrow. Might be a month.

If the car otherwise ticked all the boxes for me, i wouldnt let a salesmans fluff put me off the car.

"Walking", in this case is most likely going to create a greater inconvenience for the O/P than for the seller.

We bought our 370Z in spite of the salesman, instead of with the aid of. We actually had to stop him twice because what he was doing / what he was saying was about to make us walk. We persisted though because it was the right car at the right price.

arcon5

Sales tactic through and through.
My ar5e is this a genuine mistake!

You don't let somebody take a sold car out for a test drive! Especially when they have the same car as a manual on the forecourt.

Why though would you even take a car you couldn't buy for a test drive??

He tried to play you in to making a decision that day.

Others can argue he made a mistake but the only person they are fooling is themselves! It was a sales tactic, simple as that

marlot

bmw528i wrote: »

...he tells me it's sold; I'm quite disappointed but he said have a look around anyway. Next thing he gives me the key and says take it for a spin...

So if you do buy a car from him, between you agreeing the deal and you picking the car up, anybody off the street can take your new car out for a spin?

I reckon you were spun a line in order to close the deal that day.

But ... if he lies on one thing, he probably lies on others. 'yes we'll give it a full service before you collect it'. 'they all do that Sir'. etc. And just wait for the after-sales service! Unless the car was exceptional in some way, I'd walk.

Happychappy

When you get a problem with the car and have to take it back, would you feel confident that this company will be honest, and be helpful ? if not, walk away

motorguy

arcon5 wrote: »

Sales tactic through and through.
My ar5e is this a genuine mistake!

You don't let somebody take a sold car out for a test drive! Especially when they have the same car as a manual on the forecourt.

Why though would you even take a car you couldn't buy for a test drive??

He tried to play you in to making a decision that day.

Others can argue he made a mistake but the only person they are fooling is themselves! It was a sales tactic, simple as that

Fairly daft way of doing it then wasnt it?

The more "usual" way would be - "i've someone coming to see this car in an hour" or "there was a guy test drove it last night and says he will let me know and come back with a deposit this morning" or "one of my colleagues thinks he has a buyer for this car", but to say its "sold" and then subsequently say its "not sold" doesnt achieve the desired effect of putting pressure on the prospective customer does it? In fact, if anything it lestens it.

It also puts the sales man on the back foot, which is the very opposite of what any tactic should do.

In all the years i did motor trading i have never come across a sales tactic of saying its "sold", then "not sold" - and trust me, i met some very unscrupulous traders in that time. By stupidity, miscommunication or incompetence, yes. As a sales tactic, no.

bmw528i

Richard53 wrote: »

Absolutely this. The most I have ever been allowed to do with a car that is marked 'sold' is have a quick sit in the driving seat under supervision. A test drive would be far too risky from their point of view. I suspect a slight game going on to panic you into an immediate decision. It hardly matters, though. As others have said, if you like the car, get it. Although I share your discomfort over the slight porkie you were possibly told. If they aren't straight with you when you are purchasing it, what confidence do you have in them if you have to go back with a problem?

QUOTE]


yes I liked the car, but as you said I feel uncomfortable dealing with someone who is not straight with me. Too many horror stories on here about 2nd hand cars and salesman.

Shimrod

arcon5 wrote: »

Sales tactic through and through.
My ar5e is this a genuine mistake!

You don't let somebody take a sold car out for a test drive! Especially when they have the same car as a manual on the forecourt.

Some years ago I bought a car from Arnold Clark and did exactly that. I had gone down to look at cars, but the the model I was interested in had been sold the previous day. They had other, similar cars in the network, so I took the 'sold ' car out for a test drive, and they arranged for a similar car to be transferred to the local garage which I bought subject to inspection. Not quite the same situation as the OP unless the salesman was going to offer to source a car for him after the test drive.

dannyrst

I'd walk. Imagine if the car develops issues and you have to deal with this guy again? Clearly he isn't 100% honest.

Plus the fact that if you put a deposit down, any Tom !!!! or Harry could be taking the car you've bought for a test drive between you paying and picking it up (if he's being truthful).

I went to look at a brand new apartment about 5 years ago. It was in a complex with another 30/40? The salesperson told me several people were interested and getting back to them later that day and they could take a deposit there and then to hold it for me. I had no intention of buying, was more just interested in looking around. There are still 2 apartments for sale...

arcon5

motorguy wrote: »

Fairly daft way of doing it then wasnt it?

The more "usual" way would be - "i've someone coming to see this car in an hour" or "there was a guy test drove it last night and says he will let me know and come back with a deposit this morning" or "one of my colleagues thinks he has a buyer for this car", but to say its "sold" and then subsequently say its "not sold" doesnt achieve the desired effect of putting pressure on the prospective customer does it? In fact, if anything it lestens it.

It also puts the sales man on the back foot, which is the very opposite of what any tactic should do.

In all the years i did motor trading i have never come across a sales tactic of saying its "sold", then "not sold" - and trust me, i met some very unscrupulous traders in that time. By stupidity, miscommunication or incompetence, yes. As a sales tactic, no.

Yes, very unusual. Never heard this one before either! But it was a tactic through and through.... how well it works though I don't know, but i'm certainly very very curious.