Is this suspicious?

dilby00

Hi all -

After some shopping around I found a car I liked on auto trader which was located in S!!!!horpe (I'm in Swansea) with a company called Motor Depot. After talking to the sales people I decided to 'register interest' by putting a refundable deposit down over the phone, and going through some details with them. At the end of the call they said it will take 5 days to 'prepare' which was a shock because I've purchased 2nd hand cars before (this is a late 2015) and didn't have to wait at all. I asked what the 'preparation' was and they said its a check over and service. I said okay but as long as I could pick it up in 7 days.

I didn't hear back from them after 7 days and was told it would be 10 days as the car had to have some respraying done for minor scuffs. They told me they ensure all their cars are up to high standards and although they do small touch ups on site they work with a local body shop for bigger projects.

A week later and after more lack of correspondence from their end I contacted them and have been told it's been sent back to the bodyshop as they were unhappy with the work (the bodyshop are apparently totally re-spraying the two offside doors).

Is this normal? The car is a good price, but not a steal - it just seems really really suspicious. I'm also meant to be part-exchanging my car for it and all this is adding miles to it i the meantime!

Thanks

Strider590

Getting you to put a deposit down is a bit of a psychological trick, in doing so you've already crossed the threshold into "I want this car", which puts them at a huge advantage.

Aced2016

I would get my deposit back !

It seems like the car has damage and they're trying to fob you off.

I would tell them you've found another and get your money back !

If something seems to good to be true it probably is !

dilby00

Thanks both so far. It didn't seem too good to be true.. it was a pretty good deal but not a blinder. But it definitely did have damage, but they seem to be suggesting it was negligible. My argument is if its so negligible, why does it need to be in a bodyshop? (And why wasn't that done prior to selling, or at least mentioned in the description?)

waamo

Have you bought this car without actually seeing it?

dilby00

No I have put a refundable deposit down on it (£100) to take it off the website and auto trader. No commitment to buy, I just dont want to waste a trip or find out there's actually hidden things wrong with the car if I do choose to buy it.

waamo

Personally I wouldn't travel that distance for a motor that's proving difficult to fix properly.

I think you've already spent too much time and effort on it seeing as it's nothing special.

dilby00

waamo wrote: »

Personally I wouldn't travel that distance for a motor that's proving difficult to fix properly.

I think you've already spent too much time and effort on it seeing as it's nothing special.

Fair point. It's the best version of the model i've been able to find for a while (in terms of age, miles, and my fav colour), and a good price, it's just not what i would deem as a suspiciously good price if that makes sense.

I have spoke to them and told them I'm not so sure now and they've sent me through a document saying I'm covered by the distance selling regulations act and can change my mind etc. So it really comes down to:

1) Do i want to risk a wasted trip
2) And (slightly more seriously) Is this so rare and suspicious that is reasonable for me to assume that they are covering something up and the car is actually a problem waiting to happen.

Billy_Bullocks

dilby00 wrote: »

No I have put a refundable deposit down on it (£100) to take it off the website and auto trader. No commitment to buy, I just dont want to waste a trip or find out there's actually hidden things wrong with the car if I do choose to buy it.

Sounds like a bit of a contradiction.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Is this some rare classic or piece of exotica, or are you a mechanic buying a cheap as chips bargain you can fix at home?

Because such cars should be the only reason one travels this sort of distance.

What's the plan when you get the car home and find something mechanical failing in a month's time?, you do know its up to you to return the car to the seller at your expense if you expect them to honour the 6 months ''warranty'' they automatically offer being a trader, they also don't have to offer you alternative transport whilst its being repaired.

In answer to your question, no its not suspicious, they are a car trader doing what they do, trading in cars, i do however think that a massive headache, for you, is a distinct possibility.

stator

Billy_Bullocks wrote: »

Sounds like a bit of a contradiction.

Not at all.
He either buys it or loses the £100.
That's how deposits work.

The delays do sound a bit suspect. Maybe they have found a fault and are trying to cover it up. I doubt they are repairing the bodywork because they wouldn't care about that.
My bet is that an engine management light has come on and they are trying to get rid of it cheaply (check that all the lights work when you start the car, wouldn't be unusual for them to disconnect a warning light)

Good luck OP