Advertising Car - Not for sale

warrend

Hi,

I'm looking to buy a new /previously owned car as the family is getting bigger. I saw an an advertisement for a previously owned Touran at a VW main dealership. Upon looking further it appears this dealership was clearing out quite a few models at pretty good prices - I assumed they where clearing out some old stock. So I phoned them up - get "yes sir that ones still here" etc. Then a couple of days latter went to take a look, the dealership is about 40 minutes away from where i work so its a bit of a pain. Got to the dealership sat through the 30 minutes of questions etc, then started talking about specifics. The salesman then starts running through the inventory and the car that I was looking at is nowhere to be seen - nor are several others that I had seen this garage advertising (in fact none of the good deals that they had been advertising as far as I could see). Then went through the whole run of," no we have never had that car sir", so I pulled out the advert then got, "ahh its actually been sold", then got hold of the person that I spoken to and got "its been sent to another dealership" it went on and on until I left.

Basically it seems as though they put out a load of adds for vehicles that they never had in order to pull people in. Having been a little pis**d about this Does anyone know where the "law" stands on this - whilst I've missed my chance this time I'd like to at least be able to stand my ground if someone pulls this again.

Cheers

photome

Highly unlikely IMO that they adbertised a car they never had. Main dealers are moving stock about all the time and the ad could have been placed a while before it went to press.

Having said that they should have been upfront on the phone and should have been able to locate it if they still had it at another dealersship.

As for the law....what laws have they broken???


I had the opposite a while ago, rang up about a deal and they told me it was sold (3 month old car for £5000 less than retail) only to go to garage a week later to see it being sold in front of my eyes.

JasonLVC

Not a shop but don't drop thread, more one for the vent boards.

photome

JasonLVC wrote: »

Not a shop but don't drop thread, more one for the vent boards.

You are treading on poppycats toes

real1314

Although it's O/T, if the dealership is advertising bargains that they don't have, it IS an offence, as it is false advertising, and by doing this they entice buyers who then find the selection is not quite as good as the adverts.

It's a trading standards issue I believe, and I suspect TS could ask them to substantiate the cars they have advertised. It might be an idea for the OP to return with their next advert and ask to see the cars described, and when they are not there (presumably) ask to see a manager and ask them to supply a car as described in the advert. Tell them you're thinking of going to see TS.

photome

real1314 wrote: »

Although it's O/T, if the dealership is advertising bargains that they don't have, it IS an offence, as it is false advertising, and by doing this they entice buyers who then find the selection is not quite as good as the adverts.

It's a trading standards issue I believe, and I suspect TS could ask them to substantiate the cars they have advertised. It might be an idea for the OP to return with their next advert and ask to see the cars described, and when they are not there (presumably) ask to see a manager and ask them to supply a car as described in the advert. Tell them you're thinking of going to see TS.

Point taken, but they may have sold it

devild_2

Why is this a shop but don't drop?

Inactive

They had probably sold the car to a trade buyer.

warrend

Hey guys,

Thanks for the responses and sorry I didn't see the "vent" board (although this should have gone there I agree).

real1314 = thanks I thought this may have been the case but wasn't sure, and yes I agree - it would be a little over the top (normally), it was just the attitude in there that absolutely..... grrr, anyhow. I just wanted where I stood for next time someone does this (as I'm still looking for a bigger car).

@photome and Inactive, it became pretty obvious as it went on - almost comical, to be honest I just walked out. It only annoyed me later that because I didn't challenge them they will end up cornering someone else.

Cheers!

pingu

dealers do swop cars around

i seen a car in rochdale toyota test drove it and the same car was advertised in their bury toyota 2 weeks later

i am still looking for a small car ( family of three)

do very low miles under 6k per year and have nissan tino 1.8se

need to downsize asap

anyone know if there are swop sites/places

many thanks