The number of people who'd "forgotten" they'd removed the spare wheel and tools from their part exchanges always puzzled me, did they have a garage full?

I've just put a deposit down today on a new, well new to me, car, a Smart Forfour Brabus, i've bought it completely blind, not test driven it, i've gone on the salesmans word & the keen eye of a local PH'er who i bribed with beer to check it over for me!
To say i'm nervous is an understatement! In the screen price i've managed to get 12 months MOT, 6 months Tax, an alloy wheel refurb, theres a few small scratches which're also getting sorted & a cam-belt change, the seller is also delivering it to South Devon from North Wales.
He did say i was extremely hard to do a deal with, whether that's a good thing or not, i don't know

The favourite lie IME is the "full service history" claimed at appraisal (but the books are at home, of course) and the PX valued accordingly. Deal done, new car ordered, a couple of months pass and...

Do people think we won't check that it actually does have the claimed and valued history when handover day arrives? What's the difference in value to you of an 8 year old, 60k mile FFRR both with - and without - full service history. *Slightly* different number on the invoice isn't it?

I've now taken to getting everything up front. Waiting until handover date has caused me nothing but hassle.

I say I need all paperwork at least 7 days before collection of the new car or no handover.

Sold a cracking car to an old school friend of mine today, doing very well for himself too!

I could say the same to you. Why are you trying to charge me £300 for a coat of wax? It works both ways.

How is that a "rip off" exactly?

"Would you like Diamondbrite paintwork and interior protection?"

"How much is it?"

"£300"

"No thank you".

Just explain to me how this is a rip off? Or are you incapable of making an informed decision as to whether or not to purchase something?



Very different from

"Have you got full main dealer service history?"

"Yes I have, but it's at home, I'll bring it with me on handover day".

Handover day.

"Oh, I could only find one receipt, it's from 2003 and its for a bloke at the end of my road to change the spark plugs. That'll be ok though, right?"

Are you seeing the difference?

It's a rip off because it's worth £20 at best. The very fact that dealers try it on with the customer in the first place is shameful.

When the cost to change drops by almost 8 grand on the same car which is the only figure i am interested in. It belittles the sales "exec" and his manager somewhat to me anyhows. If i quoted a customer on a job and then reduced the quote by £8000 within half an hour we wouldnt last long! But then we aren't execs we are just businessmen.......who happen to do deals for a living too and the only frustrating ones are not dealing with our customers or suppliers. But dealing with bloody car dealers.
Like i said it used to be fun speccing up the car sorting the deal amd walking away happy salesmans job is done. Nowadays you just about get as much fun buying a new white good.

I suspect that is not how you attempt to 'sell' it is it, you (not you specifically) try to mix it up and then get it added etc using various sells techniques.

And the other could go:

Do you FSH with you.

Ahh no, the books at home, but im pretty sure is had all, but some may not be at main dealer.. But I cannot be 100%.

Ok, lets just put it down as full for now..

Then bases quote off this.

There's a difference between 'broadly' and 'all' though. I'm honest with a salesman, and I expect him to be honest back, it's incredible how many salepeople just bullsh*t customers.

When buying, I ask the salesman an awkward question I already know the answer to, and if he gives me anything other than an honest answer I walk away. I've done this a few times. People buy from people. An easy one is "how long have you had the car in stock", when I can see from their website exactly how long they've had it, an over-eager bullsh*tting salesman will say "Oh, just came in today, lots of interest" or something similar. An honest one will get my business.

Some interesting attitudes in this thread.

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