Fancy a laugh? trying buying a car......

[Ari]

markmullen said:

Did you buy from them at all?

All the good feeling in the world accounts for nothing if it doesn't keep the doors open.

The way most main dealers operate (eg focusing on finance / add-ons etc) is because that is what earns them money, not selling obscure halo models to enthusiasts who want to bring their torch and work through a checklist they found on the internet.

Are you suggesting that if he didn't, the salesman was wasting his time and was wrong to try so hard?

[markmullen]

Ari said:

markmullen said:

Did you buy from them at all?

All the good feeling in the world accounts for nothing if it doesn't keep the doors open.

The way most main dealers operate (eg focusing on finance / add-ons etc) is because that is what earns them money, not selling obscure halo models to enthusiasts who want to bring their torch and work through a checklist they found on the internet.

Are you suggesting that if he didn't, the salesman was wasting his time and was wrong to try so hard?

I'm suggesting that a mainstream dealership which had massive non-customer loyalty but rarely sold anything wouldn't be long for this world in the current climate.

As always no doubt your fortnight of motor trade experience will come to the fore and tell me how wrong I am. Fire away.

[Rich_W]

markmullen said:

As always no doubt your fortnight of motor trade experience will come to the fore and tell me how wrong I am. Fire away.

[Ali_T]

All I ask is a decent, honest, trade in (at least the same as We Buy Any Car), a finance rate that at least matches the banks, and some effort to reduce the RRP. Not even as much as the internet deals, just a sign of effort. Doesn't sound hard but you'd be amazed. Two dealers have lost me signing a deal just for getting a little too greedy or trying to get one over. Be honest and up front and you'll get a deal.

[Ali_T]

All I ask is a decent, honest, trade in (at least the same as We Buy Any Car), a finance rate that at least matches the banks, and some effort to reduce the RRP. Not even as much as the internet deals, just a sign of effort. Doesn't sound hard but you'd be amazed. Two dealers have lost me signing a deal just for getting a little too greedy or trying to get one over. Be honest and up front and you'll get a deal.

Edited by Ali_T on Tuesday 1st July 22:05

[markmullen]

Ali_T said:

All I ask is a decent, honest, trade in (at least the same as We Buy Any Car), a finance rate that at least matches the banks, and some effort to reduce the RRP. Not even as much as the internet deals, just a sign of effort. Doesn't sound hard but you'd be amazed. Two dealers have lost me signing a deal just for getting a little too greedy or trying to get one over. Be honest and up front and you'll get a deal.

Essentially they've lost deals by not offering you the price that you want then? Not all business is good business, there is no point (usually, new car quarter end aside) for doing a deal for nothing, if you're asking for discount off the new car, good money for your old car, and cheap finance, there is likely very little point doing the deal, which is the point you've got to.

[AndyT77]

Paul O said:

Anyone ever been to a Mini dealer? fk, they are good at it.

Smiley pretty's all over the shop, quick hello then let you browse and sit. Then available for questions, test drive arranged within minutes, then assisted browse through their franchise online used catalogue, then immediate quick quotes for finance.

Bish bash bosh.

No pressure. Lots of follow-up calls to get you to buy, mind - but the dealership experience (on-spec I might add) was really, really impressive. They got it right in my view, even if we didn't buy at the time.

I have, bought a MINI Cooper S 12 months ago, and have to agree, it was a very good experience. I'd been burnt a few times with calling ahead and cars still blocked in at the back of the pitch etc, so called the MINI dealership before I left, and half way there to make sure it was ready to inspect/drive. It was, a good deal was struck and a week later I drove away a happy chap.

[Grandfondo]

markmullen said:

Ali_T said:

All I ask is a decent, honest, trade in (at least the same as We Buy Any Car), a finance rate that at least matches the banks, and some effort to reduce the RRP. Not even as much as the internet deals, just a sign of effort. Doesn't sound hard but you'd be amazed. Two dealers have lost me signing a deal just for getting a little too greedy or trying to get one over. Be honest and up front and you'll get a deal.

Essentially they've lost deals by not offering you the price that you want then? Not all business is good business, there is no point (usually, new car quarter end aside) for doing a deal for nothing, if you're asking for discount off the new car, good money for your old car, and cheap finance, there is likely very little point doing the deal, which is the point you've got to.

Are you not the guy with the 100% markup on an old 911?

[Roo]

Ali_T said:

All I ask is a decent, honest, trade in (at least the same as We Buy Any Car), a finance rate that at least matches the banks, and some effort to reduce the RRP. Not even as much as the internet deals, just a sign of effort. Doesn't sound hard but you'd be amazed. Two dealers have lost me signing a deal just for getting a little too greedy or trying to get one over. Be honest and up front and you'll get a deal.

WBAC rarely pay what they quote, and you've got the aggro of taking the car to them and not having anything to drive until your new car is ready to collect.

Bank rates have very little bearing on car finance rates.

Some people get a better deal from WBAC, some don't.

Some people get a better deal on a bank loan compared to using dealer finance, some don't.

Some people are concerned about their unsecured borrowing, some aren't.

It's horses for courses.

What works for some won't work for others.

[mascord05]

Grandfondo said:

markmullen said:

Ali_T said:

All I ask is a decent, honest, trade in (at least the same as We Buy Any Car), a finance rate that at least matches the banks, and some effort to reduce the RRP. Not even as much as the internet deals, just a sign of effort. Doesn't sound hard but you'd be amazed. Two dealers have lost me signing a deal just for getting a little too greedy or trying to get one over. Be honest and up front and you'll get a deal.

Essentially they've lost deals by not offering you the price that you want then? Not all business is good business, there is no point (usually, new car quarter end aside) for doing a deal for nothing, if you're asking for discount off the new car, good money for your old car, and cheap finance, there is likely very little point doing the deal, which is the point you've got to.

Are you not the guy with the 100% markup on an old 911?

And it'll still sell!

[skeggysteve]

Just to put the positive side on buying/browsing from main dealers:

We went looking at cars suitable for my wife, we were approached by salesmen at every place and everyone didn't change their attitude when we said we were just browsing, wouldn't be buying today and when we were ready to buy it would be a Motability sale.

We had narrowed it down to 3 cars and told the guy at one dealership that it would be down to driving the cars. He offered us a test driver immediately. We declined and told him we wouldn't want to waste his time on a Saturday afternoon, he said Ok but but when you want a drive just let me know.

I'd like to find that the car that the test drive guy is right and a good drive because he certainly was the best salesman but none others were so bad that we wouldn't go back.

When I say salesman I really mean salesman that is not really selling just promoting the product to a potential customer in the best way possible.

[berlintaxi]

V8forweekends said:

Only thing worse than that was ex-wife's experience trying to buy a brand new Mercedes. I'd have walked out, but it was her money, her car and she was happy to be treated like crap so she could get the car.....

So why didn't you? Doesn't read like you were there to add anything to the deal, your wife would still have bought the car.

[-Ad-]

BMW Aberdeen were pretty good when I popped along to look at an M135i. Salesman was an enthusiast, got me out in the car immediately (manual only unfortunately), but I didn't get the chance to really drive it with the rain coming down along with cats and dogs.

Was in a rush with a friend who came along so headed off after agreeing to come back later the next week to discuss figures. But in that time I'd decided to go for the cheap lease deal for 2yrs rather than get locked into a £35k car for 3-4yrs.

Would pop back there again should I decide to buy a new car (unlikely ) .

Ki3r said:

I had a nice experience when I got my new car a couple of months ago.

.....and got £30 of fuel when I paid for £25. Can't complain.

Christ on a bike, that's an incredible extra. Better get such info posted up on Hot UK Deals immediately, that's if it's still valid!

[Hub]

I have a feeling you get a better experience if you pick your times - ie a grey Tuesday in mid December rather than a sunny Saturday in Spring!

[powerstroke]

I'm I right in thinking non of the Mercedes franchises are
Independently owned now ???

[scorchio]

This just seems standard practice from arnold shark stealers

[GrizzlyBear]

Sounds like car dealers are now few and far between; they are selling finance and a car is just the bait to get you in the door!

Sad world, so what happens when you don't need a loan?

Do they still try to con you with flat rate finance?

[Sheepshanks]

powerstroke said:

I'm I right in thinking non of the Mercedes franchises are
Independently owned now ???

Depends what you mean by independent - MB Retail own some dealerships, especially around London, but by no means all. They also run the used outlets - used to be called MB Direct.

Inchcape and other groups run bunches of dealerships, often controlling a whole region. I don't know if there are any one-off owned dealerships now - I doubt it.

[sasha320]

Although I am a bit late to this topic, buying cars is no longer about buying cars it is about selling finance and the car is the finance vehicle (pun intended) to make the sale.

Therefore the salesman will want to qualify the money aspect of the deal being messing around with the car and potentially wasting time looking over the car and having the finance declined etc.

That explains the behaviour, however feels a bit baby getting thrown out with the bath water as without the car no one cars for the finance!

[P-Jay]

Roo said:

Ali_T said:

All I ask is a decent, honest, trade in (at least the same as We Buy Any Car), a finance rate that at least matches the banks, and some effort to reduce the RRP. Not even as much as the internet deals, just a sign of effort. Doesn't sound hard but you'd be amazed. Two dealers have lost me signing a deal just for getting a little too greedy or trying to get one over. Be honest and up front and you'll get a deal.

WBAC rarely pay what they quote, and you've got the aggro of taking the car to them and not having anything to drive until your new car is ready to collect.

Bank rates have very little bearing on car finance rates.

Some people get a better deal from WBAC, some don't.

Some people get a better deal on a bank loan compared to using dealer finance, some don't.

Some people are concerned about their unsecured borrowing, some aren't.

It's horses for courses.

What works for some won't work for others.

Are WBAC a real viable option then? In fairness I've only really ever asked them for prices for stboxes worth £2k on the best of days to save the hassle but found their valuation laughable - typically I've sold them for about twice what WBAC offer.

Do they want to make £1k per car, hence why they've offered me half for my £2k or are they the preserve of the terminally stupid / lazy who don't care they're giving up half the value of their old car as long as it's gone in time for the shiny new Leasemobile?

I have to admit I couldn't understand how they were gaining enough customers to cover the cost of all their adverts!