anyone been lied to by a used car dealer?

anyone been lied to by a used car dealer?

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Discussion

McSam

6,753 posts

174 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
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In the attempt to drag this out of MGF- and salary-related finger-pointing, a question for the salesmen on here. How much account do you take of what the prospective buyer actually says, and what their level of knowledge appears to be?

I ask because of a recent experience with by far and away the worst salesman I've dealt with. Looking for an E46 320cd cabrio for my mum, there aren't a huge number around and still fewer in the right spec, so I went to look at this one despite alarm bells in the phone call. I asked a few questions about the car and was given answers that sounded far too confident, and then the golden "it's in really good condition for the year" came out. I told him I know these cars very well and will not be fooled by a crap one, and got loads of chat about "good honest car" etc. Better judgement should have prevailed but drove over to take a look.

It was an absolute dog.

The alloys were destroyed, the close-up photo from the ad was of the only remotely passable one which had now had a flat ditchfinder on it, bits of trim were broken or missing, road rash and scratches all over it, and it was an effort to even get into the thing as the door hinges appeared to have given up and let the door drop. What the hell would possess a dealer to tell a knowledgeable customer that it was a good car was beyond me, but it got better. The driver's window dropped all the way down when you opened the door: "Ah yeah, the cabrios do that, makes it easier to get in innit". No they don't. What about the door dropping? "Don't worry about that, all these old BMWs do that, I promise you bruv". OK then.. what about my E46 over there? "Ah no that's a different chassis mate, that's not the same."

That was too much so I explained to this guy that I am an automotive engineer, know a hell of a lot about this type of car and have driven and worked on my own for years. I made it completely clear that I was not going to be convinced by any bullst line he tried to feed me, and asked that he could stop talking rubbish and try to be honest about the car to save some faint hope that I might buy it. He still didn't stop coming out with mountains of "oh that's a common fault" and "that's supposed to be like that".. The car was a wreck but I could never, ever have given such a flagrant liar any money for it, even if he halved the price. It was plain he knew nothing about E46s or indeed cars in general. Why on earth do they do this?

Rick101

6,959 posts

149 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
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Save the hassle, buy private. If you have to buy from the trade, make it an enthisiast.

daemon

35,724 posts

196 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
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Rick101 said:
Save the hassle, buy private. If you have to buy from the trade, make it an enthisiast.
Playing devils advocate here, surely selling your own car private and buying private ads a world of hassle?


McSam

6,753 posts

174 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
quotequote all
We did, found a lovely example for almost the same money being sold by a nice bloke who seemed to care for it. That's by far my preferred option, but as I say, there wasn't much choice. Only about 40 for sale in the UK, and once you sifted out the dull colours and mega-milers you weren't left with much.

Sold her old car privately too, wrote a thorough and honest advert, gone in two weeks for full asking price to a really top bloke.

Fast Bug

11,597 posts

160 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
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hora said:
Fast Bug said:
£65k last year in fleet sales selling Renault and Nissan. Not earth shattering, but keeps the wolf from the door.

Remind me what you do again?
Hi, if thats what you really earn year on year good for you. I doubt everyone is clearing anywhere near that. Oh and don't make me ask you to supply a photo of your end of your tax/PAYE summary with a tin of custard..
I don't see the point of bull stting to be honest.

So what do you do for a living? You always seem to give salesman a hard time? You're not sales admin are you eek

fido

16,752 posts

254 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
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Re: MGF - I actually liked them - good to drive, nice to sit in (or on) and weren't they the best-selling roadster at some point in the UK? A bit harsh to say they were crap because of the engine issues (no doubt a show-stopper if it happened to your car) - it's all relative of course and you could argue that applies to a heap of French/Italian cars.

Back on topic, bought several cars from dealers and they had far fewer issues than the privately sold vehicles. Of course you pay more for them, but a good dealer will service and fix any issues before the car is handed over. So find a good one, and don't be too much of a cheapskate.

Rick101

6,959 posts

149 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
quotequote all
daemon said:
Playing devils advocate here, surely selling your own car private and buying private ads a world of hassle?
TBH, if your a concientious person, as I am. It's no bother at all.

I keep my cars very clean and in tip top condition, I price accordingly and get good buyers that know what they want.

When I buy, I do a lot of reasearch and go for the best I can.

Never had a lemon yet when buying private.

LouD86

3,278 posts

152 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
quotequote all
Fast Bug said:
hora said:
Fast Bug said:
£65k last year in fleet sales selling Renault and Nissan. Not earth shattering, but keeps the wolf from the door.

Remind me what you do again?
Hi, if thats what you really earn year on year good for you. I doubt everyone is clearing anywhere near that. Oh and don't make me ask you to supply a photo of your end of your tax/PAYE summary with a tin of custard..
I don't see the point of bull stting to be honest.

So what do you do for a living? You always seem to give salesman a hard time? You're not sales admin are you eek
Haha, I could stake that James isn't bullstting, and would happily post a copy of my payslip come the end of month to show the real earning potential. And thats with my old basic on it, about 300 short of current.

Hora, what do you do?

unrepentant

21,212 posts

255 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
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It's the same as any other business where pay is based on performance. The best guys do very well, good guys do well and there are a lot who can't cut it and make poor money or leave. Most of the PH sales guys are veterans and will be in the first two categories.

daemon

35,724 posts

196 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
quotequote all
unrepentant said:
It's the same as any other business where pay is based on performance. The best guys do very well, good guys do well and there are a lot who can't cut it and make poor money or leave. Most of the PH sales guys are veterans and will be in the first two categories.
+1

Stuperbulous

330 posts

149 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
quotequote all
unrepentant said:
It's the same as any other business where pay is based on performance. The best guys do very well, good guys do well and there are a lot who can't cut it and make poor money or leave. Most of the PH sales guys are veterans and will be in the first two categories.
Well said. Lets move things on.

Granfondo

12,241 posts

205 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
quotequote all
Rick101 said:
daemon said:
Playing devils advocate here, surely selling your own car private and buying private ads a world of hassle?
TBH, if your a concientious person, as I am. It's no bother at all.

I keep my cars very clean and in tip top condition, I price accordingly and get good buyers that know what they want.

When I buy, I do a lot of reasearch and go for the best I can.

Never had a lemon yet when buying private.
Very true,I just sold my wife's Q5 privately at 6 years old @ 50% retained value to the first viewer! biggrin

Trailhead

2,628 posts

146 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
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hora said:
I mainly buy privately partly because so many dealers nowadays offer you little aftersales support. So whats the +£1,500 for over a similar private car sale? A cup of coffee and a £15 valet it seems.

Edited by hora on Wednesday 22 April 07:58
Agreed.

Recently bought an 18 month old used approved Audi from main dealer. Air con packs in (suspected seal). One local dealer has a waiting list of over a month for garage time with a courtesy car. Other local dealer says it's not warranty item and I'll have to pay up £70!!!

I had to complain to Audi UK to get it resolved.

May aswell have bought privately and paid an indie to fix it - less time and hassle and blood pressure.

AW111

9,455 posts

132 months

Thursday 23rd April 2015
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I have never bought a car from a dealer, so am probably a rarity on here.
Although I have never been lied to, I nearly purchased an 80s Maserati around 5 years ago, from an independant "classic" dealer. Looked excellent, price fair, drove okay (in city traffic only), and had lots of paperwork.

Paying to have it inspected by a specialist independant revealed heavy crash damage and a list of issues as long as your arm. To quote the old bloke : "I want to see you in a Maserati, but not this one".

I don't blame the salesman : it's not his job to point out defects, and old Italian cars are a snare and delusion anyway, but it was a disappointment.

Fast Bug

11,597 posts

160 months

Monday 27th April 2015
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I did recruitment for 6 months. That was long enough for me!


anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 27th April 2015
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LouD86 said:
Fast Bug said:
hora said:
Fast Bug said:
£65k last year in fleet sales selling Renault and Nissan. Not earth shattering, but keeps the wolf from the door.

Remind me what you do again?
Hi, if thats what you really earn year on year good for you. I doubt everyone is clearing anywhere near that. Oh and don't make me ask you to supply a photo of your end of your tax/PAYE summary with a tin of custard..
I don't see the point of bull stting to be honest.

So what do you do for a living? You always seem to give salesman a hard time? You're not sales admin are you eek
Haha, I could stake that James isn't bullstting, and would happily post a copy of my payslip come the end of month to show the real earning potential. And thats with my old basic on it, about 300 short of current.

Hora, what do you do?
This is a pretty cringeworthy read tbh. You guys are doing a great job dispelling the used car salesman/flash shiny suit image. This springs to mind......



Qubit

142 posts

122 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
Yes, every single time I've purchased a car - bar one - the cheapest one from a nice Polish chap who dealt in little runabouts mostly. Every other one has turned out to be a **** in some way or other.

Gary C

12,313 posts

178 months

Tuesday 28th April 2015
quotequote all
Humm, my post seems to have disappeared.

So, dealer has Evo on sale. Open bonnet, no manufacturer vin plate, only has a piece of ally riveted to the bulkhead with the number hand stamped.

Dealer claims its all ok and done on import, but can't remember where the number is stamped into the body on these cars.
When I eventually bought one, found that the number was under where the diy vin plate was riveted.
Stolen car openly on sale at a large car dealer in Bolton (ok I will miss out the name this time)

Went to see a Renault 19 with low miles. Seat heavily worn, steering wheel shiny, pedal rubbers worn, gear lever excessively shiny, car had been around the clock. Dealer got arsey and basically threw me out when challenged.

Went to a certain trade centre in place not too far from keighley to look at a mint celica, car an absolute polished turd of a dog, like the rest of the stock (and they have been known to use baseball bats as part of their customer care package)

However,

Bought a Clio and part exed a polo with no mot for scrap. Dealer promised to take out cost of transport and send me the balance. Expected nothing but true to his word he sent it on (and the Clio was ok too)


Edited by Gary C on Tuesday 28th April 12:33

wolves_wanderer

12,356 posts

236 months

Tuesday 28th April 2015
quotequote all
St John Smythe said:
LouD86 said:
Fast Bug said:
hora said:
Fast Bug said:
£65k last year in fleet sales selling Renault and Nissan. Not earth shattering, but keeps the wolf from the door.

Remind me what you do again?
Hi, if thats what you really earn year on year good for you. I doubt everyone is clearing anywhere near that. Oh and don't make me ask you to supply a photo of your end of your tax/PAYE summary with a tin of custard..
I don't see the point of bull stting to be honest.

So what do you do for a living? You always seem to give salesman a hard time? You're not sales admin are you eek
Haha, I could stake that James isn't bullstting, and would happily post a copy of my payslip come the end of month to show the real earning potential. And thats with my old basic on it, about 300 short of current.

Hora, what do you do?
This is a pretty cringeworthy read tbh. You guys are doing a great job dispelling the used car salesman/flash shiny suit image. This springs to mind......


Considering it was all in response to a sneer about "low wages and pathetic commission" I think it is fair enough.