Is this taking the michael?
Discussion
DUMBO100 said:
I used to be a Car Sales man and whenever possible I would ensure that every customer got at least half a tank of fuel. Either myself or a valeter would fill it up and sign the book with trade plates registration number. The Bosses never knew and I would get a lot more referrals and recommendations to new customers so it was the least I could do
I'll bet my last pound they knew about every transaction....or they would be out of business.just imagine what you did to that business, especially if you were one of several, all doing the same "sneaky" thing !!
IanCress said:
It would be nice for them to stick £10 in, but it's money down the drain to them if they do.
No it isn't. It's short termism.How much is a main dealer's total PR/Marketing/Advertising/Sales person/Car prep etc spend per buying customer?
You'll find in most business it's far cheaper to retain a customer than it is to acquire a new one.
Will the OP go back for another car there?
freenote said:
Wow...emotional stuff.
1. My mistake, we are going on Monday for 64 plate
2. Many of the people getting so emotional about this are missing the point. It's not about the money (my wife just didn't fancy any extras at the time of asking), it's more the principal that given this is a large purchase and one would expect the dealer wants you leaving the forecourt happy, it would be quite nice to have a quarter tank of fuel so we can go off for a drive rather than straight to the petrol station.
It's simply an added extra that would make me feel like a valued customer who might then go back again or recommend them.
If you got the deal you were expecting, why wouldnt you go away happy?1. My mistake, we are going on Monday for 64 plate
2. Many of the people getting so emotional about this are missing the point. It's not about the money (my wife just didn't fancy any extras at the time of asking), it's more the principal that given this is a large purchase and one would expect the dealer wants you leaving the forecourt happy, it would be quite nice to have a quarter tank of fuel so we can go off for a drive rather than straight to the petrol station.
It's simply an added extra that would make me feel like a valued customer who might then go back again or recommend them.
You were offered a combo deal on fuel and mats and declined.
Seriously - dealers make next to nothing on new cars these days - every penny has to be accounted for.
Part of the reason why i'm glad to be out of the motor trade - people want the cheapest prices AND all the trimmings - the two dont go hand in hand.
CaptainSlow said:
IanCress said:
It would be nice for them to stick £10 in, but it's money down the drain to them if they do.
No it isn't. It's short termism.How much is a main dealer's total PR/Marketing/Advertising/Sales person/Car prep etc spend per buying customer?
You'll find in most business it's far cheaper to retain a customer than it is to acquire a new one.
Will the OP go back for another car there?
Personally, i would never have sold a car with the fuel low warning light on, but likewise the days of a "full tank of petrol" are long gone.
It will be interesting to see how the dealer plays it on monday. I'd say there'll at least be a tenners worth in it.
freenote said:
Picking up brand new Suzuki Swift Sport on Saturday for SWMBO. I have never purchased new before or from a main dealer.
They offered her full tank and 4 mats for £99 which she declined.
As a result they have said the car is on the low fuel light and will remain that way.
To me, given we're purchasing brand new, it seems a real pisstake.
Any experienced people care to enlighten me??
No. I just took delivery of a new Astra. Bag of sThey offered her full tank and 4 mats for £99 which she declined.
As a result they have said the car is on the low fuel light and will remain that way.
To me, given we're purchasing brand new, it seems a real pisstake.
Any experienced people care to enlighten me??
t tbh but a company car. The light was on and the needle didn't lift at all from rest. The nearest fuel was about 5 miles away. When I got there I managed to get 2 litres more in it than the book says it holds. I really didn't think I'd get there.I used to work in sales at a main dealer, as others have said very slim margins in cars at this end of the market. Depending on what deals the manafacturer was advertising we would often lose money on cars and hope to sell enough to collect the volume bonus at the end of the quarter. This is why dealers often have lots of pre reg cars for sale, because they need to hit target.
I popped in to see an old mate last week who now works at a large Vauxhall dealer, he showed me his deal book from last month. Every new car he sold had actually lost money, one or two by four figures!!!
They needed the metal shifted to meet target or incurr sanctions from the manafacturer.
Volume dealers now make there profit from finance/GAP/paint protection/alloy and dent insurance/ servicing and used vehicles.
I popped in to see an old mate last week who now works at a large Vauxhall dealer, he showed me his deal book from last month. Every new car he sold had actually lost money, one or two by four figures!!!
They needed the metal shifted to meet target or incurr sanctions from the manafacturer.
Volume dealers now make there profit from finance/GAP/paint protection/alloy and dent insurance/ servicing and used vehicles.
Edited by oldnbold on Friday 29th August 19:31
HTP99 said:
We charge £24 fuel on every car that we sell, new or used, even if fuel is negotiated within the deal there is always a cost shown on the invoice for it, we just discount the car accordingly.
New cars arrive with literally half a litre in, we've had them run out of fuel as they are coming off the transporter and contrary to popular belief OTR doesn't include fuel also, however I have come across old adverts from decades ago where a full tank was mentioned as being part of the OTR price.
A few years ago we always put £10-£15 in each car and not show a cost however the recession hit, things got tough and dealers had to cut down on things, in our case flowers stopped as did "free" fuel.
We put £30 in all our new cars unless the customer haggles every last penny out of you, then they get £10. All fuel is itemised on the invoice so the customer pays for it.New cars arrive with literally half a litre in, we've had them run out of fuel as they are coming off the transporter and contrary to popular belief OTR doesn't include fuel also, however I have come across old adverts from decades ago where a full tank was mentioned as being part of the OTR price.
A few years ago we always put £10-£15 in each car and not show a cost however the recession hit, things got tough and dealers had to cut down on things, in our case flowers stopped as did "free" fuel.
When I bought my bike as an ex-demo the fuel was nicely wetting the bottom of the tank. When I bought my Jazz that was nearly 3 from a main dealer they very kindly filled it up for me all within the price. I say kind, they didn't have to and I'm quite sure they made plenty of money on the deal.
I'm picking up a new 1 series on Monday. When ordering the car, the subject of fuel was never mentioned & I've never bought a new car before, so I never considered asking about fuel, although to be honest I wasn't expecting there to be much in it & I was expecting to fill it up just after collection.
I just had a look at the invoice, and included in the extras such as "service inclusive" and "first registration fee" is "fuel - new cars......£40."
So it seems that BMW kindly put £40 worth in, and then kindly charge you for it by adding it to the invoice. The car is financed, so I'll be paying that £40 back over three years at BMW Finance's interest rate, so I suspect it'll end up being the most expensive petrol I've ever bought.
Still - new car.
Can't wait!
I just had a look at the invoice, and included in the extras such as "service inclusive" and "first registration fee" is "fuel - new cars......£40."
So it seems that BMW kindly put £40 worth in, and then kindly charge you for it by adding it to the invoice. The car is financed, so I'll be paying that £40 back over three years at BMW Finance's interest rate, so I suspect it'll end up being the most expensive petrol I've ever bought.
Still - new car.
Can't wait!
Sorry op if I've missed something but if you aren't picking the car up until Monday, how do you know they haven't put any fuel in ?
We do a "premium pack" for £79.95 which 95% of people purchase. That includes :
£25 fuel, mats, touch up stick, bulb kit, fuel additive and £25 off your first service. If they don't purchase this we normally give £12 of fuel and a set of mats.
We do a "premium pack" for £79.95 which 95% of people purchase. That includes :
£25 fuel, mats, touch up stick, bulb kit, fuel additive and £25 off your first service. If they don't purchase this we normally give £12 of fuel and a set of mats.
freenote said:
They offered ... she declined.
Seems pretty reasonable then that there will be no fuel added at the dealership's cost. freenote said:
To me, given we're purchasing brand new, it seems a real pisstake.
Did you pay the full MRRP? I'd guess at not. So long as you got more than £55 discount, there's your tank of fuel (ditto for all the other cases where people say th emanufacturer states a tank of fuel is included in their OTR price - fine, pay their OTR price without a discount). If mats aren't part of the standard spec, then they are either a factory fit or dealer fit cost option. Having presumably gone through the specification and options of the new car you were ordering, prior to doing so, you will have been aware of this and given a choice to have them and pay for them or not to - and not to have them.
So yes, expecting things for free when you've already declined to purchase them is taking the Michael rather a bit.
Every manufacturer has the facility to "mail stop" new car customers prior to registration of the vehicle, so you may or may not recieve a customer satisfaction questionnaire...
If you do get one, by all means call them before returning/completing it and mention that it'd help your decision to tick ALL the "completely satisfied"/"outstanding"/">superlative of choice<" boxes if they'd be willing to sort you out with EITHER a tank of fuel or a set of mats. Mention it good-naturedly and they'll likely do the right thing.
It works both ways though, slate them for it on the questionnaire with no heads-up or opportunity as above and you *may* find that future aftersales experiences with the dealership or any time you may need them to help you out in some way above and beyond the usual course of business may be met with less than fully co-operative helpfulness.
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