"You can test drive if you put a deposit down afterwards"
Discussion
robmlufc said:
DonkeyApple said:
Bafflingly angry chap. PH seems full of them these days. Such a shame. Bye. 
He doesn't seem that angry to be fair, like most he can't understand why a salesman would turn away a potential sale. Nevermind, salesmans loss. It's definitely the salesman's loss, or at least these situations would appear on the surface to be so.
I recall when younger, various car salesmen wouldn't entertain their time to come over and ask me if I needed assistance etc but I'm generally of the view that if I want something I will go and ask for it. Also, as I alluded to, it does give some indication and inclination as to how you would negotiate.
By being the one who walks up to the salesman you start off in control and if you maintain this you can use it to your advantage. There is also the thinking that the reluctant salesman may well have already hit his targets so not so keen in getting a deal done, not very good at his job, too junior etc etc. But, driving all the way to a dealership, walking in and then walking out because someone hasn't come to greet you seems very 'Little Englander' in a way and just a waste of your own time.
This thread is really putting me off going to look for a new car!!!
I have had some bad expeiences, and some good with dealers, the good ones, actually got my business in the end.
Anyway as for my predicament!
Come April time, i will be wanting a new car, i have it down to 3 car i like. C63 AMG, E90 M3, Lexus ISF.... maybe the Jag XFR. Currenlty coming from an E46 M3
All the same price, all the same age, and all will have close to the same spec, It will 100% come down to the test drive and what i like the best.
How do i go about this?
I have had some bad expeiences, and some good with dealers, the good ones, actually got my business in the end.
Anyway as for my predicament!
Come April time, i will be wanting a new car, i have it down to 3 car i like. C63 AMG, E90 M3, Lexus ISF.... maybe the Jag XFR. Currenlty coming from an E46 M3
All the same price, all the same age, and all will have close to the same spec, It will 100% come down to the test drive and what i like the best.
How do i go about this?
shibby! said:
This thread is really putting me off going to look for a new car!!!
I have had some bad expeiences, and some good with dealers, the good ones, actually got my business in the end.
Anyway as for my predicament!
Come April time, i will be wanting a new car, i have it down to 3 car i like. C63 AMG, E90 M3, Lexus ISF.... maybe the Jag XFR. Currenlty coming from an E46 M3
All the same price, all the same age, and all will have close to the same spec, It will 100% come down to the test drive and what i like the best.
How do i go about this?
You'll be hitting main dealers.I have had some bad expeiences, and some good with dealers, the good ones, actually got my business in the end.
Anyway as for my predicament!
Come April time, i will be wanting a new car, i have it down to 3 car i like. C63 AMG, E90 M3, Lexus ISF.... maybe the Jag XFR. Currenlty coming from an E46 M3
All the same price, all the same age, and all will have close to the same spec, It will 100% come down to the test drive and what i like the best.
How do i go about this?
Call them in advance, tell them what you want, they will arrange a test drive.
Some dealers will even give you a demonstrator for 24 hours after a credit check.
BadBanshee said:
Greg_D said:
You still haven't purchased a car of that type (you can't tell me you haven't had the opportunity to arrange a drive of a VXR or an abarth before now) so I would also call you out as a timewaster. your actions subsequently haven't supported your assertion that the chap made a mistake!!!
So, because I haven't bought a certain car yet, means I never will? That's totally illogical. If you want me to tell you that if he had given me a test drive then I would definitely have bought the car, then I can't. But I can say that I was open-minded to the idea of buying one. I wasn't time wasting. If I walked into a Bentley dealership and asked for a test drive, THAT would have been time wasting. I very much like the Corsa VXR and I may buy one yet. You can't say that in hindsight, I haven't bought a Corsa VXR since, so he made the right choice. Who knows how things could have been different after a test drive.I have since bought a 106 GTI from a priv seller (technically he was a dealer because he bought and sold a few cars as a thing on the side to his full time job). I don't know if that qualifies as the same "type" of car as the Corsa, in your eyes. Let me tell you that I had a few issues with it before I test drove it. If he had made any kind of push towards me purchasing the car before I had test driven it, or even if he was iffy about giving me a test drive, I would have ran a million miles away, because it was coupled with the issues I already had with it. In fact he was very open about giving me a test drive. I ended up buying.
Offering a test drive is an act of openness towards the customer, as well as a way of helping the customer make a more informed decision.
) but don't subsequently come on here saying that you were ever SERIOUSLY in the market for a £10k supermini becasue that is exactly what you would have ended up with. You were being a walt and everyone knows it - most of all, the salesman knew it and you don't like being rumbled.So to summarise:
All the car salesmen said:
It's perfectly fine to take a deposit before a test drive. It never puts anyone off who wasn't a timewaster.
Majority of the car buying PH public said:
Actually, you're wrong. Ask for a depoisit prior to a test drive and we will simply buy from someone else.
All the car salesmen either said:
See! You're a timewaster.
Or all the car salesmen said:
[fingers in ears] La, la, la, can't hear you, la, la, la.[/fingers in ears]
Edited by mikeveal on Tuesday 15th January 14:03
mikeveal said:
So to summarise.
All the car salesmen said:
It's perfectly fine to take a deposit before a test drive. It never puts anyone off who wasn't a timewaster.
Majority of the car buying PH public said:
Actually, you're wrong. Ask for a depoisit prior to a sale and we will simply buy from someone else.
All the car salesmen either said:
See! You're a timewaster.
Or all the car salesmen said:
[fingers in ears] La, la, la, can't hear you, la, la, la.[/fingers in ears]
Alfahorn said:
If the answer to the question is we're not ready to make a decision, then again why take them on a test drive?
If you're in the market to buy a car, you've identied a car you like, you drive and it meets your expectations. If you can agree a deal why wouldn't you buy it? I really think this, I want to go away and think about it is a load of old tosh. Buyers have never been better informed, there are so many ways to research your potential purchase before you ever step foot in a showroom. Going to the showroom is kind of the final step if you like. You are merely validating your research to confirm that you've found the right car for you. If you've go on the test drive and hate the car fair enough, if you drive the car and love it but still won't make a commitment something is wrong somewhere. So why waste every bodies time?
I always go away and think about major purchases like a car, my reasoning being that it's much easier to look at something dispassionately after the event. Rather than getting caught up in the 'excitement' of the moment. Sometimes I'll then go back and buy it. Depending on whether or not the salesman has been a complete arse about it of course.If you're in the market to buy a car, you've identied a car you like, you drive and it meets your expectations. If you can agree a deal why wouldn't you buy it? I really think this, I want to go away and think about it is a load of old tosh. Buyers have never been better informed, there are so many ways to research your potential purchase before you ever step foot in a showroom. Going to the showroom is kind of the final step if you like. You are merely validating your research to confirm that you've found the right car for you. If you've go on the test drive and hate the car fair enough, if you drive the car and love it but still won't make a commitment something is wrong somewhere. So why waste every bodies time?
I think the problem here is that salesman like to have control and 'drive' the process, when you remove that from them many of them have hissy fits and regard you as a 'timewaster'. They can go and f
k themselves as far as I'm concerned. Deva Link said:
If you really want to be put off, read the car salesman's thread.
All most dealer salesman want to do is sell you finance, GAP etc. They couldn't give a toss about the car itself.
That's a good point. Trying to get the discount at a franchise when you aren't taking the finance can be hard work.All most dealer salesman want to do is sell you finance, GAP etc. They couldn't give a toss about the car itself.
They are more finance salesmen than car salesmen.
my recent experience of buying a nearly new volvo xc60:
my old volvo v70 is about to die but i've been pleased with it over the 7 or so years i've owned it so go to the volvo garage for a mooch.
have a look at the xc90 and decide it is a bit old hat and grandaddy for my liking, so look at the 60, like what i see, very little hassle from the salespeople, walk out with a brochure with no further promises to the salespeople as i was just ruminating at that point. a couple of months go by and was passing with the wife, went in, the bloke was happy to show her the xc60, i suggested a drive, he took us out in the demo (loaded with spec) we left making no promises.
my volvo presented another new and exciting noise (alternator bearing if you're interested).
started looking on AT and PH classifieds assuming that the local car wouldn't be very competitive only to discover that for the year, spec, mileage and price it was the best one in the country.
went back in, sorted out the part ex (very fair price for my old clunker) and a deal was reached. he took the GAP and diamondbrite off the invoice without prompting before he even showed me and half heartedly said, "you aren't interested in those, are you?" i was expecting a 10 minute lecture on the merits of unicorn spunk being wiped on the paint, but not a word of it,
they are sorting out my plates as we speak and i should pick it up in the next day or so.
I've never been knowingly 'sold' anything in my life. i often wonder why car sales people are even on commission, they only act as 'relatively' well informed administrators, as for the purposes of this thread, asking for commitment before the test drive wouldn't have been a problem if handled correctly, but was simply unnecessary because we were clearly 'the volvo type' as was proven in the fullness of time. their job was merely to make the process as pain and pressure free as possible, which is what they did!
my old volvo v70 is about to die but i've been pleased with it over the 7 or so years i've owned it so go to the volvo garage for a mooch.
have a look at the xc90 and decide it is a bit old hat and grandaddy for my liking, so look at the 60, like what i see, very little hassle from the salespeople, walk out with a brochure with no further promises to the salespeople as i was just ruminating at that point. a couple of months go by and was passing with the wife, went in, the bloke was happy to show her the xc60, i suggested a drive, he took us out in the demo (loaded with spec) we left making no promises.
my volvo presented another new and exciting noise (alternator bearing if you're interested).
started looking on AT and PH classifieds assuming that the local car wouldn't be very competitive only to discover that for the year, spec, mileage and price it was the best one in the country.
went back in, sorted out the part ex (very fair price for my old clunker) and a deal was reached. he took the GAP and diamondbrite off the invoice without prompting before he even showed me and half heartedly said, "you aren't interested in those, are you?" i was expecting a 10 minute lecture on the merits of unicorn spunk being wiped on the paint, but not a word of it,
they are sorting out my plates as we speak and i should pick it up in the next day or so.
I've never been knowingly 'sold' anything in my life. i often wonder why car sales people are even on commission, they only act as 'relatively' well informed administrators, as for the purposes of this thread, asking for commitment before the test drive wouldn't have been a problem if handled correctly, but was simply unnecessary because we were clearly 'the volvo type' as was proven in the fullness of time. their job was merely to make the process as pain and pressure free as possible, which is what they did!
Edited by Greg_D on Tuesday 15th January 14:25
Greg_D said:
I've never been knowingly 'sold' anything in my life. i often wonder why car sales people are even on commission, they only act as 'relatively' well informed administrators,
Yep, calling them salespeople is an insult to the sales profession.Interesting to see the salary discussions in the car sales thread - most are earning less than £30K/yr.
Deva Link said:
Greg_D said:
I've never been knowingly 'sold' anything in my life. i often wonder why car sales people are even on commission, they only act as 'relatively' well informed administrators,
Yep, calling them salespeople is an insult to the sales profession.Interesting to see the salary discussions in the car sales thread - most are earning less than £30K/yr.
DonkeyApple said:
The deposit is obviously refundable so there's no great harm in coughing up and then making them give it back, it's just a massive fag and one that I wouldn't bother with.
Really? Usually when I get asked for a deposit at a car dealership, it's a non-refundable deposit used to secure the car against sale to another person.Fair enough for used cars.
For a new car, why bother asking for a deposit? You're not protecting that particular example of a car from sale to another person.
It was also never stated that the deposit would be refundable.
Appreciate that it helps to filter the timewasters, but it's not like I turned up in a 1.0L Corsa or anything. You'd think turning up in a high-performance model from their own product line would clue them in.
About 10yrs ago a chap who daughter I was frequenting with did the following:
He was a very weathly chap, in a huge country house that was very nice but his appearance was not the best.
He had a Nissan Sunny because he brought it new in 1980 something and it still worked, an old discovery and horse trailer because it towed the trailer and the daughters horse fitted in the trailer so why have anything bigger. you get the idea.
The Nissan let him down and he liked the look of the S Type Jag, that was enough to prompt him buying one.
He went to the Jag Dealership (on his own as he didn't actually tell anyone what he was doing) in his usual scruffy jeans and shirt with a holdall bag.
Apparently when he went in he looked at the Jag but was asked to leave the show room, when he said he was interested in the car he was still asked to leave.
In that Bag was cash (that is how he did things), enough cash to buy an S Type.
After we spoke to him, we went to another dealer and did things the normal way (he was still in jeans and shirt).
Fast forward 10yrs and when I drive past his place the Jag is still in use, Although I thin the daughter now has a newer Disco 3 and a Lorry.
He was a very weathly chap, in a huge country house that was very nice but his appearance was not the best.
He had a Nissan Sunny because he brought it new in 1980 something and it still worked, an old discovery and horse trailer because it towed the trailer and the daughters horse fitted in the trailer so why have anything bigger. you get the idea.
The Nissan let him down and he liked the look of the S Type Jag, that was enough to prompt him buying one.
He went to the Jag Dealership (on his own as he didn't actually tell anyone what he was doing) in his usual scruffy jeans and shirt with a holdall bag.
Apparently when he went in he looked at the Jag but was asked to leave the show room, when he said he was interested in the car he was still asked to leave.
In that Bag was cash (that is how he did things), enough cash to buy an S Type.
After we spoke to him, we went to another dealer and did things the normal way (he was still in jeans and shirt).
Fast forward 10yrs and when I drive past his place the Jag is still in use, Although I thin the daughter now has a newer Disco 3 and a Lorry.
Greg_D said:
I'm not going to keep batting this one back and forwards, you went and looked at a supermini of roughly £10k value (realistic bottom of the market a few months ago), kicked tyres, got sent off with a flea in your ear. Subsequently you have purchased a significantly older supermini of roughly £2k value (as it happens, you have probably ended up with a better steer ) but don't subsequently come on here saying that you were ever SERIOUSLY in the market for a £10k supermini becasue that is exactly what you would have ended up with. You were being a walt and everyone knows it - most of all, the salesman knew it and you don't like being rumbled.
Thanks for the compliment in there lol. ) but don't subsequently come on here saying that you were ever SERIOUSLY in the market for a £10k supermini becasue that is exactly what you would have ended up with. You were being a walt and everyone knows it - most of all, the salesman knew it and you don't like being rumbled.Tbh, between the time I was interested in the Corsa VXR, Abarth 500 and Clio RS (to name a few) and the time I went hunting for a 106 GTI, I did change my outlook towards buying my next car significantly. I very nearly parted with £12k for an Abarth 500 and by God I am glad I didn't because £12k of regret is quite a bucketful. I bought the 106 GTI not because I'm short on money but because I'm tight as f
k and the thought of spending pennies to temper my hot hatch fever appealed.gazchap said:
DonkeyApple said:
The deposit is obviously refundable so there's no great harm in coughing up and then making them give it back, it's just a massive fag and one that I wouldn't bother with.
Really? Usually when I get asked for a deposit at a car dealership, it's a non-refundable deposit used to secure the car against sale to another person.Fair enough for used cars.
For a new car, why bother asking for a deposit? You're not protecting that particular example of a car from sale to another person.
It was also never stated that the deposit would be refundable.
Appreciate that it helps to filter the timewasters, but it's not like I turned up in a 1.0L Corsa or anything. You'd think turning up in a high-performance model from their own product line would clue them in.
If it was a non refundable deposit to purchase a car then he was clearly not interesting in taking you for a test drive.
If however, it was a refundable deposit of 'goodwill', which would make more sense, then it would be a filter mechanism.
With the impact the 135i has had it is fair to assume that they have a lot of FTWs and the management placed such a hurdle, even though it seems somewhat counter productive.
I once visited Wollaston BMW in Northampton with the full intention of buyins a Mini (for the wife). It was a Saturday morning and I was dressed in a t-shirt and jogging bottoms ~ I was ignored.
I ventured next door to Mercedes and bought a C Klass which she subsequently preffered. I took my receipt back next door to Wollaston BMW, asked to see the sales manager and showed it to him suggesting his team ought to pre-judge everyone who visits their showroom.
Having said that; the wife now drives an E61 and loves Wollaston BMW. I don't drive such flash cars so favour a local independant who doesn't charge £125.00+VAT labour per hour and who changed a fog lamp for me last week for a fourpack of Red Stripe and a bag of sausage rolls!
I ventured next door to Mercedes and bought a C Klass which she subsequently preffered. I took my receipt back next door to Wollaston BMW, asked to see the sales manager and showed it to him suggesting his team ought to pre-judge everyone who visits their showroom.
Having said that; the wife now drives an E61 and loves Wollaston BMW. I don't drive such flash cars so favour a local independant who doesn't charge £125.00+VAT labour per hour and who changed a fog lamp for me last week for a fourpack of Red Stripe and a bag of sausage rolls!
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