Used Car Dealers without Showrooms / Forecourts?
Discussion
So after a couple of company cars and lease cars, I'm in the market to buy a used car as a daily hack. Something in the 5k range. There seem to be an increasing number of dealers with no location listed on their website, car photo's taken in housing estates, no forecourt etc.
Am I right to feel un-nerved?
Am I right to feel un-nerved?
I'd worry, it completely diminishes the benefits over buying from a private seller.
Will this 'trade seller' be around tomorrow/next month/year?
Is he more likely to clock it/clear any codes/otherwise bodge it up to make a quick buck?
Buying from a stealer who is established at least gives some peace of mind as they're unlikely to operate as complete crims and have a premises for the past 3/5/10 years+
Will this 'trade seller' be around tomorrow/next month/year?
Is he more likely to clock it/clear any codes/otherwise bodge it up to make a quick buck?
Buying from a stealer who is established at least gives some peace of mind as they're unlikely to operate as complete crims and have a premises for the past 3/5/10 years+
I wouldn't be bothered.
I looked at a Merc last year at a house. I was un-nerved at first but got chatting to a chap i know in the trade who sells PX's to said type of trader - he says the comforting bit is that a trader may sell you a car from a garage/forecourt with big cash problems and shut up shop the next day. Whereas, where a trader is selling from a house - got to assume that the majority, or certainly say half, OWN or have mortgages on the said property. That bit more difficult to disappear when it's your house. That what he said anyway.
Reason for not buying was that i simply didnt like the car.
I looked at a Merc last year at a house. I was un-nerved at first but got chatting to a chap i know in the trade who sells PX's to said type of trader - he says the comforting bit is that a trader may sell you a car from a garage/forecourt with big cash problems and shut up shop the next day. Whereas, where a trader is selling from a house - got to assume that the majority, or certainly say half, OWN or have mortgages on the said property. That bit more difficult to disappear when it's your house. That what he said anyway.
Reason for not buying was that i simply didnt like the car.
geeteeaye said:
Is he more likely to clock it/clear any codes/otherwise bodge it up to make a quick buck?
Buying from a stealer who is established at least gives some peace of mind as they're unlikely to operate as complete crims and have a premises for the past 3/5/10 years+
I work from home, so just declaring an interest.
I still have the same legal obligations as much bigger dealers, my overheads are smaller, I think my prices are pretty keen, as I only have the internet to attract people.
A good early indicator is, is he VAT registered? Its virtually impossible to be a motor trader and not be VAT registered, if he is, he won't mind you asking. If he isn't its a massive sign of someone dodgy. There are not many like this though.
What prep has he had done to the car? Some cars genuinely don't need any, but someone who tries to do the job properly will at least do a lights and levels check. If he has spent decent money on the car, servicing, MOT, Tyres, brakes etc then its fair to say he is trying his best to do a good job.
Phone up, ask lots of questions, get a feel for the person. Then if you go to look at the car, judge the car on its own merits. There is good and bad everywhere.
As mentioned, inviting someone to buy a car from where you live is a big incentive to make sure people are happy when buying a car from you.
Judge the car and the seller, but don't pre-judge either.
I still have the same legal obligations as much bigger dealers, my overheads are smaller, I think my prices are pretty keen, as I only have the internet to attract people.
A good early indicator is, is he VAT registered? Its virtually impossible to be a motor trader and not be VAT registered, if he is, he won't mind you asking. If he isn't its a massive sign of someone dodgy. There are not many like this though.
What prep has he had done to the car? Some cars genuinely don't need any, but someone who tries to do the job properly will at least do a lights and levels check. If he has spent decent money on the car, servicing, MOT, Tyres, brakes etc then its fair to say he is trying his best to do a good job.
Phone up, ask lots of questions, get a feel for the person. Then if you go to look at the car, judge the car on its own merits. There is good and bad everywhere.
As mentioned, inviting someone to buy a car from where you live is a big incentive to make sure people are happy when buying a car from you.
Judge the car and the seller, but don't pre-judge either.
Edited by kentmotorcompany on Thursday 24th February 21:54
One other point.
The internet has made selling cars much more price sensitive than it used to be.
Sellers have a much better idea what their own car worth = dealers have to pay more money than they previously did to buy stock.
Buyers have access to virtually every similar car available = dealers have to be much competitive with their asking prices than they used to be.
All of the above squeezes margins, and thats why over the last 5-10 years there is a whole army of home based traders popped up. Many of them used to have a business premises, but couldn't make it work with the overheads.
So to all you demanding customers, its all your own fault.
The internet has made selling cars much more price sensitive than it used to be.
Sellers have a much better idea what their own car worth = dealers have to pay more money than they previously did to buy stock.
Buyers have access to virtually every similar car available = dealers have to be much competitive with their asking prices than they used to be.
All of the above squeezes margins, and thats why over the last 5-10 years there is a whole army of home based traders popped up. Many of them used to have a business premises, but couldn't make it work with the overheads.
So to all you demanding customers, its all your own fault.
I bought a car for £12k from one of these kinda guys.
Had a massive house in the country, some type of mansion. He brought the car out looking mint with only 4k on the clock. Had all the docs and everything and the deal was done. He said he used to work in the trade but got fed up of the cut-throat business and sales targets, so went to work for himself.
He was really kind and courteous, had the car for 10 months without the slightest problem at all and it was all legit.
Had a massive house in the country, some type of mansion. He brought the car out looking mint with only 4k on the clock. Had all the docs and everything and the deal was done. He said he used to work in the trade but got fed up of the cut-throat business and sales targets, so went to work for himself.
He was really kind and courteous, had the car for 10 months without the slightest problem at all and it was all legit.
Ravix said:
So after a couple of company cars and lease cars, I'm in the market to buy a used car as a daily hack. Something in the 5k range. There seem to be an increasing number of dealers with no location listed on their website, car photo's taken in housing estates, no forecourt etc.
Am I right to feel un-nerved?
YesAm I right to feel un-nerved?
MondeoMan1981 said:
I dont have an issue buying from a dealer's own home.
I have experienced arriving early at an appointment to find an empty house and the dealer turning up and parking the car on the drive.... We drove away from that one!
Maybe there were other factors that made you drive away? But otherwise why? I have experienced arriving early at an appointment to find an empty house and the dealer turning up and parking the car on the drive.... We drove away from that one!
I work from home, I sometimes have up to ten cars in stock. I cant keep more than 5-6 on my drive at one time. I rent a couple of lock up garages nearby (it also helps keep them clean and ready for a viewing) to keep some in, I also park one or two on a relations drive nearby. I often have to swap a car around from one location to another, when a customer is coming to view.
I also tend to drive around in a stock car.
I sometimes have to pop out to put some fuel in one ready for a viewing.
There are many perfectly good reasons why I might arrive with a car that a customer has come to see, just before or even just after they arrive.
At short notice many customers have got to my house a few minutes before me, never had a problem.
I was looking at a car for sale by a guy who didn't have a showroom or anything. He had about £50k in cars that he traded.
The car I enquired about sold before I got chance to look, so he would give me his log in to all the trade auctions and send me a list of the up and coming auctions I would be interested in. So I got mine at auction price plus a little for his time and auction fees
The car I enquired about sold before I got chance to look, so he would give me his log in to all the trade auctions and send me a list of the up and coming auctions I would be interested in. So I got mine at auction price plus a little for his time and auction fees
I remember a number of years back I called up about a car advertised as a private on in the Autotrader, first thing the bloke said was 'I am a trader and they got my advert wrong, if you look you will see these other cars with my number marked as a trader' he wasn't lying.
Went to view the car and it was better than described and I bought it. The bloke was an RAC patrol man who in his spare time bought, sorted and sold cars from his home. I don't think any warranty was discussed but the car lasted more than long enough.
I have certainly seen much worse from some small dealers with forecourts.
Went to view the car and it was better than described and I bought it. The bloke was an RAC patrol man who in his spare time bought, sorted and sold cars from his home. I don't think any warranty was discussed but the car lasted more than long enough.
I have certainly seen much worse from some small dealers with forecourts.
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