Car dealers - your experiences...
Discussion
After a recent car buying experience I thought I'd see if any of your good selves have had similar experiences or can see where I maybe going wrong?
I decided to get myself a new motor, made my mind up to get a C63 saloon, no older than 2012 and with less than 20k on the clock, max 1 owner. Fair enough not the most expensive car this dealer sells but I consider this to be a very nice and quite expensive car.
Turn up at my local dealership in my car (2013 S3 sportback) and went in to enquire about what they had for sale and what they could get.
After struggling to see anyone I finally saw someone who it seemed found me more of an inconvenience than anything and basically directed me to the website (the first place I had looked anyway). After leaving my details, exactly what I wanted (black or grey saloon, black leather interior, performance pack or not no issue) and explaining if they got one I would be down and buy cash, I left in high hopes.
Waited a month and a half and gave up. Contacted a private prestige car dealer who got one in in a very short time and I purchased within two days. Never heard from the original dealer to this day, almost a year and as far as they are aware I'm still looking.
I wouldn't consider myself young at 31, the chap at the dealership I bought from did say I was a little younger than he expected but surely if someone is looking for a car as a dealer do you not want to capitalise upon this?
Anyone had similar experience or is it just me people don't want to sell cars to?
I decided to get myself a new motor, made my mind up to get a C63 saloon, no older than 2012 and with less than 20k on the clock, max 1 owner. Fair enough not the most expensive car this dealer sells but I consider this to be a very nice and quite expensive car.
Turn up at my local dealership in my car (2013 S3 sportback) and went in to enquire about what they had for sale and what they could get.
After struggling to see anyone I finally saw someone who it seemed found me more of an inconvenience than anything and basically directed me to the website (the first place I had looked anyway). After leaving my details, exactly what I wanted (black or grey saloon, black leather interior, performance pack or not no issue) and explaining if they got one I would be down and buy cash, I left in high hopes.
Waited a month and a half and gave up. Contacted a private prestige car dealer who got one in in a very short time and I purchased within two days. Never heard from the original dealer to this day, almost a year and as far as they are aware I'm still looking.
I wouldn't consider myself young at 31, the chap at the dealership I bought from did say I was a little younger than he expected but surely if someone is looking for a car as a dealer do you not want to capitalise upon this?
Anyone had similar experience or is it just me people don't want to sell cars to?
was it a mercedes franchised dealer ?
with respect, main dealers do not operate like that
they sell new cars
they sell used cars they have in stock
they service & repair cars
they sell parts
they do not go out and source individual Used cars for individual customers, they are simply not resourced to do this - as much as you may want this type of service
you experience of a Indy dealer is different as they only sell Used cars and don't do all the other things listed above and are much smaller businesses with management / owners much more involved
with respect, main dealers do not operate like that
they sell new cars
they sell used cars they have in stock
they service & repair cars
they sell parts
they do not go out and source individual Used cars for individual customers, they are simply not resourced to do this - as much as you may want this type of service
you experience of a Indy dealer is different as they only sell Used cars and don't do all the other things listed above and are much smaller businesses with management / owners much more involved
akadk said:
was it a mercedes franchised dealer ?
with respect, main dealers do not operate like that
they sell new cars
they sell used cars they have in stock
they service & repair cars
they sell parts
they do not go out and source individual Used cars for individual customers, they are simply not resourced to do this - as much as you may want this type of service
you experience of a Indy dealer is different as they only sell Used cars and don't do all the other things listed above and are much smaller businesses with management / owners much more involved
I thought they could look through the dealer network and move a suitable car if available to there dealership.with respect, main dealers do not operate like that
they sell new cars
they sell used cars they have in stock
they service & repair cars
they sell parts
they do not go out and source individual Used cars for individual customers, they are simply not resourced to do this - as much as you may want this type of service
you experience of a Indy dealer is different as they only sell Used cars and don't do all the other things listed above and are much smaller businesses with management / owners much more involved
mickthemechanic said:
I thought they could look through the dealer network and move a suitable car if available to their dealership.
They can, but it's easier for them if you find it first, and even go and look at it - hence shooing you off to the website.Also agree with the 'don't flash the cash' thing.
If it's on finance, they make (yet) more money. No need to ask about a cash price until the end.
Thanks for the feedback,
Reference flashing the cash, its difficult as when asked what finance plan I want I don't really want to sit there discussing finance I don't need.
If garages don't offer this service they could just say?
Both prestige dealerships I have dealt with since have been fantastic, cannot do enough to help.
Reference flashing the cash, its difficult as when asked what finance plan I want I don't really want to sit there discussing finance I don't need.
If garages don't offer this service they could just say?
Both prestige dealerships I have dealt with since have been fantastic, cannot do enough to help.
OddCat said:
FocusRS3 said:
I used to be heavily into Porsches and although I thought I knew Paul Stephens Porsche pretty well it didn't stop him ripping me off horrendously .
That's one person I'd never want to deal with again
Details ?That's one person I'd never want to deal with again
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