Not what you'd expect from a dealership?
Discussion
I'm looking to buy a used sporty hatchback as a family runabout. So I visited my local dealership first thing, after seeing one they had online, that looked like it'd fit the bill. It was sold but they'd see what they had in the group. The salesman then comes back to say they have a similar spec car at a nearby dealership in the group. Wife and I say we'll drive over to have a look. The salesman says he'll just check that it's still available. But comes back to say it's gone too. However, he's been told that they have a car with the same spec coming in later as a trade in if I could come back.
I guessed he's getting it transferred to claim the sale. But thought okay it'll save me driving there. Anyway, we turn up in the afternoon to see it. Sure enough, it's been valeted in a way that screams that it's been on the forecourt. not just traded in. I should have just walked away.
I look at the tyres and there are four different makes, the two at the front are both unknown budget "brands" and all of them have different tread depths. I point this out to the salesman and says he get that changed and put four decent tyres on it. Anyway, a bit more haggling and I put down a deposit as otherwise, it's just what we are looking for.
But when I get home I get a call it appears that the service guys and his boss must think that the deal is too generous as they are only willing to replace two tyres and would be happy to sell me the other two at cost. Because it's not unsafe to have different brands and tread depths across an axle. Am I being too picky or should politely ask for my deposit back?
I guessed he's getting it transferred to claim the sale. But thought okay it'll save me driving there. Anyway, we turn up in the afternoon to see it. Sure enough, it's been valeted in a way that screams that it's been on the forecourt. not just traded in. I should have just walked away.
I look at the tyres and there are four different makes, the two at the front are both unknown budget "brands" and all of them have different tread depths. I point this out to the salesman and says he get that changed and put four decent tyres on it. Anyway, a bit more haggling and I put down a deposit as otherwise, it's just what we are looking for.
But when I get home I get a call it appears that the service guys and his boss must think that the deal is too generous as they are only willing to replace two tyres and would be happy to sell me the other two at cost. Because it's not unsafe to have different brands and tread depths across an axle. Am I being too picky or should politely ask for my deposit back?
I had this with a BMW dealer. The cream coloured seatbelts were filthy in the 7 Series that I was looking at and they agreed to replace them as a condition of sale. They later rang (after pricing up the parts and labour for a seatbelt swap in a 7 Series-£££££) to tell me that they'd valeted them instead and they'd come up like new. They hadn't done anything of the kind. Stupidly having driven 100 miles to pick the car up and with the MOT on my trade in running out the following day I just took it as it was.
Stick to your guns. They agreed it as part of the sale.
Stick to your guns. They agreed it as part of the sale.
Salesman probably had boggo Yaris tyre prices in his head and when they costed up the ones for the SR they're not a common size so it will wipe out their profit.
At least they're being honest with you, accept the deal, walk away or haggle some more. They won't sell you it at a loss but if you're willing to walk away maybe there wil be some more wriggle room there.
Have you gone over the service history carefully? Four random budgets doesn't exactly scream attentive ownership.
At least they're being honest with you, accept the deal, walk away or haggle some more. They won't sell you it at a loss but if you're willing to walk away maybe there wil be some more wriggle room there.
Have you gone over the service history carefully? Four random budgets doesn't exactly scream attentive ownership.
Andy504 said:
But when I get home I get a call it appears that the service guys and his boss must think that the deal is too generous as they are only willing to replace two tyres and would be happy to sell me the other two at cost. Because it's not unsafe to have different brands and tread depths across an axle. Am I being too picky or should politely ask for my deposit back?
How much extra cash are they actually asking for? How badly do you want THAT car?
Andy504 said:
I guessed he's getting it transferred to claim the sale. But thought okay it'll save me driving there. Anyway, we turn up in the afternoon to see it. Sure enough, it's been valeted in a way that screams that it's been on the forecourt. not just traded in. I should have just walked away
Why would you walk away because he may have had it transferred in? And who's to say that he didn't have his valet bay give it a quick once over to make it more presentable to a potential buyer?On the other issue with the tyres, there is no legal requirement for all 4 tyres to match and have even depths. That said, if the deal was done on the basis of 4 new tyres and that's changed then either stand your ground or walk. It's not as if there are no more £6k used cars to pick from
What do they want to charge you for the two tyres, OP? Is it a reasonable price for the tyres?
I might be tempted to tell them to forget about fitting them and get them to knock off what they wanted to charge you for the two.
Then you can sort out the tyres yourself once you get the car.
I might be tempted to tell them to forget about fitting them and get them to knock off what they wanted to charge you for the two.
Then you can sort out the tyres yourself once you get the car.
Its pretty much exactly what I'd expect from a dealer to be honest, you're just a purse to them, They weren't exactly honest about sourcing the car in the first place and have now reneged on the deal.
If they won't pay for all four tyres as agreed are they going to give a discount on first service or similar ?
If they won't pay for all four tyres as agreed are they going to give a discount on first service or similar ?
Unfortunately this sort of thing is exactly what I would expect from a dealership.
A common sales tactic is to offer somea good deal to get them to sign. Then later say it cant be done and offer the customer something slightly worse hoping they wont walk away.
Ask for your deposit back. You had a deal, they are going back on it. One of the things I look at when buying a car is the quality of the tyres. Unmatched, unbranded tyres is a big no no from me.
A common sales tactic is to offer somea good deal to get them to sign. Then later say it cant be done and offer the customer something slightly worse hoping they wont walk away.
Ask for your deposit back. You had a deal, they are going back on it. One of the things I look at when buying a car is the quality of the tyres. Unmatched, unbranded tyres is a big no no from me.
just what id expect from a dealer in all honesty
as long as theyre safe and legal by the law then in their eyes why change them , if you manage to get them to agree to new tyres have the brand written into the deal as id expect them to replace them with more ditchfinders and argue theyre premuims made in same factory as michelin sir
as long as theyre safe and legal by the law then in their eyes why change them , if you manage to get them to agree to new tyres have the brand written into the deal as id expect them to replace them with more ditchfinders and argue theyre premuims made in same factory as michelin sir
Stuck to my guns. Not the deal I agreed so please refund my deposit. I then get a call from the manager, they can change the tyres. But by this point they've sucked all the joy out of buying from them and I'm wondering if four odd tyres is, as one of the posts on this thread suggests, a sign of lack of care. Deposit paid on a credit card so if it doesn't turn up this week I'll hand it over to the card issuer to sort. Thanks everyone for the thoughts and advice.
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