Evans Halshaw car buying service. Any good?
Discussion
We've all heard stories of Webuyanycar knocking offers down enormously when you take the car in.
Are Evans Halshaw any better??
I've been trying without success to sell a low mileage but 2010 Clio Automatic for an elderly friend who has thankfully given up driving. Been advertised on eBay, Gumtree and Autotrader with little response, although I may have been a bit greedy on the asking price - but I expected to get knocked down as that is the nature of the beast.
Tried Google with offers up to £3k
WBAC offered £3100 less fees
EH offered £3400 which is probably going to happen before we get into another months tax.
Anyone had experience?
Are Evans Halshaw any better??
I've been trying without success to sell a low mileage but 2010 Clio Automatic for an elderly friend who has thankfully given up driving. Been advertised on eBay, Gumtree and Autotrader with little response, although I may have been a bit greedy on the asking price - but I expected to get knocked down as that is the nature of the beast.
Tried Google with offers up to £3k
WBAC offered £3100 less fees
EH offered £3400 which is probably going to happen before we get into another months tax.
Anyone had experience?
They actually paid us more than they'd promised when they saw the condition of the car we sold them. If you can wait a couple of days for the money then they give you a bit more too, although we did have to chase them for payment, they were one day later than how we'd interpreted their small print
I'd recommend to a friend (and have done) which is the bottom line
I'd recommend to a friend (and have done) which is the bottom line
As with most things, it will no doubt vary depending on which garage/person you deal with (as well as what car you are trying to sell).
I tried selling my car to a branch 40 minutes from my home yesterday afternoon and they were woeful. Booked almost a week in advance and rang earlier on the Saturday to check all was still good. The girl I spoke to seemed annoyed by my call, but I managed to speak to the guy I was due to see and he was better. But he did ask me to leave my home in Cambridge 90mins before the appointment to ensure I was there early so we could get through everything.
Got there 45 minutes or so before the appointment time and the guy on reception, who appeared to be the manager, didn't seem overly pleased I was early and told me it was appointment only. I told him that I was only there early as his colleague had specifically asked me to be there early.
The appointment one hour before mine was still waiting to be seen and they were asked whether they'd like to come back another day, but declined on the basis that, like me, they had travelled over to try and do a deal there and then.
The guy who I was due to see then also told me I was early and I said he told me to be. He replied, "yeah, I know".
He told me they had IT issues that day and were running behind but assured me I'd be seen and offered a deal that day. I wasn't convinced so called the next nearest branch on the off chance I could go there, but they were booked up.
I therefore booked up a WBAC appointment for today as a fall back. WBAC called me immediately and just told me to come in whenever and I didn't need an appointment.
I was then called in by the EH guy who gestured to me he was ready, only to wait for him to then tell me that they couldnt do anything that day due to IT issues and I was offered to go back on Monday to try again.
I phoned WBAC as I walked out of EH and drove straight there and negotiated a deal. The guy at WBAC was very customer focused and a complete contrast to EH, but who knows what I might have experienced elsewhere.
I guess a Saturday at month end might not have been the best time to go, but this didn't impact on the experience with WBAC and EH did have a separate car buying team.
TL:DR - I found the process with EH awful, not one I'd rush back to. Well, at least not at that branch. YMMV.
I tried selling my car to a branch 40 minutes from my home yesterday afternoon and they were woeful. Booked almost a week in advance and rang earlier on the Saturday to check all was still good. The girl I spoke to seemed annoyed by my call, but I managed to speak to the guy I was due to see and he was better. But he did ask me to leave my home in Cambridge 90mins before the appointment to ensure I was there early so we could get through everything.
Got there 45 minutes or so before the appointment time and the guy on reception, who appeared to be the manager, didn't seem overly pleased I was early and told me it was appointment only. I told him that I was only there early as his colleague had specifically asked me to be there early.
The appointment one hour before mine was still waiting to be seen and they were asked whether they'd like to come back another day, but declined on the basis that, like me, they had travelled over to try and do a deal there and then.
The guy who I was due to see then also told me I was early and I said he told me to be. He replied, "yeah, I know".
He told me they had IT issues that day and were running behind but assured me I'd be seen and offered a deal that day. I wasn't convinced so called the next nearest branch on the off chance I could go there, but they were booked up.
I therefore booked up a WBAC appointment for today as a fall back. WBAC called me immediately and just told me to come in whenever and I didn't need an appointment.
I was then called in by the EH guy who gestured to me he was ready, only to wait for him to then tell me that they couldnt do anything that day due to IT issues and I was offered to go back on Monday to try again.
I phoned WBAC as I walked out of EH and drove straight there and negotiated a deal. The guy at WBAC was very customer focused and a complete contrast to EH, but who knows what I might have experienced elsewhere.
I guess a Saturday at month end might not have been the best time to go, but this didn't impact on the experience with WBAC and EH did have a separate car buying team.
TL:DR - I found the process with EH awful, not one I'd rush back to. Well, at least not at that branch. YMMV.
Chopped in my A7 Bitdi to Evans Hal shaw as I needed a timely sale due to new lease car arriving.
Did the usual price checks with WBAC etc and EH listed the best price by £1k+
Arranged an apt at Hemel branch, went via the local hand carwash and turned up 10 mins early.
They came out, viewed The car and agreed the quoted cost.
Got picked up and money in my account following day - nice and simples.
Would set consider again to avoid the tyre kickers and wasted time selling privately.
.
Did the usual price checks with WBAC etc and EH listed the best price by £1k+
Arranged an apt at Hemel branch, went via the local hand carwash and turned up 10 mins early.
They came out, viewed The car and agreed the quoted cost.
Got picked up and money in my account following day - nice and simples.
Would set consider again to avoid the tyre kickers and wasted time selling privately.
.
My experience (6 month old Megane RS 275 Cup S) was very hit and miss because the assessor was barely out of short trousers and didn't really know what he was doing - including forgetting the appointment, picking his nose, moaning he wanted to go home early, photographing the wrong car etc.
But, in fairness, 45 mins later he came out from his secret call to HQ (who have to agree all the prices) and honored the online estimate.
I went out the showroom doing cartwheels as it was nearly £3k more than i'd paid for it. But fast forward 10 days and I had to threaten legal action to get my payment.
Ultimately the hassle was worth it for the money involved and I would use them again rather than deal with tyre kickers.
As a postscript - the car stayed in EH stock for 6 months, was reduced down from £21k to £15.7k, back up to £17k - gaining nearly 9k miles in the process whilst being sold as 'only 1 owner'. I suspect the staff were ragging the proverbials off it.
But, in fairness, 45 mins later he came out from his secret call to HQ (who have to agree all the prices) and honored the online estimate.
I went out the showroom doing cartwheels as it was nearly £3k more than i'd paid for it. But fast forward 10 days and I had to threaten legal action to get my payment.
Ultimately the hassle was worth it for the money involved and I would use them again rather than deal with tyre kickers.
As a postscript - the car stayed in EH stock for 6 months, was reduced down from £21k to £15.7k, back up to £17k - gaining nearly 9k miles in the process whilst being sold as 'only 1 owner'. I suspect the staff were ragging the proverbials off it.
We got a quote from WBAC for our 57 plate 330d. It had broken something which had disabled the ABS, cruise control and traction control, all of which we'd disclosed, and WBAC quoted us £2,800. On the inspection this was reduced to something like £1,400 as we were the fourth owner of this 10 year old car.
Evans Halshaw quoted us £2,800 and paid it. I'd use them again, something I can't say about WBAC.
Evans Halshaw quoted us £2,800 and paid it. I'd use them again, something I can't say about WBAC.
EH offered us £850 for a 13 year old 160k mile RAV4 which we thought quite reasonable and took in for a painless deal.
They weren't happy with the household bill provided so I had to go back home and return with another leaving my OH to sort the rest out.
I got back 45 mins later to find they'd expected a 13 year old 160k mile RAV4 to be immaculate and dropped their offer to £350 due to a couple of light scratches on the bumper.
Needless to say we told them to stuff it and sold privately for £850 a week later in a painless deal.
They weren't happy with the household bill provided so I had to go back home and return with another leaving my OH to sort the rest out.
I got back 45 mins later to find they'd expected a 13 year old 160k mile RAV4 to be immaculate and dropped their offer to £350 due to a couple of light scratches on the bumper.
Needless to say we told them to stuff it and sold privately for £850 a week later in a painless deal.
2 family members have used EH to sell their car now. Both occasions were pleasant.
Received very close to what was offered on their website, more than WBAC. In and out within 30 minutes.
I think it depends on the car you are selling. If its something EH are likely to sell themselves then you may get top dollar as they can make some profit for the sale.
If its not something they would normally sell then they'll still be needing to make some money on it before passing it on to another trader/auction in the chain before it finds a new owner.
IMO WBAC are just another link in the chain and therefore cannot offer the prices EH will if they can sell it immediately
Received very close to what was offered on their website, more than WBAC. In and out within 30 minutes.
I think it depends on the car you are selling. If its something EH are likely to sell themselves then you may get top dollar as they can make some profit for the sale.
If its not something they would normally sell then they'll still be needing to make some money on it before passing it on to another trader/auction in the chain before it finds a new owner.
IMO WBAC are just another link in the chain and therefore cannot offer the prices EH will if they can sell it immediately
sold my 2016 TT to them, knocked me £50 for a kerbed alloy which i thought was fair, but didnt pick uup other very minor blemishes nor were bothered about a due service. Gave me £1500 more than wbac or trade in value which i was very pleased with! did have to chase for payment which took about 10 days which was pretty poor but think that was a genuine admin error.
what amazed me more was their mark up was only £750 or circa 4%. incredbly low margins i thought! i watched the ad and the price ended up dropping so that even if they had sold at asking price they only stood to make £500 minus any expediture! i can only asume that they make all their money on financing...
what amazed me more was their mark up was only £750 or circa 4%. incredbly low margins i thought! i watched the ad and the price ended up dropping so that even if they had sold at asking price they only stood to make £500 minus any expediture! i can only asume that they make all their money on financing...
Update:
Clio gone to Evans Halshaw.
Pretty painless. Photos taken and car inspected, but not driven. Passed to Central office who came back in 10 minutes or so with an offer £200 less than original (kerbed alloys & car park dings) so pretty much as expected.
Car selling and buying area in one room (with awful acoustics making the piped music garbage) Free tea and coffee etc. No airhead bimbos. Guys there seemed to be petrolheads rather than salesmen, which makes a very pleasant change.
Some repetitive forms to fill in and copies of paperwork for ID.
Hopefully cash will be in the bank soon - and that they have registered the change so we can get the tax money back.
Clio gone to Evans Halshaw.
Pretty painless. Photos taken and car inspected, but not driven. Passed to Central office who came back in 10 minutes or so with an offer £200 less than original (kerbed alloys & car park dings) so pretty much as expected.
Car selling and buying area in one room (with awful acoustics making the piped music garbage) Free tea and coffee etc. No airhead bimbos. Guys there seemed to be petrolheads rather than salesmen, which makes a very pleasant change.
Some repetitive forms to fill in and copies of paperwork for ID.
Hopefully cash will be in the bank soon - and that they have registered the change so we can get the tax money back.
AlwynMike said:
Update:
- and that they have registered the change so we can get the tax money back.
You should tell the DVLA that you've sold the car and that will trigger the refund of the tax. You can do it online rather than send off the yellow slip.- and that they have registered the change so we can get the tax money back.
https://www.gov.uk/sold-bought-vehicle
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