Small trader asking me to leave forecourt
Discussion
Today I went to view a car and was quite impressed with it so I offered £500 less than the asking price. When I did this the friendly mood changed into anger. I listened to a 5 minute rant about how people always want to lower prices and how I should pay the advertised price.
I put forward my case and explained why I offered £500 less. The guy did take it on board but asked me to leave the forecourt and never return. When he said that I laughed in his face and left.
Why are people selling cars so grumpy these days ? My offer was justified or so I thought. I was perfectly polite throughout as was he until I made my offer.
I put forward my case and explained why I offered £500 less. The guy did take it on board but asked me to leave the forecourt and never return. When he said that I laughed in his face and left.
Why are people selling cars so grumpy these days ? My offer was justified or so I thought. I was perfectly polite throughout as was he until I made my offer.
Lord knows why some people allow their mood to dictate their manners. If it’s any consolation I was asked to leave one last week. The trader said “Dekra inspections are not welcome.” Bleating on how about they are a money pit. Yet, I have used this particular car inspections guy for over a decade. He asked us both to leave. I had to forfeit the full cost to Dekra for an inspection that did not take place. To me it was a red herring. He obviously had something to hide.
You would think these outfits rely upon their reputation. That’s questionable. There are nicer ways of saying no or being polite.
You would think these outfits rely upon their reputation. That’s questionable. There are nicer ways of saying no or being polite.
Captainfred said:
Today I went to view a car and was quite impressed with it so I offered £500 less than the asking price. When I did this the friendly mood changed into anger. I listened to a 5 minute rant about how people always want to lower prices and how I should pay the advertised price.
I put forward my case and explained why I offered £500 less. The guy did take it on board but asked me to leave the forecourt and never return. When he said that I laughed in his face and left.
Why are people selling cars so grumpy these days ? My offer was justified or so I thought. I was perfectly polite throughout as was he until I made my offer.
Sounds like he didnt handle it very well, But can you explain your case for why you offered £500 less I put forward my case and explained why I offered £500 less. The guy did take it on board but asked me to leave the forecourt and never return. When he said that I laughed in his face and left.
Why are people selling cars so grumpy these days ? My offer was justified or so I thought. I was perfectly polite throughout as was he until I made my offer.
I have had 2 examples of this today, Customers offering less than the advertised price, I explained why we wouldnt discount a penny off and if they were not happy with this then they wont be buying the car, no tantrums just honest answers.
We can be grumpy because like some sales people are idiots, some customers are also idiots it works both ways.
Edited by Dan W. on Thursday 2nd September 17:27
I had a pleasant experience just this week with a dealer. Went to view a car advertised at 10k. Got there and they gave me the keys and left me to look over it myself and give them a shout if I had any questions.
Car was immaculate and I really liked it, was a bit over my budget of 9k which I told the dealer, he went away to look at some figures and came back saying he’d be happy to meet in the middle at 9.5k.
Just picked the car up today and am extremely pleased with the whole experience. The dealer even gave me a complimentary 6 months warranty instead of their standard 3 month one.
Car was immaculate and I really liked it, was a bit over my budget of 9k which I told the dealer, he went away to look at some figures and came back saying he’d be happy to meet in the middle at 9.5k.
Just picked the car up today and am extremely pleased with the whole experience. The dealer even gave me a complimentary 6 months warranty instead of their standard 3 month one.
Had something similar about 12 years ago, a small trader had a diesel MK2 Mondeo on his forecourt for about £3000 so I asked for a test drive. He had to move some cars around, got the car out and locked up as he was on his own.
We went for a drive, it didn't feel the tightest example and the engine felt ancient compared to the MK2 Scenic DCi I had turned up in. It was also bottom of the range and had hub caps and a tape player.
So we got back, he asked me what I thought so I told him that I was interested but, offered him £500 less than the asking price. He immediately got very pissed off and said don't go looking at cars and wasting peoples time if you are going to make offers like that. I pointed out it was bottom of the range and didn't have a CD player and he turned around and just walked into his office.
I thought that was a fair point to start negotiations but obviously not and probably saved me from buying a crap car.
We went for a drive, it didn't feel the tightest example and the engine felt ancient compared to the MK2 Scenic DCi I had turned up in. It was also bottom of the range and had hub caps and a tape player.
So we got back, he asked me what I thought so I told him that I was interested but, offered him £500 less than the asking price. He immediately got very pissed off and said don't go looking at cars and wasting peoples time if you are going to make offers like that. I pointed out it was bottom of the range and didn't have a CD player and he turned around and just walked into his office.
I thought that was a fair point to start negotiations but obviously not and probably saved me from buying a crap car.
Joey Deacon said:
Had something similar about 12 years ago, a small trader had a diesel MK2 Mondeo on his forecourt for about £3000 so I asked for a test drive. He had to move some cars around, got the car out and locked up as he was on his own.
We went for a drive, it didn't feel the tightest example and the engine felt ancient compared to the MK2 Scenic DCi I had turned up in. It was also bottom of the range and had hub caps and a tape player.
So we got back, he asked me what I thought so I told him that I was interested but, offered him £500 less than the asking price. He immediately got very pissed off and said don't go looking at cars and wasting peoples time if you are going to make offers like that. I pointed out it was bottom of the range and didn't have a CD player and he turned around and just walked into his office.
I thought that was a fair point to start negotiations but obviously not and probably saved me from buying a crap car.
Were you not aware of the spec of the car before you went to test drive it?We went for a drive, it didn't feel the tightest example and the engine felt ancient compared to the MK2 Scenic DCi I had turned up in. It was also bottom of the range and had hub caps and a tape player.
So we got back, he asked me what I thought so I told him that I was interested but, offered him £500 less than the asking price. He immediately got very pissed off and said don't go looking at cars and wasting peoples time if you are going to make offers like that. I pointed out it was bottom of the range and didn't have a CD player and he turned around and just walked into his office.
I thought that was a fair point to start negotiations but obviously not and probably saved me from buying a crap car.
With the way new cars are in short supply right now and therefore forcing up the value of second hand cars asking for any discount is going to be met with a similar reaction.
If they cant get their hands on stock they're not going to take off large discounts on what they do have in stock.
If they cant get their hands on stock they're not going to take off large discounts on what they do have in stock.
blue_haddock said:
With the way new cars are in short supply right now and therefore forcing up the value of second hand cars asking for any discount is going to be met with a similar reaction.
If they cant get their hands on stock they're not going to take off large discounts on what they do have in stock.
The current high residuals was the first thing that popped into my mind as well. But whilst that means dealers are far far more likely to knock back offers and stick to asking price, I'm not sure most would react in that manner. The worm will turn so why annoy a potential future customer.If they cant get their hands on stock they're not going to take off large discounts on what they do have in stock.
I would expect most dealers would deal with offers in a professional manner, explaining why they can't discount in the current market. Whilst some feel empowered and can let their true nature loose.
NB: Even if the offer was derisory, I'd expect most to laugh and just say "be serious". Why "P" off a customer, even one thats taking the Mick, you never know they may come back with a serious offer or pop back when times are harder.
Edited by 5to1 on Friday 3rd September 12:13
23.7 said:
ETA when you say small, how small? 5'5" or really tiny?
Edited by 23.7 on Thursday 2nd September 16:18
I bought a car earlier in the year - they wanted £12,950 and I offered £12,950 if they could do a couple of minor things to the car. Really easy transaction and when I picked it up it had a full tank of fuel and 2 bottles of champagne in the boot. Nice and easy.
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