Admin fee on sales
Discussion
Was just looiking at a few cars, making enquiries
Was sent a reply with some odd details
One firm looking to say no haggling, and a 250 quid admin fee on every sale!
That seems a hell of a lot to do a bit of paperwork that needs as stamp!!
What are others experience of admins fees on second hand cars? I appreciate there could be something to pay but 250 seems an awful lot
Was sent a reply with some odd details
One firm looking to say no haggling, and a 250 quid admin fee on every sale!
That seems a hell of a lot to do a bit of paperwork that needs as stamp!!
What are others experience of admins fees on second hand cars? I appreciate there could be something to pay but 250 seems an awful lot
thebraketester said:
Car giant? Yeah, the likes of them don t budge. But at least it s all upfront and clear, and the cars are usually well priced
And have been prepped on the cheap - random ditchfinders, overspray when repairing cosmetic issues in almost every car I looked at in detail when thereCars tend to be well priced now because of the internet and the admin fee is a way to be the cheapest car listed and cover prep, warranty, etc which previously would have been part of the main price.
We bought a 1600 quid 107 and the place tried to charge us a 250 quid fee on top. They ended up writing “sold for spares and repairs” on the invoice but knew that meant nothing.
We bought a 1600 quid 107 and the place tried to charge us a 250 quid fee on top. They ended up writing “sold for spares and repairs” on the invoice but knew that meant nothing.
Autotrader tightened up on this in recent years.
Nowadays the advertised price on Autotrader must include any admin fee's. Report to Autotrader any that are not.
Before that many dealers would often hit you with the admin fee only once you'd made the journey to buy the car, "looking at you Heavens Alshaw"
Some of these higher admin fee's, I can only guess it's down to them wanting to keep that fee if one has to reject the car?
Nowadays the advertised price on Autotrader must include any admin fee's. Report to Autotrader any that are not.
Before that many dealers would often hit you with the admin fee only once you'd made the journey to buy the car, "looking at you Heavens Alshaw"
Some of these higher admin fee's, I can only guess it's down to them wanting to keep that fee if one has to reject the car?
bergclimber34 said:
Yes this was after an enquiry. the fee was made clear as was a no price haggle.
Just seeme a,lot of money
It's just a bit of money on the price. Nothing to do with actual "admin", just a made up bit of extra charge. They might as well have £500 storage fee, or £300 stocking fee. Just look at the total and see if that's right for you for the car in front of you Just seeme a,lot of money
Trevor555 said:
Autotrader tightened up on this in recent years.
Nowadays the advertised price on Autotrader must include any admin fee's. Report to Autotrader any that are not.
Before that many dealers would often hit you with the admin fee only once you'd made the journey to buy the car, "looking at you Heavens Alshaw"
Some of these higher admin fee's, I can only guess it's down to them wanting to keep that fee if one has to reject the car?
A bike, not a car, but I experienced this in May. A Honda dealer was selling a 2 year old Triumph taken in part-ex at a different price on eBay to on Bike Trader (A/T). The salesman explained the £99 'prep' fee had to be included on the Autotrader / Biketrader price. I negotiated £200 off, used the £99 fee as the deposit, and bought it. Nowadays the advertised price on Autotrader must include any admin fee's. Report to Autotrader any that are not.
Before that many dealers would often hit you with the admin fee only once you'd made the journey to buy the car, "looking at you Heavens Alshaw"
Some of these higher admin fee's, I can only guess it's down to them wanting to keep that fee if one has to reject the car?
Have come across this recently too.
Was looking at a VW Golf at a local biggish car dealer that was pretty much the exact spec I was after and the price was not cheap but not over the odds either. Had a good service history and I couldn't find any obvious touchups etc so confirmed the price with the smarmy salesman was to drive away that day and went into the office to start the paperwork with the admin staff. Sat through the finance crap (not needed by me) and the product sales pitch to finally get to the actual business of buying the car. The paperwork is pushed towards me and the final price to pay is £300 more than the price on the car. Queried it and was told it was an admin fee that was non-negotiable and as it was adding 5% to the cost of the car (£6000) I said either they remove it or I go home. They refused to budge so I simply thanked them for their time and walked out. The salesman saw me walking out and asked when I was picking it up so I told him why there would be no sale and he said he would try and sort it but I told him that it was too late as if they cannot be honest about the price then what else are they hiding.
Thankfully I'm in no hurry to replace my current car so I could walk away but I can imagine a lot of people just pay the fee as they're so far down the road of the purchase they can't really back out. I have since enquired about another Golf that was similar spec at another place and they too had a hidden admin fee, despite it being on AutoTrader so handy to know that they shouldn't be doing that. Didn't even go see that one as they mentioned the fee when I asked about any being due upon a sale. Still in my old Fabia so the fees have stopped me buying.
Was looking at a VW Golf at a local biggish car dealer that was pretty much the exact spec I was after and the price was not cheap but not over the odds either. Had a good service history and I couldn't find any obvious touchups etc so confirmed the price with the smarmy salesman was to drive away that day and went into the office to start the paperwork with the admin staff. Sat through the finance crap (not needed by me) and the product sales pitch to finally get to the actual business of buying the car. The paperwork is pushed towards me and the final price to pay is £300 more than the price on the car. Queried it and was told it was an admin fee that was non-negotiable and as it was adding 5% to the cost of the car (£6000) I said either they remove it or I go home. They refused to budge so I simply thanked them for their time and walked out. The salesman saw me walking out and asked when I was picking it up so I told him why there would be no sale and he said he would try and sort it but I told him that it was too late as if they cannot be honest about the price then what else are they hiding.
Thankfully I'm in no hurry to replace my current car so I could walk away but I can imagine a lot of people just pay the fee as they're so far down the road of the purchase they can't really back out. I have since enquired about another Golf that was similar spec at another place and they too had a hidden admin fee, despite it being on AutoTrader so handy to know that they shouldn't be doing that. Didn't even go see that one as they mentioned the fee when I asked about any being due upon a sale. Still in my old Fabia so the fees have stopped me buying.
I abhor the concept of Admin Fees. Every business has to absorb administration costs so why should they be different?
That said, it’s the total cost of the vehicle and how they decide to slice their own pie to meet their internal KPI’s and/or internal politics is very much their business and not mine. I just focus on the total cost.
That said, it’s the total cost of the vehicle and how they decide to slice their own pie to meet their internal KPI’s and/or internal politics is very much their business and not mine. I just focus on the total cost.
Every company should factor in admin fee to the sale of a car. Admin is part of the selling process. Just like your admin of buying the car. You cost of travel to go to where the vehicle is located.
I walked away from those that argued the fee and who knows how long it took them to sell the car.
I walked away from those that argued the fee and who knows how long it took them to sell the car.
aterribleusername said:
Have come across this recently too.
Was looking at a VW Golf at a local biggish car dealer that was pretty much the exact spec I was after and the price was not cheap but not over the odds either. Had a good service history and I couldn't find any obvious touchups etc so confirmed the price with the smarmy salesman was to drive away that day and went into the office to start the paperwork with the admin staff. Sat through the finance crap (not needed by me) and the product sales pitch to finally get to the actual business of buying the car. The paperwork is pushed towards me and the final price to pay is £300 more than the price on the car. Queried it and was told it was an admin fee that was non-negotiable and as it was adding 5% to the cost of the car (£6000) I said either they remove it or I go home. They refused to budge so I simply thanked them for their time and walked out. The salesman saw me walking out and asked when I was picking it up so I told him why there would be no sale and he said he would try and sort it but I told him that it was too late as if they cannot be honest about the price then what else are they hiding.
Thankfully I'm in no hurry to replace my current car so I could walk away but I can imagine a lot of people just pay the fee as they're so far down the road of the purchase they can't really back out. I have since enquired about another Golf that was similar spec at another place and they too had a hidden admin fee, despite it being on AutoTrader so handy to know that they shouldn't be doing that. Didn't even go see that one as they mentioned the fee when I asked about any being due upon a sale. Still in my old Fabia so the fees have stopped me buying.
Lucky escape for you, you almost had to go through with a purchase there. Was looking at a VW Golf at a local biggish car dealer that was pretty much the exact spec I was after and the price was not cheap but not over the odds either. Had a good service history and I couldn't find any obvious touchups etc so confirmed the price with the smarmy salesman was to drive away that day and went into the office to start the paperwork with the admin staff. Sat through the finance crap (not needed by me) and the product sales pitch to finally get to the actual business of buying the car. The paperwork is pushed towards me and the final price to pay is £300 more than the price on the car. Queried it and was told it was an admin fee that was non-negotiable and as it was adding 5% to the cost of the car (£6000) I said either they remove it or I go home. They refused to budge so I simply thanked them for their time and walked out. The salesman saw me walking out and asked when I was picking it up so I told him why there would be no sale and he said he would try and sort it but I told him that it was too late as if they cannot be honest about the price then what else are they hiding.
Thankfully I'm in no hurry to replace my current car so I could walk away but I can imagine a lot of people just pay the fee as they're so far down the road of the purchase they can't really back out. I have since enquired about another Golf that was similar spec at another place and they too had a hidden admin fee, despite it being on AutoTrader so handy to know that they shouldn't be doing that. Didn't even go see that one as they mentioned the fee when I asked about any being due upon a sale. Still in my old Fabia so the fees have stopped me buying.
Plenty more tyres to kick out there.
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