Garage sold car I had organised inspection on.

[Jer_1974]

Just looking on other's opinions on what's just happened to me today.

Yesterday I saw a nice looking Porsche from a small garage down south. I called up and had a chat about the car and organised for a video walk around. Walk around was sent by WhatsApp and over the course of the day a few questions were asked some photos of the service book were sent and I asked for some independent recommendations so I could organise an inspection. I booked and gave my credit card details to the inspection company then sent a WhatsApp message stating to the salesperson that inspection company will be in touch but it will probably be Wednesday next week before they could do the inspection. The final message was from salesperson saying "great have a good night".
Fast forward to today and owner calls me up to say the car has sold because I did not put a deposit down. Really quite annoyed at no point did they ask for a deposit and I presumed paying £450 to a company they recommend and use would mean they would hold the car for me.

Thoughts

[Twinfan]

They should have mentioned a deposit to secure the car, but maybe didn't think it would sell that quickly. Did you confirm if you had first refusal? They may have done that without a deposit.

I'd ask the inspection people if you can get a refund, given the circumstances.

[Jer_1974]

Twinfan said:

They should have mentioned a deposit to secure the car, but maybe didn't think it would sell that quickly. Did you confirm if you had first refusal? They may have done that without a deposit.

I'd ask the inspection people if you can get a refund, given the circumstances.

Yeah spoke with inspection company and they did not charge my card.

[Twinfan]

Sorted then. Bit of a pain, but there are more cars out there!

[Chubbyross]

I suspect you’ve had a lucky escape. The garage probably sold the car to a punter who wasn’t organising an inspection knowing it had a few faults. They clearly didn’t want you to have that knowledge as a bargaining tool. Was it a Porsche independent or a generic dealer? I would have thought that any reputable Porsche indy would have discussed deposits at the time.

[Jer_1974]

Chubbyross said:

I suspect you’ve had a lucky escape. The garage probably sold the car to a punter who wasn’t organising an inspection knowing it had a few faults. They clearly didn’t want you to have that knowledge as a bargaining tool. Was it a Porsche independent or a generic dealer? I would have thought that any reputable Porsche indy would have discussed deposits at the time.

Yeah that did cross my mind. According to the Porsche inspector they are a newish outfit trying to get into the Porsche market. He had done inspections for them in the past and said they seemed quite good and fair.

[Chubbyross]

As they’re new they’re probably still more concerned about fast turnover and cash flow than relaxing a bit and building up customer satisfaction.

[pete.g]

I think many businesses would take the 'bird in the hand' approach.

Maybe they should have called you prior to the sale, out of politeness, but most of us who have sold cars privately have had people express really strong interest, get information and seem like a cast iron sale and then disappear. Goodness knows how many times it happens in the trade.