Does this type of business exist?

[msport123]

So I’m considering a new car 35-40k purchase price - Mercedes e class coupe.

As the model is relatively new (launched 2017) most if not all the stock is within the mercedes dealer group, so prices are being somewhat controlled.

Trade value on this model is around 26k and most are being sold on anywhere around 33-38k depending on spec.

Does the service exist whereby a private person wanting to sell their car can sell directly to a private buyer (like me)? Seller will get more than trade value and the private buyer can buy below dealership prices - win win for both parties.

Now before anyone pipes up and says yeah it’s called autotrader! I’m more so thinking of private sellers dealing with private buyers only - that’s the USP. Both parties should be getting a good deal. Private buyer lists their car, trade value is displayed, private buyer then bids what they are prepared to pay. Sounds a bit like eBay now lol

If I had a relatively new car and I was looking to sell, I would happily sell to another private buyer if I was getting a better offer than trade in even if it was below what the car retails for on a dealers forecourt.

The size of the market is of concern with the number of people who outright purchase, but there is nothing stopping the sa,e logic being applied to the lower end of the market too. You’ll have to have deep pockets to take on the likes of auto trader, webuyanycar etc

Anyway just a thought while I’ve been browsing away and having a few beers...

[James_B]

Still autotrader, just filter out the dealers.

[48k]

However you want to try and dress it up it's still Autotrader, ebay motors etc. with "private sales only" selected on your search filter.

[Mr Overheads]

If I sell a car privately, I'll list it on Autotrader and/or Pistonheads and lower than dealer prices, but much higher than trade-in/webuyanycar prices. So yes the service does exist and it's called standard classified ad's whether that's AT, PH, Gumtree, Car & Classic etc etc.

I think your last few words might have clouded your judgement...."whilst having a few beers".

[Slurms]

Part of the problem with this kind of service is always the lack of trust in the transaction.

You don't know what your buying is ok and you don't know that your buyer isnt trying to rip you off in some way.

Autotrader and co have tried and are still trying to bridge the "Trust" gap.

[paulrockliffe]

Are all the cars within the dealer network, or does it just look like that? Is it not the case that what's happening is that no one buys these cars, they're all leased, so they end up back at the dealer rather than being sold. If someone bought one and got rid of it quickly, it probably ends up wt the dealer as a part-x, but there's nothing stopping those being sold direct in theory.

If that's the case, perhaps the business you're looking for is one that lets lessees extricate themselves from the lease without going through the dealer, but whether there's money in that I'd doubt.

[KevinCamaroSS]

At that price point I would expect most buyers to look for the 'security' of buying from a dealer and the finance options available at a dealer.

[shopper150]

I’d say that there is a market for end of PCP cars. List you car, when the PCP ends and bid up from the GFV.
In the era of distruptive businesses, I think this could be a good one.