Second hand dealer experience
Discussion
Went in today to my local second hand car dealer. Was looking at 2008 Focus 1.6 zetec at £7295, bit steep I initially thought but went on with the test drive and inspection assuming that some negotiation could be done. Liked the car and got down to valuing my px exchange. Firstly the dealer went on about how this model wasn't that popular and how there was some scratches here any there, blah blah. Usual sales patter, but then insulted me with a px price of £1400 for a 56 plate Citroen C4 1.6 VTR with 70k on the clock and full service history.
And it got me wondering how do these second hand car dealers expect to get any business with price such as that? If my car was on his forecourt he'd be selling it at 3.5 - 4k judging by his prices!
And it got me wondering how do these second hand car dealers expect to get any business with price such as that? If my car was on his forecourt he'd be selling it at 3.5 - 4k judging by his prices!
Go over the car you were looking at and take off £50 per scratch, ding or scuff and see what he says! That'll learn im!
Of course they will try to chance a larger profit, this is the point in haggling. He has more than likely shocked you with one variable whilst keeping others open. If you then focus more on increasing the value of your PX you are less likely to push for a reduction in price for the car you want to buy.
Just my 2 cents worth
Of course they will try to chance a larger profit, this is the point in haggling. He has more than likely shocked you with one variable whilst keeping others open. If you then focus more on increasing the value of your PX you are less likely to push for a reduction in price for the car you want to buy.
Just my 2 cents worth
I just don't trust dealers. You can wander round forecourts and be lucky if anyone acknowledges your existnce let alone try and sell you a car - they seem to think if you want it, you'll buy it.
I went round a large number of SH dealers recently but inevitably bought privately and bought a genuine low mile minter for about £700 less than dealers were charging for cars that were often scratced, on dodgy tyres or fannied up. A friend went 20 miles to see a car described by the ttrader as mint which had scratches all over the back bumper and his attitude was "You're not paying much so what do you expect?". The car was £6500. He went to a Ford main dealer and got a way better car and a way better attitude.
I went round a large number of SH dealers recently but inevitably bought privately and bought a genuine low mile minter for about £700 less than dealers were charging for cars that were often scratced, on dodgy tyres or fannied up. A friend went 20 miles to see a car described by the ttrader as mint which had scratches all over the back bumper and his attitude was "You're not paying much so what do you expect?". The car was £6500. He went to a Ford main dealer and got a way better car and a way better attitude.
Possibly some truth in the amount of money to be made...
Some years ago I got a bit tucked up by a local place, trading standards involved, money back, all sorted
About six months later, car salesman shows up at my shop for an interview! Didn't recognise me, tells me how bad things are...
Took some pleasure in telling him he wasn't really what we were looking for!
Some years ago I got a bit tucked up by a local place, trading standards involved, money back, all sorted
About six months later, car salesman shows up at my shop for an interview! Didn't recognise me, tells me how bad things are...
Took some pleasure in telling him he wasn't really what we were looking for!
iqwerty said:
but then insulted me with a px price of £1400 for a 56 plate Citroen C4 1.6 VTR with 70k on the clock and full service history.
And it got me wondering how do these second hand car dealers expect to get any business with price such as that? If my car was on his forecourt he'd be selling it at 3.5 - 4k judging by his prices!
So sell it privately.And it got me wondering how do these second hand car dealers expect to get any business with price such as that? If my car was on his forecourt he'd be selling it at 3.5 - 4k judging by his prices!
£2600 for one with lower mileage:
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
Think it through:
Say you settle for £1600.
Assume he needs to spend £300 bringing up to forecourt std = £1900 cost. Puts it on the forecourt for £3200, leaves room to haggle to £2800.
That's £900 profit, less his overheads, any warranty costs he has to buy (or risk he takes), tax, etc.
Probably leaves him £600 net profit?
I attempted to haggle but got nothing out of him! I was in a position to buy too! I said I wanted £2000 for my PX and the focus down to 7k. Not unrealisable at all. Surely even after the reduction he would of made a nice tidy profit. I'm afraid it just greed at the end of the day.
I just don't understand why anyone buys from them nowadays, even more the case with his attitude. The car could be picked up for 6-6.5k at a car supermarket. I was only willing because i like buying local and helping local businesses.
I just don't understand why anyone buys from them nowadays, even more the case with his attitude. The car could be picked up for 6-6.5k at a car supermarket. I was only willing because i like buying local and helping local businesses.
The trade price you were offered was fair. If you want 2k you're either looking at a large over allowance or a private sale.
Rather than getting your knickers in a twist and joining Pistonheads just to have a rant why didn't you calmly explain to the dealer what your position was?
"I can afford a cost to change of xxx and given that or close to I can leave a deposit now."
The dealer will either say 'yes ok' or 'sorry I can't stretch that far'. Either way you shake hands and nobody is upset.
Rather than getting your knickers in a twist and joining Pistonheads just to have a rant why didn't you calmly explain to the dealer what your position was?
"I can afford a cost to change of xxx and given that or close to I can leave a deposit now."
The dealer will either say 'yes ok' or 'sorry I can't stretch that far'. Either way you shake hands and nobody is upset.
Possibly some truth in the amount of money to be made...
Some years ago I got a bit tucked up by a local place, trading standards involved, money back, all sorted
About six months later, car salesman shows up at my shop for an interview! Didn't recognise me, tells me how bad things are...
Took some pleasure in telling him he wasn't really what we were looking for!
Some years ago I got a bit tucked up by a local place, trading standards involved, money back, all sorted
About six months later, car salesman shows up at my shop for an interview! Didn't recognise me, tells me how bad things are...
Took some pleasure in telling him he wasn't really what we were looking for!
iqwerty said:
I attempted to haggle but got nothing out of him! I was in a position to buy too! I said I wanted £2000 for my PX and the focus down to 7k. Not unrealisable at all. Surely even after the reduction he would of made a nice tidy profit. I'm afraid it just greed at the end of the day.
I just don't understand why anyone buys from them nowadays, even more the case with his attitude. The car could be picked up for 6-6.5k at a car supermarket. I was only willing because i like buying local and helping local businesses.
Do you understand the concept of running a business? I just don't understand why anyone buys from them nowadays, even more the case with his attitude. The car could be picked up for 6-6.5k at a car supermarket. I was only willing because i like buying local and helping local businesses.
em177 said:
iqwerty said:
I attempted to haggle but got nothing out of him! I was in a position to buy too! I said I wanted £2000 for my PX and the focus down to 7k. Not unrealisable at all. Surely even after the reduction he would of made a nice tidy profit. I'm afraid it just greed at the end of the day.
I just don't understand why anyone buys from them nowadays, even more the case with his attitude. The car could be picked up for 6-6.5k at a car supermarket. I was only willing because i like buying local and helping local businesses.
Do you understand the concept of running a business? I just don't understand why anyone buys from them nowadays, even more the case with his attitude. The car could be picked up for 6-6.5k at a car supermarket. I was only willing because i like buying local and helping local businesses.
LuS1fer said:
You can wander round forecourts and be lucky if anyone acknowledges your existnce let alone try and sell you a car - they seem to think if you want it, you'll buy it.
..and the truth is that people must buy, otherwise the dealers wouldn't be there.This is why you get a load of grief if you start asking awkward question, like "can I look at the service book" etc. Someone else will come along soon and just buy it.
Deva Link said:
This is why you get a load of grief if you start asking awkward question, like "can I look at the service book" etc. Someone else will come along soon and just buy it.
I asked a dealer about a cars service history, i.e. when and where. Car was 14 years old and advertised as having a full BMW Service history and was advertised as "concourse," I stated that I would be completing a 500 mile round trip to see the car. He hung up on me stating that this was a stupid question! The car is still for sale unsurprisingly. If this is how that dealer treats potential customers then I'm glad I didn't take it any further or help them to any profit from me.iqwerty said:
Firstly the dealer went on about how this model wasn't that popular and how there was some scratches here any there, blah blah. Usual sales patter, but then insulted me with a px price of £1400 for a 56 plate Citroen C4 1.6 VTR with 70k on the clock and full service history.
Not all porkies. C4s are not popular cars at all, and this reflects in their residual values. They are following the same form as the old Xsara, which were never worth a w*nk after 2 years. Having said that, I sold plenty of C4s new when at a main agent, now trading in used cars I wouldn't go near one.Two questions,
1. How much do you think the trader can get when he sells a 6 year old Citroen with 70,000 miles on it?
2. If you were buying and selling old cars like that for a living, and having to give the statutory warranty on each one, how much mark-up would you think "reasonable"?
OzOs
1. How much do you think the trader can get when he sells a 6 year old Citroen with 70,000 miles on it?
2. If you were buying and selling old cars like that for a living, and having to give the statutory warranty on each one, how much mark-up would you think "reasonable"?
OzOs
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