Ask a car salesman anything...anything at all.

[4941cc]

talksthetorque said:

Classic Bait and Switch

https://www.asa.org.uk/type/non_broadcast/code_sec...

3.30

Marketers must not use the technique of switch selling, in which their sales staff decline to show the advertised product, refuse to take orders for it or to deliver it within a reasonable time or demonstrate a defective sample of it to promote a different product.

Ok, it's consumer law, but I would still report to ASA or local trading standards.

Bingo. It's been in force for 3 years, but many dealers seem oblivious to it. Or just don't fear the ASA anywhere near as much as the FCA...

[Dan W.]

4941cc said:

talksthetorque said:

Classic Bait and Switch

https://www.asa.org.uk/type/non_broadcast/code_sec...

3.30

Marketers must not use the technique of switch selling, in which their sales staff decline to show the advertised product, refuse to take orders for it or to deliver it within a reasonable time or demonstrate a defective sample of it to promote a different product.

Ok, it's consumer law, but I would still report to ASA or local trading standards.

Bingo. It's been in force for 3 years, but many dealers seem oblivious to it. Or just don't fear the ASA anywhere near as much as the FCA...

They don't fear it because usually a customer cannot be bothered to follow up a complaint, same with people who have said they were mis sold finance on a car.... when we say to them make a complaint and take it further they say no cant be arsed just want to forget the whole thing. that's why this stuff still goes on in the trade.

[silentbrown]

papa3 said:

On their planned test drive you always used left turns, easier to negotiate, less stress etc. Built into the route was a busy road right turn and in the middle of this maneuver the sales exec was supposed to ask, "how much do you want for your PX" the theory being the customer was so distracted by driving they gave an honest figure. Utter pish again.

Slightly related, what (if anything) would make you value a PX higher than the normal book figure? Options, documented history? - To clarify, I don't mean offering a higher PX rather than discounting the car you're trying to sell.

[Dan W.]

silentbrown said:

Slightly related, what (if anything) would make you value a PX higher than the normal book figure? Options, documented history? - To clarify, I don't mean offering a higher PX rather than discounting the car you're trying to sell.

we offered higher than book value on quite a few cars. needs full history good condition and desirable, if it has these and we have had good experiences with them happy to give above value for it.

[Jakg]

talksthetorque said:

Classic Bait and Switch

https://www.asa.org.uk/type/non_broadcast/code_sec...

3.30

Marketers must not use the technique of switch selling, in which their sales staff decline to show the advertised product, refuse to take orders for it or to deliver it within a reasonable time or demonstrate a defective sample of it to promote a different product.

Ok, it's consumer law, but I would still report to ASA or local trading standards.

4941cc said:

Bingo. It's been in force for 3 years, but many dealers seem oblivious to it. Or just don't fear the ASA anywhere near as much as the FCA...

The ASA are pretty toothless though.

I complained about a retailer who were doing the same practice - advertised a holiday for £x but each time you call it's not available for this price. I documented when I called, and what the prices were, I even got an admission from the person I spoke to "you will never get it for this price".

I sent this to the ASA who referred me to a case from the same retailer several months ago for the same thing where they said "sorry, we won't do it again" and that was that, no further action.

Edited by Jakg on Monday 19th February 16:40

[BFleming]

I've had 2 'personal invites' from my local BMW/Mini dealer lately, and the deals mentioned only concern finance. I love a mooch around that particular dealer (Specialist Cars Luton) as they always have some genuinely nice cars - incl a Z8 in the showroom. But I'd like to avoid the sales pressure!
The place I bought our old Mini Countryman from (Perrys Canterbury) invited me to a similar thing last week, albeit to buy a new Vauxhall. That went straight in the bin so I'm not sure if their deals were any good or not. Probably the latter.

[Flibble]

BFleming said:

I've had 2 'personal invites' from my local BMW/Mini dealer lately, and the deals mentioned only concern finance. I love a mooch around that particular dealer (Specialist Cars Luton) as they always have some genuinely nice cars - incl a Z8 in the showroom. But I'd like to avoid the sales pressure!
The place I bought our old Mini Countryman from (Perrys Canterbury) invited me to a similar thing last week, albeit to buy a new Vauxhall. That went straight in the bin so I'm not sure if their deals were any good or not. Probably the latter.

Is any deal "good" on a Vauxhall?

[TheFCAareComing]

Mastiff said:

It's a bugger mate - I promise!

Demands and needs have to be sent out / presented. GAP details even have to be sent on a separate email to everything else if dealing remotely.

It is a minefield - the FCA is self-funding and consequently is on the hunt for mistakes at the bigger dealer groups in order to impose the heaviest fines that they can.

The whole industry is on the run from these guys - and in a minute the new DPA rules are going to make life even worse.

Not true

[Integroo]

Why would you use descriptors such as "FIRST TO SEE WILL BUY", "amazing condition" etc., and then put up pictures showing clear bumper damage and rust?

Case in point: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...


Does the dealer just hope people won't notice?

[Dan W.]

Integroo said:

Why would you use descriptors such as "FIRST TO SEE WILL BUY", "amazing condition" etc., and then put up pictures showing clear bumper damage and rust?

Case in point: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...


Does the dealer just hope people won't notice?

to be fair its a £1500 gary glitter, its not going to be immaculate it is what it is. he has a lovely line though... amazing condition inside haha

[Integroo]

Dan W. said:

Integroo said:

Why would you use descriptors such as "FIRST TO SEE WILL BUY", "amazing condition" etc., and then put up pictures showing clear bumper damage and rust?

Case in point: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...


Does the dealer just hope people won't notice?

to be fair its a £1500 gary glitter, its not going to be immaculate it is what it is. he has a lovely line though... amazing condition inside haha

I don't disagree, but why use descriptors such as "amazing condition" when it's clearly a rusty shed?

[EC2]

Dan W. said:

silentbrown said:

Slightly related, what (if anything) would make you value a PX higher than the normal book figure? Options, documented history? - To clarify, I don't mean offering a higher PX rather than discounting the car you're trying to sell.

we offered higher than book value on quite a few cars. needs full history good condition and desirable, if it has these and we have had good experiences with them happy to give above value for it.

Or you quote above book for the px as an over allowance as it makes the buyer think he is getting a better deal than he really is.

[BFleming]

Flibble said:

BFleming said:

The place I bought our old Mini Countryman from (Perrys Canterbury) invited me to a similar thing last week, albeit to buy a new Vauxhall. That went straight in the bin so I'm not sure if their deals were any good or not. Probably the latter.

Is any deal "good" on a Vauxhall?

A great deal of petrol & a match?

[Butter Face]

EC2 said:

Dan W. said:

silentbrown said:

Slightly related, what (if anything) would make you value a PX higher than the normal book figure? Options, documented history? - To clarify, I don't mean offering a higher PX rather than discounting the car you're trying to sell.

we offered higher than book value on quite a few cars. needs full history good condition and desirable, if it has these and we have had good experiences with them happy to give above value for it.

Or you quote above book for the px as an over allowance as it makes the buyer think he is getting a better deal than he really is.

And sometimes both. Shock horror, sometimes we pay over book for stuff we want to buy. Stop the press.

[Dan W.]

Integroo said:

Dan W. said:

Integroo said:

Why would you use descriptors such as "FIRST TO SEE WILL BUY", "amazing condition" etc., and then put up pictures showing clear bumper damage and rust?

Case in point: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...


Does the dealer just hope people won't notice?

to be fair its a £1500 gary glitter, its not going to be immaculate it is what it is. he has a lovely line though... amazing condition inside haha

I don't disagree, but why use descriptors such as "amazing condition" when it's clearly a rusty shed?

I guess its tongue in cheek and the old, one persons view against another,

[Dan W.]

EC2 said:

Dan W. said:

silentbrown said:

Slightly related, what (if anything) would make you value a PX higher than the normal book figure? Options, documented history? - To clarify, I don't mean offering a higher PX rather than discounting the car you're trying to sell.

we offered higher than book value on quite a few cars. needs full history good condition and desirable, if it has these and we have had good experiences with them happy to give above value for it.

Or you quote above book for the px as an over allowance as it makes the buyer think he is getting a better deal than he really is.

Nope never done that, no point for our garage we don't run like that, no desperate enough for the deals to do.

[papa3]

silentbrown said:

Slightly related, what (if anything) would make you value a PX higher than the normal book figure? Options, documented history? - To clarify, I don't mean offering a higher PX rather than discounting the car you're trying to sell.

Plenty of stuff making into book just now, some models making scary money at auctions.

Good stock in good nick is hard to come by just now. Despite the doom and gloom in the press we are flat out and can't get enough stock, new or used. Certainly not unique to us or our area either, plenty of our regular contacts reporting the same and not just the ones who are ALWAYS busy.

[HTP99]

Dan W. said:

EC2 said:

Dan W. said:

silentbrown said:

Slightly related, what (if anything) would make you value a PX higher than the normal book figure? Options, documented history? - To clarify, I don't mean offering a higher PX rather than discounting the car you're trying to sell.

we offered higher than book value on quite a few cars. needs full history good condition and desirable, if it has these and we have had good experiences with them happy to give above value for it.

Or you quote above book for the px as an over allowance as it makes the buyer think he is getting a better deal than he really is.

Nope never done that, no point for our garage we don't run like that, no desperate enough for the deals to do.

Get that all the time if they've been to Vauxhall first "what, you must be kidding, Vauxhall offered me £5000; £3500, what a joke", usually against a new car so Vauxhall are just rolling all the new car offer into the part ex.

TBF we rarely come up against Vauxhall and if we do, they almost always go back there as they are price driven.

People get very emotional over their part exchange, neglecting to see the bigger picture.

[Wills2]

HTP99 said:

Wills2 said:

Sheepshanks said:

I suppose it's part of people being terrified to show their hand - they feel if they commit to an appointment then they're more committed to buying the car.

To be totally frank, as a customer, it feels a bit of a cheek that you have to make an appointment to buy a car. If pressed on a time I'd regard it as the approx. time I'll arrive, not a rock solid apt (like going the quack etc).

More generally, I also think people feel they should be able to do the deal in 15 mins - so having a fixed apt seems un-necessary.

Why is it a cheek? How is the dealer expected to organise its day without them.

If I was going to the dealer with the sole intent to buy a car I'd want appointment.

Also you cannot do the whole thing in 15 minutes; test drive, negotiation, pondering, questioning spec/colour, paperwork etc.

Indeed, you also want it be a pleasant experience, well I do, as I really look forward to buying a new car.

I do my research and won't suffer having my leg lifted but you sort that out within minutes everything else should be a great experience.

[Torcars]

Do dealers really think pompous long winded adverts work?

Things that go like this:

Purchased by a Mr Bloggs, a justice of the peace and founder of a Royal Warranted light engineering firm from Messrs Smith and Jones, the then main agent for (insert car make) in North Norfolk, in October 1973, the car spent the next decade serving family duties including yearly trips to the Isle of Man.

The provenance indicates that a new custodian was sought in 1983, one Major Floggem-Thrash exported the car to South Africa where it resided until a well known and titled gentleman repatriated it via his summer residence in Gibraltar, eventually finding its way to the UK where it shared garaging with the owner's (insert various posh cars) and was naturally maintained by (Insert some garage you've never heard of) the accepted masters in the fastidious care of these rare and refined motor cars.

Now being generously offered to a new custodian who will continue this remarkable automotive tale...

Then it's POA and some bks about discretion like they were secretly selling the virginity of a princess.

Just fk off!

Does stuff like this work?

Edited by Torcars on Tuesday 20th February 01:07