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

[Dan W.]

HTP99 said:

We do too, everything, apart from scrap cars, it's amazing how many garages don't though.

As for handovers on a Saturday, we do them, many garages don't though.

Same its hilarious to watch, Vauxhall across from us literally walk out and look at the car and that's it, no drive don't look at the interior or the exact mileage no nothing. very professional.......

[Save Ferris]

Dan W. said:

Same its hilarious to watch, Vauxhall across from us literally walk out and look at the car and that's it, no drive don't look at the interior or the exact mileage no nothing. very professional.......

We do ours with an iPad now, take photos and mark the condition/faults then gets uploaded to the Sales manager for his professional devaluation.

[HTP99]

Dan W. said:

HTP99 said:

We do too, everything, apart from scrap cars, it's amazing how many garages don't though.

As for handovers on a Saturday, we do them, many garages don't though.

Same its hilarious to watch, Vauxhall across from us literally walk out and look at the car and that's it, no drive don't look at the interior or the exact mileage no nothing. very professional.......

That's the thing, if you take a decent interest in their pride and joy; no matter what a heap it is, then a) you look more professional and b) I think the customer will respect and like you more.

I've had people say to me that the local Vauxhall (it's always Vauxhall), dealer just glanced at it out of the showroom window.

[Sheepshanks]

Dan W. said:

Same its hilarious to watch, Vauxhall across from us literally walk out and look at the car and that's it, no drive don't look at the interior or the exact mileage no nothing. very professional.......

I don't recall any car I've px'd being driven - the last two (cars for my daughters) definitely weren't, although both were being sent off for auction. Although we see one of them locally quite a bit, so I think someone nabbed that one.

[Butter Face]

We don't really inspect anything that we trade, purely because we only trade to 2 people. We call them with a reg and mileage and they buy it.

We don't have to send to auction etc so it's never an issue.

Anything that is retail gets looked at and driven.

[HTP99]

Sheepshanks said:

Dan W. said:

Same its hilarious to watch, Vauxhall across from us literally walk out and look at the car and that's it, no drive don't look at the interior or the exact mileage no nothing. very professional.......

I don't recall any car I've px'd being driven - the last two (cars for my daughters) definitely weren't, although both were being sent off for auction. Although we see one of them locally quite a bit, so I think someone nabbed that one.

The one and only car that I didn't drive was an Espace auto; it was a "whats my car worth" who I didn't think would go anywhere, so I looked round it and said that if it were to progress I would need to drive it.

it progressed, I didn't drive it and on the way to the compound it wouldn't shift out of 2nd, fortunately it was also involved in a crash on the way to the compound, resulting in it being written off.

It's madness not driving a car, even relatively new stuff can have problems which can result in big bills, then you get the leggy big stuff with blown turbo's, shot suspension, knocking steering etc.

[Sheepshanks]

HTP99 said:

It's madness not driving a car, ....

Perhaps I look trustworthy and the cars looked 'honest'. They were both fundamentally OK, but the Colt had several issues - intermittent limp, computer/radio display blanking and squealing a/c compressor on cold start, yet oddly that's the car we still see around.

[Dan W.]

Its just professional, I mean people come and want to test drive the vehicle they are buying, Its no diff for the dealer we want to know the car we are taking is correct and if its not value it accordingly, its also a tool to devalue but overall I prefer to give good px prices if I know the car is good.

personally I wouldn't buy a car from a garage who don't drive a part exchange or do a decent appraisal. if the salesman cant be arsed doing that correctly what else can he be arsed doing.

[Sheepshanks]

Dan W. said:

personally I wouldn't buy a car from a garage who don't drive a part exchange or do a decent appraisal. if the salesman cant be arsed doing that correctly what else can he be arsed doing.

I could make a very long list!

I generally only buy new, so the least the garage does to the car, the better. Let's face it, most can't even put rear number plates on level.

[JimmyConwayNW]

Here is a good one for you.

Currently had a very nice low mileage well specced SLK for sale. We have had the car week or so with a couple of calls and emails into the small hours with no one actually out to view.

Between 8am and 9am this morning a chap 2 hours or so away calls me and asks if its still here, says he will pop out later, asks for directions and says he may be out around 4ish.
I suggest why not leave a £100 refundable holding deposit as we have had a fair bit of interest in the car, its a sunny day and if you don't like it for any reason you can have the deposit back but I can assure you 100% the car will still be here when you arrive.

No, no, no I am not leaving a deposit on something I have not seen (50 pics, a video, etc ). Have my mobile number and if in the unlikely event it sells then just give me a ring.

I urge the chap to give us a call when setting off but to be honest I had a strong feeling he probably just would not turn up.

Anyway low and behold someone else drove 200 miles on a whim and turned up to see the car with no prior contact. They loved it, took a quick look around and decided to buy it. Could not have been a simpler deal for me and the customer.

I call the mobile number left for this chap to say not to bother coming its now sold. He is apparently only 10mins away.


Turns up, gives me a bit of verbal abuse and says we are a bunch of scumbags, liars etc etc. Purely carried on his journey just to give me a bit of a talking to. I suspect when he buys a cheaper,better one with lower miles elsewhere he will be back doing donuts on my pitch


Another fun day in the motor trade

[StescoG66]

Triumph Man said:

StescoG66 said:

hyphen said:

Question.

Have you left or found anything unusual in a car?

Question prompted by Vauxhall Camberley's courtesy car drugs debacle recently... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4977138/Fa...

This guy sounds like a weapons grade tosser. A swift kick in the bks is too lenient for this trouble making busybody. The fact his story is in the DM says it all really..... Honestly makes my blood boil.

He opened her handbags the fking prick. I don't really agree with drugs, but I certainly wouldn't grass somebody up, especially if they had been good enough to lend me a car as they had no others available.

Exactly my take on it.... He went rummaging through her stuff. Then went to the police and kicked up a stink in the process. A quiet work in her and her bosses lugs would have been sufficient I think. That should have given the girl enough of a scare......

[HTP99]

StescoG66 said:

Triumph Man said:

StescoG66 said:

hyphen said:

Question.

Have you left or found anything unusual in a car?

Question prompted by Vauxhall Camberley's courtesy car drugs debacle recently... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4977138/Fa...

This guy sounds like a weapons grade tosser. A swift kick in the bks is too lenient for this trouble making busybody. The fact his story is in the DM says it all really..... Honestly makes my blood boil.

He opened her handbags the fking prick. I don't really agree with drugs, but I certainly wouldn't grass somebody up, especially if they had been good enough to lend me a car as they had no others available.

Exactly my take on it.... He went rummaging through her stuff. Then went to the police and kicked up a stink in the process. A quiet work in her and her bosses lugs would have been sufficient I think. That should have given the girl enough of a scare......

I personally think it's a cheek to rummage through her stuff in the first place, can you imagine the type of person who does that and then admits it; scumbag.

If it was me and the items were clearly on display I would have just taken her to the side upon my return and told her to be a bit more careful in future.

[techguyone]

Dan W. said:

Simonium said:

CSI I will always give the customer the opportunity to pick my brains about anything related the to car that they like, or have a pared down basic handover, it's entirely their decision. The elderly gents (from Pendeen or St Buryan) that normally snort and say "just give me the keys boy" are invariably the ones who bleat they were given insufficient information on CSI.

I know the feeling. Did handovers for a year and those guys are miserable gits when it comes to CSI

I'm a bit ignorant, what is CSI ?

[coljoh148]

Question:

How often are you getting people through the door holding a carwow/drivethedeal/otherinternetsite print out of a car deal they want you to price match. Do you manage to match the price often or is it not even worth bothering the sales manager about asking?

[Rick101]

I'm not sure I'l leave a deposit on a car refundable or not. My only experience is Evans Halshaw or on of their ilk. I did the £200 deposit thing to get it 'moved'. Went to have a look and it had clearly been in an accident. 'Nah mate, it definitely hasn't, we're not allowed to sell them if they've been crashed'.

No interest in the car, took a further three visits and numerous phone calls to get the 'refundable' deposit back.


Simply not worth the hassle for me. If I have missed out on a car it's annoying but there is usually a better one turns up shortly afterwards.

[papa3]

techguyone said:

I'm a bit ignorant, what is CSI ?

Customer satisfaction index.

The questionnaire you receive post sale or service visit to assess your satisfaction with the brand and dealer. Many franchises require certain scores to be achieved or the dealer will lose margin. Some franchises require 90% plus to be considered a pass.

[papa3]

coljoh148 said:

Question:

How often are you getting people through the door holding a carwow/drivethedeal/otherinternetsite print out of a car deal they want you to price match. Do you manage to match the price often or is it not even worth bothering the sales manager about asking?

Not that often for us, but we are a small rural business with lots of repeat custom. We do see them and in most cases we can get close enough to the price that the added value of the backup we provide is enough to bridge the financial gap.

This varies by franchise however, where manufacturers offer incremental margin for volume purchases it must be tough for small dealers.

Carwow is a menace, but a largely unavoidable one now. Stupidly I can do a better deal direct to the customer than I can via CW as their fee of £360 is passed directly to the buyer. What it does offer is an easy comparison but their cries of transparent pricing always bring a smile considering the hidden fee.....

[itcaptainslow]

papa3 said:

techguyone said:

I'm a bit ignorant, what is CSI ?

Customer satisfaction index.

The questionnaire you receive post sale or service visit to assess your satisfaction with the brand and dealer. Many franchises require certain scores to be achieved or the dealer will lose margin. Some franchises require 90% plus to be considered a pass.

Yup-Citroen require at least a 9/10 rating from the customer! (Or did when I was there).

[HTP99]

papa3 said:

coljoh148 said:

Question:

How often are you getting people through the door holding a carwow/drivethedeal/otherinternetsite print out of a car deal they want you to price match. Do you manage to match the price often or is it not even worth bothering the sales manager about asking?

Not that often for us, but we are a small rural business with lots of repeat custom. We do see them and in most cases we can get close enough to the price that the added value of the backup we provide is enough to bridge the financial gap.

This varies by franchise however, where manufacturers offer incremental margin for volume purchases it must be tough for small dealers.

Carwow is a menace, but a largely unavoidable one now. Stupidly I can do a better deal direct to the customer than I can via CW as their fee of £360 is passed directly to the buyer. What it does offer is an easy comparison but their cries of transparent pricing always bring a smile considering the hidden fee.....

I wasn't aware of the fee, so you are presented with a quote of £10000, but that quote doesn't include a £360 fee, the purchaser purchases the car through Car Wow for £10000 and then they are presented with an additional £360 fee from Car Wow?

[Save Ferris]

HTP99 said:

I wasn't aware of the fee, so you are presented with a quote of £10000, but that quote doesn't include a £360 fee, the purchaser purchases the car through Car Wow for £10000 and then they are presented with an additional £360 fee from Car Wow?

The dealer pays it. Carwow monitor the messages and calls to the dealer, and if a deal has been done they take their fee.

...and the customer doesn’t pay any money to carwow

Edited by Save Ferris on Wednesday 25th October 20:42