Will Coronavirus hit used car prices?

[Auto810graphy]

Throttlebody said:

Toyota’s success was down to sales of its Hybrids.

Porsche was due to Bounce Back loans, or more likely those with ££ doing the life is too short thingy. Niche Caterham also had a post lockdown buying surge.

Lol at the expert

[Court_S]

Wilmslowboy said:

As well as....

Upswell, protection and finance products.
Majoiurty of pay still comes from commission, therefore there is still some element of prequalifiing (judging) buyers. .... I missed out pressure (in a friendly way) you to complete the customer feedback survey positively.

I wish it was just the elements as you described, but the pay and measures, still reward the wrong behaviour.

There was no pressure on any of that stuff when I bought my last car; in fact I was told t buy my GAP elsewhere because the quote he’d show me would be ridiculous. No mention paint protection and no hassling about feedback forms.

When my FIL bought a car last summer, they asked him if he was interested in the usual gubbins. He said no thank you and that was that, no pressure etc.

[Buster73]

[redacted]

[Deep Thought]

Throttlebody said:

With the rise of e-commerce and manufacturers embracing car click and collect, you can now avoid the unnecessary interaction with a car salesman.

You've been able to do that for years - and e-commerce has been around for decades. No sudden "embracing".

If you've buying a new car, use the various brokers (as per what has been available to do for decades), pay for it and go collect it.

If you're buying used, sort by cheapest, evaluate which one you want and avail of most dealers click and collect or buy online functionality.

You're pitching this as a new revelation. Its been available for a long long time.

[Deep Thought]

[redacted]

[Anonymous-poster]

Deep Thought said:

Throttlebody said:

With the rise of e-commerce and manufacturers embracing car click and collect, you can now avoid the unnecessary interaction with a car salesman.

You've been able to do that for years - and e-commerce has been around for decades. No sudden "embracing".

If you've buying a new car, use the various brokers (as per what has been available to do for decades), pay for it and go collect it.

If you're buying used, sort by cheapest, evaluate which one you want and avail of most dealers click and collect or buy online functionality.

You're pitching this as a new revelation. Its been available for a long long time.

I have bought new cars over the phone and online but only after test driving and giving the local franchise the chance to get close to the deal.
Most of the time they get close enough or even better the deal and that is the most favourable outcome for me!

[Deep Thought]

Court_S said:

Wilmslowboy said:

As well as....

Upswell, protection and finance products.
Majoiurty of pay still comes from commission, therefore there is still some element of prequalifiing (judging) buyers. .... I missed out pressure (in a friendly way) you to complete the customer feedback survey positively.

I wish it was just the elements as you described, but the pay and measures, still reward the wrong behaviour.

There was no pressure on any of that stuff when I bought my last car; in fact I was told t buy my GAP elsewhere because the quote he’d show me would be ridiculous. No mention paint protection and no hassling about feedback forms.

When my FIL bought a car last summer, they asked him if he was interested in the usual gubbins. He said no thank you and that was that, no pressure etc.

Same here. A polite no thanks suffices. No need for explanations or excuses.

[Throttlebody]

[redacted]

[Deep Thought]

Throttlebody said:

Not quite, you’re there to sell as many cars and make as much profit as you can from buyers with the products and services you have available.

Not quite.

You're there to find a balance price that works for the dealership and the customer and gets the deal done.

Aiming solely for maximum profit is very unlikely to get the deal done and could have the customer walking out feeling stiffed on the price, thus unlikely to come back.

Also "selling as many cars as you can" is not the aim either. That implies fire sale-ing cars out the door just to move units.

Its always about balance.

[Throttlebody]

Deep Thought said:

Throttlebody said:

With the rise of e-commerce and manufacturers embracing car click and collect, you can now avoid the unnecessary interaction with a car salesman.

You've been able to do that for years - and e-commerce has been around for decades. No sudden "embracing".

If you've buying a new car, use the various brokers (as per what has been available to do for decades), pay for it and go collect it.

If you're buying used, sort by cheapest, evaluate which one you want and avail of most dealers click and collect or buy online functionality.

You're pitching this as a new revelation. Its been available for a long long time.

It’s getting more popular and manufacturers are rapidly developing increased capability. We’re in 2020 with an expanding e-commerce world in a self distancing environment.

[Throttlebody]

Deep Thought said:

Throttlebody said:

Not quite, you’re there to sell as many cars and make as much profit as you can from buyers with the products and services you have available.

Not quite.

You're there to find a balance price that works for the dealership and the customer and gets the deal done.

Aiming solely for maximum profit is very unlikely to get the deal done and could have the customer walking out feeling stiffed on the price, thus unlikely to come back.

Also "selling as many cars as you can" is not the aim either. That implies fire sale-ing cars out the door just to move units.

Its always about balance.

Salesman’s reply. No need for the Mother Teresa line and salesmen are pillars of the community. It’s a business.

[Deep Thought]

Throttlebody said:

Deep Thought said:

Throttlebody said:

With the rise of e-commerce and manufacturers embracing car click and collect, you can now avoid the unnecessary interaction with a car salesman.

You've been able to do that for years - and e-commerce has been around for decades. No sudden "embracing".

If you've buying a new car, use the various brokers (as per what has been available to do for decades), pay for it and go collect it.

If you're buying used, sort by cheapest, evaluate which one you want and avail of most dealers click and collect or buy online functionality.

You're pitching this as a new revelation. Its been available for a long long time.

It’s getting more popular and manufacturers are rapidly developing increased capability. We’re in 2020 with an expanding e-commerce world in a self distancing environment.

And again, wheres your evidence that click and collect was done on anything more than a "needs must" basis during lockdown? Real feedback for real salesmen on here suggests thats its pretty much dropped back to pre-COVID levels.

Manufacturers ARENT developing the capability, because they operate through franchises. They have no interest in dealing directly with Joe Public. Any capability on manufacturers website directs your purchase request to your local dealer to facilitate. You're not dealing with the manufacturer.

[Throttlebody]

Auto810graphy said:

Throttlebody said:

Toyota’s success was down to sales of its Hybrids.

Porsche was due to Bounce Back loans, or more likely those with ££ doing the life is too short thingy. Niche Caterham also had a post lockdown buying surge.

Lol at the expert

Both Toyota and Caterham’s sales success feedback is from their official media channels. They are more of an expert than you.

[Throttlebody]

Deep Thought said:

And again, wheres your evidence that click and collect was done on anything more than a "needs must" basis during lockdown? Real feedback for real salesmen on here suggests thats its pretty much dropped back to pre-COVID levels.

Manufacturers ARENT developing the capability, because they operate through franchises. They have no interest in dealing directly with Joe Public. Any capability on manufacturers website directs your purchase request to your local dealer to facilitate. You're not dealing with the manufacturer.

Nitpicking comment. Manufacturers products (ie a car) through their distribution networks. Happy

[Deep Thought]

Throttlebody said:

Deep Thought said:

And again, wheres your evidence that click and collect was done on anything more than a "needs must" basis during lockdown? Real feedback for real salesmen on here suggests thats its pretty much dropped back to pre-COVID levels.

Manufacturers ARENT developing the capability, because they operate through franchises. They have no interest in dealing directly with Joe Public. Any capability on manufacturers website directs your purchase request to your local dealer to facilitate. You're not dealing with the manufacturer.

Nitpicking comment. Manufacturers products (ie a car) through their distribution networks. Happy

Theres a big difference between a distribution network and a franchise network.

And to reiterate, buy it now capability has been on manufacturers websites for years.

Also, as has the click and collect capability.

People have also been able to use brokers for decades to find them the best price and simply then arrange pickup from the dealer, if people want to do that.

This is not a sudden, new "e-commerce" thing.

[Deep Thought]

Throttlebody said:

Deep Thought said:

Throttlebody said:

Not quite, you’re there to sell as many cars and make as much profit as you can from buyers with the products and services you have available.

Not quite.

You're there to find a balance price that works for the dealership and the customer and gets the deal done.

Aiming solely for maximum profit is very unlikely to get the deal done and could have the customer walking out feeling stiffed on the price, thus unlikely to come back.

Also "selling as many cars as you can" is not the aim either. That implies fire sale-ing cars out the door just to move units.

Its always about balance.

Salesman’s reply. No need for the Mother Teresa line and salesmen are pillars of the community. It’s a business.

How was your imaginary BMW purchase last year? Did the imaginary salesman stiff you? Or did you ultimately negotiate a price that worked for you and for them?

[Throttlebody]

Deep Thought said:

Theres a big difference between a distribution network and a franchise network.

And to reiterate, buy it now capability has been on manufacturers websites for years.

Also, as has the click and collect capability.

People have also been able to use brokers for decades to find them the best price and simply then arrange pickup from the dealer, if people want to do that.

This is not a sudden, new "e-commerce" thing.

Lol, you’re off again, who said e-commerce is a ‘new thing’. It’s a growing and developing capability. Avoid irrelevant tangents.

[anonymous-user]

Deep Thought said:

People have also been able to use brokers for decades to find them the best price and simply then arrange pickup from the dealer, if people want to do that.

This is not a sudden, new "e-commerce" thing.

I have done searches on Car Wow in the past before visiting dealers to look at brand new cars. They certainly don't like it when they bring out the full list price quote with GAP, Tyre Insurance, Supaguard etc. and you show them the Carwow price you have been quoted from another dealer.

Other dealers who obviously sell through Car Wow will give you the car wow price as soon as you mention it to them.

I would buy through Car Wow every time, especially if I don't have to go through the whole salesman game. I don't care if you just throw the keys at me and tell me to get out as I collect the car if it saves £5k.

[Deep Thought]

Joey Deacon said:

Deep Thought said:

People have also been able to use brokers for decades to find them the best price and simply then arrange pickup from the dealer, if people want to do that.

This is not a sudden, new "e-commerce" thing.

I have done searches on Car Wow in the past before visiting dealers to look at brand new cars. They certainly don't like it when they bring out the full list price quote with GAP, Tyre Insurance, Supaguard etc. and you show them the Carwow price you have been quoted from another dealer.

Other dealers who obviously sell through Car Wow will give you the car wow price as soon as you mention it to them.

I would buy through Car Wow every time, especially if I don't have to go through the whole salesman game. I don't care if you just throw the keys at me and tell me to get out as I collect the car if it saves £5k.

Yes, i've used CarWow, Broadspeed and DriveTheDeal to do that.

I've had the full range of responses - feigned disbelief, laughing, denial that that price can be got, etc, etc. Generally they end up matching or coming close.

The only one who didnt was our local Mazda dealer who were adamant the price couldnt be meet by the broker but would give us a "good will gesture" of £500 off list price (£28K Mazda MX5 RC) when the brokers were offering £4K off. There was no doubt the car could have been got from the broker but we eventually decided not to go for the car anyway so it became a moot point.

[limpsfield]

I am not sure of the general public’s enthusiasm to take human beings out of the car buying process.

If you look at our next biggest purchase, look how successful (not) Purple Bricks has been. The vast majority of listings are still traditional estate agents.

Also didn’t Daewoo or someone try the direct sales route about a decade ago and it flopped?

I was involved in buying a car a week ago, sight unseen, and the salesman (Sytner) has been excellent.