Ask a car salesman anything...anything at all (Vol. 2).
Discussion
I am looking for another car at the moment and am coming across a lot of dealers that want to charge an admin fee on top of the asking price.
Seems like a bit of a mickey take to me, just trying to make extra margin.
Maybe it’s just me but I move off the ad quite quickly when I see this.
What is this all about?
Seems like a bit of a mickey take to me, just trying to make extra margin.
Maybe it’s just me but I move off the ad quite quickly when I see this.
What is this all about?
skeeterm5 said:
...admin fee on top of the asking price....
What is this all about?
I suspect it is the same reason hotels charge a 'resort fee' on top of the room prices - these days everyone just sorts the adverts (whether for hotel rooms or used motorcars) on price ascending.What is this all about?
So if you can get your advert ahead of your competitors by listing it as, for example £3895 + £100 fee then you are more likely to be seen and clicked on than if it was listed as £3995.
Truckosaurus said:
skeeterm5 said:
...admin fee on top of the asking price....
What is this all about?
I suspect it is the same reason hotels charge a 'resort fee' on top of the room prices - these days everyone just sorts the adverts (whether for hotel rooms or used motorcars) on price ascending.What is this all about?
So if you can get your advert ahead of your competitors by listing it as, for example £3895 + £100 fee then you are more likely to be seen and clicked on than if it was listed as £3995.
Thought it added the fee to the advertised price now?
skeeterm5 said:
I am looking for another car at the moment and am coming across a lot of dealers that want to charge an admin fee on top of the asking price.
Seems like a bit of a mickey take to me, just trying to make extra margin.
Maybe it’s just me but I move off the ad quite quickly when I see this.
What is this all about?
Unless it's a rare car, something I can't buy elsewhere, I skip them also.Seems like a bit of a mickey take to me, just trying to make extra margin.
Maybe it’s just me but I move off the ad quite quickly when I see this.
What is this all about?
Quite recently I travelled 100 or so miles to buy a car from a well known group.
No mention of admin fee's on their advert.
Sat down to do the paperwork and the sales guy said, "just got to add the admin fee on"
Can't write on here what I thought about that.
Trevor555 said:
skeeterm5 said:
I am looking for another car at the moment and am coming across a lot of dealers that want to charge an admin fee on top of the asking price.
Seems like a bit of a mickey take to me, just trying to make extra margin.
Maybe it’s just me but I move off the ad quite quickly when I see this.
What is this all about?
Unless it's a rare car, something I can't buy elsewhere, I skip them also.Seems like a bit of a mickey take to me, just trying to make extra margin.
Maybe it’s just me but I move off the ad quite quickly when I see this.
What is this all about?
Quite recently I travelled 100 or so miles to buy a car from a well known group.
No mention of admin fee's on their advert.
Sat down to do the paperwork and the sales guy said, "just got to add the admin fee on"
Can't write on here what I thought about that.
itcaptainslow said:
Trevor555 said:
skeeterm5 said:
I am looking for another car at the moment and am coming across a lot of dealers that want to charge an admin fee on top of the asking price.
Seems like a bit of a mickey take to me, just trying to make extra margin.
Maybe it’s just me but I move off the ad quite quickly when I see this.
What is this all about?
Unless it's a rare car, something I can't buy elsewhere, I skip them also.Seems like a bit of a mickey take to me, just trying to make extra margin.
Maybe it’s just me but I move off the ad quite quickly when I see this.
What is this all about?
Quite recently I travelled 100 or so miles to buy a car from a well known group.
No mention of admin fee's on their advert.
Sat down to do the paperwork and the sales guy said, "just got to add the admin fee on"
Can't write on here what I thought about that.
Salesman got the manager, I was polite, but said We'll be walking away on principal and leaving appropriate feedback.
They waived the fee "on this occasion"
RUSSELLM said:
Arnold Clark tried to the same with me, about 4 years ago. They got the same response as you delivered, and we agreed I buy it without the fee.
Glad your journey wasn't wasted.I really don't get why they'd want to upset customers over a £70 fee?
Fair enough if it's on the advert, but to just spring it on people after they've made the journey?
Bonkers policy.
Fortunately for us, admin fees aren't a thing, the MD a few years ago did put the idea out there but it was universally shouted down, all it is, is underhand pricing, the motor trade has plenty of image problems without an "admin fee" reinforcing the stereotype!
I've seen them for £199 which is just a blatant piss take, I think the Vauxhall dealer near one of our branches has a £199 "admin fee".
I do remember though, a few years ago someone posting up an ad for a Bugatti Veyron; £1,000,000 (or whatever it was close to that) plus a £199 admin fee, that made me chuckle.
I've seen them for £199 which is just a blatant piss take, I think the Vauxhall dealer near one of our branches has a £199 "admin fee".
I do remember though, a few years ago someone posting up an ad for a Bugatti Veyron; £1,000,000 (or whatever it was close to that) plus a £199 admin fee, that made me chuckle.
Edited by HTP99 on Friday 13th May 20:12
Had a poor recent experience whilst looking at Mini's for Mrs F. Go to our local Mini dealer and get talking to a personable young lad (maybe 22) about what she wants. Basically a Cooper with the Works bodykit, all the mod cons inside. Tell the lad our budget and we have a £3k Fiat 500 to trade.
We find one thats about £3k out of our budget. Does the salesman take the hint that the figures are set in stone and we are not interested - under any circumstances - in finance, of course not. Not only does he proceed to try and flog this car to us he starts in with his up selling sales script "Would you be interested in insurance that would cover X Y or Z"? We both reply no and that please - for the love of God no more up selling, we are just interested in a car.
The sales patter continues to the point where he comes back with a set of prices for all the upselling pieces he's programmed to run through. FFS.
Then the manager bowls out "What have we got to do to make this happen?"
Me: "Drop £3k off your price, we said it was out of our budget"
Manager: "Are you interested in finance?"
Me: "Bye."
Really irritating experience.
We find one thats about £3k out of our budget. Does the salesman take the hint that the figures are set in stone and we are not interested - under any circumstances - in finance, of course not. Not only does he proceed to try and flog this car to us he starts in with his up selling sales script "Would you be interested in insurance that would cover X Y or Z"? We both reply no and that please - for the love of God no more up selling, we are just interested in a car.
The sales patter continues to the point where he comes back with a set of prices for all the upselling pieces he's programmed to run through. FFS.
Then the manager bowls out "What have we got to do to make this happen?"
Me: "Drop £3k off your price, we said it was out of our budget"
Manager: "Are you interested in finance?"
Me: "Bye."
Really irritating experience.
Marty Funkhouser said:
Had a poor recent experience whilst looking at Mini's for Mrs F. Go to our local Mini dealer and get talking to a personable young lad (maybe 22) about what she wants. Basically a Cooper with the Works bodykit, all the mod cons inside. Tell the lad our budget and we have a £3k Fiat 500 to trade.
We find one thats about £3k out of our budget. Does the salesman take the hint that the figures are set in stone and we are not interested - under any circumstances - in finance, of course not. Not only does he proceed to try and flog this car to us he starts in with his up selling sales script "Would you be interested in insurance that would cover X Y or Z"? We both reply no and that please - for the love of God no more up selling, we are just interested in a car.
The sales patter continues to the point where he comes back with a set of prices for all the upselling pieces he's programmed to run through. FFS.
Then the manager bowls out "What have we got to do to make this happen?"
Me: "Drop £3k off your price, we said it was out of our budget"
Manager: "Are you interested in finance?"
Me: "Bye."
Really irritating experience.
I imagine it was even more irritating for them! Why are you trying to buy a car that's £3k out of your budget? Out of interest, what was the car priced at?We find one thats about £3k out of our budget. Does the salesman take the hint that the figures are set in stone and we are not interested - under any circumstances - in finance, of course not. Not only does he proceed to try and flog this car to us he starts in with his up selling sales script "Would you be interested in insurance that would cover X Y or Z"? We both reply no and that please - for the love of God no more up selling, we are just interested in a car.
The sales patter continues to the point where he comes back with a set of prices for all the upselling pieces he's programmed to run through. FFS.
Then the manager bowls out "What have we got to do to make this happen?"
Me: "Drop £3k off your price, we said it was out of our budget"
Manager: "Are you interested in finance?"
Me: "Bye."
Really irritating experience.
Marty Funkhouser said:
Had a poor recent experience whilst looking at Mini's for Mrs F. Go to our local Mini dealer and get talking to a personable young lad (maybe 22) about what she wants. Basically a Cooper with the Works bodykit, all the mod cons inside. Tell the lad our budget and we have a £3k Fiat 500 to trade.
We find one thats about £3k out of our budget. Does the salesman take the hint that the figures are set in stone and we are not interested - under any circumstances - in finance, of course not. Not only does he proceed to try and flog this car to us he starts in with his up selling sales script "Would you be interested in insurance that would cover X Y or Z"? We both reply no and that please - for the love of God no more up selling, we are just interested in a car.
The sales patter continues to the point where he comes back with a set of prices for all the upselling pieces he's programmed to run through. FFS.
Then the manager bowls out "What have we got to do to make this happen?"
Me: "Drop £3k off your price, we said it was out of our budget"
Manager: "Are you interested in finance?"
Me: "Bye."
Really irritating experience.
The thing is, the way the big dealer groups operate, you’re the worst possible kind of customer.We find one thats about £3k out of our budget. Does the salesman take the hint that the figures are set in stone and we are not interested - under any circumstances - in finance, of course not. Not only does he proceed to try and flog this car to us he starts in with his up selling sales script "Would you be interested in insurance that would cover X Y or Z"? We both reply no and that please - for the love of God no more up selling, we are just interested in a car.
The sales patter continues to the point where he comes back with a set of prices for all the upselling pieces he's programmed to run through. FFS.
Then the manager bowls out "What have we got to do to make this happen?"
Me: "Drop £3k off your price, we said it was out of our budget"
Manager: "Are you interested in finance?"
Me: "Bye."
Really irritating experience.
If the salesman / manager do many deals like yours they wouldn’t keep their jobs for long.
Admin fee is a personal favourite of mine. Our policy is "priced on the road". Screen price includes 12 month warranty, 6 month tax and MOT/Service as required.
The problem we face is the competition always being £500-750 cheaper when advertising.
It doesn't often bother us as we don't pump out of territory where we can avoid it. Our business is built on local reputation and price isn't why most customers visit.
On the odd occasion we encounter it though it is endlessly trying to explain that the price difference will vanish upon buying the car. Age and experience teach me that some customers are better not sold to however.
Many comments here of £99/199 admin fee. We often see £500 admin plus tax, add ons and even fuel charge.
I can see where the notion comes from. A big group selling hundreds per day at a few hundred quid adds up.
The problem we face is the competition always being £500-750 cheaper when advertising.
It doesn't often bother us as we don't pump out of territory where we can avoid it. Our business is built on local reputation and price isn't why most customers visit.
On the odd occasion we encounter it though it is endlessly trying to explain that the price difference will vanish upon buying the car. Age and experience teach me that some customers are better not sold to however.
Many comments here of £99/199 admin fee. We often see £500 admin plus tax, add ons and even fuel charge.
I can see where the notion comes from. A big group selling hundreds per day at a few hundred quid adds up.
Is the admin fee a relatively new thing? It's not someting I've come accross personally. It makes no difference whether the car is £16,000 or £15,850 + £150 admin fee, the dealer will price the car however they want, but if the car is advertised at £15,850 there's no way in hell I'm paying £16,000 on principle.
resolve10 said:
I imagine it was even more irritating for them! Why are you trying to buy a car that's £3k out of your budget? Out of interest, what was the car priced at?
I wasn't. As soon as we saw it we said that's the sort of car we want but maybe a bit older as its £3k over the budget. Salesman says ok ok - I'll see what I can find, come and sit down inside. Then spends the next 30 mins trying to flog the one we just saw.Budget was £18k (£15k cash plus £3k trade in). Car he tried to flog us was £20,995.
Can’t blame him for trying, especially if he hasn’t actually got in stock what you actually came in for. He’s just doing his job of trying to sell what they’ve got in.
Whilst you didn’t want finance, there may well be those that would be ok with spending say £100pm max over 36 months to get in a newer model.
Whilst you didn’t want finance, there may well be those that would be ok with spending say £100pm max over 36 months to get in a newer model.
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