suspect trader?
Discussion
Just wanted an oppinion from the hive mind.
Looking to get a new car, and i have found the perfect example, buuuuuuut, the car appears to be for sale from a trader but when i speak to him a little more hes a trader who works from his home. All his photos of the car are from his driveway and he has made no mystery that he does work from home... but i'm still a little weary doing any business with him if hes a trader. What do you guys think? what are the come backs of this, he says he has a website, but it doesnt work at the moment, i asked if he has a show room and he doesn't.
Oppinions?
Looking to get a new car, and i have found the perfect example, buuuuuuut, the car appears to be for sale from a trader but when i speak to him a little more hes a trader who works from his home. All his photos of the car are from his driveway and he has made no mystery that he does work from home... but i'm still a little weary doing any business with him if hes a trader. What do you guys think? what are the come backs of this, he says he has a website, but it doesnt work at the moment, i asked if he has a show room and he doesn't.
Oppinions?
I recently purchased a car from a home dealer.
Worst thing I ever done and would never do it again.
The car developed a serious fault which I wanted sorting under SOGA.We came to an agreement which he has renegaded on so I am going through small claims at the moment.
The amount is only a couple of hunderd quid but it is the principle now rather than the cash.
Never again.Just my experience though.
Worst thing I ever done and would never do it again.
The car developed a serious fault which I wanted sorting under SOGA.We came to an agreement which he has renegaded on so I am going through small claims at the moment.
The amount is only a couple of hunderd quid but it is the principle now rather than the cash.
Never again.Just my experience though.
Coldfuse said:
Just wanted an oppinion from the hive mind.
Looking to get a new car, and i have found the perfect example, buuuuuuut, the car appears to be for sale from a trader but when i speak to him a little more hes a trader who works from his home. All his photos of the car are from his driveway and he has made no mystery that he does work from home... but i'm still a little weary doing any business with him if hes a trader. What do you guys think? what are the come backs of this, he says he has a website, but it doesnt work at the moment, i asked if he has a show room and he doesn't.
Oppinions?
Erm welcome to planet earth. Where you been? Looking to get a new car, and i have found the perfect example, buuuuuuut, the car appears to be for sale from a trader but when i speak to him a little more hes a trader who works from his home. All his photos of the car are from his driveway and he has made no mystery that he does work from home... but i'm still a little weary doing any business with him if hes a trader. What do you guys think? what are the come backs of this, he says he has a website, but it doesnt work at the moment, i asked if he has a show room and he doesn't.
Oppinions?
McHaggis said:
Buy it on the basis you will have no recourse and you won't be disappointed.
^This IMO.If you are not careful you could end up paying a retail price with no more rights/come back than on a private deal.
Having said that plenty of forecourts pop-up and the disappear again almost overnight..... probably no real guarantee of recourse unless buying from a main dealer or big well establised indy.
Coldfuse said:
Just wanted an oppinion from the hive mind.
Looking to get a new car, and i have found the perfect example, buuuuuuut, the car appears to be for sale from a trader but when i speak to him a little more hes a trader who works from his home. All his photos of the car are from his driveway and he has made no mystery that he does work from home... but i'm still a little weary doing any business with him if hes a trader. What do you guys think? what are the come backs of this, he says he has a website, but it doesnt work at the moment, i asked if he has a show room and he doesn't.
Oppinions?
I bought my current car ('07 Focus ST3) from a seller in the same situation. This was 3 years ago & in Wrexham, about 4.5 to 5hrs drive away. I phones up on the Tuesday, agreed a price for the car, sent pics of the car I was part-exing etc etc... Everything was fine with the transaction, the car & never had any issues since. Looking to get a new car, and i have found the perfect example, buuuuuuut, the car appears to be for sale from a trader but when i speak to him a little more hes a trader who works from his home. All his photos of the car are from his driveway and he has made no mystery that he does work from home... but i'm still a little weary doing any business with him if hes a trader. What do you guys think? what are the come backs of this, he says he has a website, but it doesnt work at the moment, i asked if he has a show room and he doesn't.
Oppinions?
It was also the exact car I wanted & at the time, only 1 of 2 in the country for sale on here & auto trader that fitted what I wanted. The other was in Essex and was used as a courtesy car (so im told by a local FFOC member was 5.5hrs away). I am in South Devon so viewing the car was never an option.
I would do the same again but would probally not buy a car thats out of manufacturer warrenty just in case of any issues.
Edited by thebigmacmoomin on Monday 18th June 17:44
I've bought a few cars from home dealers, I don't think it's an unusual set up.
The last one owned a mansion house out in the Ribble Valley, claimed he sold a chain of dealerships that he owned to one of the big players and sells a few cars a month to pay his bills and keep busy. The car was superb. Incredibly nice man
The last one owned a mansion house out in the Ribble Valley, claimed he sold a chain of dealerships that he owned to one of the big players and sells a few cars a month to pay his bills and keep busy. The car was superb. Incredibly nice man
Why not?
Don't confuse a dealer working from with part time home traders.
If it's a legitimate business (ie Vat registered dealer) offering warranty etc from a home based business it's not far off buying used from a big retail pitch with a glass showroom and a coffee machine. Except lower overheads might mean it's a lot cheaper than buying from a main dealer.
Don't confuse a dealer working from with part time home traders.
If it's a legitimate business (ie Vat registered dealer) offering warranty etc from a home based business it's not far off buying used from a big retail pitch with a glass showroom and a coffee machine. Except lower overheads might mean it's a lot cheaper than buying from a main dealer.
VolvoT5 said:
McHaggis said:
Buy it on the basis you will have no recourse and you won't be disappointed.
^This IMO.If you are not careful you could end up paying a retail price with no more rights/come back than on a private deal.
Having said that plenty of forecourts pop-up and the disappear again almost overnight..... probably no real guarantee of recourse unless buying from a main dealer or big well establised indy.
Coldfuse said:
What makes you say that??
Probably because people have been doing this for donkeys years. My dad bought a Rover Vitesse twin plenum from a guy that worked from home 27 years ago.You just need to make sure the car is what you want and you're happy, these guys don't have the overheads of dealers with showrooms so you make sure the price is right and pay as close to private if not private for the car. Have a look through eBay, autotrader and PH to find comparable cars to the ones he's advertised and check its worth it to you.
Coldfuse said:
Some interesting replies here.
Hi. Wasn't meaning much, apart from it's pretty common. Like corner shop common and nothing untoward or out of this world. In fact I suspect there are far more home traders than forecourt traders. Same advice applies no matter what, know what you are buying and why. As the buyer it's your responsibility to inspect the car and be happy with it. There is no legal obligation to offer a warranty. This is the same if you buy from a forecourt too.300bhp/ton said:
Erm welcome to planet earth. Where you been?
What makes you say that??Have a read up here: http://www.oft.gov.uk/business-advice/treating-cus...
And know your legal rights first - but again this is the same if buying from a forecourt or a private seller.
It's worth remembering that a home trader is probably working on a small budget, so if you're buying an £800-1200 motor, there is likely to only be £50-200 profit in the vehicle, excluding costs such as income tax, NI and all the other things. The trader will not be wanting to roll out the red carpet and make a 15 year old vehicle like new out of their own pocket.
Sadly there are some very bad traders, but there are also some very good ones. If you don't like the seller - don't buy. Or if you do buy, don't expect much help should something go wrong.
Do read up the SOGA link above - it's not as dry cut as some on PH make out. Use your head and if you can't check a vehicle yourself, pay or take someone with you who can.
300bhp/ton said:
Coldfuse said:
Some interesting replies here.
Hi. Wasn't meaning much, apart from it's pretty common. Like corner shop common and nothing untoward or out of this world. In fact I suspect there are far more home traders than forecourt traders. Same advice applies no matter what, know what you are buying and why. As the buyer it's your responsibility to inspect the car and be happy with it. There is no legal obligation to offer a warranty. This is the same if you buy from a forecourt too.300bhp/ton said:
Erm welcome to planet earth. Where you been?
What makes you say that??Have a read up here: http://www.oft.gov.uk/business-advice/treating-cus...
And know your legal rights first - but again this is the same if buying from a forecourt or a private seller.
It's worth remembering that a home trader is probably working on a small budget, so if you're buying an £800-1200 motor, there is likely to only be £50-200 profit in the vehicle, excluding costs such as income tax, NI and all the other things. The trader will not be wanting to roll out the red carpet and make a 15 year old vehicle like new out of their own pocket.
Sadly there are some very bad traders, but there are also some very good ones. If you don't like the seller - don't buy. Or if you do buy, don't expect much help should something go wrong.
Do read up the SOGA link above - it's not as dry cut as some on PH make out. Use your head and if you can't check a vehicle yourself, pay or take someone with you who can.
thanks for the info, flicking through that site throws up some interesting situations and some useful information!I'm a bit more hopeful than I was earlier.
I've spoken to the gent on the phone and he seems nice enough and he mentions bank transfer and cash as the only methods which he accepts payment, is that about par for the course? i assume taking cards carries a fairly hefty premium so thats another area he has cut back on?
You could argue you are safer buying from a home trader - nothing better than knowing where someone lives and if it all goes wrong you know where to send the boys / court docs.
Forecourts come and go and are often in multiple ownerships salesmen blame managers, who blame mechanics....
Forecourts come and go and are often in multiple ownerships salesmen blame managers, who blame mechanics....
Bought my current car from a home trader in Deepcut Surrey. He offered me a fair price over the phone for my then car and when he saw it increased his offer! The car I bought is a delight to drive and seems to have no issues whatsoever. The car I part exchanged was a money pit in the three years I owned it (I did show the dealer all the invoices for the work I had done to it) and was bought from a sales room in Worcester. Just because the guy trades from home doesn't mean he's a crook IMHO...
Coldfuse said:
I've spoken to the gent on the phone and he seems nice enough and he mentions bank transfer and cash as the only methods which he accepts payment, is that about par for the course? i assume taking cards carries a fairly hefty premium so thats another area he has cut back on?
Pretty much. PDQ's (card machines) are expensive to run and require you to have an account. Most home traders will be 'Sole Traders' or some maybe a Limited company. Either cash is usually the easiest and quickest way and bank transfers for large amounts. With PayPal nowadays you might find more willing to accept payment that way.rallycross said:
Why not?
Don't confuse a dealer working from with part time home traders.
If it's a legitimate business (ie Vat registered dealer) offering warranty etc from a home based business it's not far off buying used from a big retail pitch with a glass showroom and a coffee machine. Except lower overheads might mean it's a lot cheaper than buying from a main dealer.
And you know where he lives.Don't confuse a dealer working from with part time home traders.
If it's a legitimate business (ie Vat registered dealer) offering warranty etc from a home based business it's not far off buying used from a big retail pitch with a glass showroom and a coffee machine. Except lower overheads might mean it's a lot cheaper than buying from a main dealer.
I know that sounds odd, but if you're going to screw people over on a regular basis/have the intention of screwing people over, you're less likely to do it from your front garden where the punter knows you and your family live.
I don't see the issue tbh - always buy from anywhere under the assumption that you'll have no recourse and you can't be disappointed! Only pleasantly surprised
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