buying a car from a brand new auto trader - worried / scam

[sunshinewelly]

I have entered into discussions with a car seller and they have offered a good deal on my m135 and i am buying their S4 audi. They dont have a website and have no landline number - just a mobile. they want a £250 deposit off me to secure the can which is fine but i am a bit worried

is this a potential scam.

they have some nice cars for sale but the photos of their vehicles are taking at the same spot

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/orchard-motor-group/m.h...

they are on autotrader but no reviews or feedback as a seller.

[Nickp82]

It is pretty normal now for dealers to only have mobile numbers and the car pictures being taken in the same spot is surely a good sign as you know they are all being done by the same person/company?

[Shiv_P]

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/1135347...

[sunshinewelly]

the same director has had 2 previous car trading companies - one of those had some shocking reviews

WRENTHAM CAR SALES LTD

some good reviews but a few worrying ones.

the trader wants me to transfer him £250

[andyalan10]

...and a linked in search for the guy, see if he's a history with other, more established, car retailers?

Andy

[andyalan10]

...and a linked in search for the guy, see if he's a history with other, more established, car retailers?

Andy

[Zoon]

I wouldn't buy from there personally.
No track record of present company, and the previous one wasn't great.

[sunshinewelly]

thats my concern as well. its odd not to have any trading history and carry a number of high value vehicles without any obvious sales

[Bennyjames28]

If the price is right, buy it but in your head treat it as a private purchase. That way you won't be disappointed if something went wrong and he was not very helpful.

[sunshinewelly]

i dont want to send a stranger £250

[DuraAce]

sunshinewelly said:

i dont want to send a stranger £250

Then don't. No one is forcing you to.

Even if it's not a scam it certainly sounds like one.

Why haven't you visited and inspected the new car in person? You could leave a deposit once you have seen the new car.

I wouldn't buy a new car without looking at it first!

[sunshinewelly]

seller is 90 miles away from me but thats not an issue - the seller says the car will not be ready for me to look at until Saturday but wants £250 for me to reserve it until then.

[Shiv_P]

sunshinewelly said:

seller is 90 miles away from me but thats not an issue - the seller says the car will not be ready for me to look at until Saturday but wants £250 for me to reserve it until then.

Tell him to sod off and go look at it on saturday without reserving

[ZX10R NIN]

This one is simple don't give him the deposit, if it sells before you view it on saturday then it wasn't meant to be, I don't put a deposit on anything until I've viewed it.

[M4cruiser]

Shiv_P said:

sunshinewelly said:

seller is 90 miles away from me but thats not an issue - the seller says the car will not be ready for me to look at until Saturday but wants £250 for me to reserve it until then.

Tell him to sod off and go look at it on saturday without reserving

^^ Exactly this.
Have a day out with a 180 mile return trip, plan some sightseeing on the way, oh and drop in to see if the car is still there. Don't send non-returnable money first.

[anonymous-user]

M4cruiser said:

^^ Exactly this.
Have a day out with a 180 mile return trip, plan some sightseeing on the way, oh and drop in to see if the car is still there. Don't send non-returnable money first.

I third that. Definitely don't pay any deposit without seeing the car. Looking at thier ads and it being a high performance S car based in Birmingham I would consider carefully.

I wouldn't buy an S car from anyone but an Audi dealer or a genuine private seller.

[Sa Calobra]

Sod the 250.

I wouldn't buy a car from anyone with a bad rep.

Who knows what hidden issues it'll have.

Are you THAT desperate

[Dan W.]

you could pay the £250 to secure the vehicle and if you don't like it when viewing it get a refund.

Its a distance sale and you haven't seen the car so you are entitled to your deposit if you don't like it.

[sunshinewelly]

the "dealer" has now changed his mind on his px offer on my car so thats that. I sent him an email from my works email address and he changed his mind

[ilikejam]

Dan W. said:

you could pay the £250 to secure the vehicle and if you don't like it when viewing it get a refund.

Its a distance sale and you haven't seen the car so you are entitled to your deposit if you don't like it.

Think you're missing the point of OPs hesitance to send this guy money.