Car dealership preparations standards well below par
Discussion
Today I visited a large dealership chain who had a Ford Focus ST in their showroom. Nice looking car I thought until I looked a bit closer. The front bumper had one of the worst resprays I’ve ever seen, marks all over the car and nicely damaged alloy wheels.
Bare in mind this car was sitting in the showroom where all the customers go and would see the car. The car was above market price at £16495.
Do dealerships not care about their vehicles ? It put me off buying from them as they seem to not care about the presentation of the cars. I appreciate it’s used and been on the road for 4 years but come on at least put a bit of effort in.
Bare in mind this car was sitting in the showroom where all the customers go and would see the car. The car was above market price at £16495.
Do dealerships not care about their vehicles ? It put me off buying from them as they seem to not care about the presentation of the cars. I appreciate it’s used and been on the road for 4 years but come on at least put a bit of effort in.
For every person like yourself that has standards and notices and cares about things like this there will be plenty of people who will just be happy to sign on the dotted line.
Just life in general really.
We are going through it at work at the minute, quality control has gone out of the window and they are suffering because of it.
They hired one guy to survey the work, paid him £700 a DAY, he did not have a clue what he was looking at.
Just asking and asking and asking, what does that do? Where does that go?
He didn't last long, but got paid well for the few weeks he managed to blag his way through.
Just life in general really.
We are going through it at work at the minute, quality control has gone out of the window and they are suffering because of it.
They hired one guy to survey the work, paid him £700 a DAY, he did not have a clue what he was looking at.
Just asking and asking and asking, what does that do? Where does that go?
He didn't last long, but got paid well for the few weeks he managed to blag his way through.
I’d say I’ve noticed the same over the past year or so.
Many garages seem happy to sell cars with some sort of cosmetic damage or oddly matching panel gaps without making much of an effort to repair it or carry out basic maintenance.
One big car supermarket says they conduct 114 point checks, which I highly doubt given the things you pick up when taking cars for a test drive. They don’t even know about basic maintenance (like timing belt intervals etc). I feel like if I go to look at a car in a showroom I know more about it than the salesperson does. (Might be because I’m a bit of a car bore 🤣)
I also think with supply issues and stock being more expensive, dealers are cutting corners or trying to make more money on extra admin fees.
(Like charging for a valet before you get the car - surely you sell vehicles in their most presentable state?)
Many garages seem happy to sell cars with some sort of cosmetic damage or oddly matching panel gaps without making much of an effort to repair it or carry out basic maintenance.
One big car supermarket says they conduct 114 point checks, which I highly doubt given the things you pick up when taking cars for a test drive. They don’t even know about basic maintenance (like timing belt intervals etc). I feel like if I go to look at a car in a showroom I know more about it than the salesperson does. (Might be because I’m a bit of a car bore 🤣)
I also think with supply issues and stock being more expensive, dealers are cutting corners or trying to make more money on extra admin fees.
(Like charging for a valet before you get the car - surely you sell vehicles in their most presentable state?)
Pistom said:
Better still, don't buy from a dealer but from a private seller who isn't trying to make a profit out of you.
there are still some advantages to buying from those legalised crooks though: warranty (which may or may not be worth the paper it's written on; pcp/pch/finance (possibly not too much of an issue on cheaper cars); comeback on lemons thanks to sale of goods act (or whatever the newer version is).Sensibleboy said:
That's shocking!Many dealers don't prep their cars any more it seems. They'd rather a prospective buyer negotiates minor 'fixes' into the price and once they've got a deposit will actually make the effort. If at all 
(sorry couldn't get it done.....)
Many have no pride in the vehicles they have on display, the fact they are mostly now treated as white goods probably being a contributory factor.
(sorry couldn't get it done.....)Many have no pride in the vehicles they have on display, the fact they are mostly now treated as white goods probably being a contributory factor.
DodgyGeezer said:
Pistom said:
Better still, don't buy from a dealer but from a private seller who isn't trying to make a profit out of you.
there are still some advantages to buying from those legalised crooks though: warranty (which may or may not be worth the paper it's written on; pcp/pch/finance (possibly not too much of an issue on cheaper cars); comeback on lemons thanks to sale of goods act (or whatever the newer version is).The cow example from the other poster would be the equivalent of the dealer garaging my car, putting fuel in it and valeting it for the occasions I want to drive it. Give me that for the price of a pint of milk and they've got a deal
Dealer here, To be honest a lot of the time we just cant get them prepped quick enough before they are selling.
Damaged alloys, scuffs, not valeted id say about 30% of our cars are currently like that.
we still sell them in that condition, depending on the customer some dont ask for the work to be done some do.
Damaged alloys, scuffs, not valeted id say about 30% of our cars are currently like that.
we still sell them in that condition, depending on the customer some dont ask for the work to be done some do.
AlanS20 said:
Do dealerships not care about their vehicles ? It put me off buying from them as they seem to not care about the presentation of the cars. I appreciate it’s used and been on the road for 4 years but come on at least put a bit of effort in.
A lot of them don't put much effort into their online ads either. It is common to see no mention made of whether it has service history (or it sometimes just says service history rather than whether it's full or partial). Then you send them a message to ask and they don't reply. It seems to be an industry where laziness is par for the course. Or it's 'full' but despite the car being 10-12 years old, the cambelt has never been changed and it's years overdue, and could go at any moment. I often see cars with obvious defects like stained seats, falsely described as having an interior in 'excellent condition' or 'immaculate'. I'm sure if I were to point out the discrepancy to the dealer upon viewing it, they would be faux outraged and say I should get a new car if I expect perfection. No I don't expect perfection but if a car looks disgusting inside and you've described it as immaculate I'm going to be unimpressed. This is why I can't just buy a car from a dealer elsewhere in the UK and get it delivered, because there's a very good chance there will be something amiss with it. It's an industry where lying is routine because they seem to have no morals and the law all but lets them get away with it.
All seen while I've been looking at Approved Used 4 Series on BMW main dealer websites...
Messy marks on the cowl under the wiper stalk...
"Airbag" flap on seat not closed and also dirty floor mat. NB. Main bit of dirt obscured by "Thumbsnap" graphic...
What appears to be a crisp wedged between two of the leather panels on the door card under the speaker...
Messy marks on the cowl under the wiper stalk...
"Airbag" flap on seat not closed and also dirty floor mat. NB. Main bit of dirt obscured by "Thumbsnap" graphic...
What appears to be a crisp wedged between two of the leather panels on the door card under the speaker...
Was in an Audi dealership at the weekend looking at a car for the wife. The 2 brand new cars we looked at both have scratches and paint chips and both had been sold awaiting the new owner to collect.
Another car had an alloy that looked like someone had taken a chisel to it to remove a section about 2 inches long. I guess they leave them and if they are not noticed they do not fix them.
Another car had an alloy that looked like someone had taken a chisel to it to remove a section about 2 inches long. I guess they leave them and if they are not noticed they do not fix them.
I watched a new 911 targa in black have a fairly significant chip touched up by hand out of a pot of paint while in the handover bay. It was at the top of the rear wing and stood out a mile - but clearly "that'll do" happens everywhere and if not noticed no comeback.
I'd have been livid.
I'd have been livid.
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