On several occasions I have seen cars that have had stickers from another dealer on them. I think it quite common, and see nothing wrong in, cars been moved to another area.

I would not buy a car from more than 40 miles away and I suspect there a others of a like mind. Therefore moving a car will widen its customer base if it has not sold in one locality.

Doesn't surprise me at all. If you go to a dealership and want "car x"--all they do is PC search and say they can SOURCE it for you,whether it's from within their own shared dealership network, then locally or even nationally.

Do you own search then draw your own conclusions, however a nearly new "dealership" car -with a tip top service history is always a reasonable safe approach.

That said-I would be suspicious of a nearly new "car x" sold through a car supermarket( Car Giant etc) , since for me it raises the question, why is this vehice not wanted via a brand dealership?

Yes it is common practice. Dealers often swap long standing stock, its cheaper and easier than sending them to auction and buying and prepping something else. When I was at AR we had several arrangements in place. There has to be some distance involved though because if the car in question wont shift at one dealer it wont shift at the one down the road, punters always like to buy local. The car might not even have been their property to start with and selling on a comission basis. Also the two dealerships although different franchises could both be owned by the same parent company. I doubt there is anything sinister going on here.

If you are interested contact the original dealer and ask them outright what has happened to the car. If it is still available for sale they may be prepared to bring it back and owe the second dealer something else, or to sell it to you direct from the second dealers premises.