Contacted to a local franchise/main dealer to buy a used car. He didn't have what I wanted but could get it from another dealer (who also appeared to be a franchise/main dealer). The local dealer said that he would have to buy the vehicle from the other dealer, but first I would have to confirm that I wanted it (Without even seeing it!).
Is this normal practice with dealers?
I made an offer for the car, subject to RAC vehicle inspection and my own inspection. This was agreed and I contacted RAC. They immediately did an HPI check and found a finance agreement ouitstanding. The local dealer said that this was normal and that they would settle the agreement before selling the car to me.
Shouldn't they clear a finance agrement on a car BEFORE they offer it to a customer?
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The local dealer said that he would have to buy the vehicle from the other dealer, but first I would have to confirm that I wanted it (Without even seeing it!). Is this normal practice with dealers?
Seems to me, Ellen that he was trying to pressurise you into agreeing a sale - to make you feel under obligation ('look at the trouble I've had to go to, to get this car for you'). No dealer in their right mind would buy a car from another dealer on the off-chance that a customer may like it.
IMHO, I'd never go back to this dealer again - I certainly wouldn't appreciate his dodgy sales tactics.
Cheers
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Ellen i have bought a car in this manner agreeing to buy unseen but only on condition that i was satisfied with the car's condition and after a good road test, i placed a deposit and did buy the car finally and was very happy with both the price and car, the car was a ex managers car with 9k and 9 month but at 66% of the new car price. I think you should have saved the hpi until you had seen and driven the car and found it to your satisfaction.
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Unless the guy was moving the car from Aberdeen to Bristol, there's no reason why you should have to agree to buy the car there and then.
The Autotrader website makes it ridiculously easy to track down a car in a particular colour and spec (want a pink '94 Mondeo Ghia sir, certainly, choice of 6). If you want something a bit prestigious, manufacturers' websites will give you access to virtually the same computer systems that dealers have.
The outstanding finance on a car that's with a franchise dealer isn't a big deal, and although it would be ideal if they could clear it beforehand, they might have cashflow issues if they did that every time.
For me the deal breaker would be the fact that you were pressured into agreeing to buy there and then. I think probably a bit more research, and maybe a willingness to travel if you have the time, might pay dividends.
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Also bear in mind, it can take up to 10 days for a car to become HPI clear once it is settled, so he wants to be clearing it very soon.
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I remember many moons ago, SWMBO had a Volvo 480 and wanted another, newer one. Local dealer didn't have one but wanted £500 deposit to source one from another Volvo dealer - within the same group.
Didn't buy another 480...
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