Less main dealers using Auto Trader

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Sat 3 Oct 2020 20:49
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - daveyK_UK
Noticeable how less main dealers are paying for auto trader adverts for used stock
; considerably more vehicles available on the manufacturer used sites.

Any idea how much autotrader charge per vehicle to the trade?

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Sat 3 Oct 2020 22:38
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - SLO76
Used to be the go to place when hunting for a car but I’ve noticed fewer dealers are using the site or they’ve limited the stock they put on it. The local Honda dealer only has 6 slots for used stock on Autotrader for example yet holds at least 50-60 typically.
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Sun 4 Oct 2020 08:02
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - Falkirk Bairn

Following on from Slo76 observation I think there must be a degree of cooperation amongst some garage groups not to advertise and thereby allow comparison.

In some makes there seems to be a world of difference between say Central Scotland & Yorkshire/Lancashire pricing for similar cars.

I have 2 sons that regularly buy new / pre-reg cars - invariably Yorkshire, Manchester & Liverpool areas - buying cars in the £50K area can see £4 /5K on advertised prices and sometimes £2/3K on T/I - £7,000 say makes 400 mile round trip worthwhile

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Sun 4 Oct 2020 08:39
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - gordonbennet

I haven't bothered with AT for years.

Far prefer ebay motors, more and better pics and more space for write up, and yes whilst an extended write up can be a load of baloney, in practice the less than scrupulous often give themselves away by saying too much or rather by waxing lyrical about nothing in particular which highlights not only glaring omissions, but also their attitude.

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Sun 4 Oct 2020 09:24
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - Andrew-T

I have 2 sons that regularly buy new / pre-reg cars - invariably Yorkshire, Manchester & Liverpool areas - buying cars in the £50K area can see £4 /5K on advertised prices and sometimes £2/3K on T/I - £7,000 say makes 400 mile round trip worthwhile

As I have mentioned before, my daughter advertised her Golf Plus a few years ago and got one response - buyer travelled from west Norfolk to south Manchester because of the price differences.

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Sun 4 Oct 2020 08:32
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - mcb100
The regular comment I see is that AT has become hugely expensive, especially with the proliferation of alternative avenues like Motors, Facebook Marketplace, eBay and Gumtree.
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Sun 4 Oct 2020 11:44
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - Steveieb

Sold my A2 on Facebook Marketplace after a recommendation from someone in the trade. No commission to pay and it alerts your friends that you have a car to sell, which happened in my case.

You can also look up the profile of the person selling the item which isn’t possible on other sites. But a number of dealers and estate agents are getting on the bandwagon with a million pound house near me featuring recently.

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Sun 4 Oct 2020 13:49
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - pd

From the selling point of view if it is a nice car I think worth proper money I put it in AT. If it is a load of old tat I just want shot of cheap I put it on eBay or Facebook.

Totally different markets. All eBay buyers are primarily interested in is price and getting what they perceive to be a bargain. Selling a "proper" car on there is hard work. Same audience as gumtree and same sort of buyers.

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Sun 4 Oct 2020 15:17
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - mcb100
I’m currently working as a Live Chat operator for a main dealer group until things get back to whatever normal will look like, and a large proportion of incoming chats are enquiring on used cars.
From ten chats, five will come from the group’s used vehicle locator, four will come from Autotrader and one will come from Motors.
It’s not a huge sample size, but based on the past three months.
The AT and Motors enquiries are more likely to open with ‘What’s your best price for cash’, and will typically be lower priced cars.
Having said that, strong offers on new cars have done well on both AT and Motors.
The other noticeable thing is that group used stock levels are up 20% in volume compared to late August, so more cars now available.
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Sun 4 Oct 2020 16:09
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - _

For an individual AT is quite expensive.

For a dealer, it is volume that counts. The "Big" groups pay a lot less than us mortals.

But on the subject of sales, I have an aquaintance who wants to buy new cars for his salesmen.

Dealer of the make he wants to buy in Essex has made a derisory discount offer.

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Thu 8 Oct 2020 14:11
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - glidermania

Dealer of the make he wants to buy in Essex has made a derisory discount offer.

I love it how people think in the current climate any offer is 'derisory'! Wonder if he's encouraging his sales staff to make exceptional offers to his customers right now?

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Thu 8 Oct 2020 14:31
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - _

Dealer of the make he wants to buy in Essex has made a derisory discount offer.

I love it how people think in the current climate any offer is 'derisory'! Wonder if he's encouraging his sales staff to make exceptional offers to his customers right now?

He certainly thinks it's derisory as he has found better deals for what he wants 'oop North...

My last car, the Sportage essex to Kent.. worth it.

Previous MGZS to grimsby.. worth it,

Previous Venga, Norwich worth it

Rio 20 miles, but better deal than Colchester so worth it.

Previous Cruze from Carmarthen to Oxford.

Before that Epica Carmarthen to Sheffield..

We are all the same and all different. It's only money after all.

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Thu 8 Oct 2020 15:54
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - daveyK_UK
Used prices especially pre reg prices are under pressure to drop significantly, if anyone is buying nearly new car it’s worth hanging on for a bargain.
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Fri 9 Oct 2020 06:56
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - expat
Used prices especially pre reg prices are under pressure to drop significantly, if anyone is buying nearly new car it’s worth hanging on for a bargain.

Things are different in Australia:

www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/used-car-prices-su...l

This might change if there is a second wave of Covid here and everyone loses their job and has to sell at fire sale prices. So far we have been fortunate and things are fine here in the West and pretty well everywhere else except Melbourne. Even there things seem to be coming good now.

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Sat 10 Oct 2020 16:21
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - bazomis
I recently listed my 10-year old Merc estate on Wizzle following an ad on HPI. Autotrader cheapest example, same spec similar mileage, £6,390. Best offer from a non-franchised Birmingham-based motor dealer was £2,000. WeBuy any old tat, etc at the £3,750 mark (less of course admin fees and inspection write-downs for no real reason). So, while not a dealer, I will stick with selling privately on Autotrader unless I can find a local independent garage willing to sell it on commission.

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Thu 8 Oct 2020 21:14
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - mcb100
.

Edited by mcb100 on 08/10/2020 at 21:26

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Thu 8 Oct 2020 21:38
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - Big John

Isn't this is because trading standards have been invoved and Autotrader have had to crackdown on dealers not showing "admin" fees in the advertised price?

"In order to ensure a transparent experience for car buyers and to help our retail customers clearly communicate the price of the vehicle alongside any optional services they offer, we are launching new features in phases."

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Thu 8 Oct 2020 22:14
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - RT

Isn't this is because trading standards have been invoved and Autotrader have had to crackdown on dealers not showing "admin" fees in the advertised price?

"In order to ensure a transparent experience for car buyers and to help our retail customers clearly communicate the price of the vehicle alongside any optional services they offer, we are launching new features in phases."

A compulsory admin charge isn't an "optional service"

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Sat 10 Oct 2020 10:30
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - Big John

A compulsory admin charge isn't an "optional service"

Indeed. I think trading standards are clamping down as these compulsary charges are not shown in the advertising for the cars.

We were caught by this last year when buying an Octavia with my son. You get to the point where you have travelled to the dealer to test drive and possibly buy and then suddenly they say there is an admin fee on top!

Edited by Big John on 10/10/2020 at 10:30

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Sun 11 Oct 2020 09:12
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - daveyK_UK
The famous motorpoint trick!

‘We have low prices*’
*plus a £99 admin fee
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Sun 11 Oct 2020 09:17
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - Falkirk Bairn

Bought 2 cars at Motorpoint.

Never paid the admin charge or the preparation charge

I said they could have my money for the screen price and the already agreed T/I price or I would walk.

Given the choice they folded.

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Sun 11 Oct 2020 09:22
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - _

I have always refused to pay admin fees and it has alwaysbeen removed.

The funniest bit when buying the MGZS was the £20 for petrol, despite having negotiated a full tank of fuel as recompense dor travelling to Hartwell Grimsby to get it.

That got deducted too!

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Sun 11 Oct 2020 13:39
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - madf

I am afraid I treat car salespeople politely but as thieves.. so listen to what they say, ignore it and tell them what I want.

It can be brutal at times, but it tends to work especially near the end of a month.

( I suspect women sales people would do a lot better. with people like me but never had to deal with one...)

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Sun 11 Oct 2020 15:09
Less main dealers using Auto Trader - Andrew-T

I suspect women sales people would do a lot better. with people like me but never had to deal with one...

They do exist. A couple of years ago SWMBO was suffering from a painful left shoulder, so announced that an auto might be an idea, e.g. an i10. The saleslady at the local dealership gave her a test drive in her own car, which was said to be acceptable. Soon afterwards SWMBO had a new shoulder joint fitted and the problem was cured. Never had any follow-up from Hyundai.

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