Vast majority are now used, but they sell a few new ones.
When I bought my Fiesta there in 2002 they had far, far more new stock, which I guess goes to show that it's no longer worth importing as many new cars to make the profits. I know I paid a fortune less than list at the time, these deals dont seem as common now.
Blue
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Some good advice here. We bought a three-month old Astra there, ex-hire, in 1999 and its been pretty much faultless. We did have a minor issue with keys. The car came with only one but the salesman said he'd see if he could find the other and post it on. I doubted he would be able to (or bother) and shelled out right away for a new key from the dealer(remote fob type so it was not cheap). A few days later (you've guessed!) a key arrived in the post complements of TS!
Several people have pointed out lack of test drives. Anyone who's been to TS site would perhaps agree that, the way they are crammed in (several deep) and the sheer numbers of buyers (and time wasters) make this impractical without more space and staff and, consequently higher prices. However I was not too bothered by this as I reckon stock is ex fleet or hire and there by time/mileage limit, not because its got a horrible problem and someone wants shot of it. So while a test drive would have been preferable I accepted it wasn't possible.
Finally they did rely a lot on the sales pitch that the cars are still under warranty but of course that doesn't cover scratches/dents/missing aerials etc. You need to check that yourself but when we bought, and on subsequent visits, the stock seems to be in pretty good condition.
All in all, if you make sensible checks, and have regard to the choice and prices they are well worth a look.
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I'll keep this factual.
I went there today - the first time I've been to a dealership in many long years. I was looking at (what else?) an Omega; this thread had led me to them.
Window price £4,999, which I considered to be OK. Admin fee of £61 to be added. Then they tell me that I MUST buy a warranty for a minimum of one year, at £299. This applies to cars without any manufacturer's warranty remaining. The only way to buy the car without paying for a warranty is to turn up to collect it with a VAT registered mechanic who has to sign for the car. Apparently it's to protect them and me.
I left.
V
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I'll keep this factual. I went there today - the first time I've been to a dealership in many long years. I was looking at (what else?) an Omega; this thread had led me to them. Window price £4,999, which I considered to be OK. Admin fee of £61 to be added. Then they tell me that I MUST buy a warranty for a minimum of one year, at £299. This applies to cars without any manufacturer's warranty remaining. The only way to buy the car without paying for a warranty is to turn up to collect it with a VAT registered mechanic who has to sign for the car. Apparently it's to protect them and me. I left.
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I haven't heard of that before, but it doesn't surprise me. It's the inevitable consequence of recent consumer law which seems that any faults occuring within 6 mths must have been on the car when sold and are therefore the sellers responsibility to fix.
I'm no friend of the motor trade, but what's a second-hand car seller supposed to do? A couple of really bad cars could put a small dealer out of business.
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Well a warranty is no bad thing in itself but I suspect there are cheaper out there. Warranties Direct for example.
If it is 'you must buy a warranty' then that seems OK. If its 'you must buy a warranty of the same level of cover as our warranty' then again I think thats OK. If its 'you must buy OUR warranty' I think they're on dodgy grounds legally.
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If it is 'you must buy a warranty' then that seems OK. If its 'you must buy a warranty of the same level of cover as our warranty' then again I think thats OK. If its 'you must buy OUR warranty' I think they're on dodgy grounds legally.
I thought that the issue was that the seller had legal obligations as to the quality of the goods, and that there was an implicit therefore warranty.
Trades Sales therefore couldn't legally sell the vehicle to a private purchaser without some sort of warranty. It's up to them whether they use some sort of insurance-based system to meet their obligations.
So far soo good.
But what seems dodgy to me is not including the cost of that warranty on their advertsed price. Their website's FAQ says "What are the additional costs? The only extra costs other than the price of the car are a £61 administration fee and a £54 DVLA charge which includes the price of number plates for your car."
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the idea of a vat registerd mechanic is that he will have to sign the sales invoice with you and this will proclaim that he has inspected the vehicle and this is then treated as a trade sale,the company name is as i said earlier a bit of a giveaway, ie you may enter the trade sales emporium and purchase a vehicle at a trade price and it is therefore without warranty and sold as seen. Trade sales are covering themselves by saying yes you can buy the car at the sticker price but because you are not a vat registered motor trader/mechanic you are not classed as a full time motor trader and therefore you will have to buy a warranty.
The same applies at motor auctions if you want trade prices you have to prove you are genuine trade.
The bottom dollar line is it is trade sales way of getting round the consumer laws to give you a cheap car at a trade price basically if you disagree with their trade terms go to a normal sales outlet with the full warranty and the free balloons.
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\"a little man in a big world/\"
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I am a long way from Trade Sales and have never been there. Looked at their website and their prices - and given what has been said above - then I would be inclined to go to an auction. I don't think you be any worse off, and maybe save a few ££ as well.
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Aprilia really nails it. This mob buy at auction valet it and sell it on to you at a small margin. Little different from going to the auctions yourself if you have the time or employing an auction buyer if you don't.
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correct thommo but customers say to me quote
"where do you get them from then???the auctions???"if they have said it once they have said it a thousand times
and thommo as you say quite correctly,
employ an auction buyer,this is exactly what trade sales are surely?your personal auction buyer,looking/ feeling /talking /standing/ sorting wheat from chaffe /negotiating deals through the auction window/ haggling with the auctioneer ,breathing in petrol fumes, getting cold/hot dependant on time of year,drinking overpriced watered down plastic tea.Somebody has to do all this usually at night at some sales as well,therefore in my opinion they are providing a valuable service.
They will also buy a lot of bad cars that they will lose money on maybe third party write offs, poor gearboxes,worn out clutches etc exactly the kind of car any good auctioneer can leg a member of the public into with no kind of come back.
there may be a little bit of self interest here by the way ;)
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\"a little man in a big world/\"
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Ref Auctions versus Trade Sales:
My last ten cars (?) have been through the auctions - I've bought myself and used a buyer. I've had nothing but good experiences and must have saved enough on cars to be able to buy a complete dog, throw it in a skip and still be ahead of the game.
This deal I thought I was being offered looked good enough that I was tempted to go away from my normal purchasing method. I felt (and I am choosing my words as carefully as I can here) a little concerned that I had no option but to buy an insurance policy that appeared to be designed to protect me but that might also be seen to be protecting the seller at my expense. That extra expense made the deal not worth pursuing.
That's fine; it's just capitalism at work. As is the whole concept of purchasing at a dealer under any circumstances. You pay more for the peace of mind you get from buying from a dealer rather than direct from an auction. I value the money more than the peace of mind. That's my choice, and people who value the peace of mind higher than the cash are free to do so. The solution you choose is right for you; there is no right or wrong solution. In fact, for me, I have proven today that both solutions are valid for me dependent upon the deal.
V
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there may be a little bit of self interest here by the way ;)
No problem about that from me.
There's a post elsewhere from someone who bought a Merc at an auction and has now found the elec seats don't work and the SRS light is on.
OK, maybe it can be reset or something, but maybe it needs new electric seat motors and a new airbag. Whatever's wrong with it you can bet the bill won't be cheap.
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"the company name is as i said earlier a bit of a giveaway"
If they were truly selling to the trade, why would they be advertising in the Telegraph?
"The same applies at motor auctions if you want trade prices you have to prove you are genuine trade"
In what way?
"The bottom dollar line is it is trade sales way of getting round the consumer laws to give you a cheap car at a trade price"
All I'm asking for is a car without a warranty.
V
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"the company name is as i said earlier a bit of a giveaway" If they were truly selling to the trade, why would they be advertising in the Telegraph? "The same applies at motor auctions if you want trade prices you have to prove you are genuine trade" In what way? "The bottom dollar line is it is trade sales way of getting round the consumer laws to give you a cheap car at a trade price" All I'm asking for is a car without a warranty. V easily sorted, take your mechanic from your local independant dealer, (local i guess?) and pay an hours labour £60 ish all in? plus a pot of tea.
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\"a little man in a big world/\"
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In case anyone is interested.......
I bought a 9 month old Ford Mondeo tdci for a very reasonable 10k. Sales pitch was good, even knocked £50 off the screen price (which I gather is rare for Trade Sales). Very nice car.
One problem though. The service history is not stamped in the book. The only proof consists of a copy of a fax from the previous keepers noting the date and mileage of the service. The car has been serviced because we have checked the air and oil filters which are fairly new, and the oil is relatively clean. I have asked Trade Sales if they can get the book stamped for me, or provide further proof in the way of receipts etc. They said they would get back to me. So far they have not contacted me.
Cheers - Andy
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If - as indicated- you have contact details of the previous keeper (Fleet opperator/Company ?? ) , ask them at what dealer ther car was serviced - ring the dealer giving them the service date and Reg.no. of the car and they will be able to confirm the service details. You could ask them if you could post the book to them for stamping and return to you in SAE supplied by you.
With some makes (don't know about Ford) the local main dealer can put in the reg no /VIN no. and pull up the service record from their central records. They can do this as they need to independently verify service history in the event of warranty claims (the book "stamp" can be easily forged)
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Not posted for ages, but must stick up for TS.
I bought a 2004 Focus there, ex daily rental 1.6 Zetec, no paperwork there and needed a new parcel shelf (one was cracked). The thing is, the rental spec is just right, Zetec trim, heated screen, air....... so many of the keenly priced retail ones were lemons in that they were missing air or heated screen or were that unloved metallic green and the dealers try not to tell you that.
I found the salesman/bloke with overcoat no problem as he does not really need to sell and it was basically clear that I knew exactly what I was looking for (it was almade clear to him I did not need or want finance), he got the keys for that Focus and the one in front of it and swapped parcel shelves over. As for paperwork, it's not rocket science to ring the dealer's name that's on the number plate and ask them when it was serviced. If it has no service history, simply ring Ford and ask them.
Our Focus was 14K and 9 months old, I had assumed no history (but would only be 2K over for first service), the paperwork followed a week later and it showed a stamp in the book. Being the cynical sort, I rang the servicing dealer saying I had just bought it retail, they confirmed it was serviced and even kindly faxed me the signed and dated service sheet to confirm what had been done. Now, that's service, especially as that dealer was 550 miles away from me so no real chance of repeat business. ONe that basis I can recommend the service department at the Inverness Ford Dealer....
OK, no test drive, but it's under warranty and you can check a lot of things yourself. A lot of the cars there were sub-standard for full retail, things like scuffs, small bodywork dents and chipped and cracked headlamps - indeed the Focus we bought was the only one without kerbed alloys and no body damage or interior wear, but that's the point, you still have to do some digging to make sure as you can you get a 'bargain'. If you want totally perfect without looking, don't go to a supermarket and expect to pay just ahead of trade and get retail condition....
15 months later, it's not had one fault and the other half won't let me sell it to replace it with a new shape one.
Some of their older cars are obviously a different bag, I simply could not see who would pay £40K plus for a three year old SL without a proper inspection and test drive, but for nearly new under warranty volume stuff you can't do much better, the cars are not prepped up on the whole, so you see them warts and all.
I would happily buy from them again if they had the right car at the right money....
Retail on that car from Ford was about £9.5K (or £8,750 with discount), if you pay less than £7K for it, you have got to be a hppy bunny and it meant the good lady got the Christmas present she wanted... - TS even pulled out the stops to get it prepped and ready for picking up before Christmas.....
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The main difference between trade and private buyers at auction is the indemnity fee charged. IMO they are rediciulous at most major auction houses - often approaching 5% or more. Registered trade buyers pay far less than this.
As for the Sale Of Goods Act there seems to be a worrying concept forming that this somehow protects the buyer of a used car like a warranty. It does not - all it does is set down fair and reasonable terms for buyer and seller and is designed to protect the seller against unreasonable claims by the buyer as much as the other way round. It provides some protection but anyone who buys a used car thinking that they get some sort of "free" warranty simply because of the SoGA could make an expensive mistake.
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