Auto trader should adopt the principle of all mileages are in their 000's and as such the advertiser would put in 30 for 30,000 and nobody coul put in 120 when they really mean 120,000.

On the positive side Autotrader seem to be policing rogue adverts better - there seem to be less 12 month old, 10,000 ml Range Rovers/Lexus/BMW 7 series for sale at £10,000 or less!

Edited by john96 on 04/11/2010 at 18:46

So why do you think dealers (& estate agents) do this? Is it because they have nothing better to do than put up with irate people or because it works?

The objective of ANY advertisement is to get the punter interested enough to make an enquiry; ideally in person but on the phone will do:

punter ...... "it's about the Volvo at £995; have you still got it"

dealer ...... "yes but unfortunately it's an error; it should be £2495, Autotrader messed up"

punter ........ "have you got anything else around that figure?"

dealer ....... either ........ "got a nice Mondeo just come in at £1400, low mileage 6 months MOT & taxed until Feb. Why not come & have a look? If it's not what you want I'll refund your petrol costs for wasting your time over the Volvo."

...................or .............. "no but as I've messed you about, come & have a look at it & I'll do you a really good deal on your PX? Not got one? I'll knock a bit off & we can sort some finance on the rest. it's a really cracking car & if it's not what you want I'll refund your petrol costs for wasting your time over the price."

Edited by bonzo dog on 04/11/2010 at 21:32

Another scam I witnessed 4 years ago when i was looking for a 2003 Astra. Vauxhall had introduced a common rail diesel engine-model had a limited life of perhaps 6 months because the new Astra came out in 2004. There were scores of Astras on Autotrader, all advertised as CDTI going right back to 2001. All lies of couse. I phoned and challenged some dealers- out of curiosity. They were adamant the models were CDTI. When I said " not so" because the models did not come out till 2003 some, but only some, admitted telling lies. The rest said they were honest traders who never told lies!

If members of the public were being misled then so be it! Autotrader did not care about this.

Autotrader was owned by The Guardian Media Group - who still own half the shares. -

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/oct/17/guardian-apax-partners-talks-banks-auto-trader

The Guardian of course is a a newspaper (? ) which regularly criticises companies for exploiting consumers.

( It also criticises tax avoidance ... and then paid no tax on the £300m profits it made from the sale of half the Autotrader...).

Don't do as I do....

As it's half owned by socilaists, you have no chance of effective action. The other half is owned by Apax: a hedge fund..

It's all the capitalists' fault...

Just reading the MG ZT thread and thought hmm wonder what ZT's are going for? First advert is some monkeys rear end advertiisng a ZT at 499 with 'sorry price is 2099 written in the text. Autotrader has to do something about this as its website is beconing a farce.

HJ could you have a word?

Which must mean tihis is fraud?