I wonder how many people have had a similar experience to mine with Tesco Cars? Three weeks ago my 2000 Mercedes V-Class rust-bucket came to the end of its life. So, I searched Tesco Cars website and found a decent sounding cheap Astra for sale on the site. I paid my £99 reservation fee and looked forward to picking up my car after it had been checked and prepared for sale. Sharon at Tesco Cars rang me every week (despite my asking her not to do so, but to email instead) and kept me abreast of progress. This morning she phoned to tell me that the car was no longer for sale (or not until April) and I would like a better more expensive one!

I worry that there is no feedback process in place for such websites. OK, so nothing terrible has happened, I wasn't left stuck with a Friday-afternoon car. But, I have wasted time waiting for a car which Tesco's had no firm contract to receive. I think they just guessed that the car would be available on the advertised date. I wonder how many of the cars on their website are 'vapour-ware' designed to attract the punter but don't actually exist. I am not saying that the car I reserved didn't actually exist, but certainly it wasn't available for another 3 months (and I have to believe Sharon that that is true).

I now don't know whether to try and use Tesco Cars again. The whole point of using them was that I trust Tesco to behave well. Without that reassurance, I don't see quite why I should use Tescos......Poor show Tesco.