SEAT Ibiza ST - Car dealerships that don't want to sell cars

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Wed 11 Apr 2012 13:36
SEAT Ibiza ST - Car dealerships that don't want to sell cars - Man without a plan

Afternoon all,

Having a really frustrating experience at the moment trying to spend £10k on a car... not massive amounts compared to the cost of some cars I agree, but massive to me.

The car that I want is 6 months old, low mileage and reasonably rare. Saw it for a reasonable price in the spec I want but its at a dealership 130 miles away so 260 mile round trip.

Set out on Monday to visit and half way there called to check it was still there, "one of the sales guys has taken it home so its not in today".... if you only have one certain car in stock then why let a salesman take it home, surely you give him something you have loads of, then you can offer alternatives...

Anyway because its the exact car I want in the right price range I contact them to see if there is anything I can do, like test drive, buy and take away the same day so I only have to make one trip... or get them to move it to a dealership nearer to me..... sales man is very non-commital, also mentions getting it delivered to me if I buy but again is very non-commital on if there is a charge for this stating "we can include it in the deal we work out"... what the hell does that mean.... I have a good idea what it means....

Also when I ask him to confirm the mileage he says it has been used as a courtesy car recently and also one of the salesmen has been driving it, so it will be more than the low mileage listed.... he mentioned "thousands more" but not sure if he said it "was thousands more" or "wouldn't be thousands more"

Anyway all of this has now completely flummoxed me, if I could find a suitable alternative that I liked then I would tell them to shove it... as it happens I can't so don't have a clue what to do.

In fact thinking back, every question I asked the salesman was answered with "possibly/probably/maybe/perhaps"... why can't they just answer yes or no? I don't want to a) make one 260 mile round trip to end up without a car or b) have to make two 260 mile round trips to test/make deposit on car and then a week later to collect it.

I've got £10k burning a hole in my pocket and am ready to buy the car after checking it is all ok... you couldn't make an easier sale.... its like they are too busy with other things to do....

<rant over>

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Wed 11 Apr 2012 14:50
SEAT Ibiza ST - Car dealerships that don't want to sell cars - Bobbin Threadbare

I say skip it. It's way too far to go to deal with that level of patheticalness!

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Wed 11 Apr 2012 15:00
SEAT Ibiza ST - Car dealerships that don't want to sell cars - concrete

I agree with Bobbin, I think you have done enough to give them a good chance of a sale and to convince yourself that they are hopeless or as Bobbin says, pathetic. Imagine the trouble you might have if your car developed a problem. Not only the distance but the lack of confidence in their efficiency. You could try one last thing. A call to the sales/managing director to ask him if it is his policy to deter customers by employing a sales prevention officer! Otherwise, look elsewhere. There surely must be another car out there somewhere that will fit the bill. Good luck. Concrete.

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Wed 11 Apr 2012 14:55
SEAT Ibiza ST - Car dealerships that don't want to sell cars - Auristocrat

Walk away. I've had experiences in the past where salespeople don't seem interested, including one who refused to value my 3 year part exchange because we didn't want a PCP from them.

For me, this level of disinterest also calls into question their aftersales service - do you get the same response if problems occur with the car?

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Wed 11 Apr 2012 15:11
SEAT Ibiza ST - Car dealerships that don't want to sell cars - Bobbin Threadbare

When Mr B was looking for his Celica, we visited a Volvo dealership where they had a lovely dark blue one. He really liked it. Over the road in the Renault dealership there was a silver one. Same ages, roughly same price. The chap in the Volvo dealership did not get off his backside even to come and ask us if we were just browsing. He wouldn't even look at us. You can guess which one he bought!

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Wed 11 Apr 2012 16:22
SEAT Ibiza ST - Car dealerships that don't want to sell cars - Man without a plan

Cheers for the advice guys, I am so tempted to leave it but really like the car and can't find anything I like to meet the same needs... (why oh why couldn't the Fabia estate look nicer.... :( or couldn't Ford make a Fiesta estate? )

I have e-mailed the bloke I spoke to earlier (apparently the sales manager :o ) to confirm the mileage and my other queries.

If the mileage is a lot more than listed then there is one in a dealers not too far away for the same price with 5000 on the clock and in black (my preferred colour).

See what the sales manager comes back with and then decide how to proceed.

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Wed 11 Apr 2012 16:50
SEAT Ibiza ST - Car dealerships that don't want to sell cars - bathtub tom

Stop doing the running around and let them.

I suspect the car doesn't exist (at least not as described). We're in a recession, if they want to sell then they'll work for it.

Leave your number and say you're interested.

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