is this normal practice?

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Mon 21 Mar 2011 12:03
is this normal practice? - g5604

Hi,

I went to a large Nissan dealer knowing exactly what I wanted to buy (used). Throughout the salesman kept asking if I wanted a test drive, I politely declined as I have already driven one at a different dealer. Thinking we would get into the talking about knocking a few quid off, throwing in a few extras he said he could not sell me the car if I did not test drive an equivalent.

Basically they get you to drive the same model you want, sign a contract and put down a £500 deposit and then they ship the car in from one of their other branches. I am not sure who would put a deposit down on a 3 year old car they have never seen. I raised this concern with him and he said “we only sell good cars” and they could fix any bodywork we were not happy with. The funny thing is he spent 30 mins checking my car (also 3 years old) like a man possessed, he did not see the irony when I asked for for a £500 deposit.

g.

Edited by g5604 on 21/03/2011 at 12:04

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Mon 21 Mar 2011 12:10
is this normal practice? - craig-pd130

It seems a little strange ... although I would want to see the exact car I was going to buy before paying any deposit, even if I had already test-driven an identical model.

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Mon 21 Mar 2011 12:31
is this normal practice? - bathtub tom

'Give us £500 deposit and we'll fix any problems'.

Surprisingly, many punters do!

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Mon 21 Mar 2011 13:03
is this normal practice? - justadriver

Never ever put a deposit down on a car sight unseen because that means you have contracted to buy the car! unless you are sure that it is almost new, don't do it. at 3 years old it is mot time and usually the manufacturers warranty has expired, so all those expensive bills will be yours, AND don't forget that most aftermarket warranties sold by dealers are rubbish, If buying from a main dealer must be full service history and serviced before delivery if next service due. Ask for tracking to be checked as well. If not walk away.

Had the same experience at motorpoint, vehicle not there so they wanted me to pay £500 deposit and would be liable for the £150 transportation costs if didn't buy. In the end bought the car i wanted cheaper by going to the dealer actually holding the stock. Other things to watch out for at motorpoint, trade sales, carcraft and others are admin fees, servicing fees, valeting fees and overpriced finance deals with limited purchased warranties. Also most of them don't tell you if the car is an import, not important if it's a banger, but any nearly new you will pay more for insurance and the warranty will usually be shorter and if you go to a dealer to trade that in you will get a pitiful trade in deal.

Auto trader and motors.co.uk both have good websites to locate the car you want and these will often throw up cheap main dealer cars.

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Mon 21 Mar 2011 13:37
is this normal practice? - Ethan Edwards

No that is absolutely NOT normal practice. The dealer is extracting the urine. Take your cash and spend it somewhere else but first please do ensure you tell the dealer principal EXACTLY why they have just lost this sale and PRECISELY whom is responsible.

Persoanally I would ignore any attempts to persuade you to the contrary and walk.

Please name and shame the dealer here.

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Mon 21 Mar 2011 13:55
is this normal practice? - Andy P
Reminds me of a now-defunct American-owned Volvo chain many years ago. Wouldn't allow a test drive or even talk until I singed a "letter of intent" or something similar.

I told him where he could put his "letter" and left.
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Sun 3 Apr 2011 14:05
is this normal practice? - MJL

I did the same with a Ford main dealer a few years back. Never looked at a Ford since and happy not to have done so. If they won't let you see the car, just take your money elsewhere.

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Mon 21 Mar 2011 13:56
is this normal practice? - g5604

I did not really want to name and shame, but as they wasted an hour of my time and the salesman was very patronising to my pregnant wife (who knew a lot more about the car then him), the dealer is: ##################.

I don't think this has anything to with Nissan as the other two Nissan delears we visted were excellent.

No naming and shaming


Edited by BorisTheSpider on 21/03/2011 at 18:57

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Mon 21 Mar 2011 14:41
is this normal practice? - Ethan Edwards

I'm glad you said that as I have used a large Nissan dealer near me for some years. Toomey's. I had thought about looking at ######### when time comes to buy yet another new Nissan. Now I just won't bother with them.

I do hope someone who works for ########## see's this.

Edited by BorisTheSpider on 21/03/2011 at 18:58

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Mon 21 Mar 2011 15:16
is this normal practice? - bathtub tom

They stuck a self-adhesive badge on the back of my Nissan when purchased, new.

It's skew.

Sums up their professionalism.

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Mon 21 Mar 2011 15:46
is this normal practice? - dadbif
Did you ask for the sticky badge? Do you want it? If not, tell them to take it off and repair any paint damage the cause whilst doing so.
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Mon 21 Mar 2011 15:41
is this normal practice? - bonzo dog

Hi, a few points if I may:

  1. The dealer didn't or doesn't "get you" to do anything. They ask, you agree or decline.
  2. In what way did they "waste an hour of your time"? Did they bring you in & keep you there under false pretences? (It does happen, BTW); or were they simply trying to persuade you to buy a car?
  3. It's not unusual to ask for a deposit to bring a car from one site to another; equally it's not unusual not to, either. Again, it's your choice
  4. I'm struggling to understand what they did that has so p!$$3d you off. can you enloighten us any more?
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Mon 21 Mar 2011 15:48
is this normal practice? - bonzo dog

Ah now, I've just realised what it was.

You were with your wife & wanted to demonstrate how superior you were to one of the lower specimins of life - a car salesman.

In front of her you were going to get him to agree to sell you a car from another branch at a heavily discounted price, with lots of extras thrown in for free; then bring the car from the other branch for you to test drive at which point you would decide whether you wanted to buy it or not.

Pathetic!

Edited by BorisTheSpider on 21/03/2011 at 19:01

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Mon 21 Mar 2011 16:57
is this normal practice? - g5604

erm.. no.

What annoyed me is I went to a dealer expecting them to be able to show me a car I could see without paying a disposit.

He got to check the tyre tread, drive and check every button on my car etc.. why could I not do the same for his cars, without committing to buy?

The reason he wasted an hour of my time is because he was rude, lacked basic knowledge about the different models and took forever to provide a vague "yeah we can probably match that part exchange valuation". It was only after an hour that he told us we would have to provide a disposit to view the car.

Edited by g5604 on 21/03/2011 at 17:02

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Mon 21 Mar 2011 18:10
is this normal practice? - oldroverboy

well done, I went to ###### las year in Watford, didn't want to sell me what I wanted, so just walked!

Edited by BorisTheSpider on 21/03/2011 at 18:59

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Mon 21 Mar 2011 19:35
is this normal practice? - oldroverboy

Dear Boris the spider, why have you edited out the names of the nissan dealers G### H###### who are a large group based in the southeast and around London. Are we no longer able to name someone giving poor service or sales. If so let us know as we have said nothing that is actionable under law. Or is HJ no longer an open frum, in future shall we abstain from saying anything good about any Garages, see my owners review about my chevrolet epica, I have sent a copy of this review with my complaints to Mark Terry MD of Chevrolet UK, and he certainly has not told me that he objects, and mine was an honest portrayal of my poor experiences with the chevrolet dealer network. by the way i will post a copy of his reply when it comes in writing. I don't seem to remember the moderators doing anything about the I know this honda (civic) is clocked episode and the OP..

Or are you beholden to the advertising powers of the car companies who advertise on this website and won't rock the boat?

Happy motoring.

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Sun 3 Apr 2011 18:46
is this normal practice? - RT

It shouldn't have taken an hour to realise you were with a rubbish salesman.

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