TVR dealers offering commission/sale or return service

[Big M1ke]

Anyone have experience of dealers offering commission sales/sale or return service?

[Mr.Chips]

If you manage to find one that does commission/sale or return, be careful. IIRC there was a former dealer who offered to do this and a number of owners lost out when their cars were sold and the money never materialised as the dealer was suffering financial difficulties. Even the cars that weren’t sold got tied up in the red tape from the dealer going bust. I’m sure someone will be along soon with more details.
I’m sure there are dealers out there that offer this and are above board, just make sure you find one and you check things out carefully. Good luck.

[citizen smith]

I have asked the question a couple of times, but after dealers take out their commission plus all incurred costs like servicing/prep and warranty - my return was not going to be as much as selling it privately.

The other problem is, that it is going to go through numerous test drives by people who are perhaps not use to driving TVR's.

My response is only negative - sorry. I would advertise it privately.

[Big M1ke]

The reason I ask is that earlier this year I did a sale or return deal on the sale of a classic American muscle car with a specialist dealer in North Yorkshire. He charged me 10% commission and all marketing etc was included. I got more than I ever would have got privately without the hassle of dealing with tyre kickers.

I’m hoping I can find a similar TVR specialist.

[QBee]

The dealer whose name comes up time and again on here as reputable, totally reliable and above board is Amore Autos, who are somewhere near Bristol I believe. Never heard a bad word against them. I believe they sell all their cars this way.

https://www.amoreautos.co.uk/

[MikeE]

Agree with Amore and would also recommend James Agger who SOR my Tuscan S a few years back, it was sold in a week

[swisstoni]

Mr.Chips said:

If you manage to find one that does commission/sale or return, be careful. IIRC there was a former dealer who offered to do this and a number of owners lost out when their cars were sold and the money never materialised as the dealer was suffering financial difficulties. Even the cars that weren’t sold got tied up in the red tape from the dealer going bust. I’m sure someone will be along soon with more details.
I’m sure there are dealers out there that offer this and are above board, just make sure you find one and you check things out carefully. Good luck.

I think the dealer you meant was Dream Machines?
They were pretty well established and I remember nosing around their showroom myself one time.
To hear that they had gone down and that the SOR cars were tied up and unavailable to their owners was a big story on here. I don’t know how it all ended up but it certainly put me off SOR as an option.

[Mr.Chips]

That’s the one! There was an extensive thread on here about it and the whole sorry episode rumbled on for a number of years.

[Monsterlime]

I did this with a dealer (not mentioned above) on my first Chimaera. In the end, for what they sold it for and what I got back, it wasn't worth it. If I had had the space to keep it, I should have either kept it or sold it myself.

Unfortunately, at the time I had nowhere to store it and that was the simplest option. It was a good car, with the "important" work done (outriggers, cam, roof etc), was in very good condition and had lots of "bits" to go with it, Leven cover, full cover etc but in hindsight I should have kept the TD Pro Race 1.2 wheels, put the Imola wheels back on and kept the covers, spares and upgrades (although again, space was an issue).

I would not do sale or return again.

[Dr K]

Try Bespoke Performance.

[Big M1ke]

Thanks for all the inputs, what I’ve learned from this is;

- retain the V5 to ensure proof of ownership
- get a written contract agreeing terms, even if it’s just an email trail
- agree a starting price up front together with a minimum price
- agree a fixed profit margin for the dealer
- Only use established dealers

Cheers.

[TVR-MADS]

Big M1ke said:

Thanks for all the inputs, what I’ve learned from this is;

- retain the V5 to ensure proof of ownership
- get a written contract agreeing terms, even if it’s just an email trail
- agree a starting price up front together with a minimum price
- agree a fixed profit margin for the dealer
- Only use established dealers

Cheers.

- V5 doesn't prove ownership
- Most dealers have a SOR contract
- Agree the price you want, no point having two prices
- The dealers profit is non of your business, as long as you are happy with the price he returns you
- established dealers doesn't really help you; google Malton Specialist Cars or Gmund Porsche, both well respected and knowledgeable firms that have got into difficulties recently over here in Yorkshire.
- some people recommend businesses, because they have an interest in said business

[ray von]

With no offence intended. Going off the little I know of SOR and what James has said I don't think you've learned anything.
I would try and sell it yourself. I've said on here before the amount of dealers who tell you they have buyers for your car and when you push them haven't really or give you some bullst as to why the guy changed their mind happens quite a bit, strangely two of the recommendations on this very thread did it.
No doubt some people have a good experience with SOR but it wouldn't be something I'd do.

[Let off some steam Bennett]

Have you spoke to Ed at shmoo

[Big M1ke]

TVR-MADS said:

- V5 doesn't prove ownership
- Most dealers have a SOR contract
- Agree the price you want, no point having two prices
- The dealers profit is non of your business, as long as you are happy with the price he returns you
- established dealers doesn't really help you; google Malton Specialist Cars or Gmund Porsche, both well respected and knowledgeable firms that have got into difficulties recently over here in Yorkshire.
- some people recommend businesses, because they have an interest in said business

Thanks, the V5 forms part of the ownership proof but I agree it’s not everything. I would only contract with a dealer with an SOR contract. The point of two prices is if you agree on say a 10% commission (Ive done this recently) it allows the dealer some negotiating room. The dealers profit needs to be reasonably transparent in a sale on my behalf. I think some there must be some reputable dealers and it’s on me to find them.

Cheers

[Big M1ke]

ray von said:

With no offence intended. Going off the little I know of SOR and what James has said I don't think you've learned anything.
I would try and sell it yourself. I've said on here before the amount of dealers who tell you they have buyers for your car and when you push them haven't really or give you some bullst as to why the guy changed their mind happens quite a bit, strangely two of the recommendations on this very thread did it.
No doubt some people have a good experience with SOR but it wouldn't be something I'd do.

You say no offence meant then tell me I’ve not learned anything. Yes, I’ve had good experience with other cars.

[N7GTX]

Listen to TVR mads. The V5 proves absolutely nothing. It even says so on the form itself - this form is not proof of ownership. It only shows the registered keeper.
Most of the sensible advice is to sell it yourself. Maybe you have a good reason not to. I hate selling my cars, I hate it so much I get my wife to do that side of it. I really cannot be bothered with the hassle. The last place, and I mean the last place, I would sell a car through is a dealer. I'd sell it myself first.
Take 6 photos, write 6 lines, place it in Carandclassic for free for as long as you like. If you get no callers then pay £50 or whatever and stick it in Autotrader for maximum coverage, at a sensible price. I've never yet failed to sell a car through these two sites.

[TVR-MADS]

"Thanks, the V5 forms part of the ownership proof but I agree it’s not everything. I would only contract with a dealer with an SOR contract. The point of two prices is if you agree on say a 10% commission (Ive done this recently) it allows the dealer some negotiating room. The dealers profit needs to be reasonably transparent in a sale on my behalf. I think some there must be some reputable dealers and it’s on me to find them.

Cheers"

Hi B1G Mike,

I don't want to end up writing an essay on here - you're welcome to speak to me if you see me at a TVR event re my thoughts on SOR. I would recommend you proceed by speaking to whoever services your car (if you trust them) and see if they will do SOR or can recommend somebody they trust. (Although Malton/Gmund examples I used above did seem solid firms.)

But just set the price you want. (If you say you want £10000, but would like £11000 and the dealer is going to earn £1000 or £1100, the dealer is just going to offer the car at a lower price to hopefully get it shifted quicker.)

And you don't understand second hand car tax or used car warranties or consumer rights, or even car trader overheads; so getting involved with how much % the dealer makes is non of your business. So if you want £10000 and he sells it for £11000 you have got wanted; but if he sells it for £13000, you have still got want you wanted and the dealer has done better than he planned/hoped.

[Englishman]

Yes, I have sold cars on a SOR basis a couple of times to avoid the hassle of selling privately. But if you have the time to produce a good quality advertisement you will get a better return in my experience.

If you do go the SOR route, talk to a number (would suggest 3+) of TVR dealers and get their SOR T&C's. Some have a simple couple of page contract, some 10+pages that frankly would need a lawyer to ensure you are not signing up to something you wouldn't want.

The T&C's themselves vary a lot too. Some require the seller to pay for a service and anything else they find wrong, before putting up for sale. That can potentially run into several thousand pounds up front! Some sell the car as it is with no warranty to the eventual buyer and some fall between the two. So read the T&C's carefully!

As for the dealers profit, I wouldn't worry about that. Set what you want and let the dealer do their work. Don't be surpised to see a car you want £20K for being advertised at £30K though!

[eliot]

If the dealer was any good and the car was any good, the dealer would simply buy it off you to resell.
I personally wouldn't do a SoR.