Would you expect a used car to be serviced before sale?
Discussion
Just that - bought a used car, from a main dealer with full dealer service history, I just assumed (silly me!) it would be serviced as its due fairly soon but it's arrived and is due a service next month. Am I being unreasonable to feel a bit miffed that they didn't just do it, it's not exactly a cheapo car?
itcaptainslow said:
If it’s a main dealer who subscribes to the manufacturer approved used scheme, most of these dictate the car is serviced if due within X (3 months/3k miles seems to be the most common figure).
I’d say your expectation is pretty reasonable.
I would agree with the above. I’d say your expectation is pretty reasonable.
(As an aside - I remember buying a brand new Alfa Spider in 1997 - it was £27300 which was an awful lot of money back then. Tank was empty. I was actually worried it would make it across the road to the petrol station. Cheap.).
I'd probably say it's something to negotiate when buying. I mean it'd be nice if a salesman would offer it as a courtesy but if they save money they will do.
So in answer to the title, I wouldn't necessarily expect it but it wouldn't be unreasonable to sell you a car that doesn't need anything done to it for 12 months.
So in answer to the title, I wouldn't necessarily expect it but it wouldn't be unreasonable to sell you a car that doesn't need anything done to it for 12 months.
Have you spoken to them about it? If you call and politely insist it should have been done and that your unhappy you might just get it sorted. Worst case you will probably get an offer of reduced cost for the sevice its due.
If they are part of a group complain via Twitter again politely.
If they are part of a group complain via Twitter again politely.
p4cks said:
a service is a couple of hundred quid, so why bother even bringing it up to them? take it on the chin and make sure you negotiate better next time
I'm aware of that but after spending what is to me a huge amount of money on a new car, I wasn't thinking I'd be having to spend a couple of hundred quid getting it serviced the following month! You don't mention which marque the dealer is but from my own experience last September I bought an approved used BMW (19k spent).
The dealer serviced the car, put it through an MOT and put in i'd say around 3/4 of a tank of fuel and replaced the badge on the back which previous owner had specced removing without any issue, they did all of it without me having to ask apart from the badge which I requested.
I think mine was due a service and MOT a couple of months after my purchase date so they brought it all forwards and did it for me.
I was pleased with the service
The dealer serviced the car, put it through an MOT and put in i'd say around 3/4 of a tank of fuel and replaced the badge on the back which previous owner had specced removing without any issue, they did all of it without me having to ask apart from the badge which I requested.
I think mine was due a service and MOT a couple of months after my purchase date so they brought it all forwards and did it for me.
I was pleased with the service
I think I'd always assume a dealer's going to try and get away with spending the least amount possible unless specifically agreed. When I bought second hand from a dealer a few years back they agreed to service it, refurbish the wheels, and fix a scratch on the boot, rather than drop the price any more, as they're all things they can do more cheaply than me.
roz84 said:
p4cks said:
a service is a couple of hundred quid, so why bother even bringing it up to them? take it on the chin and make sure you negotiate better next time
I'm aware of that but after spending what is to me a huge amount of money on a new car, I wasn't thinking I'd be having to spend a couple of hundred quid getting it serviced the following month! But, in the current world where the cheapest new Ford Fiesta is £17k list, it's not expensive for a car.
Ergo, you need to ask when buying if the service is coming up - just as you need to ask when the MOT is due.
However, frankly, even if I was spending £150k on a Ferrari I'd ask when the service was due and whether it's included in the price.
Car dealers sell cars. They're doing it to make money. We should not begrudge them making money. They will not spend money to have a car serviced early unless the deal specifies it.
Some manufacturers' approved used schemes stipulate the car being serviced before sale if it's within a certain time or mileage to current. I would check this if I were the OP, but otherwise chalk it up.
Would you expect a used car to be serviced before sale?
No, I wouldn't assume it was.
It gets easier as you progress though life, as you start to assume nothing, question them instead and hardly ever suffer a disappointment of your own making.
Just be glad it wasn't an expensive house purchase, this time around.
.
SidewaysSi said:
Truly terrible IMO. Also hate it when the dealer is too cheap to fill the tank - says enough about them if they won't put £40s worth of fuel in the thing.
Had this once, I've always asked for a full tank as part of every deal since. One refused but took £100 off the price as he said it was just wasted time for his staff. I was happy either way.Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff