Used car viewing appointments. Are retailers charging a fee?

[Dewi 2]

It is called a returnable deposit, imposed for taking the car off sale for a few days.
The actual definition of returnable, might not be as we would normally understand.

What has been your experience?

[Zippee]

Not had thatbut it makes sense if you are coming up in a few days to look. Better that than turn up and they've sold it prior

[MustangGT]

You view a car online, like it, pay a returnable fee to hold the car until you go. Get there, like car, complete the purchase, do not like car, deposit returned.

Always returnable under distance selling regulations.

Any garage that says "No, we will not return the deposit if you do not buy" should be avoided because they have advertised themselves as shysters.

[Mr Tidy]

I paid a £250 returnable deposit to a BMW dealer in 2004 and in 2007 because I couldn't get to see them for a few days but didn't want to miss out.

I never found out how "returnable" they were though because I bought them both!

[Dewi 2]

I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS TOPIC HAS BEEN MOVED.

MY QUESTION WAS ONLY ABOUT MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERS, SO THAT WAS WHY THE TOPIC WAS POSTED IN THE MERCEDES SECTION OF THE FORUM.

[loskie]

MustangGT said:

You view a car online, like it, pay a returnable fee to hold the car until you go. Get there, like car, complete the purchase, do not like car, deposit returned.

Always returnable under distance selling regulations.

Any garage that says "No, we will not return the deposit if you do not buy" should be avoided because they have advertised themselves as shysters.

Don't think you are right on this. As soon as you turn up at the dealer distance selling no longer applies.

[Sheepshanks]

Dewi 2 said:

It is called a returnable deposit,

It generally seems to be called a reservation fee now, I presume to get away from any legal connotations of a deposit (which, of course, should be binding both ways).

It’s also usually £99, again presumably so it’s under the £100 credit card claim minimum.

[rallycross]

The garage I work with (used family cars) sells about 50 cars per month but we only have 2 sales people so everything is done by pre booked appointments and you can reserve a car online with a small deposit before viewing .

It works really well.
If they don’t like the car on viewing then the deposit is refundable.
Cars like high spec Nissan Qashqai and 5 door polos will often sell within 24 hours of being listed when priced fairly.

[maz8062]

What a load of rubbish. Asking folk to pay to view a car. It’s lazy selling - getting a customer to commit before they’ve even seen it. If someone would go as far as to put a deposit of £250 down on a car, 9/10 they’re keen on buying it, the salesman just has to serve coffee and biscuits and negotiate on the accessories, GAP insurance etc.

This is another slippery slope for the car buying process and folk are sleep walking into it.

[rallycross]

maz8062 said:

What a load of rubbish. Asking folk to pay to view a car. It’s lazy selling - getting a customer to commit before they’ve even seen it. If someone would go as far as to put a deposit of £250 down on a car, 9/10 they’re keen on buying it, the salesman just has to serve coffee and biscuits and negotiate on the accessories, GAP insurance etc.

This is another slippery slope for the car buying process and folk are sleep walking into it.

That’s your view and that’s fine my comment was from what I see from the selling side and it seems to work fine, customers will travel a few hours to view / buy a car and if they are busy at work a deposit to hold it till they are free to come and view makes sense for both parties.