Don't dealers prepare cars for sale anymore.

Don't dealers prepare cars for sale anymore.

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Elroy Blue

Original Poster:

8,769 posts

207 months

Tuesday 25th January 2011
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My in laws want a Ford C-Max. (They're getting a big dog and a C-Max is the decision. No ifs or buts)

I've just spent the day trawling around dealers looking at examples. Most are 57/08 reg ex-motability cars. From main dealeers to independents, the cars were, without exception, dogs. Every one was badly scratched, usually down both sides. Cars were disgusting inside, had bits missing (even the air vents in one case).

Now there could be a seperate thread about how badly motability recipients treat their cars, but don't dealers make any effort to prepare cars anymore. I can understand leaving mechanical stuff (tyres and brakes) until after a sale, but surely cosmetic stuff makes or breaks the sale. We were put off 90% of the cars instantly by the state they were in (this included Ford main dealers). The perception was they hadn't been cared for and while I could look past some of the faults, my in laws couldn't. They had cash in their pocket and were quite disappointed they haven't been able to buy one.

edo

16,699 posts

280 months

Tuesday 25th January 2011
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this is my experience of Ford dealers when I was helping a mate buy a used Focus. Complete lack of care and attention in every aspect of the process.

steveo3002

10,875 posts

189 months

Tuesday 25th January 2011
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theyre hoping some mong comes and buys it as is , or you might notice some of the faults and they agree to fix them

every bit they dont fix is extra profit

R11ysf

1,956 posts

197 months

Tuesday 25th January 2011
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Don't dealers prep cars once sold. They aren't going to valet it, polish it and service it for the car to then sit unsold on their lot for 6 months. If you like it then offer a price subject to all the work you want being done.

Hitler Hadrump

1,750 posts

188 months

Tuesday 25th January 2011
quotequote all
R11ysf said:
Don't dealers prep cars once sold. They aren't going to valet it, polish it and service it for the car to then sit unsold on their lot for 6 months. If you like it then offer a price subject to all the work you want being done.
Having a forecourt full of scratched and dirty motors with dog hair covered seats doesn't exactly say "quality vehicle from a quality dealer" even if they do valet them after sale.

Elroy Blue

Original Poster:

8,769 posts

207 months

Tuesday 25th January 2011
quotequote all
R11ysf said:
Don't dealers prep cars once sold. They aren't going to valet it, polish it and service it for the car to then sit unsold on their lot for 6 months. If you like it then offer a price subject to all the work you want being done.
There's a difference between a car being dirty and a car being keyed/gouged and just generally crap.

Each of those dealers had a wad of casg stood on the forecourt. That wad of cash walked away because of the state of the cars.

LMC

918 posts

228 months

Tuesday 25th January 2011
quotequote all
Hitler Hadrump said:
R11ysf said:
Don't dealers prep cars once sold. They aren't going to valet it, polish it and service it for the car to then sit unsold on their lot for 6 months. If you like it then offer a price subject to all the work you want being done.
Having a forecourt full of scratched and dirty motors with dog hair covered seats doesn't exactly say "quality vehicle from a quality dealer" even if they do valet them after sale.
Totally agree.

Imagine going into a baker's shop and the buns are covered in pubes. "It's all right sir, now you're buying one we'll pick the hairs off....

Maybe that is an extreme analogy but you get the point smile