Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel dirty after visiting a car dealership?

113 replies

gownofdoom · 27/07/2019 16:15

Apologies if this is your profession or that of your best friend but AIBU to find the process of shopping for a used car a skin crawlingly awkward and unpleasant experience? Why do car dealers seem so shady? I really do need to get a new car but I find the process excruciating. Is it just me?!

OP posts:
Lweji · 27/07/2019 18:54

One guy tried to interest me in a BMW while I was looking for a more economic small family type car.
When I dismissed it, he started saying something about me thinking the car was more for wealthy people. I think to convince me that I could afford it on a loan. I just replied that I associated it with wanker drivers (slightly nicer word). He shut up.

familycourtq · 27/07/2019 19:04

Someone I once knew who dealt in used cars said he always tried to make a minimum of £1000 profit.

As Noddie said - the HORROR a PROFIT?!!!!

LadyRannaldini · 27/07/2019 19:09

I found the words 'Let's not insult each other's intelligence' used quite early on worked wonders and I have also walked out when not getting what I wanted. Always remember, they need you more than you need them!

DobbyTheHouseElk · 27/07/2019 19:16

I bought a car from a dealership and found all the above to be true.

Recently went back to the same dealership with my friend who knows the family. Got a totally different experience. They didn’t try and sell and spoke a lot more honesty, even mentioned a dealership up the road that might have what I was looking for .

pigsDOfly · 27/07/2019 19:20

@Owen66 Completely off the point of the thread, but last time I attempted to buy a large item from John Lewis I was treated far from properly.

I ended up cancelling the £3,000 plus order because they just didn't give a damn about me or my custom.

StCharlotte · 27/07/2019 19:25

I didn't take DH when I bought my new Kia. I knew what model and colour etc I wanted and that new Kia prices are pretty much fixed and non-negotiable. I got an older salesman who didn't patronise me. I'd been putting off buying a new car for literally years because I was dreading the whole experience but it was fine.

Elision · 27/07/2019 19:31

If they think they can charm, wheedle, bully, or scare you into paying for extras you don’t need or getting expensive finance, they will. If they realise they can’t it becomes a much more straightforward experience.

I don’t finance, I buy a good 2-3 year old used car I can afford in cash (last one was about £20k). I do my research, decide what car and what options I want, and email the dealers within an hours’ drive until I find one that can get me the car I want with a full service history and one previous owner. A car is worth what it’s worth- any haggling will be over extra warranty options or finance deals and I refuse to discuss any of that. The salesmen don’t like me but they don’t patronise me, either.

Even if you can’t afford to buy a car in cash, don’t get dealer finance. You’ll always do better financially if you get a loan from your bank. Or, better yet just get a cheaper car. You can fit a family of four in a nearly new 5 door Ford Fiesta for a few grand and going into debt to impress people with something fancier is so idiotic.

Partridgeamongstthepigeons · 27/07/2019 19:38

Ah Swiss TonyGrin

To feel dirty after visiting a car dealership?
Justhetwoofus2019 · 27/07/2019 20:37

Gownofdoom go to a main dealer, but a privately owned main dealer, supermarkets are only after your money then send you to the main dealer when there's a problem, avoid large dealer groups, they aren't interested in customer retention, as there's hundreds more people behind you who will buy. I bought my Kuga new from a family run business after a nightmare experience with a large dealer group, we dealt with the managing director who couldn't be more helpful, now, my husband works for a main dealer in a family owned dealership (not where I got my Kuga, works for a Japanese manufacturer, that said had I wanted one of his cars I would buy from them, but I couldn't get the car i wanted for the budget I had for my car) we didn't tell any of the garages we went to what he did for a living and he was shocked by the behaviour and attitude of some of the people, so I sympathize with you, but they are not all the same, just take your time and find a dealer you trust, you have the choice to walk away if you don't like what you see or if you feel uncomfortable

Justhetwoofus2019 · 27/07/2019 20:45

As a point, the paper work that has to be completed now was instigated by the FCA (Financial conduct authority) to protect the customer, the ethics of treating customers fairly should be at the forefront of all dealer groups and used car dealers, sadly there are sharks out there, but not all of them,

Purplejay · 27/07/2019 20:49

I have found large dealers a bit shady. Perhaps more smarmy. Untrustworthy. Very helpful to determine what you want though. I decided after seeing a number of cars at the large dealership that what I wanted was a make and model that was already sold. I looked on auto trader for the same car. Went to view at a smaller garage. Level you chilled out approach to car sales. Very obliging. Would sort any dings, good part exchange price. No pressure. Large dealer was given opportunity to find me a similar car at same price and they could only get within £1500. Less for part exchange too. I bought from the smaller business.

Ivegotthree · 27/07/2019 20:49

My experience was at a big smart VW main dealership @Owen66

Crotchgoblins · 27/07/2019 22:02

Totally agree, the smarmy fakeness and small talk - yuck. Not all salespeople are like that, some seem genuine.

I actually enjoy a haggle, the key being you have to accept it will be an incredibly awkward conversation, with pauses and silence for effect. I use my best innocent face combined with nonchalant resting bitch face which seems a good combination. I also use the 'I'll check with my DP' on the budget whilst they do the check with the manager bit. DP didint have any input as I was buying it with my money but it allows you space and time and the excuse of ' I love the car but unfortunately our budget is £xxx etc' exactly the same tatic they use with you.

Lolly25 · 27/07/2019 22:33

Just buy a decent new car, slightly less shady salesmen...

RockyRolly · 27/07/2019 22:34

Just go on Car Wow and dont haggle

RockyRolly · 27/07/2019 22:37

I mean do haggle because it's fun if you're into it
But if you feel you dont want to then use car wow and you dont need to haggle or speak much to a human.

ChipInTheSugar · 27/07/2019 22:53

Has anyone got some good tips for haggling?!

Justhetwoofus2019 · 27/07/2019 23:02

The trouble with carwow is that people use it to get every penny of profit and more out of the car which is fine for big dealer groups that have numerous branches to absorb the loss but when a small family run business has to swallow these losses or face losing the business altogether, carwow is bad business for little independent dealers, but everyone is out for what they can get and are told by TV programmes and websites to take the dealer for every penny you can, how long is it before local family run garages are driven out of business to be swallowed by the greedy dealer groups who don't care about customer's and who charge for everything, my husband works for an independent and they do so much for their customers to ensure they are happy, it's called the extra mile, shame carwow customers don't care about this, but they soon come running back when they have a problem even if they haven't bought the car from his garage because a big dealer group sold them one £50 cheaper and yet again they help the customer because they care,

RockyRolly · 28/07/2019 07:52

@ChipInTheSugar do your research before you go. Know exactly what kind of car you want and the features that will benefit you. "Build" a new car on the manufacturer website so you can see all available features. You will get a better deal on a new car they have on their forecourt (still new just ready to go) than one you order from scratch. If doing finance know your options in advance and the cost of the car you want and get a cheapest price via car wow and then just say "this is the kind of car I want and this is what I'm prepared to spend- what can you do for me?" Make it clear you're happy to visit other manufacturers for similar cars if they cant match your deal. Be educated and not shirty or cocky and you'll get the deal you want. Stand firm!

Foslady · 28/07/2019 08:00

I remember going with the ex who had no knowledge of cars at all, it was me who had more of a clue. He was asking ex all the questions about engine size and what have you and then turned to me and said ‘so you want a metallic blue car then?’
One sentence later and he discovered how patronising the female client can stop any idea of a sale.......

Sparklingbrook · 28/07/2019 08:14

I hate car buying. It's just cringey with the haggling and messing about.

Especially if you are part exchanging. It's all so tedious.

DragonNoodleCake · 28/07/2019 08:25

Last time we went shopping for 2 cars, the dealer soon figured out it was me to convince not DH.
But I walked in there knowing exactly what we wanted. Told him, said I want to be out of there in an hour, no messing. I choose mine in about 6 minutes....DH took the rest of the hour and I ended up making the decision for him. I would NEVER go in unprepared. That's my biggest tip.

It made the dealers day Grin 2 x 1 year old cars sold in 1 hr!

DragonNoodleCake · 28/07/2019 08:28

@StCharlotte yes! KIA here too, found them pretty straight forward to deal with
Wondering if we have similar cars too Grin

LoisLittsLover · 28/07/2019 08:28

I used to find this until i started lookingcst slightly more expensive cars - i find sales people at audi/mercedes etc much less slimy and more genuine

ChiaraRimini · 28/07/2019 08:44

I couldn't agree more OP.
The vast majority of used car salesmen I have come across have been totally sexist patronising gits who know fuck all.
I recent,y had one who sucked his teeth and told me I wouldn't get X car for my budget. I said" oh really? Because you have two on your forecourt at the moment for that price or less"
I am a fairly chilled person but they really wind me up.