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

Car dealership gone back on offer

98 replies

Mol1628 · 05/02/2020 13:59

So we ordered a brand new car at the weekend under a PCP deal. Went through the credit check, agreed on a part exchange price for our car and on a monthly cost for us.
We agreed to go for the base colour which comes at no extra cost. When he went to get us the deal printed out his boss told him that they are no longer doing the base colour and we would have to pay for one of the metallic colours (£600 extra) we said no. We don’t want to pay extra for a colour. He went to his boss and came back with a lower offer and they would find us the base colour model in stock somewhere and transport it.

We put down a deposit and signed the paperwork.

He phoned today saying they can’t get hold of any of the base colours and we can pay £15 a month extra for a red one that they have in stock. Or we can wait till March and choose another metallic colour, which will also be the same £15 a month extra.

I’ve told them no. If they can’t do it at the price we agreed and put our deposit down at then I’m not interested. I don’t care about the colour of the car, we just need one within the next couple of weeks, which he initially said he could do

I feel they lied to us just to get us to sign up. On the phone he put me on hold to talk to his boss who reiterated they couldn’t do anything for us. I said ok. We will have to cancel the sale then , can I come in and get the deposit back. He said he would phone me back later today. That was two hours ago! Haven’t heard anything yet.

It’s so frustrating as I can’t find a car I want at a price as good as this. Yet I feel they’ve lied and are taking me for a ride. Also wasted 3 hours of our time at the weekend and put a credit check on our account for nothing now.

AIBU? I don’t think for them losing that £600 is really going to be worth losing a sale but it’s not looking likely they’re going to honour the original deal.

OP posts:
MissConductUS · 05/02/2020 15:39

How odd. I've recently been car shopping in the US and the metallic paint is standard on all trim levels. You simply pick the color you want.

Ragwort · 05/02/2020 15:44

Our experience was different, we wanted the basic colour, the only colour they had available was a more expensive one, we just said we didn’t want that, they ended up giving us a deal cheaper than the ‘basic colour’ as it was the only one available....we did accept but I am slightly disappointed as I really wanted the original colour, not because it was cheaper, I just preferred it.... haven’t got the car yet so I don’t really know why they said it was the only one Hmm.

DontCallUp · 05/02/2020 15:45

Lots of naive people on this thread!

Of course it’s a sales tactic. Of course YANBU to back out, I would too!

Alsohuman · 05/02/2020 15:47

You pay extra for metallic paint here MissConduct

CeeceeBloomingdale · 05/02/2020 15:54

That happened to me. I refused to pay extra and they gave me the upgraded colour for the original price.

Original poster
Mol1628 · 05/02/2020 16:25

Thanks everyone. Still waiting for a call back. They’re not filling me with confidence so though it’s annoying im quite happy to be cancelling.

OP posts:
Sparkle567 · 05/02/2020 16:30

You said you wanted to cancel and then he said he would call you back.

You should of said what for ? That your be down to get your deposit back and to see you then.

Sparkle567 · 05/02/2020 16:30

Call them back yourself

seltaeb · 05/02/2020 16:32

In my rather limited experience you cannot trust anything a car sales person tells you. I have always ended up feeling that I have been misled, and have overpaid so no, YANBU.

MaJoady · 05/02/2020 16:35

@GiveHerHellFromUs Nope, that’s not how it works. Base colour just means lowest spec. Usually because it’s cheaper for the manufacturers, perhaps by needing fewer coats (ie no metallic layer) during production.

Stevienickssleeves · 05/02/2020 16:37

Its a bait and switch. Stick to your guns

smileandsing · 05/02/2020 16:39

My DH has proved to be an excellent negotiator when it comes to cars. He would say to stick to your guns, if they can't honour the deal you made then they either absorb the extra cost or give you the deposit back. Act dismayed at the poor customer service you've received from them and remember they want your money more than you need their car, there are plenty more dealerships out there. I can't be bothered with the game playing but DH loves it!

Trunkysaurus · 05/02/2020 16:41

What a load of shit I have just read.

No car salesman worth their salt will lie to a customer. Everything is so tightly regulated it's not worth it. Every manager I have worked for would give a salesman an arsekicking for lying to a customer. My last one banned a customer for accusing a saleswoman of lying to them when he overheard the conversation and he knew it was them who was lying.

Buyers are liars isn't just a cliche.

LtJudyHopps · 05/02/2020 16:41

Definitely stand your ground! If they haven’t called back by 5 call them and chase them before the manager leaves and it rolls in to tomorrow.

LtJudyHopps · 05/02/2020 16:43

And if they’re still not budging, the power of social media is amazing. I was ringing and emailing a dealership with no luck. I Facebook messaged the brand page (so not even public) 7pm one evening expressing my displeasure. By 9am the next morning I had a reply to my email the manager had apparently not received a few days before...

titchy · 05/02/2020 16:49

No car salesman worth their salt will lie to a customer.

Oh bullshit. It's a standard sales technique. Especially the 'I'll have to speak to my manager'. It's not lying as such - just trying to get the customer to buy an extra. Just go in a cancel the contract. Bet you they'll suddenly offer you the car at no extra cost.

Trunkysaurus · 05/02/2020 17:12

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

SecretMillionaire · 05/02/2020 17:18

Don’t wait for them to ring you. Go into the dealership and tell them you would like your deposit back and the contract cancelled. They could keep you hanging on with all sorts of nonsense until the cooling off period expires.

ClientQueen · 05/02/2020 17:18

Best to try at the end of the month when they need to close deals fast, you tend to find you get better offers

Extracurricularfatigue · 05/02/2020 17:21

We bought a new car last week after visiting three dealerships. I’m sure there’s no outright lying but there’s a lot of things left unsaid!

drinkygin · 05/02/2020 17:23

I would just go in and tell them you want your deposit back now. You are not being unreasonable

Puzzledandpissedoff · 05/02/2020 17:23

It’s strange since the base colour model is still showing as available on the main website, and he had to go to his boss to discover that they were discontinuing it

Far more likely the discussion with the manager was about how they could bait you into taking the one in stock - the unexpected "problems with availability" once the deposit's paid are the oldest trick in the book and often a sign of a dealership you really don't want to be involved with

If you walk way you'll almost certainly find that the deal you agreed becomes magically available again ...

GiveHerHellFromUs · 05/02/2020 17:24

@MaJoady thanks for explaining without making me feel like an idiot haha Grin

Fluffycloudland77 · 05/02/2020 17:31

Ring up another dealer and ask if they can get you the colour you want.

Deals fall out of bed all the time.

EssexGurl · 05/02/2020 17:36

That happened to us just before Christmas ...