• Car Dealer Plus
No Result
View All Result
  • Latest
  • Used Cars
  • Live
  • Forum
  • Power 2020
  • UCA 2020
  • UCA 2021
  • CDX
  • Knowledge
  • Suppliers Guide
  • About Us
  • Latest Issue
  • Top 100
  • CD Plus
  • Latest
  • Used Cars
  • Live
  • Forum
  • Power 2020
  • UCA 2020
  • UCA 2021
  • CDX
  • Knowledge
  • Suppliers Guide
  • About Us
  • Latest Issue
  • Top 100
  • CD Plus
No Result
View All Result

Revealed: The top 10 trade-in tricks pulled on dealers by the public

Car Dealer Magazine by Car Dealer Magazine
October 22, 2019
0
Home News

AN auction specialist has found the tables being turned as car buyers con dealers.

G3 Remarketing has turned on its head the traditional public notion of dealers being the dishonest party, finding that when it comes to getting rid of their old car some sellers will stop at nothing to part-exchange a vehicle that’s unfit for the road.

After talking to its pool of dealers, the Leeds-based vehicle auction specialist compiled a top 10 list of stunts pulled by the public when trading in their old cars – tricks that could cost an unsuspecting trader a LOT of money to put right.

1. Dead battery
It’s very common for a dealer to go out to move a part-exer and find the battery is terminal, as the previous owner has swapped it out to keep the good one for another car.
Repair estimate: £80

2. Illegal tyres
When customers know they’re about to change cars, it’s not unknown for them to switch out good tyres with some part-used or fully worn tyres. Most dealers have to factor a new set of rubber into the refurbishment cost.
Repair estimate: £240 (four tyres)

3. Worn brakes
It’s very rare that a dealer will value a part-exchange with anything more than a visual inspection. Grinding brakes and worn discs are a common find when it comes to trade-ins.
Repair estimate: £200

4. Where’s the spare?
Look under the boot carpet of a part-ex car and quite often you’ll find the spare wheel has gone… on eBay most likely, along with the inflation kit.
Repair estimate: £80

5. No fuel
You wouldn’t expect a part-exchange to come with a full tank, but many people take their old car in with just fumes in it. ‘We’ve even seen customers siphoning petrol out into a jerry can,’ said one dealer.
Repair estimate: £20

6. A load of rubbish
G3 heard from one dealer whose customer had loaded their old car up ready for a tip run then just dumped it at the dealership…
Repair estimate: £10

7. Mechanical faults
Visual valuations don’t pick up running problems and for many owners the time to trade in their car is when it’s starting to play up – without telling the unsuspecting dealer.
Repair estimate: £300

8. ‘Daylight robbery’
Some punters are so tight that they’ve been known to remove the headlight bulbs from part-exchanges before trading in their car, leaving the dealer in the dark…
Repair estimate: £20

9. Back to the wall
It’s a common trick for a customer bringing in a part-exchange to park it close to a wall in the hope that a dealer doesn’t notice obvious body damage – even better if they time it for when the rain starts to pour!
Repair estimate: £500

10. Radio ga-ga
Removing a car’s in-car entertainment system is another fast one pulled by some punters, no doubt to make a fast buck selling it second-hand.
Repair estimate: £150

Anthony Matthews, branch manager at G3 Remarketing, said: ‘We work directly with the trade so we hear a lot of horror stories. That’s why every car we sell, whether it’s £200 or £20,000, comes with a realistic appraisal of its condition and we even offer 30-point mechanical checks on qualifying vehicles to de-risk the process as best we can.’

MORE: G3 Remarketing celebrates Nurses’ Day with £40,000 pledge

MORE: G3 Remarketing launches appraisal app for motor finance customers

MORE: G3 Remarketing holds 1,000th auction and plans to expand further

 

Related Posts

Luke Humprhries playing darts
News

Marshall Motor Group adds one of darts world’s most exciting prospects to line up of sponsorships

March 6, 2021
City Motors Citroen Dacia and Volvo
News

Car dealer City Motors site in Bristol sold to housing association for £9.1m

March 6, 2021
Citroen C3 on the road
News

Citroen increases warranty cover for cars bought online and promotes ‘money back guarantee’

March 6, 2021
Coronavirus testing being carried out
News

Free rapid coronavirus tests for employees available from today for car dealerships of all sizes

March 6, 2021
March 6 round-up: Covid deaths down 41%; Lockdown easing going to plan; Rates relief cap worries; VW teases Project Trinity
News

March 6 round-up: Covid deaths down 41%; Lockdown easing going to plan; Rates relief cap worries; VW teases Project Trinity

March 6, 2021
Porsche Bournemouth street scene
News

Inchcape reveals look of Destination Porsche Centre Bournemouth as success of current showroom prompts move

March 6, 2021

Want the latest news?

Sign up to Car Dealer's daily news email updates

Subscribe
How many car dealerships does each manufacturer have in the UK? Car Dealerships Locations List 2021 revealed
News

How many car dealerships does each manufacturer have in the UK? Car Dealerships Locations List 2021 revealed

February 24, 2021
Used Car Awards with Mike Brewer and James Baggott graphi
News

Who won what at the Used Car Awards 2020? Mike Brewer reveals our winning car dealers

February 11, 2021
Car Dealer issue 156 front cover and Used Car Awards
Online Magazine

Out now: Car Dealer issue 156 features our Used Car Awards, H.R. Owen CEO Ken Choo and lots more

February 23, 2021
Used car market stronger than ever as August sees sales up by nearly 50 per cent for Big Motoring World
News

Opinion: Here are 10 reasons why I think there’ll be a rapid recovery in car sales when lockdown ends

February 16, 2021
Trophy Cars forecourt
News

Investigation: Meet the hyper-specialist car dealers making their money from weird and wonderful motors

February 11, 2021
Become a Car Dealer Plus member and get more out of this website including free legal advice
News

Become a Car Dealer Plus member and get more out of this website including free legal advice

January 15, 2021
Car Dealer Top 100 – The list in full of the most profitable car dealers in the UK
Car Dealer Top 100

Car Dealer Top 100 – The list in full of the most profitable car dealers in the UK

February 10, 2021
Bitcoin ATM terminal
News

Will car dealers in the UK accept Bitcoin for payment? Dealers speak out after Tesla plans to accept cryptocurrency 

February 18, 2021
  • Latest
  • Used Cars
  • Live
  • Forum
  • Power 2020
  • UCA 2020
  • UCA 2021
  • CDX
  • Knowledge
  • Suppliers Guide
  • About Us
  • Latest Issue
  • Top 100
  • CD Plus
Call us: 020 8125 3880

© 2020 Blackball Media

No Result
View All Result
  • Car Dealer Plus
  • Latest
  • Used Cars
  • Live
  • Forum
  • Power 2020
  • Used Car Awards 2020
  • Used Car Awards 2021
  • CDX
  • Knowledge
  • Suppliers Guide
  • About Us
  • Latest Issue
  • Top 100

© 2020 Blackball Media

Log In
Register
Register
Server 1