Dealer’s Diary
Peter Simpson provides us with an insight into the automotive sales trading world – and beyond.
As I’ve said before, as a trader you quickly develop a sixth sense for potential deals which are likely to turn sour. Sometimes, though, a customer’s very first communication tells you that they are likely to be trouble. The following is an example of an email exchange one dealer had recently with a potential customer for a 2013 Hyundai i10 with just 8000 miles on the clock and a complete main dealer history – in other words a highly sought-after car. It was up for £6290.
“I am interested in the 2013 Hyundai i10 currently listed on your website. I have a few questions before I make a decision to come and view it.”
“You state in your advertisement that the car has done 8000 miles and that it has a full Hyundai service history up to 7700 miles with eight stamps in the book. I would like to point out that the car is a 2013 car, so it does not actually have a full service history because if it did, it would have a minimum of ten and possibly eleven stamps in the book if it had been serviced annually.
I also notice that the car has new numberplates fitted with the name of your garage on. Why is this the case? Has the car had accident damage and the bumpers repainted and the damaged numberplates replaced?
Why did the previous owner get rid of the car? For a car with such low mileage, it seems strange. Is there a major problem lurking with the car that was the reason they chose to get rid of it?
With this in mind, subject to having a full inspection carried out by a qualified mechanic, I would be prepared to offer £4800 for this car, based mainly on the lack of full service history. Subject to their being no imperfections (marks on wheels, stone chips, stains, etc) on the car.
I think this is a fair offer as you and I both know that this car is quite heavily overpriced. Even with full history my friend in the trade has advised me that this car is worth a maximum of £5000.
The dealer replied thus: Thank you for your enquiry. First: numberplates. We put a fresh set on every single vehicle that we have in stock as we like the look of them, and as a bit of a marketing thing.
In terms of service history, you will struggle to ever find a better-maintained example. By the time we have serviced the car it will have had nine services for just 8000 miles which is above and beyond what anyone would expect. And as a garage owner, if one of my customers had done just 1000 miles, I would advise them to let us do a lights and levels check, but I certainly wouldn’t charge them for a service that the car doesn’t need. The fact that despite such ultra-low mileage the car was always taken care of by the main dealer
