Latest news with #salesman
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Opinion: We bought a new car with cash, and the salesman wasn't happy
In 2018, my then pregnant wife and I decided we needed to upgrade the trusty, but small Ford Fiesta, for something bigger that would meet the rigours of our new everyday family life. We strolled into the dealership after much research and sat down to build our perfect model, with little luxury touches, like a leather interior, heated seats and a kick-boot, like proper middle-class adults. The salesman was friendly and helpful… until close to the end of our transaction. For whatever reason, the most crucial part of the sale had not been discussed – how we were paying for the £28,000 car. It was presumed by said salesman that we would put down a deposit, make monthly payments for three years, then either hand it back or make a balloon payment. And I do get it. Finance is how most cars are 'bought' in this country, because finding a five-figure sum of money is not exactly easy. But I've never liked the idea of being on a constant hamster wheel of returning a car after three years, getting a new one, being in an endless trap with the manufacturer. We'd saved hard for the car, topped up alongside a lump sum my wife had, with the idea being, we'd have it for at least 10 years as we'd look after it (we're seven years and 60,000 miles in – we've never had a major problem). We're also not flashy in the least – we're not bothered by material things, and just wanted a safer, bigger car, that's reliable and would suit a growing family. My thought process: that's £2,800 a year, or £233 per month for a decade to own the car, and that's excluding what we eventually get back for selling it on, which will shave a good chunk out of the above calculation. So back to the dealership. We said we were cash buyers, could we have a discount? And I can still picture his face dropping. He tried to persuade us to take finance, stating that the value of the car will drop as soon as we drove it off the forecourt. It's a funny business buying a new car isn't it – where else in life are we told an item will lose a chunk of value a minute after owning it? We were insistent. He was insistent. And I remember coming away thinking: 'I wonder if he would earn commission on a cash sale, like he would car finance?' What has transpired since from the car finance scandal is... probably not. He was clearly upset we'd decided not to finance the car through the in-house lender and his whole demeanour changed. As mentioned, I know we're in the minority here, not many can afford to fork out such a large sum upfront. But it highlights to me how rife pushy salespeople trying to squeeze as much money out of buyers on personal contract purchase (PCP) and hire purchase (HP) deals probably was. We've now had the Supreme Court ruling on 'mis-sold' car finance deals. As many as 6.6million people unwittingly signed up to a discretionary commission arrangement (DCA) between 2007 and 2021 – where they paid more in loan interest than they should have done, in a ruse which bumped up the commission salesmen could earn. What we can learn from this is: keep all paperwork, read contracts and terms and conditions with a fine-toothed comb, and never expect a salesperson to act in your best interest. There are also other ways to finance a car, such as taking out a personal loan, so it's vital to assess all options, not just be smooth-talked into an option that suits a company more than you as the customer. If you think you may have been unfairly treated, ignore the claims management firms and read this instead: How to work out if YOU can claim £950 from the car finance scandal - and what to do if you can't find the paperwork It appears this kind of behaviour was rampant for more than a decade and while it won't lead to the £44billlion worst-case scenario payout for lenders, it is still expected to cost them a huge £18billion. If you bought a car on finance in those 14 years, it is quite likely you paid more than you should have. Buying a car outright worked for us. It might not for you, but fingers crossed we'll have it for another 10 years, with one careful owner – and no shady underhand commission tactics lurking under the bonnet.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
We bought a new car with cash... the salesman wasn't happy and thanks to the finance scandal, I know why: LEE BOYCE
In 2018, my then pregnant wife and I decided we needed to upgrade the trusty, but small Ford Fiesta, for something bigger that would meet the rigours of our new everyday family life. We strolled into the dealership after much research and sat down to build our perfect model, with little luxury touches, like a leather interior, heated seats and a kick-boot, like proper middle-class adults. The salesman was friendly and helpful… until close to the end of our transaction. For whatever reason, the most crucial part of the sale had not been discussed – how we were paying for the £28,000 car. It was presumed by said salesman that we would put down a deposit, make monthly payments for three years, then either hand it back or make a balloon payment. And I do get it. Finance is how most cars are 'bought' in this country, because finding a five-figure sum of money is not exactly easy. But I've never liked the idea of being on a constant hamster wheel of returning a car after three years, getting a new one, being in an endless trap with the manufacturer. We'd saved hard for the car, topped up alongside a lump sum my wife had, with the idea being, we'd have it for at least 10 years as we'd look after it (we're seven years and 60,000 miles in – we've never had a major problem). We're also not flashy in the least – we're not bothered by material things, and just wanted a safer, bigger car, that's reliable and would suit a growing family. My thought process: that's £2,800 a year, or £233 per month for a decade to own the car, and that's excluding what we eventually get back for selling it on, which will shave a good chunk out of the above calculation. So back to the dealership. We said we were cash buyers, could we have a discount? And I can still picture his face dropping. He tried to persuade us to take finance, stating that the value of the car will drop as soon as we drove it off the forecourt. It's a funny business buying a new car isn't it – where else in life are we told an item will lose a chunk of value a minute after owning it? We were insistent. He was insistent. And I remember coming away thinking: 'I wonder if he would earn commission on a cash sale, like he would car finance?' What has transpired since from the car finance scandal is... probably not. He was clearly upset we'd decided not to finance the car through the in-house lender and his whole demeanour changed. As mentioned, I know we're in the minority here, not many can afford to fork out such a large sum upfront. But it highlights to me how rife pushy salespeople trying to squeeze as much money out of buyers on personal contract purchase (PCP) and hire purchase (HP) deals probably was. We've now had the Supreme Court ruling on 'mis-sold' car finance deals. As many as 6.6million people unwittingly signed up to a discretionary commission arrangement (DCA) between 2007 and 2021 – where they paid more in loan interest than they should have done, in a ruse which bumped up the commission salesmen could earn. What we can learn from this is: keep all paperwork, read contracts and terms and conditions with a fine-toothed comb, and never expect a salesperson to act in your best interest. There are also other ways to finance a car, such as taking out a personal loan, so it's vital to assess all options, not just be smooth-talked into an option that suits a company more than you as the customer. If you think you may have been unfairly treated, ignore the claims management firms and read this instead: How to work out if YOU can claim £950 from the car finance scandal - and what to do if you can't find the paperwork It appears this kind of behaviour was rampant for more than a decade and while it won't lead to the £44billlion worst-case scenario payout for lenders, it is still expected to cost them a huge £18billion. If you bought a car on finance in those 14 years, it is quite likely you paid more than you should have. Buying a car outright worked for us. It might not for you, but fingers crossed we'll have it for another 10 years, with one careful owner – and no shady underhand commission tactics lurking under the bonnet.
Motor 1
04-08-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
‘I Only Go On Sundays:' Dealership Salesman Calls Out Customers for Saying ‘I'm Just Looking' When He Approaches Them
A car salesman shared his hack for getting dealership workers to leave you alone that he says works better than saying, 'I'm just looking.' TikTok creator Laces on the Lot ( @lacesonthelot ) explains his method in a viral clip that accrued over 40,000 views on the popular social media application. The premise of his approach is rooted in a simple ideology: make a salesperson believe they'll be wasting their time attempting to secure a sale with you. Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Laces says that the best way to do that is by making them think you're financially insolvent. However, it's the specific details he provides that may trigger a feeling of unease among those who shill cars for a living. 'If you're one of those customers that come in on the lot to look at cars and not be bothered by a salesman, you totally can. But if a salesman comes up to you, instead of just saying, 'I'm just looking,' tell them you recently just filed bankruptcy and owe $20,000 dollars on a 2019 Rogue. And I promise he'll leave you right alone,' he says. Laces adds a bonus in a caption for the post for anyone thinking of using this trick the next time they're shopping for a vehicle. 'It's always the S trim level too,' he writes, likely referring to standard trim. Commenters Sound Off One person who replied to his video shared the way they like to get back at dealership workers. However, their remark didn't seem to be in the same spirit as what Laces was talking about. Trending Now 'This Happens All the Time to Customers:' Man Buys Brand-New Toyota 7 Months Ago. Now He Says the Warranty's Been Voided 'Literally the King of Darkness and Misery:' Man Spots Kia in Cracker Barrel Parking Lot. Now He Hopes to Never Meet the Driver 'I went to a dealership years ago on a rainy day. Pulled up to the new cars furthest from the building and waited,' they wrote. 'A salesman came out. As soon as he came up to my door, I took off. My kids thought that was the funniest thing. I waited til he went back inside and I came back. Did the same thing and he threw his hands in the air. It was hilarious!' they concluded. Laces replied in the comments section that this type of behavior seemed more akin to bullying than wanting to go to a dealership and browse their selection without being hassled. 'Ew. I bet you laugh at the videos of people tormenting Walmart employees too,' he said. 'Just leave the poor guy alone.' Others who replied to his video stated that their preferred time to ensure they're unbothered while car shopping was at the end of the week. 'I only go on Sundays,' one said. 'Or come on Sunday,' someone else echoed. Laces replied that this was 'a solution too.' There was another person who said they used to sell cars agreed that Laces's strategy would've certainly worked on them. 'He sure ain't wrong. I sold cars for five years and if anybody had told me that I would've done heel toe out of there quickly,' they wrote. Why People Hate Dealerships There's no shortage of horror stories about car dealerships. Auto dealer solution firm Multichannel Supply Chain Management published a blog outlining some of the biggest problems folks have with motor vehicle sales. The piece acknowledges that there are ' countless consumer complaints ' when it comes to 'auto sales and repairs.' Multichannel Supply Chain Management writes that decades of businesses reinforcing these gripes have fundamentally altered people's perceptions about buying cars. Consequently, many car shoppers are already on guard when they step foot inside a dealership. Multichannel Supply Chain Management says that a lack of transparency is one of the biggest gripes car buyers have when they visit dealerships. This, coupled with attempts at up-charging for add-ons and unnecessary services, don't exactly instill confidence in car shoppers. Many are wary of 'pushy' sales reps who doggedly attempt to get them into a car and sign on the dotted line. The firm writes that auto dealerships should be cognizant of these preconceived notions and work to allay a customer's fears. If sales reps work honestly and don't try to squeeze every penny they can out of a prospective buyer, they might feel more comfortable about making a purchase. And they may feel less compelled to lie about being bankrupt and rolling around in a Nissan Rogue they still owe a ton of money on. Motor1 has reached out to Laces via TikTok comment for further information. We'll update this if he responds. More From Motor1 'It Was a Chevy Cruze:' Denver Mechanic Gets an Email From Carshield. Now He's Warning Customers About a Major Policy Change Virginia Man Says Chevrolet Dealership Forced Him to Pay for $2,500 Package. Now He's Calling It Out for a Bait-and-Switch 'I Immediately Text Our Salesperson from the Dealership:' Woman Buys 2021 Ford Bronco. Then She Looks in the Glovebox 'I Want To See a Picture:' Woman Takes Her Chevrolet Trailblazer to the Dealership. Then They Say Rodents Voided Her Warranty Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Daily Mail
04-08-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The sneaky tricks used by caravan salesmen that could leave owners tens of thousands out of pocket on their dream holiday homes
Every year, thousands of Brits buy caravans hoping for a relaxing coastal escape, only to have their lives 'ruined' by hidden costs or plunged into a nightmare when trying to sell it. Now, a holiday home salesman, who has over 25 years experience in the industry, has revealed how 'ruthless' firms see potential buyers as 'wallets to empty' with agents forced to say anything in order to make a sale. The whistleblower, who has been granted anonymity so he can speak freely due to his close ties to the industry, explained how intense pressure to meet sales targets means agents 'will say anything and miss out vital information' to get people to buy. He said: 'Customers on a lot of large company parks are misled because of targets. 'Sales staff have to reach their target or they are sacked straight away, the holiday home industry does not care about employment legislation and they treat staff like cattle.' One of the 'worst' tactics he has noticed is potential buyers being told to take home and read complex documents before making their decision, with agents relying on the fact they won't be look at it properly because it's too hard to understand. This means they go in blind and hand over their money before later realising they made a huge mistake. Some buyers figure it out early on and try to cancel their doomed purchase, but the holiday home sales veteran said the company then 'make it hard to get the deposit back'. Those who do go through with it are often disappointed their newly bought caravan has been 'left a mess for the customer to sort out'. But this is yet another seedy strategy to get them to fork out even more cash to the park. Our source said: 'Now they are on park the company see them as a wallet to empty. 'They target new customers within three months of arriving to upgrade their caravans and it is done in a very hard sell way.' If that doesn't work, he said a lot of the major companies deploy campaigns which allow them to 'offer the customer anything to get the deal'. 'That comes with its own pressures on staff to "perform" or get out,' he added. Terms and conditions often say the park will act as a selling agent for owners who decide sell their caravans, but our source says some 'do nothing to help' and 'will stand in the way' of any potential sales. He said: 'The philosophy is not to help privately sell but buy the home back - and then sell it again for much more. I understand why customers get p***ed off, seeing what happens.' Customers are not even allowed to put their own For Sale sign up in the window as 'it takes money away from the companies'. And whilst agents 'should help' them sell it, they 'never do, as head office would sack them if they found out'. The whistleblower explained how, after months of blocking desperate owners from selling, the companies make them 'a stupid offer' to buy it back for much less than they bought it for and then put them back up for sale at an inflated price. Recalling one particularly unsettling example, he said: 'I remember a mother was recently bereaved - the family wanted to sell back to us. I asked my director, "What do I offer them?" 'He said, £30,000 - the family had bought the home for £200,000. 'I eventually helped them to get £190,000, with 7.5 per cent commission going to the company as agreed, and the director later told me I'd done the right thing and apologised. But many others are getting far less.' One firm he worked at did a trial scheme where people were allowed to sell their caravans privately with a 10 or 15 per cent commission going to the company. Recently, disgruntled customers have come forward with stories about 'nightmare' caravan purchases that left them out of pocket and 'ruined' their lives after being hit with hidden costs and fees (stock image) However, anyone who put a private sale listing in their window was 'instantly targeted' by the park who were hellbent on buying it back. Another thing that draws in some naive, and potentially vulnerable, customers in is some companies' willingness to bend the law. The anonymous salesman said some of them 'encourage' clients to sell their brick-and-mortar houses, buy a caravan to live in instead and illegally register themselves as living at friends or relatives address. Speaking about the industry as whole, he said: 'The situation is getting even worse. 'Sales are becoming harder to get, especially since Covid, so there's even more pressure to get as much as possible out of tenants. 'The changes in the industry have become more severe in recent years, with big investors buying up the parks. The big firms are more insistent on getting returns. 'There's more pressure on salespeople working for them and it's all more ruthless, both for staff and towards potential buyers. 'The whole business of holiday home parks need legislation as all a lot of companies do is rip people off.' Despite working in the industry, the empathetic salesman gave some helpful advise to help prevent anyone thinking of buying a caravan from getting into a tricky and exploitative situation. Don't see it as an investment 'It's not an investment - don't see it as that. People have to understand it's about enjoyment and leisure time, for families to share together - just consider how much money you want to put into that.' Don't budge on your budget 'People should have a budget they can stick and go into it with eyes open - don't just accept what the seller says.' Do your research and know your rights 'There are guides and codes you can download, to do your research - read the small print, even though the pressure from the salesperson will always be to make your mind up on the same day.' Finally, the whistleblower added: 'Of course, there are tens of thousands of people who love their holiday homes - but if it goes wrong, it goes very very badly wrong. You get rogues who are ripping people off and make all of us look bad. 'These are people's life savings we're dealing with. And there are properties than sell for up to as much as £850,000. 'There are firms where salespeople have to call new buyers at least three times in the first three months since buying, suggesting a sale back or part-exchange. 'It's high pressure sales and the companies force it on them because they've got investors to satisfy.' This week, a British grandmother and grandfather claimed to have been left £150,000 out of pocket after a 'nightmare' caravan purchase they say has 'ruined' their lives. Lisa and Robert Colvin-Jones bought a caravan by the sea after downsizing their home, with the aim to make memories with their grandson and to rent it out when they are not there. However, the purchase has turned into a financial nightmare for the pair, aged 55 and 56 respectively, with alleged hidden costs and other fees. The couple say they have to work three jobs between them just to stay afloat. They have only stayed in the caravan for three days in 2024 and not at all in 2025 - earning just £500 in rent across 32 weeks. 'We could not have known this would be the start of a financial nightmare that is still ruining our lives today,' Lisa said. The pair visited Sea Bay Resort park in West Sussex in September 2021. Lisa, a full-time carer, from Sussex, was going through serious medical issues at the time of the purchase and having a relaxing family retreat seemed 'just the ticket'. The salesperson showed them the 2019 ABI Ambleside caravan for £89,995. They claim to have been reassured that it was a 'platinum' standard home - the highest earning rental classification - and when not using it themselves, they could potentially earn a significant income from it. A £10,000 deposit was put down and the remainder was financed. However, soon after they got the keys, the pair realised a veranda would be needed for the safety of Lisa's father, who suffers from COPD. After finding a reputable contractor, who would do the job for £6,000, the couple claim to have been informed by Seal Bay that they were only allowed to use a 'park approved' contractor to the tune of £11,000. Lisa said: 'We were also contractually bound to buy our gas bottles directly from the park at £105 per bottle. Elsewhere, the same bottle costs around £80. 'Electricity similarly has to be purchased from the park in fixed blocks with no transparency or control. 'We were not allowed to install cheaper, green options like solar panels.' To help recover some costs, the pair tried to rent out the caravan but soon discovered that their supposed 'platinum' mobile home was actually 'gold plus' - meaning less rental rate and booking volume. And when they did get renters in, their energy bills surged. To add insult to injury, they were then hit with an increase in ground rent - despite allegedly being told that fees had remained consistent for years. In 2023, another salesperson suggested upgrading to a caravan they could rent out more easily - and for more money - costing a further £25,000. Lisa said: 'We were promised the new unit would generate £20,000 plus in annual rental income. 'Obviously, we were hesitant after our previous experiences but we felt like we had no other options. We were desperate.' But, there was a hidden cost - it needed a larger pitch, increasing their ground rent from £6,500 to £7,500 per year. There was also no path across the wet grass and to have one fitted, it would cost £899 for nine flat stones using the park's approved contractor. Lisa and Robert, who work in IT and baggage handling at an airport, claim the slabs were already in place, but were removed for the caravan, meaning they had to pay to put them back. The final straw came when they tried to sell the caravan back to the park, who could only offer them £24,100 - an 80 per cent loss. Lisa added: 'Our grandson loved the caravan holidays we did have and we tried so hard to make it work. But the costs are just unworkable. 'When we did manage to rent out the caravan, the park held onto the money for months and there was little left over after the bills. We lose money every month. 'Other people who sold back to the park have told us that their caravans went straight back on the market for full value. 'We looked into selling privately but Seal Bay told us that if we didn't sell to them, then they would charge the new owners an extra £500 a year in ground rent - effectively making private sales impossible. 'Overall, we were given drastically unrealistic expectations around costs and rental income.' Greg Wilson, CEO of European Consumer Claims (ECC), said: 'Sadly, the Colvin-Jones' experience are by no means unique. 'Misleading sales presentations are totally unacceptable when life changing amounts of money are involved. 'Inflated, hidden and monopolistic costs are reported right across the industry, and we at ECC are leading a nationwide call for the government to introduce legislation to protect people like Lisa and Robert.'
News.com.au
28-07-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
‘Like Tinder': Huge problem with Aussie cars
A test drive is like a first date isn't it? You've seen something that you might like. Maybe on the motoring equivalent of Tinder. You've done a bit of research or backgrounding and you're willing to roll the dice. You just have no idea how it is going to go. And then … it's awkward at first, you're feeling things out, trying to be polite, to get a rhythm happening. Gauging reactions. But at some stage you want to open the throttle, you want to push the limits, to see if this thing has a future. Is 15 minutes really enough to find that out? In (very) short: No. But that's all I was granted to shake out News Corp's Car of the Year, the BYD Shark 6. After waiting for a while simply to start driving the thing, -waiting for other prospective buyers, getting an extended run through of what was what – it was certainly a matter of the foreplay lasting longer than the real thing. WHY OH WHY? It got me thinking; in an industry that is so competitive, that makes so much money (around $200bn a year), that is constantly hitting you up with ads and incentives, why can a test drive be such a deflating experience? One that makes you feel like you're getting in the way of something. Like the saleman's lunch or his shot at a new high score on Candy Crush. Or the fact they just want to tell you how it is. Maybe I'm being a bit harsh. But when you are looking at buying a new car and think you have found something you like, it should be easier and more accommodating. After all it's the second biggest splurge most of us will make after a home and around 80 per cent of Aussie car buyers take out a loan for a new set of wheels. It's like you've finally found that dream match on Tinder or Hinge or Bumble or eHarmony or shock, horror you've actually met someone in the flesh, and you've sat down at the bar together. Before the barman tells you they are closing in five. Where do you go from here? Perhaps it's that customer service has almost completely evaporated in this digital age that we are continually told that doing everything online is so undoubtly wonderful. Just ask ChatGPT if you don't believe me. You can book that test drive online in a minute or two. Then the drive itself doesn't last much longer. When you can gleefully order a $125k car online with a few clicks just like you're ordering Uber Easts maybe it doesn't matter to the car companies so much what the 360 degree in-person test driving experience is like. But it should. TAKE THE LONG ROAD HOME The much-hyped BYD Shark doesn't take a lot of introducing, unlike a Telsa with its 'everything is on the touchscreen approach' but you still have to learn a bit about how to drive it. And while the BYD salesman was a very nice and knowledge guy, I was rather surprised/annoyed when he said after giving me the keys – 'see you in 15-20, that's the usual time'. Luckily it was a slow Saturday afternoon and having once worked in the area where the test drive was I knew the roads well and was able to use that time wisely to work the ute through the suburban streets and give it some on the motorway. But to me 15-20 minutes often means double that, and just as well because as I was returning to the dealer I realised I hadn't toggled across to EV mode to try it out. So that meant, another five to 10 cruising around. To be fair though, it took my seven-year-old son all of three minutes riding high in the back seat to declare: 'we should buy this'. However it only took for me to tell them we were going to test drive the new updated Tesla Model Y for them to translate that into the fact we were already buying one. ALL HAIL THE CYBERTRUCK The halo effect of the Cybertruck on display at the dealership – my 7-year-old and 10-year-old (and dog) climbed all over like it was a kids' playground – further sealed the deal before we even got a look at the Model Y. Tesla is a very slick and very friendly and very accommodating operation, even if their reps seemed somewhat short on product knowledge unlike the BYD blokes I dealt with. I got an hour with my boys (minus the dog) to test out the Model Y. To get a decent feel for how you operate it. How it works in a suburban setting and how it cruises on the highway. Was this really a car I wanted to blow $80K on? (Are you kidding it does 0-100km/h in 4.1 seconds of course I want it.) You shouldn't often listen to that mischievous little voice inside your head. But on this occasion it was commenting in unison with my sensible side and most importantly my wife's point of view. The Tesla blew me away, for ride and comfort and the cutting edge tech. I had to have it and thanks to financing I could and I don't regret the buy for a second. Apart from when I wonder if I should have spent $1600 more and got the white seats. But that's just that little voice again. COMMITMENT ISSUES But even then my time with the Tesla felt like a short stay at the crease. In the end it was recommendations from people I know who know what they are talking about and the endlessly reading and watching of reviews that confirmed it was the car I wanted. But still I wondered, can I know if I want to spend the rest of my life with this car from such a short date? I get that the path to true love is never smooth but it just didn't seem right. That was confirmed for me when my brother relayed his experience in buying his new car. He visited a large dealership, which offered a number of different car brands, – a one-stop car browsing shop if you will. Speed dating kinda thing but with quite a bit more to it. One of those brands was Skoda, a brand he was considering. When he asked the car dealer how long could he have the car for, the dealer replied: 'well we close at six, just make sure you have it back by then'. My brother looked at his watch, it had just gone 2pm. He drove three cars that afternoon for as long and as far as he wanted.
