[Closed] Car dealer. Disorganised or flogged the car I put a deposit down on?

You expected him to hold a £5k car with a £1250 deposit for a year?

No.....I gave him £1,250 as a deposit plus part payment to get coil overs and a rear cage fitted...which this chap agreed he would get done and then I could pick up.

Earlier this year he said he would get cracking and have the car ready by the end of April.....

And you last spoke to him when?

The dealer doesn't sound like the disorganised one to be honest 🙂

What does your copy of the sales order say ?

He's probably died waiting for the balance.

And what is the issue exactly? You haven't even phoned him and are scared he's trying to shaft you?

Recent end mail traffic - last about a month ago where he advised my plan to pick up should work. I sent 3 texts yesterday expressing my concern. No response. However my mate sent a text enquiringly about another car he us advertising earlier this evening....and just got a response.....

I shall call his landline tomorrow....

Stick the plate into some MOT Check / Tax Check Government sites, that'll tell you if it's been sold.

Your sales invoice will tell you what's yours?

Seems weird (I'm sure there's a good reason) for giving someone some money, and not talking to them again for nearly a year

RX7 from Goodwood Sports Cars?

I bought an MX5 from him and he was spot on. I doubt he's done a runner with your cash. Just phone and see what the delay is.

I shall call. We agreed I would pay the balance on pick up and after he had got the work done on it we agreed to get done. I had communicated a number if times and each time advised that work was about to start and no issues.

On basis of trust and expectation of delivery....

Folks,

For clarity, I'd be happy to share a string of email communication where no hint that the car was no longer available nor any issues and generally agreeing a proposed timeline for collection - which has progressively moved but not by my desire.

Reg number is on SORN.

This forum gets funnier by the day!

It perhaps does. It's also a generally good place for discussion, ranting, being sarcastic, getting others feedback, helping others, etc, etc.

So....on the basis that this chap appears unable to respond to electronic communication from me, but manages to respond to my mates within 15 mins I shall stop pussy-footing around and call him tomorrow pointing out the ongoing email communication between us.

I shall also provide an update for any interested folks who care to have a bet on the potential outcomes.

No issues, just a delay at his end.

Car sold to A N Other due to prices rising after we agreed a price, work to be completed, deposit paid, and relatively regular email comms where I was not made aware of any issues.

What will it be?

You saw the car last May !!!!! Why didn't you pick it up a couple of weeks later and had it to use for last Summer ?

Potential sale

Vs

Vague guy who has been happy being strung along for 12 months already.

I know who I'd respond to.

You may be right.

I assumed that as I had agreed to buy, handed over some cash, agreed with the seller that he would get some work I wanted done completed before pick up and have at no time had any suggestion that things were not as agreed then my world of trusting others is obviously naive and foolish.

However if this chap has been stringing me along then his positive reputation is ill deserved and he lacks both honesty and integrity. In short a lying crook. I hope this not to be the case. Time will tell.

Thats a bloody strong "if" considering you haven't even phoned the bloke and chatted to him.

I shall call his landline tomorrow....

Next time do that before posting. Just makes things easier 😉

If....

If said chap had actually returned my recent electronic communications then it might not be an if. However, he has not but has managed to respond to a similar communication from my mate, within 15 mins. This seems a little strange don't you think? He has my email addresses, mobile number so even a call back is possible.

Let's see what me trying to contact him tomorrow brings.

It seems that a winter was a whole year ago in the OP's world too

If said chap had actually returned my recent electronic communications

It might have gone into his Spam folder. Or one marked 'Sucker'

Why would you assume an email has gotto him? Pick up the phone and you know.

Give him a break guys, christ you guys are tough. Op I hope it all works out for you today, please update later after you've called him.

Quite.

It's an odd situation for sure, but both parties seemed happy with the arrangement, and isn't that what a deposit is for?

Blimey people do get a bit het up on here rather than actually talk to someone who could address their concerns...

I wonder if wool got his money back?

A year? If he had £1250 of my cash I'd be up there within a week. You've never collected the car a deposit works both ways. It's for you to reserve an item for the seller to keep if you're a no show.

I'm near Berwick I'll pop up next year and have a look.

Typical STW response, full of sympathy.

Jeeeeeze. You guys can be proper asshats sometimes.

For what it's worth, it sounds like he's stringing you on. Hoping you'll just "forget" about it so he can sell it for the newer inflated price to someone else.

Polite phone call, then if that doesn't work crack some skulls.

it sounds like he's stringing you on

Not the other way round then?
Over a YEAR to pick up a car? Are you insane?

I have sympathy but it's for the dealer.

A YEAR AGO!!!! 😯

The bloke whose building your car is just probably under the bonnet of some other machine with oily hands, clearly he thinks your not that bothered otherwise you'd be knocking on his door...like most normal folk would.

I doubt he's string You along, sounds like it's the other way around TBH.

I suspect that as you have agreed a deal with the seller you are viewed as a lesser priority than someone new who potentially wants to buy from him.
You're a done deal as far as he is concerned, new business needs to have confidence, a quick response will help instil that. Im not saying thats necessarily the right way to go about things, but human nature being waht it is...
FWIW I dont think he's trying to screw you, perhaps he's just a bit more chilled about deadlines etc.
I hope im not about to be proved wrong...

Come on then...he's been open an hour. What did he say?

I'm going with, he'll just return your money.

OP has sent him an email, snapchat, whatsapp, tweet and a facebook message.

All with no replies 🙁

OP should send him a message from his grindr account then. :D:D

or just phone him.

Come on OP, have you called him yet ? Surely you are not going to make us wait a year for the response 😕

well, this certainly trumps anything in the procrastination thread

Sounds like you're posting about a problem that doesn't yet exist? Why not find out first, before posting? If you've come out of the deal badly, you'll get the necessary sympathy, but you should expect some lambasting for posting without confirming the situation first.

Suggested next step:

Pick up phone. Cheery call "hi mate it's Benz. How's the motor doing? Wondered when I could pop up and give you done cash and collect it? Cheers".

Frighteningly simple resolution.

[img] [/img]

In my brief experience of IT Support for Car Dealerships, it's basic, very, very basic.

The owner and mechanics generally haven't a clue and pretty much all the modern e-things are done by the office staff - who may be part time.

Phone and speak.

They're probably under new management and they've never heard of you.

no car. but his wife had a great christmas this year

I suspect that the OP has called the garage to find his car is ready and waiting, all done. The guy is really pleased to hear from him, and has been waiting for him to call.

Due to this the OP disappears from STW for a while to save face, having started a thread about a possible fraud that he hadn't actually confirmed.

Come on tell us.

Just to keep the troops entertained while this saga unravels.

Here's a glacier moving.

[img] [/img]

allthepies - Member
Just to keep the troops entertained while this saga unravels.

Here's a glacier moving.

Worst. Gif. Ever.

Worst. Gif. Ever.

I thought that, but it does move. Just checked it in photoshop, and the animation frame kicks in around 45secs.

Nope. Still not seeing it...

[quote=Bregante ]Nope. Still not seeing it...

[img] [/img]

Come on OP we're all waiting!

🙄

Maybe the Op's gone out for an evening drive....

Maybe we should send up a sign?

[img] [/img]

Hahaha! Bruneep have you kept that on your clipboard ready?

Well.....the next instalment......

Having had a bit of a busy day at work I did indeed manage to call and managed to leave 2 messages on voicemail asking for a call back - which has not yet happened.

I also went back through all communications to note that after I coughed up cash / deposit to avoid said dealer having to fund the trick bits I wanted fitting there have been very regular communication generally with me asking for an update, getting no response, following up and then getting a response along the lines of "In hand, just need to push things on", "Yes, should be no issues with picking it up as I'd also like to get this completed", "Yes, car is here, need to get things you want done, which I will do", "Yes, your plan to pick the car up is doable within your timeline", "Yes, slight delay, in hand now", etc, etc.

I can count at least 2 emails supported by the odd telephone call per month every month since all those months ago. Each basically me trying to chase things on.

So....unless said dealer has left this earth (but can still post on Facebook and return texts to my mate) I might just assume that he is avoiding me for some reason?

So....who might be the aggrieved party in this situation?

At this point I have not named anyone.

I'm optimistic that tomorrow said dealer may contact me and I can come on here and share a red face and a happy ending.

If this optimism does not play out then I shall be more than happy to provide more specific information for your enjoyment and titillation.

Now, where did I put those Z1's

What kind of work are you having done to it?

Remedial / maintenance or mods?

Just wondering if he's unwilling to outlay on mods

Sounds like you've been stitched up..sorry.

M0rk,

You might just be right, but plenty online images of happy customers leaving with their modded cars.

Work initially required was some paintwork rectification (agreed as part of the sale / purchase) plus some other bits hence my payment of a deposit plus more to fund those bits plus their fitting.

As an aside, if I go onto the DVLA and pop in the reg number, does a SORN mean the car is off the road or does it mean the plate itself is 'retained'? The plate was fairly unique.

Sorn only really means it's not taxed..not surprising really seeing as he's had it so long..if he's legitimate he's not going to pay road tax on it if its been sat in a yard and he's got no idea if/when the customers going to pick it up.

Matty, thanks.

Fully understand this logic. With a firm date for pick up I was going to arrange road tax to suit.

Ah well, if this turns out for the worst and this is the worst thing in my life, lessons learned and move on.

Call trading standards and get their take on it. Have you complained to him about the car or any of the work at all? Call me a cynic but may there are 2 sides to this story. But reading standards will sort it. Hope you've got proof of payment.

Why don't you get your mate, who he is in contact with, to ask him to contact you...?

Interesting but I'd still have visited him before now to see what is going on or cashed my chips and asked for the cash before now.

AndyB,

None that I am aware of. Hands shook, stuff agreed, cash paid, communications ongoing.

TBH if there was an issue then all he needed to do was advise and then we work it out.

However can certainly provide copies of all comms plus proof of bank transfers made should Trading Standards want it. Would also be quite happy to post on various fora associated with this particular car model if this does not play put positively. Obviously avoiding any slander. My lawyer mate will guide accordingly.

Drac, the 4.5hr drive and having enough to keep me busy otherwise has meant email, text and 'phone has been the only practical method of communicating to date.

And being a man of peace, love, understanding, awareness of CCTV, God, would I ever consider driving to visit with one or 3 of my more 'boisterous' mates for a friendly chat and resolution to this potential issue? No, as that would be wrong.

Leave a message on his Facebook homepage that way he can't miss it and nor can anyone else,something along the lines you have stolen £xxx nod not delivered car etc,pretty sure you'd get a quick response

I wasn't suggesting going with burly mates rather heading up yourself, for £1250 I'd make sure I found the time.

Anyway good luck and hope it turns out good.

Shirley isnt this a case of letter before action and small claims?
Trading standards / CAB will be able to guide you too.

I'm sure you will get it resolved either way.

Why don't you use;

a, workmates mobile
b, friends mobile
c, telephone box

😐

He's clearly got your number saved so is letting it ring out. If he thinks its a potential sale he'll answer.

Im starting to lose sympathy, it seems £1250 to you isn't that significant as it is to others on here... 😕

That seems a bit harsh, v666er, if the OP is indeed being diddled.

Ok, they are being very lackadaisical about it, and the online tough guy veiled threats are hilarious, but no need to kick a man when he's possibly down.

He probably hasn't done the repairs and he is trying to gain some time by not responding.

Assuming the car's been sat in a storage yard/shed for a year I'd be a bit worried about all the stuff that doesn't like being left idle for long periods of time...

Car's long gone and dealer is now crapping his pants trying to come up with a plan to get the £1250 he spent a LONG time ago. SOunds like he's a legit trader so you'll probably get your money back but it might take a bit of forthright, in person/writing*, encouragement.

*not an e-mail, something recorded delivery, copies retained for legal gubbins etc.

EDIT - Hope it gets sorted OP

If its the dealer I am assuming it is, then I am in a similar (in rough principle) industry.

I doubt he has sold the car, its just that you have left it a long time, theres no margin in it and you have fallen down his priority list. Keep calling, get your name back in the frame and it will get sorted I am sure.

I see he has a landline, which is a good start, reading his ads he sounds like a straight up chap.

He may well have not got round to doing it, kept fobbing you off with emails thinking he'd do it next week...nex tweek....etc, and is now trying to buy hmself some time.

Call from a different phone, ask him straight what the situation is.