The Problem With The British Car Market

I have had some fun and games this weekend. I have been trying to buy a car with my dad (for him) and visited numerous car show rooms.

If you ever hear car companies moaning and stating that they need more government help ignore them. What they need is to learn some manners, to learn how to treat people and to learn how to sell.

Showroom one – a car supermarket in Cannock

We found a car we wanted to buy; we had the cash and wanted to buy there and then. It was a Peugeot 308 and it had a board price of £8895. We went it to speak to the so called “sales executive”.

Straight away he informed us that they had no “manual” for the car but that we could buy one from Peugeot for £10 (why hadn’t they already bought one?” He continued that they only had one key for the car and that we would also have to pay an additional £300 preparation fee. OK, where does it say this as you walk around? Nowhere!

My dad stated that he could not afford the full asking price but that he would like to make them an offer. “We do not take offers” replied the salesman. Well I would like to make you an offer on this paper in any case and I will write down my number. If you change your mind you can phone me, I said. Do not waste your ink replied the salesman I will not be accepting any offers.

I was astonished and also angered at his attitude. For all he knew I could have been offering an amount only £10 below his asking price – what a joke system. There was now no way that we were going to deal with this company.

Showroom two – a Peugeot dealer in central Birmingham

We then decided to go direct and travelled to the Peugeot dealership in Central Birmingham. Again we found a car that we liked and put in an offer which was not accepted. We then put in a higher offer which was only £200 lower than the board price. Again this was declined. “What is the lowest price you would accept etc?” “I can not tell you, you have to make me an offer”, replied the sales girl via her sales manager! We have just made you two offers!

We decided to walk away – chuckling as we went – they could make a comedy out of this said my dad – what a farce.

Showroom number three – Peugeot dealer in Castle Bromwich

At last a dealer who knows how to treat people. A superb lady who was willing to listen to offers and who was willing to let us know her “bottom price”, sale completed! Quite simple really!