My 82 mum wanted to buy a new car and asked me to help. Through process of elimination, she decided on what car she wanted, potentially a brand new one. I helped search through trademe and found the manufacturer near us had a 2nd hand one, and a new one. So we went there to look at them both. After looking at both, my mum decided to buy the secondhand one. I attempted negotiating with the car saleman but he immediately shut it down "that's rock bottom price" blah blah blah. Anyway, my mum ended buying it. Got home and searched for the trademe ad to show someone else the car, and low and behold its listed for $1,000 cheaper.
So, do you think I should go back and approach the salesman or as my mum has already signed the deal, is it tough luck?
djrandomguy,
Apr 28, 7:08am
It's done now isn't it. My brother had the same thing told to him. He wanted a Honda Fit/Hybrid after test driving a few similar cars. He had almost agreed to buy one over the phone and he showed me the ad. I spent 45 minutes calling around and found the same car with less K's for less money. When I rang his original dealer and asked them if they'd match the price there was a flat response of "we don't discount mate" So we drove over and purchased the other car and the people were grateful and really nice, they even threw in a new [starting] battery as older one was looking a bit sad. In your case you should have at least searched online. A car is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. You can try to show them the ad, but if it's all signed off then you paid for a lesson in life sadly.
tamarillo,
Apr 28, 7:12am
I think you should go back and approach salesperson and if brushed off approach manager. Take print out of advert. You were lied to so should complain. I doubt if legal leg to stand on but good will is important to these people. Your mum no doubt knows lots of folk interested in a car like hers. I’m assuming here that the advert is for the actual car your mum bought, same dealer, same car.
callum.irvine,
Apr 28, 7:17am
I think you missed the point. It is the EXACT SAME CAR, not a similar car.
To summarise: Buyer purchased at the dealer. Dealer said "That's the rock bottom price" But car is found on TradeMe advertised at $1000 less than what was paid.
bitsy_boffin,
Apr 28, 7:28am
Being generous, could have been +ORC on the Trade Me listing
hsvman12,
Apr 28, 7:31am
Yes it is the exact same car - confirmed by rego number.
The cheaper price is also on the companies website - I've grabbed screen shots of both trademe and their website.
Also note that this is a major car manufacturer, not just a 2nd hand car sales yard and the model purchased was one of their models.
hsvman12,
Apr 28, 7:32am
#5 - its a demo model she brought, and has already been registered with a valid number plate. So no ORC apply in this case
callum.irvine,
Apr 28, 7:48am
Any chance of a genuine pricing error? Retailers do have some protection there. I've had to use it myself when I advertised something at $5 when it was meant to be $500. Sticky 0 key. I didn't have to honour the advertised price.
The seller does have to prove it was a mistake somehow though. Probably going to be difficult for them to say that in this case.
hsvman12,
Apr 28, 7:58am
I dont think it is a pricing error - the trademe ad has the full price (what my mum paid) crossed out, the lower price. It looks pretty clear to me that the price has been discounted
saxman99,
Apr 28, 9:18am
So: you found the car on trademe at a price of x dollars, and when you went and looked at the car you didn’t notice the price was x+1000 dollars?
djrandomguy,
Apr 28, 12:30pm
I understood his point and I'm showing that you need to spend the time online looking beforehand. Had they done so they may have found the same make and model cheaper or seen the advertised price for the one they purchased. It's 2021, who doesn't look online before they make a major purchase?
m16d,
Apr 28, 4:31pm
You must have pissed the salesman off for him to stick to the price. yer. go back and have another go at him.
laurelanne,
Apr 28, 4:45pm
Isn't it a sign of the times. Everyone that I talk to in the trade is complaining about the lack of good second hand stock. These guys have adjusted the price upwards. That goes against the grain with people buying in the second hand car market.
intrade,
Apr 28, 5:09pm
cut and paste your post 1 Got home and searched for the trademe ad to show someone else the car, and low and behold its listed for $1,000 cheaper.
So, do you think I should go back and approach the salesman or as my mum has already signed the deal, is it tough luck? You realise a dealer has to give a consumer gurantee on the product plus he has to pay bills and feed his family plus fix potentially expensive sruff on this car after 12 month should it fail. "depending on sale price see cga law. finding it 1000 cheaper on tradme is quite a good price from the dealer . without knowing price. in 1990s in europe we made sure we had 3000 bux profit from a sale and we had no stupid cga my mate given 3 month warranty on these cars. back then.
intrade,
Apr 28, 5:17pm
everything costs more. i just read in germany tyre prices are up as raw material gone rising . so dont think we wont get higher tyre prices also real soon. Bad thing is tyres was the only thing i could make a real profit. and they say there is no margin in tyres. Shows you how bad it really is. supermarket shelfs empty lockdowns shipping costs tripple the cost you name it. Having to check 4 supplyers for a simple fanbelt for a car and its going to get worse.
msigg,
Apr 28, 5:19pm
Just go and see them if you want, no good complaining on here, you were happy at the time of purchase, every car you buy you can often see them cheaper somewhere else, it is in the moment, go and ask for a fre service or something if your not happy, was your mum happy before you saw the second add on trademe, well once you buy something no good looking around after the event, yu will only be disappointed.
tgray,
Apr 28, 6:00pm
Legally the deal is done. Offer and acceptance with a signed contract. Morally they may offer you a discount but I doubt it.
bumfacingdown,
Apr 28, 6:10pm
Same car, same yard, different price
hsvman12,
Apr 28, 6:24pm
Just to clarify/clear up some of the comments made by some:
saxman99 - no i didnt notice the price difference. We had looked at a lot of cars online (probably 50+) for my mum to decide what kind of car she wanted prior to the day we actually went looking at them.
djrandomguy - yes lots of research done (refer prior comment)
m16d - didnt piss saleman off. It was a very friendly interaction
intrade - I dont disagree with what your say. This is upto the car sale company to price correct to reflect all that - including when they discount a particular car by $1000
msigg - please dont misunderstand me. I am not complaining, just after some thoughts about how (and if) I should do anything about. I always appreciate the views of others on this forum to help me
Personally, it doesnt affect me 1 iota. But I do feel bad for my mum who feels like she's been taken advange of because of her age.
lakeview3,
Apr 28, 6:41pm
let it go, don’t cause her more stress.
kazbanz,
Apr 28, 7:18pm
[ Has mum actually taken delivery of the car? If not I would NOT be going to that salesman. I would be taking a copy of the advert to the sales manager. Making it VERY clear that the vehicle is advertised for sale at $XXX and you don't expect mum to pay a penny more. Before you do that though have a really good look at the advert Franchise dealerships have a nasty habit of having hidden "extras" Well not entirely hidden as such more in fine print. Stuff like Plus ORC or excluding GST or Sample picture or after minimum trade in. Any way you look at it you expect the advertised price. If mum has taken delivery then it gets more tricky. I'd still be expecting to see the sales manager but its tougher to get what you want when the car is paid for. To clarify a point- YOU can do diddly squat. You do not have a contract with the dealer . Your MUM is the person who has the contract. Yes of course you can along and be a support person. You can even speak on her behalf once /if she says you can but you have no actual negotiating power as such. -Edit--just reading your comments. YES a dealership DOES have ORC regardless of if a car is registered or not. -its costs less but its still a number as such.
hsvman12,
Apr 28, 8:30pm
kazbanz - No mum hasnt taken delivery, she is due to pick it up on Tuesday. Thanks for the advise, I have looked at the add and there is no "extras", even says price includes ORC.
My mum is not confident enough to talk to them, so it will fall on me, but yes I get what your saying about my "authority" to do anything.
hsvman12,
Apr 28, 9:34pm
An update:
I decided to phone the salesman first - my thinking was if I had no luck then I had another avenue to pursue with his manager. He was somewhat surprised that the price was lower, but agreed to sell it at the lower price. I phoned my mum and she is over the moon - now I'm her favourite son LOL!
So, a great outcome, my mum is even more now elated with her purchase.
Thanks everyone for your input - I really appreciate it!
kazbanz,
Apr 28, 9:40pm
Salesman can't be just "a salesman" --usually they have to get permission up the chain But cool they agreed to the price with no issues
cjohnw,
Apr 28, 9:41pm
Great result! I can remember how it feels to make your mum happy. Hope she has many years of safe and enjoyable motoring.
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