Just had a bit of an awkward experience....Ended up feeling like a total knob.
Went to 'see' a car which looked like it was being vaguely sold by a dealer. Ended up being located in a up market neighborhood on the drive of a very large posh house with a bunch of other for sale vehicles parked up.
So the guy isn't a dealer in the traditional respect. Yet, is like a pseudo dealer. Apparently, the vehicles sold are ex-fleet and come directly from the company. So the log book is in the name of a company miles and miles away.
I very, very nearly handed over a deposit but flaked at the last moment. Here I was doing business in the chaps (very) nice Kitchen. Insisted on driving me to the cash machine. Felt very pressured at this stage. Didn't expect to be buying on the first view at all. Although I was very interested in the vehicle. Tonnes of paper work and test drive was fine.
Having said that, all the paperwork in terms of servicing, parts etc was generated by the company that owns it. No prices or garage listed.
In the end, the gut instinct kicked in. Something felt dodgy but I couldn't put a handle on it. I felt pressured (lots of interest tactic) My nerves totally got the better of me and I put down the pen and made an embarrassing exit.
Looking back now, it felt odd that there wasn't any paper work verifying the transfer of the vehicle from the company to this individual. And that the chap was a dealer but wasn't, in the traditional sense. No VAT. Yet claimed to have been a self employed dealer for almost twice as long as I've been alive.
I just feel incredibly awkward at this point about it all.
Very near disaster, or really good lost opportunity. Thoughts?
Went to 'see' a car which looked like it was being vaguely sold by a dealer. Ended up being located in a up market neighborhood on the drive of a very large posh house with a bunch of other for sale vehicles parked up.
So the guy isn't a dealer in the traditional respect. Yet, is like a pseudo dealer. Apparently, the vehicles sold are ex-fleet and come directly from the company. So the log book is in the name of a company miles and miles away.
I very, very nearly handed over a deposit but flaked at the last moment. Here I was doing business in the chaps (very) nice Kitchen. Insisted on driving me to the cash machine. Felt very pressured at this stage. Didn't expect to be buying on the first view at all. Although I was very interested in the vehicle. Tonnes of paper work and test drive was fine.
Having said that, all the paperwork in terms of servicing, parts etc was generated by the company that owns it. No prices or garage listed.
In the end, the gut instinct kicked in. Something felt dodgy but I couldn't put a handle on it. I felt pressured (lots of interest tactic) My nerves totally got the better of me and I put down the pen and made an embarrassing exit.
Looking back now, it felt odd that there wasn't any paper work verifying the transfer of the vehicle from the company to this individual. And that the chap was a dealer but wasn't, in the traditional sense. No VAT. Yet claimed to have been a self employed dealer for almost twice as long as I've been alive.
I just feel incredibly awkward at this point about it all.
Very near disaster, or really good lost opportunity. Thoughts?
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