Buying a car unseen

[jpaul]

The hassle you have to return is an email and a phone call saying “come get your car”.

the 'hassle' isn't insignificant .... you maybe trying to synchronise the sale of your old car and pass the insurance across,
if a problem develops after 14 days too , even if it's a franchised dealer you'd need to check you won't have to drive it back to them to sort out (like I said I'll have driven ~400miles all told circa 1.5 days lost)

It's fine if they are works fleet cars where you may have overlap and a lease company that bend over backwards.

 

[ICDP]

It’s fine having a different opinion on such matters but I find it better to base opinion on experience rather than assumptions. Returning a car under CCR is not particularly any hassle and could be argued is less hassle than driving a longer distance to view the exact car you want because the spec is a bit rare.

All the best for the new year to you as well.

 

[aaronyuri]

It’s fine having a different opinion on such matters but I find it better to base opinion on experience rather than assumptions. Returning a car under CCR is not particularly any hassle and could be argued is less hassle than driving a longer distance to view the exact car you want because the spec is a bit rare.

All the best for the new year to you as well.

On paper, buying a car and returning it in very easy, I agree. However, in practice, this is rarely the case.

I think the OP has plenty of advice on how best to proceed at this point. Good luck, OP.

 

[ICDP]

On paper, buying a car and returning it in very easy, I agree. However, in practice, this is rarely the case.

I think the OP has plenty of advice on how best to proceed at this point. Good luck, OP.

Are you talking from experience of distance buying? Or from experience after seeing a car in person and trying to return after purchase. They are VERY VERY different propositions using VERY VERY different legal processes.

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

I’m

Whilst a terrible personal experience, that is not relevant to what the OP is asking. The fact you went and bought the car from an obviously terrible dealer shows that doing it all in person means absolutely nothing at all. If you don’t know cars inside out most of us will take a quick Look and test drive for 20 minutes and think “good enough”.

Buying from reputable dealers and knowing your rights and options is key. This is why consumer laws exist to protect buyers and this applies to both in person and distance sales.

So this mythical idea that you have more rights and options to walk away and reject a deal just because you show up in person is frankly nonsense.

Based upon your comments, I’ll take you word for it about rights.

However, that doesn’t take away the fact that whilst some dealers and salesmen are really good people, that others were born with the same moral fibres as your average far right politician.

If I view a car in person, I can and have just walked away. It might take my time to go see it, but IMO that’s a LOT easier the going through multiple calls and emails to utilise my “rights”, along with avoidance of having to have planned insurance, how to pay for the car, road tax etc.

 

[sigma]

It depends how fussy you are

 

[Michael Myers]

surely on an approved used the only thing you have to worry about is the paintwork, you can probably get the dealer to send a decent review or video of condition beforehand if they don't already have one.

 

[ICDP]

surely on an approved used the only thing you have to worry about is the paintwork, you can probably get the dealer to send a decent review or video of condition beforehand if they don't already have one.

Bingo… and this is the entire premise of the advice I have given in this thread. Context to what the OP asked advice for is fundamental to the advice given.

He is not buying an out of warranty runabout from deadly Dave the backstreet car part time car trader/ drug dealer.

 

[EvilRob]

I bought my Approved Used M850i without seeing it in person. I felt the 14 day distance selling returns thing gave me more of a chance to decide if I was really happy with the car or not compared to a normal purchase.
There was an issue with the some of the leather work which ****** me off as I'd talked about how important condition was to me several times during the sales process. However when I complained they sent a leather restorer round within a couple of days who sorted it out really well.

I'd do it again.

e: We bought my wife's 128ti from the other side of the country too although we did go pick it up in person. It's such a pain that you basically have to do this if you want a good spec used BMW. But still worth it.

 

[ICDP]

I’m


Based upon your comments, I’ll take you word for it about rights.

However, that doesn’t take away the fact that whilst some dealers and salesmen are really good people, that others were born with the same moral fibres as your average far right politician.

If I view a car in person, I can and have just walked away. It might take my time to go see it, but IMO that’s a LOT easier the going through multiple calls and emails to utilise my “rights”, along with avoidance of having to have planned insurance, how to pay for the car, road tax etc.

Where does the idea it takes multiple emails and phone calls to arrange return of an approved used car bought online from a reputable dealership under CCR?

You are confusing the CCR (Consumer Contracts Regulations) and the Consumer Rights Act. The former gives the dealership almost zero protection other than an “acceptable use policy” for 14 days, the latter gives the dealer a lot more rights to refuse a refund.

Your experience you posted previously would have been completely under the Consumer Rights Act because the handover and sale was completed face to face. In these cases a dealer can contest and has the right to provide a reasonable chance to repair. They don’t get this luxury under any sale completed entirely off premise.

 

[ICDP]

I bought my Approved Used M850i without seeing it in person. I felt the 14 day distance selling returns thing gave me more of a chance to decide if I was really happy with the car or not compared to a normal purchase.
There was an issue with the some of the leather work which ****** me off as I'd talked about how important condition was to me several times during the sales process. However when I complained they sent a leather restorer round within a couple of days who sorted it out really well.

I'd do it again.

e: We bought my wife's 128ti from the other side of the country too although we did go pick it up in person. It's such a pain that you basically have to do this if you want a good spec used BMW. But still worth it.

Your scenarios outline the different methods perfectly. One is under CCR (old DSR) as it was done entirely using phone/email/web and the other falls under normal CRA as the handover was done in person.

The first scenario you did exactly what any reasonable person did, you contacted the dealer and outlined your issue and the dealer knew they had to sort or they were getting their car back and there was nothing they could do. This is where the Consumer Contracts Regulations for distance selling can actually be far more beneficial than turning up in person. They give the consumer a lot more rights than you get completing a car purchase the “traditional” way. I know that a lot of dealerships hate it for that very reason.

Think of it like selling an expensive item on eBay and the buyer saying it’s not as described. You are totally screwed because eBay will far more often side with the buyer and YOU will be picking up the cost of the return.

That is the Consumer Contracts Regulations in play. You actually have MORE legal protection than buying a car in person. So the OP will actually be technically safer to purchase online and not in person.

I bought a car and now I've changed my mind | The Car Expert

Buyer’s Remorse is common in the car industry. You've bought a car, and now you've changed your mind or run into problems. What can you do?

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[Dangerous Dave]

I've bought a car online in warranty I still went to collect it but it was a right pain as the interior was covered in scratches from a small dog that weren't obvious from the pictures/video. The dealer were OK with rejecting it as to sort the damage couldn't easily be done and they were aware it would still sell to someone else that wouldn't be as OCD with the marks all over the interior. Still a wasted day of my time and I had already sold my car which meant I was on the back foot looking for another car as I was after a particular model/spec.

I'd still do it for suitable savings than buying locally but my threshold is higher now for the savings needed. Also take into account how you are dealing with the trade in if you are getting a car delivered and they are taking it away and you want to reject later unless the dealer is selling the car themselves (unlikely with a F30) it will more often than not be getting dropped off at a auction centre to be sold so you may not be able to get it back.

I can see Mr Sukebe point, the rights are clear but depending on the retailer doesn't mean it is going to be straight forward. I've had my rights completely ignored with a non car purchase and it took months to sort.

 

[ICDP]

There are factors to consider but we need to keep it factual rather than anecdotal so the OP can make their own mind up on risk/reward. For every horror story there are thousands of car purchase weekly that have no such problems.

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

Where does the idea it takes multiple emails and phone calls to return of an approved used car bought online from a reputable dealership under CCR?

You are confusing the CCR (Consumer Contracts Regulations) and the Consumer Rights Act. The former gives the dealership almost zero protection other than an “acceptable use policy” for 14 days, the latter gives the a lot more rights to refuse a refund.

Your experience you posted previously would have been completely under the Consumer Rights Act because the handover and sale was completed face to face. In these cases a dealer can contest and has the right to provide a reasonable chance to repair.

So what?
As my intent was to purchase the car, I'd already setup my insurance to cover the vehicle and then wasted my time.
How would my rights make that any easier?

From the way you're written your reply, I assume that you work in the industry.

Question for yourself, have you heard of examples of dealerships not being helpful with a refund when a customer has requested a refund? If you can state categorically that I'll not find examples on the net, then I'll buy your argument. Balls in your court.

 

[Greg0986]

If it helps I bought my Megane back during COVID sight unseen, just pictures from the dealers website. Exchanged my old car at the same time, arrived and on the sheet it said condition 6/10 but it was immaculate.

In hindsight it was stupid and I wouldn't do it again

 

[jpaul]

Factual rather than anecdotal ! there are incidental expenses you've incurred even if you buy at a distance that won't be reimbursed despite distance selling rules, as has been pointed out.

if you travel a distance to a dealer with your current car to test drive you've at least mitigated some of the risks of those expenses,

and (repeating) if you would be obliged to take the car back to the remote garage post 14 days for any issues - you have at least done some personal evaluation of the garages integrity.

 

[ICDP]

So what?
As my intent was to purchase the car, I'd already setup my insurance to cover the vehicle and then wasted my time.
How would my rights make that any easier?

From the way you're written your reply, I assume that you work in the industry.

Question for yourself, have you heard of examples of dealerships not being helpful with a refund when a customer has requested a refund? If you can state categorically that I'll not find examples on the net, then I'll buy your argument. Balls in your court.

You set a goal you know I can’t meet just so you can say “gotcha”. Had you purchased your car totally off premise sight unseen, insisted on paying a deposit using online/phone/email and had it delivered to your home, you would have had a much easier time getting a full refund under CCR. That’s not me making crap up with anecdotes, I have provided links with actual factual information and not assumptions.

I don’t work in the industry, I just have experience purchasing cars (and other high value items) using the CCR and have never had issue doing so. When you weigh up all the factors and if you follow the available guidance the risks of buying a car in such a way is smaller than buying sight seen on premise. I live in Northern Ireland and due to a much smaller market we can pay a few grand over mainland UK prices. So when I have looked at approved used in the past I have stuck entirely to dealerships that do home delivery and have a published returns policy.

Now ironically I will use my own anecdote.

I have even used such knowledge and facts in the past to push a local Belfast dealership to knock a fair chunk off a used 4 Series Gran Coupe. I just told him I could get one £2000 cheaper in the UK and have it delivered to my home.

There is a reason car dealerships absolutely hate Consumer Contract Regulations 2013 and selling cars completely off premise. Their room to **** you around is massively diminished.

No it is not risk free, but the chances of it going smoothly are far higher than getting a lemon.

 

[aaronyuri]

Are you talking from experience of distance buying? Or from experience after seeing a car in person and trying to return after purchase. They are VERY VERY different propositions using VERY VERY different legal processes.

Yep, I am indeed talking about my own experience of distance buying. From an allegedly reputable main dealer, no less. It took months to get sorted and small claims court remediation is what finally got it done. Having a vehicle stuck in your garage/house for months is a huge pain in the arse, never mind not having the money in your pocket. Then the agro of the whole ordeal is a total waste of time.

I also purchased a motorcycle that came with clutch drag but that ended up becoming a compromise with them paying for the clutch to be replaced rather than them having it back. They were still extremely reluctant to take it back initially, despite exercising my consumer rights and them acknowledging them. This is nonsense like agreeing to take it back via phone, but ignoring e-mails, never returning calls, never arranging the collection. I even reached out to the MD on LinkedIn which is when the compromise finally showed up. It's ******* annoying as hell. £13k bike for context - not palming off a £1-2k purchase.

No idea what their game or angle is as I don't work in that industry, but it's still a huge waste of my time that I'm not getting back.

On the other hand, I have bought motorcycles remotely and they have been fantastic in the flesh. Alas, I wouldn't do this with a car due to the monetary delta between what I spend on a motorcycle against a car.

TL;DR: Your experience will vary and it has no guarantees despite the regulations and your consumer rights.

 

[ICDP]

Like has been posted the process has risks just like other methods and there are always horror stories. The reality is no matter how you buy, there are always risks but by far the majority of distance online car purchases go perfectly well.

It is no more risky than buying direct from a dealership face to face.

 

[aaronyuri]

Like has been posted the process has risks just like other methods and there are always horror stories. The reality is no matter how you buy, there are always risks but by far the majority of distance online car purchases go perfectly well.

It is no more risky than buying direct from a dealership face to face.

It carries more risk as you cannot test drive the car, see it in the flesh, decide yes/no there and then, and walk away if you need to. Walking away is the key differentiator as all you have invested at that point is a trip there and back.

This simply isn't true for buying blind. /Thread