Motor prices on Autotrader

diamount · 20 Jul 2014 at 22:45

Can anyone explain to me why traders hide the real price in the description? Looking for a cheap car for my sister but half of 'em are 100 and 1050 in the description.

Makes no sense.

Traffic_Warden · 20 Jul 2014 at 22:47

Probably because they would show at the top if you choose price ascending.

Theophany · 20 Jul 2014 at 22:49

diamount said:
Makes no sense.

Sure it does.

Traffic_Warden said:
they would show at the top if you choose price ascending.

Which, IIRC, AutoTrader defaults to when displaying search results.

PardonTheWait · 20 Jul 2014 at 22:51

Autotrader is classic. Search for Ford Fiesta up to £2,000 and get fifty adverts like so:

CAR IN DESCRIPTION NOW SOLD BUT I DO NOW HAVE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT CAR THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN

ACTUAL PRICE £24,995

diamount · 20 Jul 2014 at 22:52

My understanding is people have a set budget in mind, listing a fake price in the title wouldn't entice someone buy a car costing a grand if their max budget is say 300-500 quid.

PardonTheWait · 20 Jul 2014 at 22:54

diamount said:
My understanding is people have a set budget in mind, listing a fake price in the title wouldn't entice someone buy a car costing a grand if their max budget is say 300-500 quid.

I personally would not want to buy a car from a dealer (or seller) that listed his cars like that, on the basis that he's started your interaction with a lie before you've even met him. More so when the car listed is an expensive car. They think it's a great idea to, instead of making their car searchable by people with the money to buy it, make it so that it appears to mostly people who are searching for dirt cheap cars.

ChroniC · 20 Jul 2014 at 23:06

Don't bother with Autotrader for bargains. Go on Ebay, then go see the car and bid on it.
Make sure it's Japenese and bobs your uncle.

Kenai · 20 Jul 2014 at 23:46

PardonTheWait said:
They think it's a great idea to, instead of making their car searchable by people with the money to buy it, make it so that it appears to mostly people who are searching for dirt cheap cars.

Exactly, then you stitch them up with a crap finance deal so they pay £200pm for 80 years and get commission on that as well the profit in the car

DJ_Bucho · 21 Jul 2014 at 08:34

PardonTheWait said:
Autotrader is classic. Search for Ford Fiesta up to £2,000 and get fifty adverts like so:

CAR IN DESCRIPTION NOW SOLD BUT I DO NOW HAVE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT CAR THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN

ACTUAL PRICE £24,995

I absolutely HATE it when they do this. I'm looking to spend £2k, not bloody £25k you useless bunch of timewasters

bazzabear · 21 Jul 2014 at 09:02

There's the ones who list it at the monthly price too.

Rilot · 21 Jul 2014 at 10:17

And the ones who list the car your searching for as WANTED.

Third Opinion · 21 Jul 2014 at 11:02

Isn't it cheaper to advertise a cheap car on Autotrader? I think traders do it to save advertising costs.

bazzabear · 21 Jul 2014 at 11:09

And the ones that list the car for like £100 - but apparently they're listing a cambelt change for it or something.

bazzabear · 21 Jul 2014 at 11:09

Third Opinion said:
Isn't it cheaper to advertise a cheap car on Autotrader? I think traders do it to save advertising costs.

That's true. Free if it's under £1000 I think. Although possibly not for traders.