Car dealer. Disorganised or flogged the car I put a deposit down on?

Long story…..however….

A year ago a decided I wanted to buy a fun car for the summer. Saw the one I wanted at an apparently reputable dealer in such things.

I made a PayPal payment to hold the car until I went to view it. Travelled a few hundred miles to view and I agreed to buy. I then made a bank transfer as a further payment particularly as I wanted some extra stuff done to it. I then left it with the dealer to sort and given winter was not too fussed about getting in a hurry. Fast forward to the start of 2016….I have emailed and text a number of times but no response lately, although this chap has managed to have many pictures on his Facebook page showing other happy owners picking up their cars.

He has had £1,250 of my pounds for a year now.

Yes a call or a visit is in order but my thoughts….

These particular cars he is now selling for £8k but we agreed a price of £3k less than this. I wonder if this chap has sold the car I agreed to buy and paid a decent deposit on as he sees a higher return.

Path forward? Call followed by a visit??

Anyone near Berwick?

You expected him to hold a £5k car with a £1250 deposit for a year?

No…..I gave him £1,250 as a deposit plus part payment to get coil overs and a rear cage fitted…which this chap agreed he would get done and then I could pick up.

Earlier this year he said he would get cracking and have the car ready by the end of April…..

And you last spoke to him when?

The dealer doesn’t sound like the disorganised one to be honest 🙂

What does your copy of the sales order say ?

He’s probably died waiting for the balance.

And what is the issue exactly? You haven’t even phoned him and are scared he’s trying to shaft you?

Recent end mail traffic – last about a month ago where he advised my plan to pick up should work. I sent 3 texts yesterday expressing my concern. No response. However my mate sent a text enquiringly about another car he us advertising earlier this evening….and just got a response…..

I shall call his landline tomorrow….

Stick the plate into some MOT Check / Tax Check Government sites, that’ll tell you if it’s been sold.

Your sales invoice will tell you what’s yours?

Seems weird (I’m sure there’s a good reason) for giving someone some money, and not talking to them again for nearly a year

RX7 from Goodwood Sports Cars?

I bought an MX5 from him and he was spot on. I doubt he’s done a runner with your cash. Just phone and see what the delay is.

I shall call. We agreed I would pay the balance on pick up and after he had got the work done on it we agreed to get done. I had communicated a number if times and each time advised that work was about to start and no issues.

On basis of trust and expectation of delivery….

Folks,

For clarity, I’d be happy to share a string of email communication where no hint that the car was no longer available nor any issues and generally agreeing a proposed timeline for collection – which has progressively moved but not by my desire.

Reg number is on SORN.

This forum gets funnier by the day!

It perhaps does. It’s also a generally good place for discussion, ranting, being sarcastic, getting others feedback, helping others, etc, etc.

So….on the basis that this chap appears unable to respond to electronic communication from me, but manages to respond to my mates within 15 mins I shall stop pussy-footing around and call him tomorrow pointing out the ongoing email communication between us.

I shall also provide an update for any interested folks who care to have a bet on the potential outcomes.

No issues, just a delay at his end.

Car sold to A N Other due to prices rising after we agreed a price, work to be completed, deposit paid, and relatively regular email comms where I was not made aware of any issues.

What will it be?

You saw the car last May !!!!! Why didn’t you pick it up a couple of weeks later and had it to use for last Summer ?

Potential sale

Vs

Vague guy who has been happy being strung along for 12 months already.

I know who I’d respond to.

You may be right.

I assumed that as I had agreed to buy, handed over some cash, agreed with the seller that he would get some work I wanted done completed before pick up and have at no time had any suggestion that things were not as agreed then my world of trusting others is obviously naive and foolish.

However if this chap has been stringing me along then his positive reputation is ill deserved and he lacks both honesty and integrity. In short a lying crook. I hope this not to be the case. Time will tell.

Thats a bloody strong “if” considering you haven’t even phoned the bloke and chatted to him.

I shall call his landline tomorrow….

Next time do that before posting. Just makes things easier 😉

If….

If said chap had actually returned my recent electronic communications then it might not be an if. However, he has not but has managed to respond to a similar communication from my mate, within 15 mins. This seems a little strange don’t you think? He has my email addresses, mobile number so even a call back is possible.

Let’s see what me trying to contact him tomorrow brings.

It seems that a winter was a whole year ago in the OP’s world too

If said chap had actually returned my recent electronic communications

It might have gone into his Spam folder. Or one marked ‘Sucker’

Why would you assume an email has gotto him? Pick up the phone and you know.

Give him a break guys, christ you guys are tough. Op I hope it all works out for you today, please update later after you’ve called him.

Quite.

It’s an odd situation for sure, but both parties seemed happy with the arrangement, and isn’t that what a deposit is for?

Blimey people do get a bit het up on here rather than actually talk to someone who could address their concerns…

I wonder if wool got his money back?

A year? If he had £1250 of my cash I’d be up there within a week. You’ve never collected the car a deposit works both ways. It’s for you to reserve an item for the seller to keep if you’re a no show.

I’m near Berwick I’ll pop up next year and have a look.

Typical STW response, full of sympathy.

Jeeeeeze. You guys can be proper asshats sometimes.

For what it’s worth, it sounds like he’s stringing you on. Hoping you’ll just “forget” about it so he can sell it for the newer inflated price to someone else.

Polite phone call, then if that doesn’t work crack some skulls.

it sounds like he’s stringing you on

Not the other way round then?
Over a YEAR to pick up a car? Are you insane?

I have sympathy but it’s for the dealer.

A YEAR AGO!!!! 😯

The bloke whose building your car is just probably under the bonnet of some other machine with oily hands, clearly he thinks your not that bothered otherwise you’d be knocking on his door…like most normal folk would.

I doubt he’s string You along, sounds like it’s the other way around TBH.

I suspect that as you have agreed a deal with the seller you are viewed as a lesser priority than someone new who potentially wants to buy from him.
You’re a done deal as far as he is concerned, new business needs to have confidence, a quick response will help instil that. Im not saying thats necessarily the right way to go about things, but human nature being waht it is…
FWIW I dont think he’s trying to screw you, perhaps he’s just a bit more chilled about deadlines etc.
I hope im not about to be proved wrong…

Come on then…he’s been open an hour. What did he say?

I’m going with, he’ll just return your money.

OP has sent him an email, snapchat, whatsapp, tweet and a facebook message.

All with no replies 🙁

OP should send him a message from his grindr account then. :D:D

or just phone him.

Come on OP, have you called him yet ? Surely you are not going to make us wait a year for the response 😕

well, this certainly trumps anything in the procrastination thread

Sounds like you’re posting about a problem that doesn’t yet exist? Why not find out first, before posting? If you’ve come out of the deal badly, you’ll get the necessary sympathy, but you should expect some lambasting for posting without confirming the situation first.