I have test driven and chosen a brand new car. It is stored at the dealership and went to look at it. I found the tiniest chip on it. I know it sounds petty but I want it perfect.

The sales person has tracked down another brand new one from another dealership.

She said she needs a deposit to show some commitment before she trades the chipped one with the other one.

Is it normal practice to want a deposit on a brand new car without seeing it.

She added that if it was faulty, my deposit would be refunded.

What do I do???

HellsBells78:

What do I do???

Pay deposit but ask to note any order for the car to say, car not inspected by (enter your name), so the deposit will be refunded in full if the vehicle does not meet with my approval. Get them to sign/date and you to sign/date, with you being given a copy by the garage. Make sure they print their name next to their signature, just in case you can't read the signature.

Huckster

I did think that. But heard stories of people putting deposits on cars and having it in writing that deposit is refundable, then not getting it back.

I would think though it should be perfect being a brand new car.

I will speak to dealership about having it in writing.

Thanks for you help!!

Well now, if you had it in writing, and signed and dated, that the deposit was refundable. Then it's illegal for the company not to give you it back as long as you haven't broken any terms of the refund.

Basically these places rely on people not pushing hard enough about it, and giving up. My advice is would be to be more "American" about it. In other words, don't take no for an answer when you know you're in the right.

They certainly do rely on this.

As long as I use my head and get it in writing, I should be ok.

This is more stressful than buying a house!!

Thank you

Surely you jest? More stressful than buying a house? Computer says no.

:)

Have you been successful in your negotiation on the purchase price?

Sparky.

sparky76:

Have you been successful in your negotiation on the purchase price?

Sparky.

Did you see the report the other day, that due to the success of the scrappage scheme and other factors, discounts are now difficult to obtain. Also due to the value of the pound and low value of cars in the UK, dealers are now eager to get hold of 2nd hand cars to sell abroad. There are boat loads leaving the country to those countries who use right-hand drive.

I found this hard to believe as it seemed abit of a turnaround from only a year ago. Having said that I have family in Spain and they now find that new and 2nd hands cars are more expensive than in the UK. Some of their friends in Spain have actually driven over to Germany to buy cars, to save several thousand Euro's.

Huckster

Interesting...

Funnily enough, I've been offered a surprising amount for my car. And I want to get rid of it.

It makes sense now you've told me this. A colleague told me that second hand cars are holding their value.

It's not that old and economical to run so maybe this is why.

Have a new car on order from another dealership. Will pay deposit as long as I get it in writing that it can be refunded if car is damaged.

And maybe I was yound and naive when I bought a house. But it was definitely less stressful than this lol :-)