Buying a new car from a non-franchised main dealer

Comhrá

I was talking to a main dealer salesperson today and they told me that it was against his company's policy to supply a new car to a buyer through another main dealer of a different franchise.

I thought legislation was passed few years back that allowed motor dealers to supply a new car of any make. Something to do with ending restrictive trading practises?

Was I mistaken?

bazz26

It may or may not be true but it sounds to me like he was just trying to discourage you from buying somewhere else. That's his job though. Inquire from other dealers other than franchises dealers of that brand and see if they can get you one.

Atlantic Dawn

All new cars sold in the EU have to come with 2 years warranty so even if another dealer had access to stock you would still get 2 years.

R.O.R

It will be bought from a franchise dealer at some point. A random dealer can't just contact the importer or the factory and buy 1 car, they contact someone they know who gets a price from a franchise dealer.

Comhrá

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

All new cars sold in the EU have to come with 2 years warranty so even if another dealer had access to stock you would still get 2 years.

Not sure what you mean there. It's nothing to do with the guarantee, it's about what one main dealer told me - his (brand x) is not supposed to supply one of their new cars to another main dealer of a different brand, for that dealer's customer.

Comhrá

R.O.R wrote: »

It will be bought from a franchise dealer at some point. A random dealer can't just contact the importer or the factory and buy 1 car, they contact someone they know who gets a price from a franchise dealer.

The importer isn't involved. It's a case of a customer wanting a new car (brand x) but he usually deals with a main dealer (of brand y) so he wants his main dealer (of brand y) to get brand x to supply the new car.

The salesperson at brand x told me that was against brand x policy.

That's what I thought was banned a few years back - i.e. any main dealer can now supply any nake of new car regardless of make.

R.O.R

tippman1 wrote: »

The importer isn't involved. It's a case of a customer wanting a new car (brand x) but he usually deals with a main dealer (of brand y) so he wants his main dealer (of brand y) to get brand x to supply the new car.

The salesperson at brand x told me that was against brand x policy.

That's what I thought was banned a few years back - i.e. any main dealer can now supply any nake of new car regardless of make.

There's nothing stopping dealers doing that, except company policy, and I'm pretty sure that company policy isn't against anti-competitive legislation.

millington

Why would you want to buy a car from a main dealer that doesn't deal in that make?

Comhrá

millington wrote: »

Why would you want to buy a car from a main dealer that doesn't deal in that make?

1) Been dealing there for years.
2) Always had excellent service from them.
3) Actually cheaper for the car I want over the other main dealers of that particular make.

Hope that clears up your confusion.

bazz26

tippman1 wrote: »

1) Been dealing there for years.
2) Always had excellent service from them.
3) Actually cheaper for the car I want over the other main dealers of that particular make.

Hope that clears up your confusion.

Has the garage in question rang around other dealers to source one for you?

carsfan

Tippman
You're buying your A4 from a non Audi dealer and he is doing you a better deal?

bazz26

Not unusual if the OP is a regular customer, the dealer knows the OP's current car very well and has a buyer lined up for it.

Comhrá

bazz26 wrote: »

Has the garage in question rang around other dealers to source one for you?

Yes.

Comhrá

carsfan wrote: »

Tippman
You're buying your A4 from a non Audi dealer and he is doing you a better deal?

Correct!

Comhrá

bazz26 wrote: »

Not unusual if the OP is a regular customer, the dealer knows the OP's current car very well and has a buyer lined up for it.

The dealer knows my car well. It has very low mileage, is close to 'as new' condition so I'd say that helped my case.

carsfan

Fair play.
I would have thought Audi would be sniffy about something like this as they seem so keen on their swanky Audi retail centres.

Markcheese

carsfan wrote: »

Tippman
You're buying your A4 from a non Audi dealer and he is doing you a better deal?

Friends of mine bought 2 Renault vans a few years back - got quotes from Renault dealers but ended up buying the vans ( new) from a Subaru /Citroen dealer they'd asked for a price...it was cheaper... There's a Renault service centre (not a main dealer ) near their home so he's done all work on them so no warrenty issues either....

Comhrá

carsfan wrote: »

Fair play.
I would have thought Audi would be sniffy about something like this as they seem so keen on their swanky Audi retail centres.

One of them was indeed sniffy, I didn't bother getting back to the other to be honest.

Del2005

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

All new cars sold in the EU have to come with 2 years warranty so even if another dealer had access to stock you would still get 2 years.

Except we got an exemption as our consumer laws where better. You have up to the statue of limitations in this country, which is currently 6 years, for any purchase that a consumer makes from a business.