Import from UK - Dealer will only accept pick up in person

gb153

Currently looking to import an Auris hybrid from the UK for a family member. Saw a car that meets requirements with full dealer service history so was happy to pay for car and arrange transport.

Usually I would get an RAC check done but because it was a Toyota franchised dealer I was happy the the standard approval check they would carry out would suffice.

The rep I was contact is now saying that they do not do distance selling.

"I’m afraid we DO NOT do distance selling, what that means is you would have to physically come over to collect the car yourself, sign the paperwork and pay the balance after looking and touching it to be sure you happy.

...we have been stung before with people getting cars then complaining about the odd stone chip or light scratch etc."

"It leaves us open to you being able even after 2-3years of saying you don’t want it anymore and us having to give you our full money back.

The only way I’m able to sell you the car is you personally collecting."

Anyone come across this before? Would prefer not to have to travel over myself.

bazz26

Lol. Their excuse is nonsense, "getting stung by returning cars because of stone chips even 2/3 years later". You could threaten to pull out of the deal but ultimately if they won't sell to you unless you are there in person then you have two choices - go buy elsewhere or book some cheap flights and a ferry ticket.

davo10

Maybe I'm missing something here, but who buys a car without actually going to see it before paying?

Distance selling legislation allows you to cancel the purchase within a certain timeframe and send back the goods for full refund, why on earth would any car dealer want that? I'm not surprised that they want you to pick it up, distance selling right to cancel purchase does not apply when you pick up from the vendor.

bazz26

I wouldn't buy a car either without seeing and driving it in person, to make sure it's what I want but for some people buying a car is just the same as buying clothes or a tv these days. Only difference is you are depending on someone else's opinion on a car being ok and cannot send it back for a refund if it doesn't suit you.

colm_mcm

I can understand their stance.

coolbeans

colm_mcm wrote: »

I can understand their stance.

Being in the UK they're probably a big outfit selling a lot of cars at a low margin. I can definitely see their point of view. I'd imagine it would be an administrative ballache dealing with a dissatisfied customer in another country. The OP not wanting to buy the car in person just isn't worth the potential hassle.

bear1

gb153 wrote: »

Currently looking to import an Auris hybrid from the UK for a family member. Saw a car that meets requirements with full dealer service history so was happy to pay for car and arrange transport.

Usually I would get an RAC check done but because it was a Toyota franchised dealer I was happy the the standard approval check they would carry out would suffice.

The rep I was contact is now saying that they do not do distance selling.

"I’m afraid we DO NOT do distance selling, what that means is you would have to physically come over to collect the car yourself, sign the paperwork and pay the balance after looking and touching it to be sure you happy.

...we have been stung before with people getting cars then complaining about the odd stone chip or light scratch etc."

"It leaves us open to you being able even after 2-3years of saying you don’t want it anymore and us having to give you our full money back.

The only way I’m able to sell you the car is you personally collecting."

Anyone come across this before? Would prefer not to have to travel over myself.

I'm confused, so you've found a car online and like the look of it.
You haven't actually seen or driven it and you are just simply shipping it over here which is when it would be the first time you see it?
Mad.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Could you get who ever is collecting the car for you to actually buy it? It makes no difference who's name is on the receipt as that person can give you another receipt to say you bought it from them (for VRT purposes) and that keeps everyone happy.

CalamariFritti

bear1 wrote: »

I'm confused, so you've found a car online and like the look of it.
You haven't actually seen or driven it and you are just simply shipping it over here which is when it would be the first time you see it?
Mad.

I wouldn't say that. If you're shopping for a particular make and model and spec and you come across the one that fits and then it also checks out whats the big deal?

I mean people buy new cars without actually seeing them don't they?

bear1

CalamariFritti wrote: »

I wouldn't say that. If you're shopping for a particular make and model and spec and you come across the one that fits and then it also checks out whats the big deal?

I mean people buy new cars without actually seeing them don't they?

But the op is buying from a different country, it isn't the same as going into a dealer, testing, touching and physically talking to the salesperson who then takes your order.
More power to him but i wouldn't take such a risk.

Soarer

Just go to the uk and buy the car.

If you fly over Monday, you'll be back Tuesday morning.

bazz26

CalamariFritti wrote: »

I wouldn't say that. If you're shopping for a particular make and model and spec and you come across the one that fits and then it also checks out whats the big deal?

I mean people buy new cars without actually seeing them don't they?

There is a big difference though between the condition of a brand new car and a second hand one.

Car99

Go over pay for the car then fly home again. Depending on location but if it's within an hour of a London airport you could fly out on the first flight in the morning and be back by lunchtime .

digitaldr

I imported two cars from the UK and both times I flew over in the morning and got the ferry back the same day. Dealers were happy to pick me up from the airport/train station.

CalamariFritti

bazz26 wrote: »

There is a big difference though between the condition of a brand new car and a second hand one.

Thats why I said if it checks out. You pay someone to check it out for you. Its a very common thing to do. The same way you can even pay someone to bring it over to you as the OP suggests.

It all depends. I wouldn't buy a ten year old luxobarge off a private seller unseen if there is still considerable money involved. But lets say a 3 year old car coming off PCP bought directly from a main dealer with a clear engineers report and warranty on it is a different story.

It wouldn't be unseen as such anyway. You would have seen many pictures, possibly a video walk around.

If I was the OP I'd just go over and get it. Its a fun day. Fly out at 8 or 9 in the morning and you'll be on the evening ferry no problem. Depending on location you might even be home by then.

bear1

CalamariFritti wrote: »

Thats why I said if it checks out. You pay someone to check it out for you. Its a very common thing to do. The same way you can even pay someone to bring it over to you as the OP suggests.

It all depends. I wouldn't buy a ten year old luxobarge off a private seller unseen if there is still considerable money involved. But lets say a 3 year old car coming off PCP bought directly from a main dealer with a clear engineers report and warranty on it is a different story.

It wouldn't be unseen as such anyway. You would have seen many pictures, possibly a video walk around.

If I was the OP I'd just go over and get it. Its a fun day. Fly out at 8 or 9 in the morning and you'll be on the evening ferry no problem. Depending on location you might even be home by then.

Not a game I could play, especially if warranty work would mean sweet **** all considering the warranty is valid in a different country.
I agree with you that it would be much more fun taking the day off work and flying over and on the afternoon ferry.
The dublin to london route is one of the busiest routes on the planet so flight prices are not an issue at all.