Trade in price at Dealer for part exchange

souillac
souillac Forum Participant Posts: 17
edited March 2016 in Caravans #1

We are hoping to trade in our caravan for a newer model. Looking at the discussions, I noticed that dealers offer you a price on your van without seeing it. We only have a set budget and if we get offered a price against another caravan. Then when we arrive
at the dealer for the hand over ,if the dealer finds "faults" with our caravan, I presume they reduce the trade in price. My question is can we walk away from the deal. Also does reducing the price of your caravan at hand over happen often? I am talking in
particular about damp readings. Is it an idea to have your caravan damp checked the day before by an approved service agent. 

Comments

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #2

    take the van to the dealer and ask them to confirm the price and get it in writing

  • Davy44
    Davy44 Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited March 2016 #3

    Really good advice from Oneputt - there are many stories of prices being offered for unseen caravans (particularly at exhibitions), the van being delivered to the dealer, often hundreds of miles away and a much lower price offered when the dealer sees the
    van. It takes an iron will to drive away from such a deal but if you feel you've been cheated you should.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #4

    I would go with Oneputt's suggestion if they have never seen the van. However, in our case the van was bought and serviced by the dealer yearly. When they gave us a price at the NEC it was more than I expected. I then told them I had damaged the awning rail
    (very, very narrow road) but it was booked in with them to be fixed. They said as they were doing the work this would not affect the price they had just quoted. On hand over they fully inspected it but they honoured their price.

  • mbee1
    mbee1 Forum Participant Posts: 557
    500 Comments
    edited March 2016 #5

    We've never had a problem either.  Always used the same delaer so they know the van and have serviced it and never reneged on the price.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited March 2016 #6

    We have used the same dealer for our last few vans,and they matched a really good deal,as they knew our van,for our next van

  • souillac
    souillac Forum Participant Posts: 17
    edited March 2016 #7

    the problem is we do not know the local dealers. The ones we have spoken to don't want to view the van before we purchase another caravan, they say they are too busy!! 

  • paul56
    paul56 Forum Participant Posts: 937
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    edited March 2016 #8

    Last time we part exchanged we were given a price with van unseen. We turned up to swap vans and 2 'engineers' from service dept spent ages going through our van. The sales rep was with us and eventually I told him, they were wasting their time if they thought
    they were getting away with a cheaper part ex. Of course they found 'fault' eg. "the acrylic windows are getting hard and not as flexible as they were." We got the original price but at one point I did wonder....

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585 ✭
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    edited March 2016 #9

    Local dealers will usually be able to come out and check for themselves or you can go to them.

    Other than damp you will probably know of any faults so if there are any tell them and they can make their own minds up.

    If the dealer is a long way off get a damp check done first. If there is no problem then you are safe but if there is one you can speak to the dealer and find out what they want to do. For the cost of the damp check it is worth it to me.

    If there is a problem you can walk away as the contract was based on an incorrect understanding and can be voided by either party. Any dealer wanting to change the offer is attempting to make a new contract so has already done this.

  • souillac
    souillac Forum Participant Posts: 17
    edited March 2016 #10

    Thanks everyone like Paul56 it must be a stressful time. We only have a limited budget as we are now retired. The worry is we find a van we want then get a price for our van( our van is in good condition) then they find damp or they say they find damp. I
    should imagine the price will alter. The only thing going for us is that we can walk away and there are similar vans always for sale. It's just being brave enough to walk away, and not to get too excited about the new van. Any tips are very welcome.

     

     

     

     

  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
    500 Comments
    edited March 2016 #11

    Our dealer came out to our van its only about seven miles and checked the van over on the drive damp etc etc. Make it a condition of your purchase that your current van is checked and the price confirmed, don`t forget the dealer wants your business.

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited March 2016 #12
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  • flatcoat
    flatcoat Forum Participant Posts: 1,571
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2016 #13

    We have a deal for our new caravan both with/without a trade-in. We will try and sell privately before collecting the new van and anything above the trade-price (as opposed to trade-in figure) is to our benefit. 

  • souillac
    souillac Forum Participant Posts: 17
    edited March 2016 #14

    Awhere is the best place to sell your van privately?

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited March 2016 #15

    There is always it seems a lot of "wriggle room" when it comes to changing vehicles,so it goes to show how much the profit margins are when the MRP is used as a starting pointUndecided

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #16

    Thanks everyone like Paul56 it must be a stressful time. We only have a limited budget as we are now retired. The worry is we find a van we want then get a price for our van( our van is in good condition) then they find damp or they say they find damp. I
    should imagine the price will alter. The only thing going for us is that we can walk away and there are similar vans always for sale. It's just being brave enough to walk away, and not to get too excited about the new van. Any tips are very welcome.

     

     

     

     

    You could always get an independent caravan tech to do a damp report before you decide what to do.  If the report indicates significant damp then you can act accordingly.  If the report comes back with no damp found I would proceed with the purchase keeping
    the report in my pocket to be produced if the dealer tried it on.

  • DougS
    DougS Forum Participant Posts: 327
    edited March 2016 #17

    Thanks everyone like Paul56 it must be a stressful time. We only have a limited budget as we are now retired. The worry is we find a van we want then get a price for our van( our van is in good condition) then they find damp or they say they find damp. I
    should imagine the price will alter. The only thing going for us is that we can walk away and there are similar vans always for sale. It's just being brave enough to walk away, and not to get too excited about the new van. Any tips are very welcome.

     

     

     

     

    You could always get an independent caravan tech to do a damp report before you decide what to do.  If the report indicates significant damp then you can act accordingly.  If the report comes back with no damp found I would proceed with the purchase keeping
    the report in my pocket to be produced if the dealer tried it on.

    Or buy your own damp meter so you can organise a deal with  more confidence?

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
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    edited March 2016 #18

    I think it depends on the age of van and if it's still got warranty on it so a dealer would be covered in case of damp especially if you were trading in for the same make.  On our last van we traded in a SWIFT to our local dealer to buy another SWIFT which
    they had supplied and serviced, they never even checked the damp on handover just a general inspection knowing they would be covered under teh warranty.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited March 2016 #19

    We were advised some years ago to be wary of a certain dealer,as they will try to renegotiate when they "find" damp when your van is taken in ,but if it is this time of year, it could very well be condensation ! so i got them to check the van we were buying
    and the readings were about the same,when i said i will go elsewhere I got a lot of goodies extraWink 

  • AndyNYorks
    AndyNYorks Forum Participant Posts: 144
    100 Comments
    edited March 2016 #20

    The golden rule is always be prepared to walk away. An independent damp check beforehand is good advice as it disproves their findings at the time of handover. If they do say they have found damp, ask them to demonstrate and check that the damp meter reading is as they say and that they check more than one point at the offending area. Remember that a reading of less than 15% is fine and up to 20% is normally OK.

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585 ✭
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    edited March 2016 #21

    A common trick is finding damp in the bathroom area particularly on the plastic surfaces. Dry down this area before taking the caravan to the dealers but having a damp check before is the best advice.

  • paulgill
    paulgill Forum Participant Posts: 41
    edited March 2016 #22

    The only thing I have heard is that if you leave a deposit and they alter the price of your trade in when you present the van because they have found fault, do you get your deposit back if you are not happy with the deal? So if you have to leave a deposit
    try to get it in writing that you will get it back if you are not happy.

    Cheers.  Paul

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585 ✭
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    edited March 2016 #23

    The only thing I have heard is that if you leave a deposit and they alter the price of your trade in when you present the van because they have found fault, do you get your deposit back if you are not happy with the deal? So if you have to leave a deposit
    try to get it in writing that you will get it back if you are not happy.

    Cheers.  Paul

    Better still pay on a credit card. If they change the offer the contract can is voided and you are entitled to the deposit back as long as you did not lie to them when you agreed the contract. When we bought ours they did ask if there was any damp in the
    caravan. We said not that we know of as the caravan was last serviced almost a year ago and was clear then. That covered us in case things had changed.

    It is far better though if they examine it beforehand though so there can be no surprises.

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #24

    It is ALWAYS wise to pay a deposit using a Cedit Card (not Debit) as this gives you much more protection as the Credit Card compny is equally liable as the dealer should there subsequently be problems.

  • TonyEuropa
    TonyEuropa Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited March 2016 #25

    I've traded in 5 vans in the 25 years we've been caravanning, the first 4 trade ins went without problem. The dealers inspected our trade ins and confirmed that what we'd said about model, extras, condition etc was true, and had no issue with the deal. However,
    on our last trade in we had ordered a popular new van, and spent about 6 months waiting for it to be built. On change over day, we rocked up to the dealer, who hadn't seen our van before as per our previous 4 trade ins, who found a variety of "faults" that
    they used as an excuse to increase our previously agreed cost to change by around £1k. To my shame as we wanted the new van we paid up,  even though we knew our trade in was in very reasonable condition (no damp etc) for a 5 year old family entry level caravan.
    ,  I am 100% convinced we were totally stitched up. Looking back their routine was too well rehearsed and well acted, and I completely regret not walking away. Utter cowboys, and I wish I could name and shame them. Be very very wary is all I can say, and treat
    a part exchange quote that is "subject to inspection" as having zero value and plan accordingly, 

  • Heethers
    Heethers Forum Participant Posts: 641
    500 Comments
    edited March 2016 #26

    l find sticking to one dealer is the best bet l have dealt with mine for over 10 years, ok l bought new and had it serviced by the dealer so he knows what he is getting before l go for a trade in. It works for me but some think its best to go to different dealers and get the best quotes, l am not knocking that but the time you have spent going from one to the other l feel you could be wasting money. So what l did in the first instance was to find a dealer you can trust luckly l did and have had  3 vans off him upto date this should be my last.

    Nige

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