Citroen Special event

[len112]

I got an invite to a one door only locked door special event by my Citroen dealer . Is this a scam or are there genuine deals to be had . I'm looking at a DS3 sport +

[CliveP]

Well the simple answer is do your homework before you go so you know what you can get that model for. I beat the list price by loads so in your case I'd be looking for that special event to at least match those deals.

Don't be fooled by the 'nothing off list' argument, there's deals to be had believe me! (I have the same model you're looking at)....

Edit: Len thought I recognised your name, you asked about online brokers....same answer really in terms of comparisons to get dealer to move towards!

Regards,
Clive.

[len112]

Thanks Clive >

[Faxo]

They are genuine, my dealer does it all the time

BUT

I got an invite to a local Citroen dealers 'amazing, one off deals never to be repeated' special event, and before i agreed to go, i told them the price i got quoted from newcardeals.co.uk, and they were amazed and said even selling at cost price they'd be nowhere near that price

So, my advice is buy from a broker like both me and i think CliveP have done?

[Bigfeet]

...i told them the price i got quoted from newcardeals.co.uk, and they were amazed and said even selling at cost price they'd be nowhere near that price...

Not true, all dealers work with the same numbers, the broker takes a handling fee from the suppling dealer. Internet brokers don't have access to a special pot of gold that the normal dealers don't have.

[cyclone]

Not true, all dealers work with the same numbers, the broker takes a handling fee from the suppling dealer. Internet brokers don't have access to a special pot of gold that the normal dealers don't have.

Ah...but an internet dealer has lower operating costs and can pass more savings on to you.

[CliveP]

Not quite true as the Internet dealer puts us in touch with a regular Citroen Dealer ..the exact same phyiscal location!

Just a completely different price as it's via a different sales channel and don't deal with a showroom salesman....

Regards,
Clive.

[Bigfeet]

As Clive said, an Internet dealer is just a broker who takes a slice from the suppling dealer. They have no running costs to speak off and as the dealer at the other end doesn't have to worry about meeting certain standards, suppling a test drive, brochures or time then they will drop the price to gain the sale. I understand from speaking a few people who work this way the sales guy who does the handover doesn't get paid to do so. As I have said before that this kind of selling does take its toll on residuals values, but I don't want to chew 'old soup' with that hot potato.

At the end of the day I can see the motor trade going completely this way where there won't be showrooms as sales will be conducted via the web, it will be a shame as customers will lose out on the buying experience and knowledge of sales teams and I think many people still want a test drive before they buy, but it's thankfully a few years off.

[cyclone]

Not quite true as the Internet dealer puts us in touch with a regular Citroen Dealer ..the exact same phyiscal location!
Just a completely different price as it's via a different sales channel and don't deal with a showroom salesman...

My bad, now that you mention it The Internet broker that I dealt with did put us in touch with a regular dealer although I do not believe that they were the same location as the broker dealt with all the car brands. They also arranged delivery of the car to my door. Very low stress experience. As for after sales maintenance wether BMW, Merc, or VW I have always had to shop around for satisfactory service sometimes I ended up with the dealer that sold the car mostly not. That is the point that I will give my loyalty

[Faxo]

Not true, all dealers work with the same numbers, the broker takes a handling fee from the suppling dealer. Internet brokers don't have access to a special pot of gold that the normal dealers don't have.

Hey, im just saying what they told me

Dunno why they'd lie as surely they'd want my business

[Bigfeet]

My thoughts about why people use the Internet is more to do with being afraid to ask for a deal face-to-face, dealing over the Internet removes that part which people tend to prefer, avoids the thought of 'losing' against the dealer which is silly really.

The magazines out always seem to paint the picture that we are all skilled pickpockets and that we have to be 'beaten' with special 'insider' knownledge which tends to be a load of crap anyway. The best example was from Autoexpress where they tell you not to buy ex-fleet but buy a car which is a year old, where do they think it's coming from if not from ex-fleet! I guess stuff like that puts people off dealing at the showroom which is a shame as to be honest most of us are human!

It does seem to be the trend and the art of dealing is dying, I've always enjoyed buying face-to-face and I even wiggled a better deal out of my boss when we bought our DS3 which he laughed about!

[cyclone]

Think you hit the nail on the head there Bigfeet. Some people like myself just aren't comfortable with haggling makes me feel like I got screwed even if I didn't and that tends to ruin the auto buying experience.

[len112]

I just bought a DS3 Sport+ in Red and Black for 15k and my 70000 mile C2 vts in part exchange , I'm chuffed !

[CliveP]

Nice, brand new 61 Reg first registered to you? THP or Diesel?

Regards,
Clive.

[CliveP]

My thoughts about why people use the Internet is more to do with being afraid to ask for a deal face-to-face, dealing over the Internet removes that part which people tend to prefer, avoids the thought of 'losing' against the dealer which is silly really.

Personally I love face to face, I'll happily do business via whatever means, my starting point is taking the best price I can to the showroom and being straight up. In essence I'm used to this within business anyway, I'm sure some people feel less comfortable etc with it, it is not within our culture to negotiate. People are the same with houses, again I'll offer straight to face of the seller....

Regards,
Clive.