A used-car expert has shared some red flags for sales people, including three phrases that drivers should never say when buying a second-hand vehicle
A savvy used car dealer has taken to YouTube to reveal three things you should never say when buying a second-hand motor. Joe Betty, the boss at Berrow Motors, is a regular on the video-sharing platform with his channel Shifting Metal, where he flaunts his latest motors and offers pearls of wisdom to help drivers pick the perfect ride.
In one of his hit videos, Joe spills the beans on the questions and phrases that really grind his gears when customers utter them, especially when they ask about cash discounts.
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He laid it out: “Number one on my list is ‘how much for cash?’, customers asking how much discount they can get for paying with physical cash for a car. Cash is king, of course is a phrase we hear a lot, but let me tell you why cash isn’t king.”
He continued: “A: it’s not 1980, B: I’ve got to pay to put that cash into the bank, C: I’ve got to sit there and count through and make sure that the cash is alright and real. And then someone has to go to the post office or bank and pay that cash in, stand in a queue.
“There are all those things to deal with, there’s a massive time delay versus getting a bank transfer.” Joe also revealed another no-no question he dreads from buyers – asking about the insurance cost for the vehicle, reports the Express.
While car insurance costs are climbing for nearly all drivers, prompting many to think twice about the expenses of their next vehicle, the dealer highlighted that it’s tricky to provide off-the-cuff estimates due to the myriad of factors at play.
Joe pointed out that the biggest variable for car insurers is the driver themselves, with age, occupation, and location being key influences.
He advised potential buyers to check price comparison sites for quotes before viewing a car, to gain a clearer picture of the costs involved.
In his video, Joe also mentioned that the phrase ‘no rush’ can be deceptive when he’s just completed a sale, noting that customers who use this term often turn out to be the most impatient. He elaborated: “This isn’t a question, just a statement from customers. They say ‘there’s no rush, whenever the car is ready’.
“When we sell a car, because we’ll have a few on the forecourt, we haven’t MOT’d them or service them just yet, but we always tell customers that in seven days maximum we’ll get the car prepared and arrange a collection day with you, making sure it is clean when you come to collect it.
“The customer will then say, and there’ll be alarm bells ringing in my ears, ‘yeah, there’s no rush because I can’t pick it up for a couple of weeks’.
“If a customer is saying that to you, 99 per cent of the time the customer will be on the phone to you after about three days to ask how it’s going.”
Lastly, Joe advised that car buyers should be upfront if they decide not to purchase a used vehicle, suggesting that one particular response is overly utilised.
He elaborated: “It’s not that I don’t like hearing it but it’s always got a secret translation when a customer looks at a car, goes away and says ‘we’ve got another car to look at and then we’ll be in touch’. The only reason why I don’t like hearing that is because it’s a very long way to say ‘you will never see me ever again’.
“I would rather you said ‘I don’t think it’s for me, but if I change my mind I’ll give you a call’. I guess it’s people trying to be polite and it can be awkward, but I hear it so often that it’s a cliche.”