There is a lot to consider when buying a used car. So when
you are getting ready to hit the bitumen to go car hunting, might I alert you
to a few things? This is a very complex issue and it will most likely raise a
few more questions however, that is a good thing.
Over the years I have realised when responding to ad
enquires, if our details were not easily identified some people may hang up the
moment they realised I was a Dealer. Fair enough, they may have been burnt
before, or maybe the thought of buying private vehicle may yield a better deal.
Well today (and I can’t speak for all) Licensed Dealers
operating from licensed premises can no longer get away with gouging people.
Those days are over. More of those so called cheats have gone to ground,
selling from home, a shed or the side of the road. They will tell you they do
that to keep costs down, which may have a hint of truth to it, but more
accurately they do it to fly under the radar.
There’s a loop hole in our system, a gigantic one. The
Office of Fair Trading, the regulator, has no jurisdiction over licensed
dealers who operate from home; neither does the department of Transport. Simply
because they can-not enter private property! So it’s up to local council to
police them. Local council will only intervene when someone complains. And only
about matters such as parking, or operating a business from a private address,
they cannot deal with a complaint about contractual issues like warranties,
Sunday trading and everything else. So
what generally happens is.....well….. Nothing! You could be buying a flood
damaged car, repaired write-off, if you have a complaint, they may well tell
you where to go (and that may not be to his mechanic). They may have falsified
paperwork, given the vehicle a boggy Roadworthy, or poorly repaired it
themselves. The list can go on and on.
So back to the licensed Dealer (in approved premises) they
are subject to random investigation by authorities such as the Office of Fair
Trading, The department of transport and the Council. These dealers are fully
accountable and usually present their cars better. They should supply a current
roadworthy however the law only states a registered vehicle must have a
Roadworthy.
Beware of dealers who do not provide roadworthy certificates!
They are avoiding the process for reasons that may not be obvious to you, the
buyer. Surely if all it needed to pass a rwc (roadworthy) was a tyre, they
would do it themselves. These cars generally have a big list of repairs to get
them up to scratch.
Now let’s dispel a common myth, we are not all here to rob
you for every cent, but we are here to earn a living and put food on the table
for our family just like everyone else.
Dealers and Salespeople are required to be licensed and are subject to regular
criminal checks. These people are professionals and generally want to be in
business for the long term.
Would you consider going to a back yard dentist if the price
was right? Maybe let strangers pick your kids up from school? I’m guessing not.
So why take risks with a car. Let’s face it, they are a big ticket item and
they have to be reliable and safe enough to put your family in. So paying a
little extra for peace of mind seems a no brainer to me.
Why not call in and see us, we won’t bite! We will take your
money (when the time is right) but you will have something to show for it and
you will be happy to show the neighbours. You will be pleased to know all of
our vehicles are checked on the national PPSR data base to make sure they do
not have any money owing, have not been a repairable write-off and are not
stolen. Also we have the local Midas car care complete a safety check and also
service the vehicle in preparation for the new owner. We mostly buy our stock
from trusted suppliers with all the relevant checks done before they are loaded
on the truck. If we end up with a problem car, we simply send it to auction and
cut our losses. Our reputation is everything to us.
You can also have an independent inspection if you want
reassurance. We have nothing to hide.
