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Below are answers to a few questions you may have. We will add more as time goes on, but in the meantime, if you ring us we can answer your queries. The phone is on and will be answered. Try the office by all means on 01905 767799, but your best option is to ring Jeremy on the mobile - 07976 845398
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Frequently asked Questions
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What value of car do you source? Literally anything! Our advice is as relevant to £2000 purchases as it is to £80000 purchases. If you are spending less than £3000, we will struggle to save you money on the sale price, but all the other benefits of our advice on vehicle condition, history, residuals, CO2, safety, performance etc are very relevant, as is the time you save using us.
What types of vehicle do you source? All new and used cars and light commercials. Superminis to Hummers. People carriers to 4x4. Fiats to Ferraris.
Will you help me choose which car to go for? Absolutely. Remember, our advice is totally impartial. We always draw up an exact specification of the car we should buy. We give advice on all aspects, from safety to economy, as well as on things you may not have considered, like residual value. Some people know exactly what they want right down to the trim colour, others don't. We will talk through things like how often you change your car, what it needs to do, how many miles you do, what specification you need etc etc. We always factor in things like road tax bands and insurance groups and whatever else is relevant to you as an individual. We end up with the most suitable vehicle in terms of specification, age, mileage etc.
Do we have to meet to do business? No. It is not always practical. It is better if we can, because a face to face meeting allows us to talk more freely and build mutual trust. If we can't meet and we don't know you, we generally ask for a deposit before commiting to buy a car for you. Otherwise the process is the same.
I'm nervous about using an internet company. How can I trust you? We are not an internet company. This web site acts as a brochure explaining our service. We are as real as any traditional business. Come and meet us if you want. During the buying process, we will talk frequently. The service is, by its nature, very tailored and personalised. You deal with one person who is always available for you. As for trust, a small business, reliant upon personal recommendation and repeat business from its clients, must be better to deal with than a large company more interested in shifting product than keeping customers.
What warranty do I get? The warranty process is the same as buying from a dealer, except our advice is tailored and impartial. If a car is under manufacturers warranty, then the warranty applies if you buy it through us just as it would if you bought it at a premium from a main dealer. If it is out of warranty, then we use the same third party warranty companys as other dealers. The difference is that our warranties are cheaper because we don't add a profit margin for ourselves. More importantly, the cover level is correct for you. We have seen warranties from dealers with £50 claim limits and horrific exclusions. If we recommend a product, it is the right product, not the one that earns us the most money and not a gimmick to facilitate a sale.
How does using you save me money? We buy vehicles at trade price and charge a finders fee instead of selling them on at a high profit margin like a convential dealer. This means our cars are supplied at less than their forecourt price. Don't forget that we are expert in car buying, so the chances of your car having problems are less than if you buy without us. Also, we thoroughly check all cars before delivery, so you have no nasty or expensive surprises when you buy the car. Then there is the time and petrol you save not trawling round forecourts, the money we save on history checks, the cheaper warranties, our knowledge of the vehicles value - we could go on...............
Cars are advertised at hugely different prices. How do I know how much to pay? You don't, we do! Sorry to be flipant, but it is a bit of a minefield out there. That is all part of why you use our service. If you look at a car classifieds web site, it is hard to explain why some are £2000 more than others. We understand what effects values, be it mileage, trim level, engine type etc. By using us, you can be sure you are not paying the wrong price.
I have read your site, but what can you tell me about you as a company? We will add a bio to the site when we have time. In the meantime, although the site is written in the third person, the company was established and is run by Jeremy Sargeant. with a little bit of administrative support and a team of close and trusted contacts for vehicle preperation, mechanical work and trade supplies. You will deal with Jeremy as a single contact in all aspects of the buying process. Jeremy has years of experience in the motor trade. He set this company up because it is totally customer centric, not focussed on stock sales. At a personal level it is a nicer way of doing business for clients and for Jeremy. As a business model, it works for clients who save money and get lots of insider knowledge.
I am nervous about buying a car without seeing it. What if it is not as described?
It has never happened and it never will. Reading the rest of the site should give some idea that we work with complete integrity. Our business does not exist without our reputation intact. However, we understand the reason for the question, so if you are not comfortable after speaking to us, then we will happily formalise the process with a service level agreement. It is quite normal for our clients to look at the vehicles with us before committing, but naturally, you have to have flexible working hours to be able to do this. What we don't do, for obvious reasons, is buy vehicles in the hope that you decide to have them!
I feel safe buying from a large dealer. Surely they have access to the best cars? We have access to the same sources that they do. We frequently buy on behalf of main dealers. We recently sourced a Golf from a trade vehicle reseller. Our client had been offered the same car by a main dealer, but at over £2000 more than we supplied it for. A salesman with targets and a sales manager to answer to can not offer the same level of impartiality as us. We have rejected many cars that are on large dealers forecourts. Here are just a few eye opening examples. First a £45000 BMW found its way onto a respected dealers forecourt with very low warranted mileage. We previously inspected the same car for a customer and rejected it because our history report showed a mileage discrepancy. Secondly, a client asked us to sell a car they had bought from a main dealer. The car had had major accident repairs and very poor paintwork. We would not have considered buying or selling it. Then there was the Golf GTi 3 door with a log book that said it was a five door car and a rear end that was a different shade of red to the front end! It is not fair to big dealers to say this is typical, but is does happen. Of course they respect their reputation and would not sell anything with dubious title. They are much safer than Arthur Daley. If you use us though, you never need question whether you bought from one of the good guys - you did!
Are there any hidden costs in addition to your sourcing fee? Not hidden, but there are other costs - the same costs or less that you would incurr if you didn't use us. Specifically, we have to travel to view cars and have to get them from wherever we source them. We charge out the fuel or public transport used at cost price. Bear in mind that we do a lot of background work before travelling to see a car, so we will probably spend much less on fuel than you would trawling the forecourts if you didn't use us. Secondly, there is a small cost for history checks. It is frightening how many people buy cars without doing history checks or use one of the many cut price checking agencies that do not supply all the data needed. We charge out the cost of checks, but again, it is at cost price and is far less than you can buy the same data reports for.
What after sales service do you offer? We are here for all of our customers after we have supplied the car. We frequently help people with all sorts of post sales queries and are very happy to do so. For example, we are asked for advice on technical matters like when servicing is due. (We have workshop facilities whereby we can give discounts on servicing and repairs). Clients feel comfortable enough, having used us, to ask all sorts of things - like how to work the more complex car functions, how to replace key fob batteries, even how to open the bonnet (yes Steve - that is directed at you!). We have advised customers post sale on warranty renewal, sources for hood repairs after vandal damage to a soft top, smart repairs for minor bumper scuffs, what sort of tyres to put on the car, cherished plate transfers, etc etc. In short, yes we are here for you post sale and we hope that the level of personal service we provide will be a major factor in you using us when you next renew your car. Whatever you need to know after you have bought the car, just ask.
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