Etiquette query - opinion sought

[carjunkieanon]

G'day,

A question of etiquette.

If I happen to have seen the name and phone number of the previous one owner of a vehicle now for sale at a dealership....(note, the dealer did not provide this info)*

Is it appropriate to call him and ask about the vehicle's history -
and ask those questions the sales woman didn't know the answer to -
and ask how much the dealer traded it for?

Just wondering what you would do.

If a fellow landrover enthusiast were to call me, I'd very happily tell them everything I could think of. No skin off my nose if they decided not to buy.

*I photo'd the front page of the vehicle specs - service log. It's got the the model VIN, Engine number etc for a REVs check - also has the previous owners name,address,phone number

Rick

[Vern]

do it, i would, better to know now than find out the hard way:(

[Chucaro]

I would do not ask about the money part.
Regarding problems, you can tell them that you are planning to do a big trip and would be nice if they can give you an idea of which components need attention if any ;)

Then you know what you have to get repaired under warranty.
Cheers

[pop058]

I would, but be diplomatic about the way you ask questions. If you were to buy it and something went wrong you did not ask about, you would kick yourself. I cannot not see any issues, moral, etiquette or otherwise with asking as long as you are open and honest in you approach.

Paul

[Grumbles]

There is no question of ethics being compromised. It is just business. And you looking out for yourself.

[spudboy]

There is an issue of privacy probably, as the dealer will not give you the previous owner's details, but.... you can request the dealer to ask the prev owner to contact you.

However, you seem to legitimately come across these details, so personally I'd be ringing and just explaining how you got them.

Most LR people will want to help you out.

[Gullible]

I did it, I phoned up the garage that had stamped the log book and found out one of the mechanics had owned the vehicle. He was happy to answer general questions but not specifics.

DO NOT ASK ABOUT MONEY. They will ask you how much the dealer is selling it for and get ****ed off, trust me I know.

It is also good to remember that the dealer where the car is may not be the dealership where it was traded in.

[BigJon]

I would do not ask about the money part.


Why not?

[dullbird]

Why not?

I would consider that rude......

you wouldn't walk up to anyone you didn't know and ask them how much there mortgage is.

or who much do they earn......its just something you dont do!

[rovercare]

Why not?

That's the most important Q, that way you know how much you should haggle:D

[harry]

if you have the details of the previous owner, you should ring them,
sorry dealers,
if the owner tells you something and is prepared to back up what he said, then use that info to deal with the dealer.
as for the dealers purchase price, you will have buckleys chance of any dealing free play if the car was a trade in.
anyway, if the dealer wants to sell it, [and that is his job- to make money selling] then if you don't expect him to give it to you for a $100 more than he paid, you should strike a deal.
at the end of the day, the car is only worth what the seller can get for it, if you are able to get him to sell it to you for 500 more than he paid for it you will have a good deal,.
although that may not be what the car is worth in this market.
but no matter what you pay for it, if you are happy with the deal, don't start complaining when you hear of a 'supposed' better deal.
- apples, sometimes ain't apples..

[d2dave]

In Vic used car dealers are required by law to supply the name and address of the previous owner. It is usually on the info sheet hung inside a side window.
Many years ago I purchased a vehicle from a dealer and I went around and saw the previous owner. He was cool with this.

Dave.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Why not?

Maybe if they broach money it would be ok. Otherwise it's between them and the dealer. They may not have even sold to the selling dealer.

I'm just not sure that it would make a big difference to the outcome and if it offends the original owner.. that's a bridge burnt.

[ozzirt]

If the dealer has not ripped off either party, no one should be offended. If they did rip off either party, they deserve to get caught.

The dealer most certainly has the right to make a profit after his costs and they can be quite high, and the both the seller and buyer should have the right to know if that profit was fair and reasonable.

Sometimes the seller will put one over the dealer,... it does happen,... but not often.

That view may be simplistic, but as yet I can't find any faults in it.

[B92 8NW]

I've done it twice. Spoke to the first owner of my first Disco (I was the third owner of that one). He was on a big property up in the Mallee and was stoked that the Discovery was still running!! It had 320,000 when I handed it onto the fourth owner.

The second one was a disaster and the bloke's wife cried and said she'd missed that car ever since they sold it:D

[sschmez]

Ask away ... whatever you want to know ... they have the option of not answering.

Be nice about it ... they don't owe you anything.

I've sometimes gone to great lengths to find out previous owners details (especially when theres an unexplained gap in the records/history) and always contacted the previous owner before buying a vehicle.

Trade in prices become somewhat irrelevant when you find out that the car was traded with problems (head, gearbox, etc.) and the vehicle you're looking at buying has had those problems rectified.

Good Luck
Stevo

[F4Phantom]

I have done it, was looking at a nissan sedan, the lady told me the car was reliable and they got the new model. It went well, untill I asked about her trade in price, she got 8k for the car, they were asking 14k. I was never going to earn a dealer 6k!

I cant see any issue at all including asking about the price. Its only a phone call.

[BigJon]

I would consider that rude......

you wouldn't walk up to anyone you didn't know and ask them how much there mortgage is.

or who much do they earn......its just something you dont do!

And that is why many many people have money problems.
People seem to be afraid of talking about money and I don't understand why.

If people were more open about money then there wouldn't be so much misinformation and lack of knowledge.

If you want to know how much my mortgage is or how much I earn, just ask. It is no big secret!

[solmanic]

Not sure about NSW, but in Qld there is a cooling-off period for secondhand vehicle purchases through a dealer. So even if you weren't given the previous owner's details by the dealer before buying, you would have them once you completed the purchase. Then if after ringing the previous owner you were told things that made you question your purchase, you could exercise your right to cancel the sale under the cooling-off period anyway. Maximum non-refundable deposit is $100.

So my short answer is - yes. Ring them and find out as much as you can because it's the same difference whether you do it before or after you complete the purchase.

[carjunkieanon]

Thanks for your thoughts gents.

I've called once and left a message ...... How long to wait before calling again. I think one call is enough.

R

[Basil135]

In SA, the previous owners details are displayed on the ticket in the window, and have to be provided upon request.

If you are going to ask the question about trade-in, then give them the option of not answering. Some people are sensitive about it, others don't care. You may even find that someone is happy to tell you, so that you have more bargaining power with the dealer.

As for how often to call, if you have rung once & left a message, leave it for a day or 2, and then try again at a different time. Just remember, don't ring at dinner time. That is the fastest way to get people off side. Over-do the politeness, at least to start with, and you will probably get the right response.

[solmanic]

And that is why many many people have money problems.
People seem to be afraid of talking about money and I don't understand why.

If people were more open about money then there wouldn't be so much misinformation and lack of knowledge.

The question of money is a personal one and treated much the same as anyone asking how big your trouser-bulge is. Sure, some people are quite free and easy with that information, but most are not.

Let's face it, the reason a lot of us drive Defenders is that they don't give much away about the size of your bank balance (or other things ;)).

Having said that, I don't think asking what the previous owner got as a trade would necessarily be an offensive question. They might like to know how much the dealer is gouging you which makes the question more about your finances than theirs.

[It'sNotWorthComplaining!]

CAVEAT EMPTOR BUYER BEWARE
So ask it's your money!!!.

[BigJon]

The question of money is a personal one and treated much the same as anyone asking how big your trouser-bulge is. Sure, some people are quite free and easy with that information, but most are not.



I am getting off topic here (sorry). I agree those topics can be treated in a similar manner and I think that is wrong.

There is a taboo in our society when it comes to discussing money and I think that is wrong.

There is also next to no education about money and that is a disgrace.

If people were educated about money and talked about money then you wouldn't have people having to declare bankruptcy over the cost of a phone bill! It does happen.


If you want to know about my trouser bulge, ask away :twisted:.

[Scouse]

If you want to know about my trouser bulge, ask away :twisted:.OK, I'll bite.




How much did you pay for it & where from?

[willem]

OK, I'll bite.




How much did you pay for it & where from?

:eek::D:D

He was asking for that!

Willem

[Sleepy]

I have been contacted twice by prospective owners of my former cars.

One had already decided he was going to buy it. (An 1983 Brumby) and wanted to know if there was any skeletons in the closet.

I was only too happy to tell him what I could. Including suspect rear shockers and brakes discs at minimum thickness.

Didn't talk money - although would have been happy to.

My thinking was even if he didn't get these items rectified he could factor them into the bargaining equation. And then budget to do these jobs himself.

[BigJon]

OK, I'll bite.




How much did you pay for it & where from?


I said ask about it, not bite it! :o

Free, fitted at factory...:p:D

[VladTepes]

I would, but be diplomatic about the way you ask questions. If you were to buy it and something went wrong you did not ask about, you would kick yourself. I cannot not see any issues, moral, etiquette or otherwise with asking as long as you are open and honest in you approach.

Paul

I completely agree with Paul.

[solmanic]

I am getting off topic here ...
If you want to know about my trouser bulge, ask away :twisted:.

No point asking really. No man is able to comment on their own - they always overstate.

And neither is their partner - they always understate. ;):p

[Bushie]

The way I look at it - ask the questions. The worse that can happen is the previous owner wont answer them.

You are really no better or no worse off if you get no answers.


Martyn

[d2dave]

I am getting off topic here (sorry). I agree those topics can be treated in a similar manner and I think that is wrong.

There is a taboo in our society when it comes to discussing money and I think that is wrong.

There is also next to no education about money and that is a disgrace.

If people were educated about money and talked about money then you wouldn't have people having to declare bankruptcy over the cost of a phone bill! It does happen.


If you want to know about my trouser bulge, ask away :twisted:.

There is a thread on this forum titled "Show us your shed"

How about some one starting a thread "Show us your income" or "Show us your bank account":twisted::twisted:.

Dave.

[rovercare]

There is a thread on this forum titled "Show us your shed"

How about some one starting a thread "Show us your income" or "Show us your bank account":twisted::twisted:.

Dave.

I'd quite happily share that info, money talks and its always interesting;)