Brightwells

[cardiff_gareth]

What a bunch of muppets

Dad goes up to see this Freelander I was interested in V reg 2.0 diesel XDi - £2850, has a look around and the salesman starts the engine. All sounds good and engine is running sweet as a nut. Quick look about and its been polished to the hills, engine bay, insdie wheel arches spotlesss, so far so good, dad then says can I test drive it, salesman says 'no its sold as seen' so my dad tries saying to the guy that he doesn't want to take it on the road, just around they're yard to test the IRD, gearbox etc. They were having none of it, all they kept saying was it was sold as seen.

So now I call them, I'd spoken to this saleslady the day before who said I could test drive it in the yard. So I call and I explain i'm in Cardiff but my dad is there looking at it on my behalf as he's not allowed to test drive it. Same response, can't test drive it, its sold as seen. Tries explaining to her I understand its sold as seen and I'm not looking for a warranty and all I want to do is see it moving and she keeps repeating herself - blood boiling :twisted:
Ask's her if I can't drive it then can they, she says they're not allowed, I asks her how the car gets into the car auction ring and she says they're driven in ! So they can drive a car into the ring but not around the yard :lol:
Tries explaining to her that it could be a right lemon mechanically and she took offense to the comment but if a car has been bulled right up shiney and you can't see it being driven then there is a possibility it could be...........so I offered them £2000 for it, they declined so I said leave it there then.

How daft, buying a car you can see but can't drive, sold as seen, no come back, I could drive it 1 metre and it could die, waste of best part of £3000

Off to look 2moro at a burnt orange V reg diesel tomorrow in a garage - one that I can actually test drive  :lol:  :lol:

[redhand]

Always check the terms of the auction. Some allow you an hours grace after the auction to discover any faults. If they don't then don't buy from them there are plenty of others that will.

Edit/ I've just pulled this from the T&C page on there website.

WARRANTIES - Complaints will be considered regarding undeclared MAJOR MECHANICAL FAULTS
only and the vehicle, along with its appropriate documentation, must be returned to our site and the
complaint reported to our Engineer in person within one hour of the Sale finishing; complaints will not
be considered after that time. No complaints will be considered regarding vehicles sold ‘AS SEEN AND
WITHOUT WARRAN-TY’. A Lot shall be deemed ‘AS SEEN AND WITHOUT WARRANTY’ if :
it is over 7 years old; it sold for £1,500 or less; or is so described on the instruction of the seller and as
announced as such by the Auctioneer. All bodywork, tyres, interior, batteries, electrics and exhausts are
as seen and without warranty.

[cardiff_gareth]

This one had been through the ring and had failed to sell so it was in the buy it now section.

The guy said it had failed to sell as it had been a quiet week in the auctions but after not being allowed to drive it and the fact it failed to sell I think it was bulled up real shiney for a reason  :?:

[Disco Matt]

In the last TV programme I saw about auctions they said that you should be there when the vehicle you're interested in starts, and then if possible follow it to the arena while listening for any odd noises. Apparently the drivers will often do simple checks if you ask politely (eg testing diff lock, high/low ratio, etc - obviously not on a Freelander!).

[redhand]

Auctions like Brightwells don't have "quiet periods". If it didn't sell it either had a high reserve (more than it was worth) or the dealers know it's a bad buy. The diesel gaylanders are a better buy than the petrols but they have so many other problems IRD VCU cracking chassis, etc etc etc. That many dealers won't go near em anymore as the potential repair bills would wipe out their profit margins.

[Jas278]

All Auctions............You pay the money and take the chance , I trade through the Auction houses and believe me if you dont know what you are doing steer clear, buy private or from a garage , to many private people pay over the odds at the auctions and end up with a lemon.

[thermidorthelobster]

That's the way auctions work - you look at the car, you start it up, you buy it.  I'm not at all surprised they wouldn't let you drive it.  If they made an exception then all of a sudden they'd have 400 people wanting to drive cars around their yard.  If you want to try before you buy, don't go to an auction!

[Boggert]

I wouldn't buy with out a test drive auction or not. Not so bad if its a £500 but £3K.

[redhand]

That's the way auctions work - you look at the car, you start it up, you buy it.  I'm not at all surprised they wouldn't let you drive it.  If they made an exception then all of a sudden they'd have 400 people wanting to drive cars around their yard.  If you want to try before you buy, don't go to an auction!

If you read the bit I posted you'll see that Brightwells like most Auctions have an hours grace after the sale to test drive the vehicle and if it is "not as advertised" you can take it back. Remember every seller including Auction houses must accurately describe the item they are selling and it must be fit for purpose. If they knowingly mislead the buyer they are breaking the law. and as this vehicle wasn't for sale in the auction but was offered for sale at a fixed price Consumer law applies.

Having said that if an auction house is trying to sell something that they couldn't sell at auction. Then it doesn't say much for the quality of the vehicle in the 1st place.

[thermidorthelobster]

I did read it, and I can't see how that contradicts my statement that they don't let you try before you buy?

[redhand]

I did read it, and I can't see how that contradicts my statement that they don't let you try before you buy?

I didn't say you were wrong. I was just pointing out that you do have an hours grace after the sale. To make sure you haven't brought a Lemon. So buying without testing isn't a problem, because if it's knackered you can get a full refund

[cardiff_gareth]

why say sold as seen then, when I said I could be buying a lemon she said well thats the risk you take  :?:

[redhand]

why say sold as seen then, when I said I could be buying a lemon she said well thats the risk you take  :?:

Ah well if you read the small print it says unless "sold as seen" and then you have no comeback at all. So at a guess I'd say yo've had a lucky escape.

[pux]

i bought my wifes 03 renault clio sport thing from an auction in westbury wiltshire, they let me have the keys all the required me to do is pay a £300 deposit that i could have back once i gave the keys back 8)  8)  so i took it for a spin round there massive yard and it was a real nice car, the reason it did not sell in the auction the reserve was to high for the dealers but perfect for me  8)  8)  8)  so all auction houses are diffrent in IMHO heres there website, they had a few freeloaders up there a month ago that were ex mobility cars etc etc www.westburyma.co.uk hope this helps :D

[MudRat]

been to qite a few and bought a few motors from auction houses, generally you are never allowed to drive a car, thats why everyone crowds around the cars as they enter the 'pit' thats why cars are cheaper at auctions, you tke that risk, otherwise buy from a dealer or private, i wouldnt say the aution house are muppets, they are just doing what they have always done.

[Ralph]

i wouldnt say the aution house are muppets,

You obviously havent been to Brightwells then!!!

[crazymac]

i wouldnt say the aution house are muppets,

You obviously havent been to Brightwells then!!!

I have! I got a good deal! Remember, they are not a dealer, they are the auction house!

They don't own the car, so why would they let you drive it? If you want to see it run, go to the auction, mark the car and follow it in!

I am not a dealer/seller or anything like it, I wanted a Discovery, so went to Brightwells after studying the results for a few months so I knew what price to pay!

I arrived early with overalls and waterproofs on, and had a good look around the OUTSIDE of the Discovery's (as they are all locked) I picked a couple that I reckoned were good for me and the lot number.

When the auction started I watched a few coming in, then went and found the ones I was interested in and hung about. An employee came up and started the vehicles, then moved on, which gave me a chance to have a better look, then I followed it into the auction. Someone else started the bidding, and I finished it! I paid about £100 more than the dealers were prepared to pay, That way its still a cheap deal for me, but less profit for them!! I paid £1850 for a J plate 200Tdi just over 3 years ago, I'd get more than half of that back now 8)

I get the "unsold" list from Brightwells and the prices they quote are not buy it now prices, they are negotiable. I often see Landys that were on the unsold list appear on the Results list at the end of the week for less money than what they were wanting!!

[mud-club-matty]

brightwells have been very good to us and if it says sold as seen it means how you see it standing not how you see it when you drive it. use been traders dont even get to drive them its just the risk you take at auctions.  you can pay like £10 and have an inspection done.

we have sold allsorts of stuff thought them  they try there best to get the sale prossed asap but they do have alot to do down there.

[Ralph]

I bet you did buy it paying that price, and also what dealers go there? the ones in sheepskin coats!!!!! I have never seen so many dirty smelly people in one place before and then you have got to put up with all the push chairs and screamin kids.
And for all of you out there who think i am making this up for the sake of it i will try to get there in the next few weeks and will take a video of this place in action.

Oh have just been informed of a nationwide dealership who does apparently send reps to buy from this auction


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