Broker vs Dealer

[blackspaven]

Hi,

I'm in the market right now to buy a 1.8T Octavia L&K estate and have obviously been doing my homework on pricing beforehand, but have got to a bit of a stalemate, which is why i'm here.

I've had a look at a few brokers recommended off Money Saving Expert: Consumer Revenge - Credit Cards, Shopping, Bank Charges, Cheap Flights and more and found the above model at Broadspeed and Autofinder for about £16,800ish and ukcarbroker (although they state it may be preregistered and haven't been able to phone to confirm yet) for £16,335! Now i'm aware that this is cheap for the model, but although i've been reading about people walking into their dealers with a print off and just saying 'Match that!' and getting the right price or at least very close without much trouble, i've been to the two dealers near me in Hampshire and phoned Martyn Beever near my in-laws in York, all of which were absolutely spot on and I can't rave enough as they were all REALLY helpful, but none of them could touch the prices i've seen online, the nearest was about £17,600; £1300 MORE than the cheapest quote (if the £16,335 quote IS brand new). It's one thing to be faithful to people who help you, but I can't do it to the tune of it costing be a grand, that'd be crazy!

How are people getting these prices from a dealer, as i'd prefer to buy one from the guys i've been speaking to but even the dealers are very nicely saying i should go with the broker if I can actually get prices that low as they just can't compete. They just seem to be getting stitched up as the brokers are getting them directly from Skoda UK for cheaper than them and to give a big kick in the nuts to their dealers, the cars are being delivered to main dealers before going to the broker or direct to the buyers address. Don't understand how Skoda can hang out their own dealers like that, and consequently can anyone explain either why I can't or how to get that sort of pricematch from a main dealer?

Cheers,
Matt

[Dr Zoidberg]

The brokers have arrangements with a couple of dealers who basically do them at just over cost price - tiny margins but the volume of sales makes up for it.

Not all dealers will be willing to match broker's prices so you may need to shop round a lot of them to find one that's close to meeting their targets. If they need a couple more sales to get a big manufacturer bonus then making just a hundred quid on a car suddenly becomes a better option.

I'd suggest visiting in person , and doing so coming up to the end of the quarter as you can get very different replies at different times.

Also bear in mind that the important figure is the total price to change.
If you have no trade in then a broker will almost certainly be the better deal but if you do need to get rid of your old car then you could find that when you only get offered a pittance from a broker it will be just as good deal paying more at your dealers and getting a decent part-ex.

Get a print out from the vauxhall website - they do free glass's guide valuations , and always let the dealer give you their figure for a trade in first. Don't let them bully you into telling them how much you want and selling yourself short. Ask them if they agree that your car is in good condition or not and *then* get a price from them. Then show them your valuation printout and you can haggle over any difference.

When I bought my Mk2 I got it at cost price - matching the broker prices - and got a decent trade in for the Mk1 that matched Glass's middle book valuation and that was from a local dealer

[postmanpat]

£16300 is a grand bellow drive the deal, check wether it is a)pre-reg or indeed b) a Maltese import.

[Dr Zoidberg]

It's cheaper at Broadspeed who are a pretty safe bet to buy through , and they do just UK sourced cars.

Broadspeed New Skoda Octavia 1.8 TSI, New Skoda Octavia 1.8 TSI L&K UK Discount Car prices, Cheap New Skoda Octavia Dealer Prices, Import

[Lady Elanore]

When I got my Octy a couple of years ago I looked at Broadspeed and Drivethedeals prices and took the lowest one around the Dealers. It took a few visits, but eventually I got a Dealer to beat the Brokers prices (just). Just be polite and persuasive. Keep a smile on your face and let the dealer know you are ready to sign there and then if he/she will do the deal. I got around £2K off a brand new and personally specced car, which at that time was a pretty good deal.

What Postie Pat says is important though, check the car is what you think it is.

[Octavia5]

Yes dealer timing is everything, you can always get the best deal at end of quarter/half year when they need to make volume to get the best kickbacks from Skoda

[blackspaven]

Thanks guys. Yeah, I was aware that their quarter/half year times are end of june & september respectively, but the dealers are saying that no-one is buying cars at the moment because of the credit crunch so it's not making a hell of a lot of difference if I buy now or then, although i'm very sceptical as to whether this is just dealer sales bullsh*t.

As I said, UK carbroker are the cheapest but state that 50% of their cars are pre-registered ad I haven't been able to get in touch to confirm whether mine would be at that price, Broad speed are the next but they've been giving me some tosh about putting an extra £100 reservation fee on the cost of the car to guarantee the price at the time of collection 'just in case the euro gets stronger and the price goes up' (!), which means that without the £100 fee Autofinders would be the best/cheapest option, especially as I don't have a trade in and have the cash to either buy outright or do some sort of finance thing if they want the 0% option (makes no difference to me).

What do you guys reckon? I might carry on phoning round, but that'd mean quite a few calls, or do you reckon the dealers are talking b*llocks and I WOULD probably be able to get the price matched at the end of June?

...unless there's any dealer out there that is actually reading this and wants my 17 grand??!! :0)

Cheers,
Matt

[busterboyuk]

Be open and up front. Show them the deal you have and let them know you are happy to deal with the company that are offering the deal. (I also showed them a price which was a few hundred lower but at a broker that I wouldn't touch with a barge pole.)

Say you are willing to sign for the car "today" and when they sart talking about 8% margins etc, just smile and keep referring to the price.

I just got £3.5k off the list price for my new skoda - from a main dealer.V chuffed.

[Ray_Green]

Originally Posted by blackspaven

How are people getting these prices from a dealer,

Remember that the car from the boker may be deliverd to your main agent, who will hand the vehicle over to you. Just tell your main dealer, that it makes no odds who you give the money to, because thats all you are going to pay You win either way!

[Welshbigman]

you could try SkodaStore.com - For the best price on Skoda cars
I've not had experience myself but seems decent enough, and they were fairly competitive when I changed

[Lady Elanore]

I would say in general you will get a better deal with a face to face visit with a Dealer. You might get the same deal over the phone, but it is really quite a rare thing and when I was selling cars, it was almost unheard of. Let a dealer see you are ready to sign, be firm, positive and friendly and you should walk away with a great deal. Honest! Trust me, I’m an ex-car saleswoman.