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Watch out for Curbsiders
If you could only buy your grandfather's 7 year old automobile, the one that you have been in many times and perhaps even driven on occasion, the one that has been well maintained and never in an accident. This would truly make life less stressful, at least in the department of buying an automobile. The reality is you may not have a grandfather or at least one that is willing to give up his gem.
So you must decide where to buy your next pre-owned automobile, privately or from an established new car dealer.
As a dealer in the auto industry I look at my operations and those of my associates and see dealerships as inviting, non-threatening, easy to deal with and definitely staffed by personnel desirous of accommodating anyone walking into the dealership. If I put my consumer hat on and walk into a dealership, I feel the same way, but have been told, that these feelings are completely wrong; that dealerships are threatening irrespective of how hard architects try make them totally inviting, that their staff is non- approachable and when it comes to providing customer service, that dealerships generally do not understand what 'good customer service' means. As I try to explore further the source of this negativity, it becomes clear that the monorails the consumer travels on and that of the dealers, do in fact run parallel but very seldom criss-cross.
Hence, there exists this uneasy feeling, with consumers visiting showrooms with pre-conceived notions and hesitations.
This is truly tragic, because every one is looking for the best deal and part of the best deal is not only the lowest price but is buying from someone that you can trust and be at ease with.
Meet your friendly neighborhood sales representative at church or at the local supermarket and he is really a nice guy, meet him at the dealership and this same person is perceived as being rude, dishonest and curt; a wolf in sheep's clothing.
I don't understand this. Where does reality stop and perception kick in'
Now what does this have to do with the heading 'watch out for curbsiders'.
Let's first define what a curbsider is. A curbsider is one that is in the business of selling automobiles without being registered with OMVIC, without the benefit of premises and properly trained staff, without paying taxes or providing any type of consumer protection on the vehicles sold. Curbsiders are not private citizens selling their own private vehicle. Often the cars curbsiders sell come from collision centers, impact auctions, other provinces or states or sources that your new car dealer would never deal with. When automobiles have been involved in undisclosed major accidents, are stolen or come from other shady sources, a new car dealer would not touch them.
The curbsiders have no such ethical concerns, nor do they have any problem with rolled back odometers, outstanding liens or other problems.
In Ontario, consumers purchasing a vehicle from a new car dealer, are covered by the most comprehensive Consumer Protection Legislation that exists anywhere in North America. This same protection is not afforded to a consumer who purchases a vehicle privately (this includes curbsiders).
When purchasing privately there are no warranties, no guarantee that the vehicle is necessarily fit for the road or any recourse except perhaps through small claims court.
Curbsiders place a significant portion of all automotive classified ads. These ads look and feel like those used to promote the sale of a private automobile. Consumers may think they can save money through a private transaction, more money then just the GST, but the opposite is frequently the case.
The true costs of the transactions may be far greater than the price tag on the vehicle.
Without the unsuspecting consumer doing his homework and knowing what to look for, he could end up with the worst nightmare, in his drive way.
I strongly urge you to visit a fellow member dealer for your next pre-owned vehicle purchase.
In next week's column, find out why it is best to deal with your new car dealer of choice.
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