Admin fees

[obewan]

I'm considering changing my car in the not too distant future, going from an E89 to a G29
As such I've been keeping an eye on what's about, and getting a feel for specs, prices etc

In the past, on principle I wouldn't dream of paying an 'admin fee', however despite a whooping £300 fee I've just noticed a car at 'Big Motoring World' that looks a reasonable deal. 2020 plate with low milage, cheaper than a lot of 2019 plates in adverts around it.

I'm now thinking the price is the price, doesn't really matter how it's arrived at. (the AF wasn't on top of the list price)

It's a bit early for me and don't know what the dealer is like, so I won't be taking it further, but was wondering why do they do it?
There must be others like me that are initially put off.

 

[pvr]

Big Motoring World? Can I suggest you google that company and the reputation as it is rather, uh, “special”

https://www.reviews.io/company-reviews/store/big-motoring-world

 

[Pondrew]

Never paid an additional 'fee' and never will. It was started by the 'discount' car supermarkets back in the 90s, as their cars were much cheaper than anywhere else. Then of course, the greedy used car market in general picked up on the idea and ran with it.

Be careful of Big Motoring World. They are a big 'supermarket' chain based down the road from me. I have visited their nearby sites (they have 2 in Peterborough) a few times and found the cars in general a bit ropey. All sourced from BCA auctions IIRC. Not to say they are all bad, of course.

 

[obewan]

Big Motoring World? Can I suggest you google that company and the reputation as it is rather, uh, “special”

Yeah I did later on, the old 'if it looks too good to be true...' made me suspicious. However plenty of others still charge £50-100.

 

[obewan]

Thanks for the info Pondrew - similar to a few others on Autotrader I suspect
I mentioned the admin fee to a motorcycle dealer a while ago (He wasn't charging one), his response was 'absolute rip off'

I'm sure not long ago I've used a filter on AT to take out dealers charging a fee - doesn't seem to be there now

 

[Nanu]

I am sure you can find the right car at the right price yourself.

My wife has found my last 3 cars for me, the 'fees' chargeable were needless to say, very high and ongoing.

 

[obewan]

San Francisco Red? I do now know they are like hen’s teeth

 

[Pondrew]

I have bought a couple of cars recently where the selling dealers had an 'admin fee'. My first conversation was "I'm not paying the fee". They never charged it. I had a couple who bleated on about "we have costs for the paperwork, so have to charge it" type of crap. I just said I'm not paying it so moved on.

Another reason why I despise car dealers; they pretend to be all 'up front' and 'honest', including their fees. It's bollox; there is no such thing as an 'honest' car dealer IMO (not my idea of honest anyway).

It should be outlawed IMHO, as the advertised price is NOT the price you pay. I want to start with asking price and go DOWN from there, not UP!

If everybody refused to pay the additional fees would just build it into the selling price, like the old days, and we would be happier (although no better off).

 

[Scubaregs]

I see all our VOC (voice of customer returns) and they are mainly 100%/ 5 star/ 10 out of 10. We do get some bad ones, like any business we err, things happen beyond our control etc.

A recent return had as at 20% as the customer complained he bought a "Brand new car, which required a service within 6-12 months of him buying it".
The car in question was a used 2022 plate.

Of course though, as has been pointed out, every car dealership are thieving barstewards, out to rip off the unsuspecting, innocent public. Said public never lie about their cars condition on the online evaluation.
It appears our Dealership is cursed also, judging from the amount of EML lights that "just came on as I drove in".

Regarding the admin fee, we did ask the girls in the office to work for free, I can't post the reply. People would complain if it was hidden in the cost, so it's a no win situation. At the end of the day you negotiate your deal and are happy with it, otherwise you won't buy the car.

Most insurers charge an admin fee for mid policy adjustments, you do off course have the option of searching for an insurer that doesn’t, however they are unlikely to be amongst your lowest quotes.

I learned a valuable lesson when appraising a part ex at handover just after I had been trained to do so, both myself and the Product consultant who also appraised the car, missed a massive dent on the roof. Customer didn't think to mention it, but to be fair it probably happened after he parked up and came in to pick up his new car.

 

[Scubaregs]

P.s, roof is the first thing I check now and I forgot to mention the cars that require a biohazard suit and lifeline to enter them........

 

[B21]

P.s, roof is the first thing I check now and I forgot to mention the cars that require a biohazard suit and lifeline to enter them........

 

[Beerman]

Big Motoring World are notorious for their dodgy practices.

Admin fees are a lot of nonsense. There shouldn't be any fees added on top to cover services that are all part of buying a car.

 

[legin]

People would complain if it was hidden in the cost, so it's a no win situation

Of course they would. If you really want to be transparent then itemise and charge all costs including profit over buy in price. Exactly its BS , admin is a cost just like any other. Like many others I walk on by as Admin charges often go hand in hand with ropy motors.

 

[Zed Baron]

I learned a valuable lesson when appraising a part ex at handover just after I had been trained to do so, both myself and the Product consultant who also appraised the car, missed a massive dent on the roof. Customer didn't think to mention it, but to be fair it probably happened after he parked up and came in to pick up his new car.

Totally agree, you get a different perspective from the other side of the desk. When I was in the trade we were taught 'buyers are liars!' salesman shafted by devious punters! Example, car with gearbox on its last legs, deliberately left around the corner from the dealership for a week, so that it only had a very very short journey when they went to pick up their new car. Or a broken heater matrix, tapped off with a bolt, seen it all.

 

[MikeyH]

The guy on Shifting Metal gets a lot of crap like that.

 

[Nanu]

San Francisco Red? I do now know they are like hen’s teeth

For the more discerning Zed owners only

 

[Scubaregs]

People would complain if it was hidden in the cost, so it's a no win situation

Of course they would. If you really want to be transparent then itemise and charge all costs including profit over buy in price. Exactly its BS , admin is a cost just like any other. Like many others I walk on by as Admin charges often go hand in hand with ropy motors.

Do you know the profit on your weekly shop, your dental treatment, your package holiday?

 

[Pondrew]

Do you know the profit on your weekly shop, your dental treatment, your package holiday?

No but they don't charge an 'admin fee' for the 'work' involved in paying for your shopping.

If cars were sold at cost (could you imagine such a weird scenario), then an admin fee would be absolutely fine. But they are not, so it isn't.

 

[Scubaregs]

Do you know the profit on your weekly shop, your dental treatment, your package holiday?

No but they don't charge an 'admin fee' for the 'work' involved in paying for your shopping.

If cars were sold at cost (could you imagine such a weird scenario), then an admin fee would be absolutely fine. But they are not, so it isn't.

How do you know? It could simply be hidden.

 

[legin]

People would complain if it was hidden in the cost, so it's a no win situation

Of course they would. If you really want to be transparent then itemise and charge all costs including profit over buy in price. Exactly its BS , admin is a cost just like any other. Like many others I walk on by as Admin charges often go hand in hand with ropy motors.

Do you know the profit on your weekly shop, your dental treatment, your package holiday?

I know the admin fee is all included and the total cost is transparent. I would spend more time evaluating the dodgy p/x,s you routinely get stung with then presumably pass on with an admin fee. Like I say dodgy cars and admin fees often go hand in hand.