Trade-in servicing etiquette

[Dubbegood]

This might seem like an odd topic, but I was wondering what everyone thought about servicing your trade-in after you've agreed on a price and signed a contract, but before handing it over to the dealer.

This must be an issue for many VeeDubbers, since we generally have to wait a while for cars to arrive in the country.

Let's say your trade-in is due for a service in the fortnight/week/whatever that you are due to pick up your new wheels. It is going to get serviced anyway by the dealer before they put it on the lot (assuming they don't wholesale it). It isn't really a safety issue for you because a week or so won't matter either way. In any case, not many would book a service for the exact day that the mileage clicks over to service time - it is either just before or just after, or thereabouts.

So is it just down to etiquette? To service or not to service? Interested in your thoughts...

[team_v]

Don't service it.

If the price has been agreed upon and is in the contract you are just going to lose money.
Plus they almost certainly screwed you with the trade in price anyway.

[noone]

I think you should remove the blow-up doll from the boot, maybe a light vaccum of the passenger area.

Anything else really is not your responsibility, they've agreed to take it as is...

On a side note, what about clocking up an extra couple of thousand kms before you hand it over?

[Dubbegood]

I think you should remove the blow-up doll from the boot, maybe a light vaccum of the passenger area.

Anything else really is not your responsibility, they've agreed to take it as is...

On a side note, what about clocking up an extra couple of thousand kms before you hand it over?

Ha! Pity the doll was part of the trade (the dealer took a shine to old Cindy). But of course I managed to swap her for a rubber boot tray. Makes the interior easy to clean and more grippy...

Oh dear. Better stop there.

And yes, I do plan on flogging the old girl... erm, my trade-in vehicle, that is... before handing it over!

- team_V: never thought I'd say this, but the trade-in price was actually fair. I got 20% over the top redbook valuation, largely due to low kms. There was still a difference between trading and selling privately, but they seemed pretty anxious to deal. I went into it prepared to be screwed, and walked away with some modesty intact!

[STV4SYT]

Dont waste your money, most times the trade in value is a lot less than you could reasonably get for the car as a private sale and the dealer knows this.

[team_v]

- team_V: never thought I'd say this, but the trade-in price was actually fair. I got 20% over the top redbook valuation, largely due to low kms. There was still a difference between trading and selling privately, but they seemed pretty anxious to deal. I went into it prepared to be screwed, and walked away with some modesty intact!

I would be checking the dealer delivery and CTP costs on teh contract before you say you have made a good deal.

My dealer delivery was 3.4K becasue they have to make the money back somewhere.

[Dubbegood]

I would be checking the dealer delivery and CTP costs on teh contract before you say you have made a good deal.

My dealer delivery was 3.4K becasue they have to make the money back somewhere.

Nope, dealer delivery was $995.

[team_v]

Nope, dealer delivery was $995.

Well in that case you are very lucky to have come out well from trade-in.

[Dubbegood]

Well in that case you are very lucky to have come out well from trade-in.

Yeah, they were actually very good to deal with in the end. I was pleasantly surprised. Obviously some dealers are honest(ish). Mind you, it was 10 minutes before closing time on a Saturday and the place was a bit quiet...

[cme2c]

Dealer actually told me not to bother.

[dylan8]

Dealer actually told me not to bother.

they are going to clean it, service it etc them self so probably doesn't matter

[Calais]

I didn't bother servicing my trade in...... Not for the 500 or so clams it would have cost for the valve adjustment that was due by the book.

I doubt the dealer that sold the car on did the service either........