British used car dealers sound like they are driving away their customers – with 39% of buyers unwilling to return to use the dealer they last purchased off again – under any circumstances.
That is according to a survey by motoring services provider RAC.
The survey showed two-fifths of those surveyed had experienced problems with a vehicle purchased from a secondhand dealer, and 29% reported the dealer had failed to rectify the issue.
The RAC says 30% of respondents have told others to steer clear of a dealer they have used.
People are still willing to buy used cars, 56% of drivers saying they would buy used as new vehicles depreciate quickly.
Mario Dolcezza, spokesman for RAC BuySure – their aftermarket warranty product, says: “The used car dealer is still the first place many people look when they are in the market for a car and our survey suggests 65% of motorists go to a dealer in their area because they think they provide the best value. But this is not always the case as some dealers are clearly not living up to the expectations of their customers.
“Our research findings show that dealers need to be very conscious of the importance of having a good reputation and making sure they always deal well with any issues their customers might experience after buying a car from them. Otherwise motorists will go elsewhere.”
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