Used car buying guide - Avoid getting tricked

[Nooby]

Thank you for sharing!

[Lightbringer]

One thing learnt from experience - when buying 2nd hand, if the bi-annually inspection is coming up (3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th years), it's better to tell the seller to send the car for inspection and get the certificate of inspection before purchasing. You never know what has been done to the car that will cause it to fail inspection later on. It's a big headache especially when the road-tax is just about to expire.

[Mits_jc]

Odometer tampering is most rampant. One way is to call the authorized dealer to check when was the last servicing done and what mileage was it at that time.

 

Most (though not all) car owners would go back to authorized dealer for the first few years of svcing and if say the last servicing was Dec 2009 at 70,000km and when you bought the pre-owned car in Jan 2012 and the mileage still show 70,000km, it obviously had been tampered.

[Mightyys]

With car prices the way they are in Singapore, purchasing a car here is a big decision that involves a significant amount of money for most people. This applies to sellers as well, and unfortunately, there will be some black sheep out there that would want to maximise their profit using unscrupulous methods.

 

So, in order to prevent yourself from unnecessarily parting away with more than you have planned for, here are some things to look out for when buying a second hand car in Singapore, to avoid getting tricked.

 

 

Tampering with the odometer

 

An illegal practice in most countries, it is surprising that there are no specific laws guarding against this act of deceit in Singapore.

 

As such, some sellers take advantage of the situation to modify their car's odometer, to make it look younger and less used than it is.

 

While it might seem like a superficial practice to some, the truth is, winding back the clock (as the trick is known) is plain and simply cheating.

 

For the fact that cars have regular servicing intervals, having an odometer that doesn't tally with the actual usage might actually be harmful or even dangerous, as owners end up not giving the car the appropriate care as befits the car's age.

 

While it can be hard for the layman to spot odometer tampering at first glance, there are signs that one can look out for to indicate if such practices are being used.

 

On average, cars in Singapore travel about 20,000km annually. Taking that into account, one can get a rough estimate as to the proper mileage of a car being sold, using the car's age as a multiplier.

 

The condition of the car can also provide a clue. If a car with low mileage looks tatty and worn, then there is cause to raise red flags to question the validity of the claimed mileage.

 

The safest bet is of course to look for a car with all the proper records and documentation such as the mileage and servicing intervals, so that everything about the car, from whether it has been properly maintained, is noted down in black and white.

 

 

Extra hidden charges

 

Like all major transactions, it is important to know what exactly one is paying for. Therefore, before you sign on the dotted line, make sure that the seller outlines every single charge that goes into the final transacted price.

 

Dealers often add an "Admin Fee" into the transaction, which is often claimed to be for the handling of paperwork such as applying for loans and insurance. While it is a common practice, it is strictly unnecessary, as dealers already make a significant profit from the cars they sell, as well as receiving commissions from bank loans as well as insurance.

 

However, if you feel that the dealer has genuinely assisted you in making the transaction painless and smooth-sailing, with no underhanded tricks, then the admin fee might serve as a sort of goodwill payment as thanks for their services.

 

 

Gimmicks

 

Only buy a car once you are completely comfortable with the whole experience. Sellers might pressure you into making a quick decision, but always stand firm, and resist from giving in to gimmicks that will compromise your purchase.

 

Some tricks that dealers might foist upon buyers include advertising a car at low prices but only to claim that the advertisement was a mistake when the customer approaches the dealer.

 

There are also dealers who advertise their cars for a low price, but then claim that said car has already been sold when customers approach them. These dealers will then offer a similar car but with a higher sticker price than the advertised vehicle. Always be wary of such tricks being pulled by dishonest dealers.

 

 

Blank form

 

A recent trend that has been exposed was the signing of blank forms. When applying for a loan through dealers, they might request that you to sign on a blank portion of the hire purchase form. Although this is meant to reduce the trouble for you to have to make several trips to sign papers, it is a potentially risky move. Leaving your signature on a blank piece of paper leaves the dealer to fill in whatever he wants. You might return to find that the loan amount that you had agreed with the dealer has increased due to some "administrative fees".

 

To properly safeguard yourself, never sign any blank forms. It might mean a bit of inconvenience for you to make a couple more trips, but it's better than ending up paying a lot of extra and unneeded expenses.

 

 

Black and White

 

Finally, the most important and common advice of all. Always have everything declared and written down, in "black and white" as they say.

 

Anything written down is contractually bound under the law, and is final. Be sure to read the fine print of any contract before putting the pen to paper, and clarify any clauses you are unsure about, or any doubts that you might have about the transaction.

 

Make sure you agree to everything before signing off, to avoid incurring future headaches down the road.

 

 

Cheer!!

 

isn't this from the Straits Times/ TNP? lolz.. anyway, gd job to inform the rest tat missed it.. =)

Edited March 20, 2012 by Mightyys

[Mightyys]

I feel like voicing out wat's in my mind. but i know definitively flames & bombs will surely be directed at me.

 

1stly, i'm a car dealer myself but had alrdy quit & now working in a engineering co.. =) working in car trade is definitively a gd plc to earn quick bucks if u r those wanna earn more money fast. but sad to say, it has no future..

 

Tampering with the odometer

 

An illegal practice in most countries, it is surprising that there are no specific laws guarding against this act of deceit in Singapore.

 

As such, some sellers take advantage of the situation to modify their car's odometer, to make it look younger and less used than it is.

 

While it might seem like a superficial practice to some, the truth is, winding back the clock (as the trick is known) is plain and simply cheating.

 

For the fact that cars have regular servicing intervals, having an odometer that doesn't tally with the actual usage might actually be harmful or even dangerous, as owners end up not giving the car the appropriate care as befits the car's age.

 

While it can be hard for the layman to spot odometer tampering at first glance, there are signs that one can look out for to indicate if such practices are being used.

 

On average, cars in Singapore travel about 20,000km annually. Taking that into account, one can get a rough estimate as to the proper mileage of a car being sold, using the car's age as a multiplier.

 

The condition of the car can also provide a clue. If a car with low mileage looks tatty and worn, then there is cause to raise red flags to question the validity of the claimed mileage.

 

The safest bet is of course to look for a car with all the proper records and documentation such as the mileage and servicing intervals, so that everything about the car, from whether it has been properly maintained, is noted down in black and white.

 

--> odometer adjusted is all becos nobody is willing to accept a high mileage vehicle even e car is still in tip top condition which was v well taken care by prev owner. may i ask who does't take gd care of their own car where they had paid so much money for it? even if is fully serviced at agent, but e mileage is v high, will u choose to accept e truth or accept a tamperd odometer tat attracts u more? so who's fault is to blame for adjusting of mileage to let e consumer "accept" e car?

 

Extra hidden charges

 

Like all major transactions, it is important to know what exactly one is paying for. Therefore, before you sign on the dotted line, make sure that the seller outlines every single charge that goes into the final transacted price.

 

Dealers often add an "Admin Fee" into the transaction, which is often claimed to be for the handling of paperwork such as applying for loans and insurance. While it is a common practice, it is strictly unnecessary, as dealers already make a significant profit from the cars they sell, as well as receiving commissions from bank loans as well as insurance.

 

However, if you feel that the dealer has genuinely assisted you in making the transaction painless and smooth-sailing, with no underhanded tricks, then the admin fee might serve as a sort of goodwill payment as thanks for their services.

 

I agree Admin Fee is a additional fee charges to buyers. But i dun agree tis sentence "dealers have alrdy make a significant profits from the cars they sell". Which co doesn't want to make profits? if doesn't make a profits wat's e pt of opening a co? everyone wants to buy e best condition 2nd hand cars, but does anyone ever though of how their old used cars were transformed into a beautiful showrm car aft trading them in to dealers? those tat trade in their cars most often know their cars is alrdy giving a slight prob, who will bother to fix it up since they r gng to change their car? so in e end, who's e one gng to fix it? earning ur tat few hundred bucks doesn't make them extra rich at all..

 

anyway, back to e hidden charges, if is hidden y will they bother to state on e contract "admin fee"? even u dine in restaurant u have to pay service charge, u go supermarket to buy ur stuffs u need to pay 7% gst etc.. as long u think e admin fee is reasonable & e salesman really give u a gd sales service y not?

 

Gimmicks

 

Only buy a car once you are completely comfortable with the whole experience. Sellers might pressure you into making a quick decision, but always stand firm, and resist from giving in to gimmicks that will compromise your purchase.

 

Some tricks that dealers might foist upon buyers include advertising a car at low prices but only to claim that the advertisement was a mistake when the customer approaches the dealer.

 

There are also dealers who advertise their cars for a low price, but then claim that said car has already been sold when customers approach them. These dealers will then offer a similar car but with a higher sticker price than the advertised vehicle. Always be wary of such tricks being pulled by dishonest dealers.

 

simple, this world has no free lunch, u want e cheapest car then be prepared for those underhand methods used by dealers. cos YOU r the one attracted by e cheapest car in e mkt! always do ur own homework, check out e market valuation of e car u getting. cheap stuffs don't come gd, gd stuffs not cheap.. =)

 

Blank form

 

A recent trend that has been exposed was the signing of blank forms. When applying for a loan through dealers, they might request that you to sign on a blank portion of the hire purchase form. Although this is meant to reduce the trouble for you to have to make several trips to sign papers, it is a potentially risky move. Leaving your signature on a blank piece of paper leaves the dealer to fill in whatever he wants. You might return to find that the loan amount that you had agreed with the dealer has increased due to some "administrative fees".

 

To properly safeguard yourself, never sign any blank forms. It might mean a bit of inconvenience for you to make a couple more trips, but it's better than ending up paying a lot of extra and unneeded expenses.

 

i will say only really dishonest & less reputable dealers will do such things. tat is y most smart ppl will only buy from reputable car dealers even though their cars is more exp, at least they know they r e most safe. & signing on blank form is really to help customers to save e hassle of running a few trips to get e paperworks done. time is money for most of us, rite?

 

Black and White

 

Finally, the most important and common advice of all. Always have everything declared and written down, in "black and white" as they say.

 

Anything written down is contractually bound under the law, and is final. Be sure to read the fine print of any contract before putting the pen to paper, and clarify any clauses you are unsure about, or any doubts that you might have about the transaction.

 

Make sure you agree to everything before signing off, to avoid incurring future headaches down the road.

 

Black & white is e most imprt, but be sure of wat u want for urself as well, not only just listening to wat the salesman had said to u. if u r those afraid of "this & tat" then make sure e salesman states ur clarifications on e contract b4 u signed. cos once ur signature is on tat contract, everything becomes legal. if u back out, they can sue u, likewise if they back out & decided not to sell u e car or not able to fulfill ur conds, u can sue them back.

 

Overall, always buy from reputable dealers, salesman tat u trusted or reccomendations from frens tat really had experience gd service from them. best if u have close fren tat work in tis line, cos they will nvr dare to cheat u as he/she will always meet u.

Edited March 20, 2012 by Mightyys

[Neutralsg]

I feel like voicing out wat's in my mind. but i know definitively flames & bombs will surely be directed at me.

 

1stly, i'm a car dealer myself but had alrdy quit & now working in a engineering co.. =) working in car trade is definitively a gd plc to earn quick bucks if u r those wanna earn more money fast. but sad to say, it has no future..

 

Tampering with the odometer

 

An illegal practice in most countries, it is surprising that there are no specific laws guarding against this act of deceit in Singapore.

 

As such, some sellers take advantage of the situation to modify their car's odometer, to make it look younger and less used than it is.

 

While it might seem like a superficial practice to some, the truth is, winding back the clock (as the trick is known) is plain and simply cheating.

 

For the fact that cars have regular servicing intervals, having an odometer that doesn't tally with the actual usage might actually be harmful or even dangerous, as owners end up not giving the car the appropriate care as befits the car's age.

 

While it can be hard for the layman to spot odometer tampering at first glance, there are signs that one can look out for to indicate if such practices are being used.

 

On average, cars in Singapore travel about 20,000km annually. Taking that into account, one can get a rough estimate as to the proper mileage of a car being sold, using the car's age as a multiplier.

 

The condition of the car can also provide a clue. If a car with low mileage looks tatty and worn, then there is cause to raise red flags to question the validity of the claimed mileage.

 

The safest bet is of course to look for a car with all the proper records and documentation such as the mileage and servicing intervals, so that everything about the car, from whether it has been properly maintained, is noted down in black and white.

 

--> odometer adjusted is all becos nobody is willing to accept a high mileage vehicle even e car is still in tip top condition which was v well taken care by prev owner. may i ask who does't take gd care of their own car where they had paid so much money for it? even if is fully serviced at agent, but e mileage is v high, will u choose to accept e truth or accept a tamperd odometer tat attracts u more? so who's fault is to blame for adjusting of mileage to let e consumer "accept" e car?

 

Extra hidden charges

 

Like all major transactions, it is important to know what exactly one is paying for. Therefore, before you sign on the dotted line, make sure that the seller outlines every single charge that goes into the final transacted price.

 

Dealers often add an "Admin Fee" into the transaction, which is often claimed to be for the handling of paperwork such as applying for loans and insurance. While it is a common practice, it is strictly unnecessary, as dealers already make a significant profit from the cars they sell, as well as receiving commissions from bank loans as well as insurance.

 

However, if you feel that the dealer has genuinely assisted you in making the transaction painless and smooth-sailing, with no underhanded tricks, then the admin fee might serve as a sort of goodwill payment as thanks for their services.

 

I agree Admin Fee is a additional fee charges to buyers. But i dun agree tis sentence "dealers have alrdy make a significant profits from the cars they sell". Which co doesn't want to make profits? if doesn't make a profits wat's e pt of opening a co? everyone wants to buy e best condition 2nd hand cars, but does anyone ever though of how their old used cars were transformed into a beautiful showrm car aft trading them in to dealers? those tat trade in their cars most often know their cars is alrdy giving a slight prob, who will bother to fix it up since they r gng to change their car? so in e end, who's e one gng to fix it? earning ur tat few hundred bucks doesn't make them extra rich at all..

 

anyway, back to e hidden charges, if is hidden y will they bother to state on e contract "admin fee"? even u dine in restaurant u have to pay service charge, u go supermarket to buy ur stuffs u need to pay 7% gst etc.. as long u think e admin fee is reasonable & e salesman really give u a gd sales service y not?

 

Gimmicks

 

Only buy a car once you are completely comfortable with the whole experience. Sellers might pressure you into making a quick decision, but always stand firm, and resist from giving in to gimmicks that will compromise your purchase.

 

Some tricks that dealers might foist upon buyers include advertising a car at low prices but only to claim that the advertisement was a mistake when the customer approaches the dealer.

 

There are also dealers who advertise their cars for a low price, but then claim that said car has already been sold when customers approach them. These dealers will then offer a similar car but with a higher sticker price than the advertised vehicle. Always be wary of such tricks being pulled by dishonest dealers.

 

simple, this world has no free lunch, u want e cheapest car then be prepared for those underhand methods used by dealers. cos YOU r the one attracted by e cheapest car in e mkt! always do ur own homework, check out e market valuation of e car u getting. cheap stuffs don't come gd, gd stuffs not cheap.. =)

 

Blank form

 

A recent trend that has been exposed was the signing of blank forms. When applying for a loan through dealers, they might request that you to sign on a blank portion of the hire purchase form. Although this is meant to reduce the trouble for you to have to make several trips to sign papers, it is a potentially risky move. Leaving your signature on a blank piece of paper leaves the dealer to fill in whatever he wants. You might return to find that the loan amount that you had agreed with the dealer has increased due to some "administrative fees".

 

To properly safeguard yourself, never sign any blank forms. It might mean a bit of inconvenience for you to make a couple more trips, but it's better than ending up paying a lot of extra and unneeded expenses.

 

i will say only really dishonest & less reputable dealers will do such things. tat is y most smart ppl will only buy from reputable car dealers even though their cars is more exp, at least they know they r e most safe. & signing on blank form is really to help customers to save e hassle of running a few trips to get e paperworks done. time is money for most of us, rite?

 

Black and White

 

Finally, the most important and common advice of all. Always have everything declared and written down, in "black and white" as they say.

 

Anything written down is contractually bound under the law, and is final. Be sure to read the fine print of any contract before putting the pen to paper, and clarify any clauses you are unsure about, or any doubts that you might have about the transaction.

 

Make sure you agree to everything before signing off, to avoid incurring future headaches down the road.

 

Black & white is e most imprt, but be sure of wat u want for urself as well, not only just listening to wat the salesman had said to u. if u r those afraid of "this & tat" then make sure e salesman states ur clarifications on e contract b4 u signed. cos once ur signature is on tat contract, everything becomes legal. if u back out, they can sue u, likewise if they back out & decided not to sell u e car or not able to fulfill ur conds, u can sue them back.

 

Overall, always buy from reputable dealers, salesman tat u trusted or reccomendations from frens tat really had experience gd service from them. best if u have close fren tat work in tis line, cos they will nvr dare to cheat u as he/she will always meet u.

Since this is a serious car forum, I don

[Cephas]

can lemon save us from the tricks?

[Atonchia]

can lemon save us from the tricks?

 

Not sure yet, lemon seems to be for those straight from the oven type. Not the rebaked ones.

[Acemundo]

Not sure yet, lemon seems to be for those straight from the oven type. Not the rebaked ones.

 

yeah lor if resale car also covered by lemon law, then the entire resale market will be in limbo.

 

besides the car owners are not involved in the manufacture of the nor earn a profit out of it/

[Cephas]

yeah lor if resale car also covered by lemon law, then the entire resale market will be in limbo.

 

besides the car owners are not involved in the manufacture of the nor earn a profit out of it/

 

suck thumb is better than sucking lemon

[Acemundo]

suck thumb is better than sucking lemon

 

but you think in the shoes of the policy maker.

 

they would be eager to strike a balance.

 

lemon law on resale car, especially those sold by individuals would instead, make the system very unbalanced.

[Mightyys]

i believe lemon law can only help get rid off those small dishonest co. is a gd thing, but i dun think it can be effectively used, unless both parties(dealers & consumers) can compromise. watched the channel 8's Money Week, 财经追击 on lemon law, the person in charge from CASE also cant give a firm idea of when's consumers has to rights to ask for refund/claims/replacement, is has to be base on case by case.

[Mightyys]

Since this is a serious car forum, I don

[Neutralsg]

thanks bro for reading..

 

tampering of odometers is definitely wrong. i was just sharing y all these tampering odometers r happening due to consumers' thinking. as for my own experience, high mileage vehicle r equally gd compared to genuine low mileage vehicle as long prev owners took gd care of it. i'm owning a 2nd hand honda civic myself, e mileage was 160,000km+ when i took over & hasn't give me much prob..

 

Admin/processing fee is something almost every car dealers r charging, frankly speaking, when i was a salesman myself, i always try not to charge my customers such fees as i think is v unnecessary. but sad to say, sometimes is the boss whom insist on e charges cos customers had bargain way too much discounts. & if salesman couldn't able to convince e customer(to pay e admin)/boss(to waive e admin) then he/she will have to take a lower comms or worst case lose e deal.

 

buying a car is a big commitment, newbie car buyers out there pls do a gd homework b4 committing to it, as most newbie buyers always buy on impulse which resulted in spending more unnecessary money.

 

lastly, always drive safely on e rd once u got ur car! cheers!

I very much agree with you on the odometer matter in that it is better to have an accurate odometer than a falsified one. Since buying a used car is expected to have its various faults, it is necessary for used car buyer to avoid being deceived by low mileage on the odometer.

I would rather have a high mileage accurate odometer than one with a low mileage but had gotten into a bad accident.

As regards Admin/processing fee, I guess it's up to the individual to accept or reject and thereby close or shut off the deal.

While it is true that buying a car is a commitment, inevitably car buyers especially 1st time buyers tend to be influenced by sales talk and their own enthusiasm. Hence, it is always good to be reminded to practice due diligence for a satisfying purchase.

Have a nice day!

[Chuahsl]

Very informative and good sharing. Will take note of it all when getting my ride.

[Yuan]

I feel like voicing out wat's in my mind. but i know definitively flames & bombs will surely be directed at me.

 

1stly, i'm a car dealer myself but had alrdy quit & now working in a engineering co.. =) working in car trade is definitively a gd plc to earn quick bucks if u r those wanna earn more money fast. but sad to say, it has no future..

 

Tampering with the odometer

 

An illegal practice in most countries, it is surprising that there are no specific laws guarding against this act of deceit in Singapore.

 

As such, some sellers take advantage of the situation to modify their car's odometer, to make it look younger and less used than it is.

 

While it might seem like a superficial practice to some, the truth is, winding back the clock (as the trick is known) is plain and simply cheating.

 

For the fact that cars have regular servicing intervals, having an odometer that doesn't tally with the actual usage might actually be harmful or even dangerous, as owners end up not giving the car the appropriate care as befits the car's age.

 

While it can be hard for the layman to spot odometer tampering at first glance, there are signs that one can look out for to indicate if such practices are being used.

 

On average, cars in Singapore travel about 20,000km annually. Taking that into account, one can get a rough estimate as to the proper mileage of a car being sold, using the car's age as a multiplier.

 

The condition of the car can also provide a clue. If a car with low mileage looks tatty and worn, then there is cause to raise red flags to question the validity of the claimed mileage.

 

The safest bet is of course to look for a car with all the proper records and documentation such as the mileage and servicing intervals, so that everything about the car, from whether it has been properly maintained, is noted down in black and white.

 

--> odometer adjusted is all becos nobody is willing to accept a high mileage vehicle even e car is still in tip top condition which was v well taken care by prev owner. may i ask who does't take gd care of their own car where they had paid so much money for it? even if is fully serviced at agent, but e mileage is v high, will u choose to accept e truth or accept a tamperd odometer tat attracts u more? so who's fault is to blame for adjusting of mileage to let e consumer "accept" e car?

 

Extra hidden charges

 

Like all major transactions, it is important to know what exactly one is paying for. Therefore, before you sign on the dotted line, make sure that the seller outlines every single charge that goes into the final transacted price.

 

Dealers often add an "Admin Fee" into the transaction, which is often claimed to be for the handling of paperwork such as applying for loans and insurance. While it is a common practice, it is strictly unnecessary, as dealers already make a significant profit from the cars they sell, as well as receiving commissions from bank loans as well as insurance.

 

However, if you feel that the dealer has genuinely assisted you in making the transaction painless and smooth-sailing, with no underhanded tricks, then the admin fee might serve as a sort of goodwill payment as thanks for their services.

 

I agree Admin Fee is a additional fee charges to buyers. But i dun agree tis sentence "dealers have alrdy make a significant profits from the cars they sell". Which co doesn't want to make profits? if doesn't make a profits wat's e pt of opening a co? everyone wants to buy e best condition 2nd hand cars, but does anyone ever though of how their old used cars were transformed into a beautiful showrm car aft trading them in to dealers? those tat trade in their cars most often know their cars is alrdy giving a slight prob, who will bother to fix it up since they r gng to change their car? so in e end, who's e one gng to fix it? earning ur tat few hundred bucks doesn't make them extra rich at all..

 

anyway, back to e hidden charges, if is hidden y will they bother to state on e contract "admin fee"? even u dine in restaurant u have to pay service charge, u go supermarket to buy ur stuffs u need to pay 7% gst etc.. as long u think e admin fee is reasonable & e salesman really give u a gd sales service y not?

 

Gimmicks

 

Only buy a car once you are completely comfortable with the whole experience. Sellers might pressure you into making a quick decision, but always stand firm, and resist from giving in to gimmicks that will compromise your purchase.

 

Some tricks that dealers might foist upon buyers include advertising a car at low prices but only to claim that the advertisement was a mistake when the customer approaches the dealer.

 

There are also dealers who advertise their cars for a low price, but then claim that said car has already been sold when customers approach them. These dealers will then offer a similar car but with a higher sticker price than the advertised vehicle. Always be wary of such tricks being pulled by dishonest dealers.

 

simple, this world has no free lunch, u want e cheapest car then be prepared for those underhand methods used by dealers. cos YOU r the one attracted by e cheapest car in e mkt! always do ur own homework, check out e market valuation of e car u getting. cheap stuffs don't come gd, gd stuffs not cheap.. =)

 

Blank form

 

A recent trend that has been exposed was the signing of blank forms. When applying for a loan through dealers, they might request that you to sign on a blank portion of the hire purchase form. Although this is meant to reduce the trouble for you to have to make several trips to sign papers, it is a potentially risky move. Leaving your signature on a blank piece of paper leaves the dealer to fill in whatever he wants. You might return to find that the loan amount that you had agreed with the dealer has increased due to some "administrative fees".

 

To properly safeguard yourself, never sign any blank forms. It might mean a bit of inconvenience for you to make a couple more trips, but it's better than ending up paying a lot of extra and unneeded expenses.

 

i will say only really dishonest & less reputable dealers will do such things. tat is y most smart ppl will only buy from reputable car dealers even though their cars is more exp, at least they know they r e most safe. & signing on blank form is really to help customers to save e hassle of running a few trips to get e paperworks done. time is money for most of us, rite?

 

Black and White

 

Finally, the most important and common advice of all. Always have everything declared and written down, in "black and white" as they say.

 

Anything written down is contractually bound under the law, and is final. Be sure to read the fine print of any contract before putting the pen to paper, and clarify any clauses you are unsure about, or any doubts that you might have about the transaction.

 

Make sure you agree to everything before signing off, to avoid incurring future headaches down the road.

 

Black & white is e most imprt, but be sure of wat u want for urself as well, not only just listening to wat the salesman had said to u. if u r those afraid of "this & tat" then make sure e salesman states ur clarifications on e contract b4 u signed. cos once ur signature is on tat contract, everything becomes legal. if u back out, they can sue u, likewise if they back out & decided not to sell u e car or not able to fulfill ur conds, u can sue them back.

 

Overall, always buy from reputable dealers, salesman tat u trusted or reccomendations from frens tat really had experience gd service from them. best if u have close fren tat work in tis line, cos they will nvr dare to cheat u as he/she will always meet u.

 

Thanks for your sharing.

[Yuan]

true. but dealers like pests (not all, many though), swarm direct sellers with endless calls etc... real pests... but its their business, what to do?

 

many cheats without blinking eyes so much about earning an honest living, but there are few good ones also... rare

 

entry barrier to the trade is low, very low... tom dick harry all come

 

i even knew a GP moonlighting as one when he was still in medical school.............. later after few years of medical practice, he was "de-licensed" by medical board!! maybe years of experience as car dealer has an impact on his subsequent medical practice?

 

Moonlighting is a big no no in professional practice.

[Yuan]

when you are at the dealer's place, dont look at the car you are actually interested first..... ask for other types/models and check them, even bargain (faked), then show him you are giving up and walk off... and before you leave, walking past the one you are actually interested ask casually about it... then go from there... sometimes it works, sometimes doesnt

 

This is good information.