How do franchise dealerships work?

Posted by slb609@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 12 comments

I’m trying to buy a car. The maker’s website has a bunch of assured second hand cars, and the local dealership (which is also Arnold Clark) state that they have no access to those cars. They have 3 of them on their AC website, but I thought the point was that they could just get it transferred from another dealership. They might not make as much money, but it would still count as one of their sales. Can anyone enlighten me? The dealer who has the car is in Wales, and I’m in Edinburgh, so don’t really want to have to travel. It’s cheaper, less miles but only 5 months older. And it’s the colour we want. Anyone here a car salesman that can explain it in words I understand? My aunt who used to be in the car business says that’s how it used to work, so I figured I could use the Reddit hive mind and get a clearer answer.

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12 Comments

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tmstms@reddit

It costs money to transport a car from one place to another, so maybe that is only permitted for new cars.

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slb609@reddit (OP)

Well, yes. But they seemed happy to get any of the 3 AC cars that were all in other locations, so I don’t think it’s that.

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mrev@reddit

You’ve sort of answered the question yourself. Those three cars belong to the Arnold Clarke group. They don’t own the cars that belong to other dealerships.

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slb609@reddit (OP)

Except my aunt who used to be in the business 10 years ago suggested that they could. Further, my mate got one via Macklin Motors from another dealer a couple of years ago, so I’ll give them a call tomorrow. The reason I asked is my current experience is different from what other people are telling me so I was hoping a car salesperson would chime in. But thanks for your time anyway.

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mrev@reddit

Yeah, they can if the other dealer is willing to give the car up for less than they'd get retail and the dealership you're talking to is willing to pay the relocation fee. Anyway, good luck getting your car!

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Miserable_Mix_6253@reddit

It’s sharky - they’ll be up to no good. If it’s an approved used car just contact the dealer than has it and see if they’ll send you a video/pictures then buy remote if you want the car. If it’s approved used the warranty (double check but all MAU cars I’ve bought are like this) can get dealt with via any dealer as it’s just an extension of the current manufacturer warranty. Even sharky if you must (I’d avoid it if you can). I’d guess the dealer in wales will want ~£500 to deliver to Edinburgh off the top of my head. It was about £400 to drive my bmw from London at the end of last year and about £600 for a family members Range Rover in feb from Essex. Lots of approve used have money back timescales too - although some times only if you pick up in person.

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slb609@reddit (OP)

Arnold Clark = sharky?

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Miserable_Mix_6253@reddit

Aye - sharky by name sharky by nature in my experience. It’s a well known “nick name” certainly in my circle of friends. I’d still buy a car from them but I wouldn’t trust them to deliver or do anything for you after they got your money and I’d certainly not get any work done by them.

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slb609@reddit (OP)

Yeah - I’ll be phoning Macklin tomorrow to see if they’re more helpful.

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mrev@reddit

Think of Arnold Clarke, Lookers, etc just like Tesco, Asda, and Sainsbury’s. Tesco etc all sell Muller Corners but they are not Muller. We know that because they don’t have great big Muller signs outside. Car dealerships are retailers but, usually, of just one brand. You care about that car brand, not about Arnold Clarke or whoever, so they put the car company logo all over their stores. The stock one dealership group has is theirs. Just as you wouldn’t expect Sainsbury’s to send Muller Corners to Tesco, if Tesco were low on stock, neither would Arnold Clarke usually take stock from Lookers. Lookers wouldn’t sell it to another retailer, unless they had failed to sell it to a person, because they’d lose their margin. What is confusing, perhaps, is that the car manufacturer has listed them as approved. But all that means is Ford or whoever is happy with the quality etc of those cars. It doesn’t oblige retailers to sell stock owned by completely separate companies.

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