Jump to content
SAU Community

Recommended Posts

ok this has happened to 2 of my friends in the past 6 months ... in the process of finding themselves a car, they put a deposit on a car which they thought they liked only to find something better. now what happened afterwards just made me feel angry yet frustrated at the same time ... the car dealers which are pretty big and well known refused to give back their deposites saying they had to buy the car or something like that. 1 has got her money back and the other is still in the process ... the girl i know signed a form but was told that she could get it back but after she requested it back she had to go through all this BS ... is this normal policy for car dealers?? ever since i bought my car which is about a year ago and now having a good knowledge about cars and the car industry in general i would have to say that generally if u work in the car industry selling and maintenance wise you'll turn out to be a low life or the words customer service don't turn up in your dictionary... thats all i can say according to my experiences.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/25522-deposits-for-cars/
Share on other sites

If you put a deposit down, and its actually signed, written on paper and things, then i am pretty sure there is no legal requirement to give the deposit back if the sale falls through. They have every right to keep the deposit if you "find something better". That is your problem.

If you weren't pretty definite in buying the car you should NEVER EVER put down a deposit. If you go for something else for whatever reason, the seller has every right to keep the deposit.

While frustrating as it may be, also look at from their perspective. If they "put aside" every car for a buyer that walzes in and says "i'll take it, but I don't have any money right now" then they would have a heck of a lof cars sitting there and wasting potential sale time if they have to resell it. That takes time and effort.

Its no different to a private sale. I have refunded a deposit to a young guy before, but only coz i felt a bit sorry for him - I wasn't too happy about it, and I probably wouldn't do it again.

I don't see how they can be complaining... and well women who buy with their heart rather than their brain well doesn't suprise me. But that doesn't give them the right to get their deposit back.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/25522-deposits-for-cars/#findComment-542286
Share on other sites

Hippy, I used to work in the used car industy - I got out because there were too many cases where people didnt even leave a deposit and were held to contracts - basically the ploy was that to see if you could get the finance, just sign the form.

Once finance was approved, the car was sold - cut and dried, because the paperwork had been signed and it is a legally binding contract.

I do believe that it is fair if you leave a deposit, then change your mind that the deposit is forfeight. It might piss you off if you see something nicer, but as pointed out, if someone else wants to buy the car but doesnt because it is potentially 'sold' (the deposit has been put down) then car yards would go out of business.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/25522-deposits-for-cars/#findComment-542484
Share on other sites

Hippy,

Mate as far as I know (my wife is in the legal field) a deposit is a legally binding arrangement between a buyer and seller.....esp. if there is signed paperwork involved. If the buyer never comes back the seller keeps the deposit (compensation for turning people down) and in turn if the seller sells the item to someone else after you have put a deposit down, the seller is legally obligated to provide you with the same item at the same cost as what was agreed to.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/25522-deposits-for-cars/#findComment-542508
Share on other sites

Agreeing on a price and leaving a deposit constitutes the formation of a legally enforceable contract.

They could actually take you to court for not buying the car if they could be bothered, and sue for the difference if they ended up having to sell the car cheaper.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/25522-deposits-for-cars/#findComment-542513
Share on other sites

well what happened was the girl got her money back in the end but my other friend is havin a little trouble get his back ... it just doesn't seem fair to me thats all ... but he didn't even sign any forms and got his mate to do it for him ... so i'm not too sure what happens there ...

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/25522-deposits-for-cars/#findComment-542618
Share on other sites

hippy, I think legally it is upto the dealer.....if he/she wants to be a real prick about it they are under no obligation to give it back........esp. without any paper work to go with it......did your mate even get a receipt for the deposit?

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/25522-deposits-for-cars/#findComment-542636
Share on other sites

well i think of it like this ... if u go to the shop and u buy something... u can then return it unused and get all your money back right?? whereas this is just a deposit ... u haven't even got the thing ... he wouldn't have put the deposite down if he wasn't honestly interested in it ... thats all i'm saying ... if u compare it to anything else u buy anywhere ... clothes , books etc ... it doesn't really compare ...

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/25522-deposits-for-cars/#findComment-542766
Share on other sites

we didnt put a deposit down until we found the car we wanted

we stopped looking after we found it so had no such problems

the only reason we put the deposit down was so that no one could steal the car away while we organising our finances

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/25522-deposits-for-cars/#findComment-542671
Share on other sites

Originally posted by hippy

well what happened was the girl got her money back in the end but my other friend is havin a little trouble get his back ... it just doesn't seem fair to me thats all ... but he didn't even sign any forms and got his mate to do it for him ... so i'm not too sure what happens there ...

As Brody said, what's the point in the deposit if you can just change your mind and get it back? If that were possible, it seems like a big waste of time and effort to hand over the money in the first place.

I'm not really sure how you think it's unfair, because this is the whole point of the deposit. To compensate the seller if the buyer doesn't end up buying it. I can sympathise, but it's just business. It's a buyer's market anyway, your friend shouldn't be hung up over a small deposit (unless it was a couple of grand). He should be able to find a nice enough car and bargain down what he lost and then some.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/25522-deposits-for-cars/#findComment-542675
Share on other sites

the people arnt low lifes, thats there job description to be like that, you want them to say dont worry about a deposit, here u take the keys so we cant sell it to somebody else, oh do you need a courtesy car untill u decide if u want the car, there job is to sell the car, ofcoarse their going to be ruthless, thats their job, no job, no money, think next time, their trying to sell u the car especially when uve got some many places to go and get one, different story if its something rare, like 10 in the world

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/25522-deposits-for-cars/#findComment-543515
Share on other sites

a deposit is an intent to buy the car...i don't know the legal side of it....but really, if you put a deposit down and then "find something better" that's your bad luck i reckon. Don't put a deposit down unless you actually are planning on buying the car! That's the whole point of them! It holds the car for you while you organise a mechanical inspection, a bank cheque, and shit like that...

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/25522-deposits-for-cars/#findComment-543524
Share on other sites

You can always put on your deposit receipt - "Subject to satisfactory mechanical inspection" or something like that - that should cover your own ass if you are a bit worried. Although again that would be open to interpretation as to what is "satisfactory"

Even if you have paid a deposit, or signed a finance agreement - in the end you still have a legal 3 day cooling off period that is, for whatever reason you like you can decline to take the car.

p.s. For Victorians here is a nice little site about your rights and obligations as a consumer when buying a car:

http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/cbav/fairsi...f/pages/of_cars

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/25522-deposits-for-cars/#findComment-543618
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • Per Mark Roberts of Sonictune: Mark Robert Author At this time, no. No ETA either 2016-17 models. You will be able to purchase and install a 2018.5+ TCU though   TCU purchasing and pricing info! As we near the release of TCU tuning, I am going to answer some questions I get asked often.   What do I need for TCU tuning? At this time, you will need a 2018.5+ TCU to be able to tune. If you have a 2016-to early 2018, you will need to replace your TCU with the newer version. One good way to know if your TCU is good is if you have auto upshift in manual mode in 1st gear around 6500 rpms. If your manual 1st gear goes to 7k rpm and will hit the rev limiter unless you shift, you have the older TCU.   Why do I need to buy another ecu license/phone flash if I already have it on my ECU tune? The TCU is its own computer module. It is completely separate from the ECU. Because of this, you will be required to purchase a TCU license and, if your tuner has it, the phone flash license required to tune it via phone/bluetooth.   Do I need TCU tuning? TCU tuning is NOT required. However, the faster your setup, the more it will assist in track and dragy time consistency.   If I’m ECU tuned by (tuner A) can I get my TCU tuned by (Tuner ? Yes, since it’s a different module and a completely separate flash, you can have two different tuners. However, it is highly recommend that you have both tuned by the same tuner. For me, my TCU tuning will directly complement my ECU tuning style and features and running my ECU and another TCU or vice versa MIGHT cause some issues. At this time and for the foreseeable future, I will only be tuning my current ECU tuned customers TCUs.     I have a SYVECS AWD controller. Do I still need it? Yes! The AWD controllers main job is to control your AWD system. However, with TCU tuning, you will no longer need the auto-shift function as that will be done through the TCU. The AWD controller will still be very beneficial for racers looking to maximize traction on the launch.     Shift schedule changes: holding gears longer at lower pedal input as well as max shift rpm changes. Please note, the new ECU race rom coming out will address 90% of the shitty drivability issues these cars have through custom maps from myself and Racebox—as well as others I am sure.   Increase shift speeds: as seen in the videos I’ve been posting, the TCU shifts much faster once tuned.   Increased shift pressures: as also seen in the videos, much firmer full throttle shifts.      
    • Per Mark Roberts of Sonictune:     Mark Robert Author At this time, no. No ETA either 2016-17 models. You will be able to purchase and install a 2018.5+ TCU though   TCU purchasing and pricing info! As we near the release of TCU tuning, I am going to answer some questions I get asked often.   What do I need for TCU tuning? At this time, you will need a 2018.5+ TCU to be able to tune. If you have a 2016-to early 2018, you will need to replace your TCU with the newer version. One good way to know if your TCU is good is if you have auto upshift in manual mode in 1st gear around 6500 rpms. If your manual 1st gear goes to 7k rpm and will hit the rev limiter unless you shift, you have the older TCU.   Why do I need to buy another ecu license/phone flash if I already have it on my ECU tune? The TCU is its own computer module. It is completely separate from the ECU. Because of this, you will be required to purchase a TCU license and, if your tuner has it, the phone flash license required to tune it via phone/bluetooth.   Do I need TCU tuning? TCU tuning is NOT required. However, the faster your setup, the more it will assist in track and dragy time consistency.   If I’m ECU tuned by (tuner A) can I get my TCU tuned by (Tuner ? Yes, since it’s a different module and a completely separate flash, you can have two different tuners. However, it is highly recommend that you have both tuned by the same tuner. For me, my TCU tuning will directly complement my ECU tuning style and features and running my ECU and another TCU or vice versa MIGHT cause some issues. At this time and for the foreseeable future, I will only be tuning my current ECU tuned customers TCUs.     I have a SYVECS AWD controller. Do I still need it? Yes! The AWD controllers main job is to control your AWD system. However, with TCU tuning, you will no longer need the auto-shift function as that will be done through the TCU. The AWD controller will still be very beneficial for racers looking to maximize traction on the launch.     Shift schedule changes: holding gears longer at lower pedal input as well as max shift rpm changes. Please note, the new ECU race rom coming out will address 90% of the shitty drivability issues these cars have through custom maps from myself and Racebox—as well as others I am sure.   Increase shift speeds: as seen in the videos I’ve been posting, the TCU shifts much faster once tuned.   Increased shift pressures: as also seen in the videos, much firmer full throttle shifts.      
    • The fancy pants red shock tower brace is finally incoming from MX5 Mania, getting it shipped from 'Merica has been a long and problematic process, and GWR, the 'Merican supplier will not ship directly to consumers outside of the US, Mania basically had to order a heap of them, the colour choice was silver, or red, and we all know anything red adds 5 killerwasps of dynotorques..... Whilst it does fit over a 2.5, and I've seen a few photos and videos of it being installed and fitting, google also says it might get real close to the FAB9 intake front runner, people in the US says it does fit with the FAB9 intake, except for one person who said it slightly touched.......so there is that.....LOL..... As it seems that I am the first in AU to have this combination of parts there's no local knowledge about fitment, so I'm just a willing guinea pig in this endeavour, I'll cross my fingers and toes and hope for the best In other news, I ordered stuff from China  on the same day I ordered the 23° silicone bend from Victoria, the stuff from China arrived a day ago, the 23° silicone bend is still travelling around Australia thanks to Australia Post, and "may" be here next week
    • Very good news...I contacted Racebox about it last night. My car is a 2016 so remains to be seen if it is compatible, requires a TCU swap, or is impossible.
    • What ECU are you running? This is probably the biggest question. If it's a PowerFC, I'd probably change the ECU and get something newer that will handle the injectors in a nicer way.
×
×
  • Create New...