[Awareness] Misleading Car Advertisements

[Carbon82]

What is your first impression upon seeing the following advertisement, as a general public / consumer?

While I believe many seasoned buyers would expect the "from" price to be that of the lesser model (e.g. entry level trim, lower priced model, etc.), I don't think anyone would expect it to be for USED CAR!

https://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=1075337&DL=2038

https://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=1078169&DL=2213

Taking the Volvo S60 / V60 advertisement for example, anything that make it look like a used car advertisement? Used car need to "Book" and can choose to be registered (re-registered) in April meh? Wow... Wearnes Automotive and Vertex Automobile have really taken things to a new low!

There might be more ADs doing the same... beware!

[Lala81]

Dont even pay any attention to this but sounds misleading and just to get people through the door...

But wearnes advertising to me is like audiohouse for electronics. lol.

 

Edited April 4, 2022 by Lala81

[RadX]

Caveat emptor!

[Jamesc]

These car dealers are terrible.

Make some of us used car dealers look like angels.

[Benarsenal]

I thought it's a known thing what. Whenever they have these type of clearance sales usually means is management/test drive units. Not exactly brand new but their general condition is somewhat better than open market used.

Anyway that Seat only got 32km on odo so as good as new also.

[Carbon82]

I would say that the advertisement would have infringed the CPFTA, going by the clause highlighted in Red. Would sgcarmart exercises their obligation to ensure fair and truthful advertisement?

Under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act [a.k.a CPFTA], it is an unfair practice for a retailer to make false or misleading claims. Likewise, one of the general principles of the Singapore Code of Advertising Practice is that of truthful presentation.

From SCAP Chapter II ("General Principles"), Clause 5 ("Truthful presentation"):

5.1 Advertisements should not mislead in any way by inaccuracy, ambiguity, exaggeration, omission or otherwise. more specifically, advertisements should not:

1. Misrepresent any matter likely to influence consumers’ attitude to any product, advertiser, or promoter;
2. Misrepresent any information to mislead consumers into believing any matter that is not true, such as the source of the product, quality of the product, obligation (or non-obligation) in using a trial product, and others;
3. Mislead consumers about the price of goods or services;
4. Underestimate the actual total price to be paid;
5. Mislead consumers to overestimate the value or mislead consumers regarding the conditions on the terms of payment such as hire purchase, leasing, installment sales and credit sales; or
6. Mislead consumers regarding the terms or guarantee, delivery, exchange, return, repair and maintenance; and mislead consumers regarding the extent of benefits for charitable causes.

[Windwaver]

[Benarsenal]

To be fair though the ads never actually said the cars were 'new'.

[Lethalstrike]

22 minutes ago, Carbon82 said:

What is your first impression upon seeing the following advertisement, as a general public / consumer?

While I believe many seasoned buyers would expect the "from" price to be that of the lesser model (e.g. entry level trim, lower priced model, etc.), I don't think anyone would expect it to be for USED CAR!

https://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=1075337&DL=2038

https://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=1078169&DL=2213

Taking the Volvo S60 / V60 advertisement for example, anything that make it look like a used car advertisement? Used car need to "Book" and can choose to be registered (re-registered) in April meh? Wow... Wearnes Automotive and Vertex Automobile have really taken things to a new low!

There might be more ADs doing the same... beware!

I think the registered part it depends. 

If its a test drive car, it may well be true that it has never been registered before and the buyer will be the 1st registered owner. 

 

 

[ER-3682]

@Carbon82 This is called ''Marketing''.

[Carbon82]

9 hours ago, Lala81 said:

Dont even pay any attention to this but sounds misleading and just to get people through the door...

But wearnes advertising to me is like audiohouse for electronics. lol.

At least the goods sold by Audio House are brand new (maybe display set inclusive), although most are older /obsolete model, instead of 2nd hand goods.

 

9 hours ago, Benarsenal said:

I thought it's a known thing what. Whenever they have these type of clearance sales usually means is management/test drive units. Not exactly brand new but their general condition is somewhat better than open market used.

Anyway that Seat only got 32km on odo so as good as new also.

Wearnes have been advertising their Management Fleet regularly (like once every few weeks) but none as new car. The April registration is a total misrepresentation imo.

You think that Dec 2021 Seat a good deal? Wait till you see the one below. $157,777 for the same spec but 2.5 months older than that Seat unit sitting in Vertex showroom.

https://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=1079006&DL=2792

 

@Lethalstrike that S60 has already been registered in Feb 2022 (refer to the link I have shared in the first post), thus my point. Even unregistered test drive car cost >$210K (for S60).

[Lethalstrike]

9 hours ago, Carbon82 said:

At least the goods sold by Audio House are brand new (maybe display set inclusive), although most are older /obsolete model, instead of 2nd hand goods.

 

Wearnes have been advertising their Management Fleet regularly (like once every few weeks) but none as new car. The April registration is a total misrepresentation imo.

You think that Dec 2021 Seat a good deal? Wait till you see the one below. $157,777 for the same spec but 2.5 months older than that Seat unit sitting in Vertex showroom.

https://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=1079006&DL=2792

 

@Lethalstrike that S60 has already been registered in Feb 2022 (refer to the link I have shared in the first post), thus my point. Even unregistered test drive car cost >$210K (for S60).

The particular S60 may also be a courtesy car rather than a test drive car, thus the owner count is 1. Since you need a number plate to be put on the car before you can loan it out as a courtesy car.  Else, I can't think of any other reason. 

If they say April registration, can't say its a total misrepresentation as well. If its a courtesy car that has already been registered, its entirely possible that it can be registered to you right away within this month since no need bid new COE. Its effectively a used car. 

To be fair ah, they are also careful not to say its a real brand new untouched car from the stock yard in their ad. But yes, its the usual marketing gimmick to drive showroom traffic 😁 Cheap stunt but has been used to the death by many many brands. 

 

[Heartbreakid]

Great "scam". There is really no way to know if it is a used car that is selling at all.

[Mkl22]

1 hour ago, Lala81 said:

Dont even pay any attention to this but sounds misleading and just to get people through the door...

But wearnes advertising to me is like audiohouse for electronics. lol.

 

British company! 

[Tianmo]

1 hour ago, Carbon82 said:

What is your first impression upon seeing the following advertisement, as a general public / consumer?

While I believe many seasoned buyers would expect the "from" price to be that of the lesser model (e.g. entry level trim, lower priced model, etc.), I don't think anyone would expect it to be for USED CAR!

https://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=1075337&DL=2038

https://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=1078169&DL=2213

Taking the Volvo S60 / V60 advertisement for example, anything that make it look like a used car advertisement? Used car need to "Book" and can choose to be registered (re-registered) in April meh? Wow... Wearnes Automotive and Vertex Automobile have really taken things to a new low!

There might be more ADs doing the same... beware!

Did they pointed you to the links you posted when you made an inquiry?  Or you found the advertisements for the management cars in sgcarmart and assume they are the same topic? 

Edited April 4, 2022 by Tianmo

[Ct3833]

1 hour ago, Lala81 said:

Dont even pay any attention to this but sounds misleading and just to get people through the door...

But wearnes advertising to me is like audiohouse for electronics. lol.

 

you condemn 2 shops in one single short statement, but I do agree with what you said. 😃

[Tianmo]

If you responsed to the ad for a new car, but was given an alternative for an used car ( in these cases both are management cars)  the ad itself is not misleading.  

Attracting consumers (pulling) is the job of marketing, selling the product/service (pushing)  is the job of the SE.  What the SE said may or may not represent the ad.  

Some SE may get a better commission or other benefits in selling a management car over a new one,  so unless one is very sure,  it is not wise to claim an ad is misleading unless there is enough evidence. 

 

Edited April 4, 2022 by Tianmo

[Carbon82]

Picture speaks a thousand words. @Benarsenal @Lethalstrike you decide if these advertisements are misleading or otherwise...

Seat Tarraco Ad on sgcarmart

Volvo S60 Ad on sgcarmart

 

@Tianmo here's my "learning journey" to the "great discovery".   

Accompanied a friend to check out the Seat Tarraco last Friday, and the advertised price was for selected model (a total of 5 units, all registered in late Dec 2021, bearing SND 46xx to 49xx VRN - 1 x Style trim @$164,999 and 4 x Xcellence @$171,499). New car pricelist is totally different from what advertised. My friend actually said out loud "what a scam" in front of the SE and we left the showroom in less than 5 min...

Then I saw the Volvo ad on sgcarmart on Sunday and called my SE to enquire on the actual promotional price for the V60 CC which I am quite keen with. I am intelligent enough to tell that $199,999 confirm and chop NOT for the V60 CC, and was even prepared that it might be unregistered test drive car or the OCBC Cycle event car - with mileage of up to 3,000+Km, as I have been following their ad since late last year.

Little did I expect that $199,999 is for a S60 management unit registered in Feb 2022 (a loaner / courtesy car as what @Lethalstrike has pointed out earlier). I told my SE the ad is very misleading and he said he got a few complaints from his other potential customers as well, as the ad was posted under "New Car" section. So in both cases, it was from the AD / SE, not my own wild guess, nor alternative recommended by the SE.