You can't expect someone to hold a car for you without a deposit. What if he took the car off the market and you decided for whatever reason you could not or did not want to buy the car? Or if you went to look at the car and decided against it because it had two more paint chips then you expected? Or between now and then your taste changed and this is no longer the type of car you want?
I have held cars for people before without deposits and those buyers never come through. They say they are coming to look at the car next week, but something comes up and they'll come over the following week, and then they disappear off the face of the earth. Or they finally come to look at it and try to re-negotiate the price or just leave and say "I'll think about it". Or they come and unreasonably nitpick the car to death and walk away. I will never hold a car again for anyone without a non-refundable deposit, nor would I expect someone to hold a car for me without having some of my money in their hands. If you expect someone to hold a car for you, you need to show the buyer that you are sincere-especially if he has never done business with you.
I am sure he may have other people that are seriously considering the car and what if he told someone it was sold and then you do not follow through on the deal? That would certainly not be fair to him or to the next, seriously interested buyer, or the owner of the car if it is being brokered.
I know a lot of dealers and private sellers require a 10 percent, non refundable deposit to hold a car. On a car I just purchased, the dealer asked for 10 percent deposit, of which 5 percent was refundable should I decide not to buy and I was fine with those terms. As a dealer, he probably has a standard protocol that he adheres to for selling cars, and this protocol must work for him or else he would not be in business.
At the end of the day, this is probably not the right deal or right car for you, but I am sure it will be for another buyer and I am sure you'll find another car and situation that is right for you.
I have held cars for people before without deposits and those buyers never come through. They say they are coming to look at the car next week, but something comes up and they'll come over the following week, and then they disappear off the face of the earth. Or they finally come to look at it and try to re-negotiate the price or just leave and say "I'll think about it". Or they come and unreasonably nitpick the car to death and walk away. I will never hold a car again for anyone without a non-refundable deposit, nor would I expect someone to hold a car for me without having some of my money in their hands. If you expect someone to hold a car for you, you need to show the buyer that you are sincere-especially if he has never done business with you.
I am sure he may have other people that are seriously considering the car and what if he told someone it was sold and then you do not follow through on the deal? That would certainly not be fair to him or to the next, seriously interested buyer, or the owner of the car if it is being brokered.
I know a lot of dealers and private sellers require a 10 percent, non refundable deposit to hold a car. On a car I just purchased, the dealer asked for 10 percent deposit, of which 5 percent was refundable should I decide not to buy and I was fine with those terms. As a dealer, he probably has a standard protocol that he adheres to for selling cars, and this protocol must work for him or else he would not be in business.
At the end of the day, this is probably not the right deal or right car for you, but I am sure it will be for another buyer and I am sure you'll find another car and situation that is right for you.
Last edited: