Chch to get car auctions

Press, 24 April 1980, Page 21

Chch to get car auctions

Christchurch people, dedicated auction-goers for years, will soon be able to buy cars at auction. Turners Car Auctions, which has been putting cars under the hammer in Auckland for 20 years, has established a branch in Christchurch and will hold its first auction next Fridav, Mav 2. The firm is a branch of Turners and Growers, which owns McFarlane and Growers, the wellknown Christchurch fruit and vegetable auctioneers. It will hold auctions twice a week in its 10,000 sq ft building on the corner of Lichfield and Madras streets.

Mr Stuart Clark, manager and chief auctioneer, said this week that the firm will advertise widely for cars fo'r its Christchurch sales, and expects to have between 25 and 30 up for auction each time. Vehicles auctioned on behalf of private sellers are sold in “as is, where is” condition — they do not even have tq have a Warrant of Fitness. The seller places a reserve price on his or her car, and if this is reached the car goes the highest bidder. The' seller then pays Turners commission — for a car selling for

less than $lOOO this is 10 per cent of the selling price, for cars between $lOOO and S3OOO there is a flat rate of $lOO, and ve- 1 hides selling for over $3OOO attract a rate of 4 per cent of the sale price. If a car is not sold there . is no charge. Buyers must pay in full or leave a deposit and settle by 4 p.m. on the day of the auction. Potential buyers can inspect cars up for auction from 10 a.m. on the day of the sale (which will start at 11.30 a.m.) and drive them around the block and have a mechanic inspect them at the auction room. Mr Clark said that about 60 per cent of cars offered in the Auckland auctions are sold, and prices generally are somewhere between what a dealer will offer a private seller and the current retail price. A subsidiary company. Turners Auto Traders, will also sell cars through the auction but these cars will have no reserve price — they must sell, no matter what the highest bid is.. In addition, these cars will have warranties up to Government - demanded standards for cars sold by dealers. ■ '