THE PRICES OF USED CARS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22904, 11 June 1936, Page 10

THE PRICES OF USED CARS

TO THE EUITOII

gtu —As I expected, my letter has provoked an hysterical outburst from one who knows something of tte used-car business— namely, “Wake Up —and 1 am sorrv to soo liis arguments a\e bo futile. But, still, when one is making a defence for a very weak case, and the defence is nil, one has only abuse ot bis opponent to resort to. In that respect “ Wake Up ” acted as I expected, 1* tom his letter emerged one contention, which •I shall deal with. Wake Up sajs that these 10-year-old models advertised at £SO and much over have scores of unused miles in them. I ask the man in the street to visit a few garages and hud lor himself how many of these cars have done a small mileage. Wake Up, of course, knows that his contention is not true, but an assertion in print always looks well, even if it cannot be backed no bv fact. No. if by any chance one ot these" cars has done only a small mileage that is the first thing the agent states m his campaign, and he adds that that gives the car great value. So, instead of the 10-yenr-old model being away down in the fifties the small mileage puts another £SO or so on to its value, and the pnee soars over the hundreds. W ake Up knows only too well that I am showing that the used-car business could do vyitb a little scrutiny, and naturally lie does not like the idea. Should the agent give the purchaser a fair deal, nothing mot need be said, but as things are now much more can be said on the subject. I am, etc.,