The Wild West when it comes to an Offer To Purchase

As a cautious buyer, the 7-day, 700 km return policy and 30-day warranty initially put my mind at ease. In an industry where trust is everything, I genuinely appreciated that reassurance at first.

I viewed a VW Polo TSI at GetWorth’s showroom in Cape Town after driving from Somerset West. The salesperson, Luken, was helpful, and after a test drive and minor issues noted (roof scratches and a hatch latch), I was assured these would be resolved. By Monday, I had received an Offer to Purchase (OTP), and discussions were underway regarding an additional service plan.

While I was waiting for clarity on that service plan before signing — and was ready to make a full cash payment — I was informed the car had been sold to another buyer. I was not notified beforehand, nor was any preferential consideration given despite having been issued an OTP.

I find this troubling. One would expect that once an OTP is issued — especially for a cash deal — some form of hold or courtesy notice would apply. Otherwise, a buyer could easily transfer funds for a vehicle that’s already been sold. That is not just bad business practice; it's risky for consumers.

I’ve since seen similar reviews on HelloPeter — including cases where buyers had already paid — which suggests this may be a systemic issue. It raises questions about whether finance deals are prioritised over cash deals, but that's speculation.

To be clear, I don’t accuse anyone of dishonesty. However, the process certainly left me feeling misled and disappointed. Given other reviews referencing post-sale difficulties, I now feel I may have dodged a bullet.

I strongly recommend GetWorth review their OTP handling process to avoid further erosion of trust. I’ll be sharing this experience on Google as well and cautioning friends and contacts based on this interaction.

(Would have been 1 star but Luken did a commendable job on the sales side)