WeBuyCars - ********* BUSINESS PRACTICES

CHANGED OFFER TO R10 000 LESS THE DAY BEFORE COLLECTION OF THE CAR

Appalled by ********* business practices by webuycars. On the 25th of November 2023 Smilo (Roadbuyer Durban) undertook an inspection of my vehicle and made a verbal offer of R185k, to which I accepted and verbally expressed that WeBuyCars would only be able to take the vehicle at the end of December, following purchase of my new vehicle which was in process. Later that day I received a written offer of R175k. I raised why the written offer deviated from the verbal offer but I was told that the verbal offer was merely an estimate. I wrote that this written offer was fine but would settle on a pickup date once my new car was confirmed. I subsequently used the R175k as part of the financing structure for my new car.

Smilo contacted me on the 4th of December wanting an update. I affirmed acceptance of the offer and noted that acquisition of the new vehicle was progressing.

On the 11th of December I emailed Smilo, reconfirming acceptance of the offer and that the replacement car was being arranged. On the 14th of December I emailed again to confirm pickup of the vehicle on the 30th of December. This was followed by a further email on the 28th and a Whatsapp message to confirm pickup of vehicle on the 30th and Smilo confirmed both via email and Whatsapp.

On the 29th Smilo sent a message via Whatsapp stating the offer had changed to R165k. He stated that the market had changed and that the original offer expired in 7 days (in my conversation with Lumart Kriek he said 10days - suggesting that this isn't actual policy or this is unclear within the team). This was the day before collection, and after financing of the new vehicle using the offer of R175k.

I immediately went to the Riverhorse branch to sort this out, but little could be accomplished as Smilo indicated this decision came from management whom I was unable to directly engage with.

I consider this highly ********* from WeBuyCars. How can you change the offer on the eve of collection.? At no point was I told that any offer expired after a specific time. I have subsequently found no T&Cs to that effect. If I was told that the offer could be withdrawn or altered I could have handed over the car sooner.

I contacted Lumart Kriek and customer service to state that I expect the original offer of R175k to be reinstated due to the ********* nature of the transaction and in light of the constant communication and the confirmation by webuycars that the vehicle would be collected on the 30th of December. I gave them the opportunity to rectify this situation failing which I would have to lodge a complaint and detail my experience on appropriate media platforms. Lumart said he would ask the Head of Department to consider the matter - I had to prompt him thereafter for a response and he said - "Unfortunately the offer was not valid anymore and we had to give you a new offer due to the time that passed and that the vehicle was now a year older." Keep in mind that the vehicle was exactly a month older and in the interim had a new clutch installed.

WeBuyCars has acted appallingly and I had to sell to them as it was the day before I was due to collect my new vehicle with the finance agreement based on the money I was due by WeBuyCars. The only employee who acted with professionalism in this whole matter was Zamani Nkomo from Riverhorse branch. He could not unfortunately change what had transpired.

This is a warning to all who are considering selling a car to this company. I expect the company to do the ethical thing and compensate me for my financial loss.