CarCraft Leeds & Bradford Car Supermarket

Now, this place is huge. You can prominently see it from the M62, emblazened with WE STOCK OVER 1500 USED CARS display. It looks impressive, and can be seen on the Yorkshire Weather report on Yorkshire TV as proud sponsors.

It took me a while to fathom out how to get in to this place. I headed down the hill towards M621, to be greeted with a sign which read 'CAR CRAFT OF LEEDS - TURN AROUND!' Which i thought was fun - and informative!! I turned around, and got on the right path - Heading down the A650 towards Bradford. You turn Right about half a mile along, and go through an office complex. On approach to the supermarket, you have to stop at a toll booth,and they ask if you're visiting or collecting. They direct you to the appropriate bays to park in, and and give you a pen (which i never hand back!!) and a questionaire to complete on how Carcraft can improve.

It all seems very systematic, and i didnt feel like i was really in control of what i wanted to do. I was told where to park, told where the entrace was, Pounced upon by a sales rep who wasn't really bothered about who i was, and who i knew was going to be a pain in the rear until the time i got out of this place. I made it clear that i didnt want to buy anything that day - and i would reccomend any one going there to say the same thing, as otherwise they will not leave your side.

I browsed their extensive range of cars. It really is very impressive. It is all mapped out into small, medium and large car sections, which helps - as long as you know the difference!! Ford Focus' are medium cars apparently, and i was looking in the 'large' section.

HANDY HINT : If you see the car salesman who greeted you on the way in looking around as though looking for something - HIDE. go to the nearest car, and sit in it so as they cannot see you. They will be looking for you - you can mark my words. If you sit in something and they haven't spotted you, there's a greater chance of being left alone. This tried and tested technique has worked many a time.

The overall quality of the cars on display is good. If you want to test drive a vehicle, or selection of vehicles, they are more than happy to help. I have visited the Leeds 'market several times now, and have tested about 7 cars. Every time i have done so, i haven't got the impression that it's a chore.

The vehicles are excessively over priced. This is a huge down side to them. An over-share on behalf of a sale-hungry rep let me have the handy tool of knowing that all the cars have been valued, then had the price on the window upped by £1400.00. If you ever go there, Don't let them put you off by 'we dont have a lot of profit margin to play with', because yes - they do. Stick to your guns,and play them, in the same way that they play their customers.

There is a coffee shop for those who want refreshment on their day of car hunting. This is a lethal place to go if your avoiding your salesman, as they all congregate here to have a ciggy. They'll have you then, and they won't let you go!!!

In review - It is a great place to come and find any car you want. On the negative side of things, it's not so good if you want the freedom to choose where to go or what to do, or if you're actually buying a car - you'll need a bigger loan than you thought, if Carcraft have it there way.