The Retail Motor Industry has hit back at claims from Which Car? that car dealers are duping customers into bad deals with “salesman’s hype”.

The report from Which?, released yesterday, explained code words used by sales executives in the showroom to describe different types of sales techniques and customers.

Sue Robinson, RMI director, said: “The suggestions made by Which? are not in the least bit consistent with a modern day franchise dealership – where professionalism and standards are key to the business.

“Furthermore, the clichés referred to are both dated and stereotypical comments, which do not, and should not, exist in 2010.”

Robinson said customers can very quickly find out the price a vehicle typically sells for along with the value of a part exchange through the internet.

She said: “Use of the internet, providing access to masses of information, ensures consumers are highly informed in respect of any type of purchase that they are proposing to make.”