No problem. It’s interesting that some of these cars are offered by dealerships because when I found them I searched on “for sale by owner” listings only. So that means the sellers are being dishonest right off the bat – not a good sign. If they’re trying to hide the nature of the listing, then they are probably hiding other aspects about the car as well. I would simply cross those cars/sellers off the list.
And, yes, generally it’s advisable to avoid dealership cars if you are trying to maximize value. That’s because dealerships need to charge a markup of at least 10% in order to stay in business. But if you find a nice car at a well-reviewed shop, then you might want to overpay a little, especially if you need something right away.
Otherwise, I would suggest staying patient and eliminating any listings (dealership or not) where you find evidence that the seller isn’t being 100% truthful.
There are honest sellers out there. Sometimes it just takes a lit bit of digging to find one. Unfortunately, that’s just part of the process of buying a used car. But it’s also one of the main reasons this site exists! : )