Test Pilots & Time Wasters
Discussion
Suppose you're right!
Gearne racing cycle shoes (£159.00, I'd just been for the Sat morning cycle)
Top(ish) of the range Polar heart monitor..
Hopwever; long greasy hair, sweaty cloths, beer gut and a northern accent (in Bristol).
Not even a condescending eyebrow (though much amusement as i skated accross the showroom with me shoes!!)!
Bought a griff off them a couple of weeks later..
Gearne racing cycle shoes (£159.00, I'd just been for the Sat morning cycle)
Top(ish) of the range Polar heart monitor..
Hopwever; long greasy hair, sweaty cloths, beer gut and a northern accent (in Bristol).
Not even a condescending eyebrow (though much amusement as i skated accross the showroom with me shoes!!)!
Bought a griff off them a couple of weeks later..
quote:
Just to add to the scruffs in crap cars... when I was in the market to buy my Chimaera, I paid a visit to a certain dealer that is no more in the South of Brum. Turned up in my old Citroen BX TD - distinctly off white in colour. The sales man looked me up and down, "TVRs are VERY powerful sir," he sneered...
I bought elsewhere and oh, they went bust
Same happened to me when buying my Beemer, was pondering whilst painting the ceiling on a sat morning, decided to jfdi and shot down to the dealer near Aylesbury, only to be ignored and insulted by the snipe in the sharp suit. Walked into the dealer principals office, asked him just how important was £35K to his dealership and explained why he wouldn't be getting my cash!
I of course waited and took a cup of copy to observe the summons into the boss' office.
Bought via the internet two weeks later from the most genuine car salesman I'd ever come across, 300 miles away in York!
As for selling, whilst I understand their need for a test drive I would only offer one if they had another TVR, or had extensively researched the car beforehand, but it boils down to a judgement call.
Main Dealers can be good, when I first decided TVR was the way to go after racing loads of you nutters on the way back from LM one summer, I walked into Walldonways in Maidstone and said "I ride bikes but am growing up and want a car that gives me the same buzz. I've tried a Caterham and can't fit in them, and the blokes in TVR's in Le Mans seemed a good bunch so whats it all about" I then got a good hour being shown all the models and told about them before both me and Mrs Mel were taken out on back to back test drives in a Griff, after all this when sat at the salesman's desk expecting the next move of closing the sale I asked "so lets have a look at the porfolio of what you've got at the moment" he shut the book smiled and said "No you've had a look now, you know what you like and what you don't go away have a think and if it's right for you come back and we'll have a closer look" That to me was a top sales pitch as it simple said we only sell these if there right and you can trust us. So what did I do ??? Went away and bought one privately for less money 
but it always went to them for service so they got some return, Oh yes and if I do hold off the temptation and get a spanking new one at the end of the year they will certainly get that sale.
but it always went to them for service so they got some return, Oh yes and if I do hold off the temptation and get a spanking new one at the end of the year they will certainly get that sale.
'I will never buy a BMW from you or any other dealer because of the utter contempt that you paid me while I was at your premises... as a result I will never buy a BMW... Went to visit a Merc dealer about 18 months ago - completely different. Very accomodating and very nice chaps. Didnt buy a car, but always very helpful. Total contrast to BMW...... I wonder how many other people have done the same.'
My experience is exactly the reverse - BMW dealers excellent no matter what, Mercedes dealer not interested unless you smell of money. A friend of mine earns maybe £100K/year but dresses like a heavy metal fan (well actually he is!). When ignored at the Merc dealer he took all of his imposing 20-stone up to the desk, told them he earned four times as much as they did and that he wanted some damn service NOW!
My experience is exactly the reverse - BMW dealers excellent no matter what, Mercedes dealer not interested unless you smell of money. A friend of mine earns maybe £100K/year but dresses like a heavy metal fan (well actually he is!). When ignored at the Merc dealer he took all of his imposing 20-stone up to the desk, told them he earned four times as much as they did and that he wanted some damn service NOW!
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Unsuprisingly then they couldnt do enough for me. Seeing as I was completely pi**ed of by this point I thought that I would string them along. Anyway, sales guy keeps calling me to follow up. Eventually the sales manager starts calling me - so I give it to him with the full two barrels - "I will never buy a BMW from you or any other dealer because of the utter contempt that you paid me while I was at your premises. Nothing, not a dicky bird - you cannot treat customers like this". Unsuprising the sales manager was very appologetic and could do enough for me - But, as a result I will never buy a BMW - sad but true.....
t all around.
I had exactly the same with a beamer dealership in west london located near a big roundabout with a pug dealership on it......I just walked away.....
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I was thinking of changing my 321bhp M roadster for a TVR. Had never driven one. So I went to my local dealer in a town well known for a rowing event to arrange a test drive. They couldn't have been more difficult. The response was 'our preference is that you decide specifically which of our second hand models you wish to purchase, then we will allow you to drive it'. I replied that I would not know whether a TVR was for me without driving one and thus could not decide specifically which car I wished to purchase. To which he responded 'Well sir, we have rather more people interested in test drives than actually buying the vehicles, and I'm not being rude, but are you accustomed to the power'. He already knew what I drove.
Yeah I have had the same problems with this dealer (on a number of different occasions with different people), I really don't know how they manage to stay in business with an attitude like that, funny because I am now an RO for the car club..............
Cheers
LeeBee
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Yeah I have had the same problems with this dealer (on a number of different occasions with different people), I really don't know how they manage to stay in business with an attitude like that, funny because I am now an RO for the car club..............
Cheers
LeeBee
Living in the same region as LeeBee I've had a couple of experiences with this lot.
When I first wanted a TVR I went to look at a V8S they had in. The salesperson was helpful and spent time talking to me, explaining the history (local car) but she seemed to be pushing me towards a newer model as 'they didn't really deal in old cars'. I looked at a few elsewhere as I had wanted a V6 S3 and when I went back it had been sold.
I asked about servicing when I got the S3 and they said they were the only place for miles around capable of servicing my car and then rubbished every other place I had heard of. When I took it in with a minor glitch they tried to charge me 2 hours labour to tell me they couldn't find the problem! I took it to Steve Howard who told me what it was it five minutes and fixed it in another 15 whilst I had a cup of tea. Guess where my cars are serviced.
Lastly when I sold the S3 I went to look at a Griff 400 they had in stock (someone off here traded it I believe). I had a good look round it, dealing with the owner, and asked for a test drive and a trade in price. He said he couldn't offer me a trade in as they hadn't been servicing my car and would have to move too many cars to get the Griff out - BUT - if I wanted to pay a deposit they may be able to offer me a drive in two days time!!
If the Tamora urge is ever met with a divorce settlement I'm off to TMS.
Cheers,
JSG
quote:
'Well sir, we have rather more people interested in test drives than actually buying the vehicles, and I'm not being rude, but are you accustomed to the power'. He already knew what I drove.
I have had dealings with said dealer as well, but what they should realise when saying things as totally arrogant as this is that there are plenty of other TVR dealers willing to provide all the help they possibly can. I'm tied in with them currently but as soon as that time is up I will be ordering my next new TVR from anyone but this lot.
Matt.
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