Caterham South call back.
Discussion
BertBert said:
Has always been so. That's what happens when the cars are in demand. Crap sales people are employed. There are usually one or two good guys who know how to get a deal done with the customer feeling good about it
That's not really a good excuse for shocking customer relations. They maybe in demand but there are plenty of other places to buy, used at least. They have certainly lost me as a customer and I'm not the only one by the sound of itYour right though, he did make me feel good about spending 15K on a 15yr old supersport K with 29k miles, although not hard when buying your 1st Caterham. But how naive I was before finding a similar spec for several thou less, much newer, cleaner and 1/3 of the miles!!
Edited by Smiffy7 on Thursday 21st May 19:14
Sadly Caterham believe the strength of their product releases them from the need to provide service. They've been like it for as long as I can remember yet people still keep placing orders so nothing ever changes despite all the assurances and promises, they really don't deserve the success they seem to enjoy.
To balance this thread up a bit I dropped into Caterham South unannounced a couple of months ago to look at their green R500.
Dominic couldn't have been more helpful and I spent over an hour looking at and sitting in various cars. For all he knew I was a tyre kicker but he couldn't have been more enthusiastic and wasn't trying the hard sell. He just seemed happy to chat cars.
At the time the green R500 had already been reserved but a Lamborghini orange R500 had just arrived and waiting to be prepped before going on sale. Dominic took me into the workshop to take a look at it and I provisionally reserved the car and arranged a test drive for the following week.
In the meantime I agreed to buy a 2-Eleven from Lotus Silverstone so emailed Dominic who congratulated me on my purchase and said to look him up when I'm in the area to take one of their cars out for a drive.
Dominic couldn't have been more helpful and I spent over an hour looking at and sitting in various cars. For all he knew I was a tyre kicker but he couldn't have been more enthusiastic and wasn't trying the hard sell. He just seemed happy to chat cars.
At the time the green R500 had already been reserved but a Lamborghini orange R500 had just arrived and waiting to be prepped before going on sale. Dominic took me into the workshop to take a look at it and I provisionally reserved the car and arranged a test drive for the following week.
In the meantime I agreed to buy a 2-Eleven from Lotus Silverstone so emailed Dominic who congratulated me on my purchase and said to look him up when I'm in the area to take one of their cars out for a drive.
Again- just to balance, I arranged am appt to cc South, primarily to sort out what I wanted chassis wise etc. salesman, reception and sales manager were all excellent. My wife was VERY nervous about the embarrassment of getting in and out, but by the end she was made to feel very comfortable, and enjoyed the whole experience. We are buying her a "normal car" as well, and compared to Audi and VW dealers, cc was excellent. I now know what chassis, seats and format I want, just waiting for the funds to come up, and then will be buying from cc or sevens and classics.... I would certainly recommend them from my first visit.
ianreeves said:
I've just bought my first 7.
I also looked and didn't get any replies from Caterham. I then visited Millwood, Jon was very helpful and great. Unfortunately he just didn't have a car I liked.
In the end a phone call to Callum at S&C and I was sold !
I've had mine now for 4 weeks, very happy
Which did you go for Ian?I also looked and didn't get any replies from Caterham. I then visited Millwood, Jon was very helpful and great. Unfortunately he just didn't have a car I liked.
In the end a phone call to Callum at S&C and I was sold !
I've had mine now for 4 weeks, very happy
S
I didn't know they were doing us a favour by selling to us?Both valid points, but then again, CC is often criticised for not supporting the 7 community enough.
I wonder why they don't bother?
That aside, is all this within PH's naming and shaming policy? This isn't BlatChat remember.
bertie said:
Crossflow Kid said:
Well isn't this thread just a great way to endear the community to the company that produce the cars?
Good work troops.
Sorry, I thought we were the customers?Good work troops.
I didn't know they were doing us a favour by selling to us?
I wonder why they don't bother?
That aside, is all this within PH's naming and shaming policy? This isn't BlatChat remember.
DouglasBen said:
ianreeves said:
I've just bought my first 7.
I also looked and didn't get any replies from Caterham. I then visited Millwood, Jon was very helpful and great. Unfortunately he just didn't have a car I liked.
In the end a phone call to Callum at S&C and I was sold !
I've had mine now for 4 weeks, very happy
Which did you go for Ian?I also looked and didn't get any replies from Caterham. I then visited Millwood, Jon was very helpful and great. Unfortunately he just didn't have a car I liked.
In the end a phone call to Callum at S&C and I was sold !
I've had mine now for 4 weeks, very happy
My mate Alan collected his new Monaco SV from Caterham South yesterday & he has no complaints. Service was good & the car was prepared well.
They even fitted a new battery without being asked FOC.
He has changed the wheels to an all new design that they have just started selling, very nice!
They even fitted a new battery without being asked FOC.
He has changed the wheels to an all new design that they have just started selling, very nice!
Crossflow Kid said:
S
I didn't know they were doing us a favour by selling to us?Both valid points, but then again, CC is often criticised for not supporting the 7 community enough.
I wonder why they don't bother?
That aside, is all this within PH's naming and shaming policy? This isn't BlatChat remember.
I love the product, had 2 and likely a third soon, and one to one the guys are great face to face.bertie said:
Crossflow Kid said:
Well isn't this thread just a great way to endear the community to the company that produce the cars?
Good work troops.
Sorry, I thought we were the customers?Good work troops.
I didn't know they were doing us a favour by selling to us?
I wonder why they don't bother?
That aside, is all this within PH's naming and shaming policy? This isn't BlatChat remember.
But they're not good at call back, maybe they're a victim of their success, just very busy, but if you're the guy they don't call back it does irk.
They're not alone mind!
Same experience for me, I bought a Seven 160 fairly recently, I had taken the steering wheel off for security and just about to go for one of the cars first runs out and I couldn't get the wheel back on to its hub, I struggled for about half an hour my passenger gave up waiting, I 'phoned Caterham South to get some idea what I was doing wrong, (not that there was much you can do rightly or wrongly to put a wheel back on, but at least I thought a helping voice from CS might help), spoke to the receptionist, rhymes with Melony, she said someone would call back, no one ever did, that's after spending £23,000 with them for the car (which is a hoot by the way). I suspect that ''they'' might say to ''Melony'' or whoever is on the 'phone, ''Tell anyone who calls that we're with a customer, or in a meeting, or at lunch''(or whatever). Got the wheel back on myself eventually, I still struggle slightly with it sometimes, afraid to take it off occasionally, but a lot easier to get in the car with it off.
Similar experience the other week on another query, ''Melony'' said ''He's with a customer, I'll get him to call you back'', he didn't, after about five 'phone calls throughout that day to ''Melony'' with me complaining that no one had rung me back she did at last put me through - at about - 5pm.
Perhaps one day I'll arrive at CS, see the guy I want to talk to from a distance and me a bit out of site, see that he's free, 'phone CS reception, wait for ''He's with a customer'' then say, ''really? I'm right here and I can see he's NOT with a customer.
James, the young(ish) salesman is great - very polite, helpful, friendly and knowledgable, he deserves promotion.
Would anyone be interested in my 3 month and 2000 mile experience with the Seven 160? It won't be much of a technical review, just the thoughts of an ordinary, non mechanical guy who's living with and using the car most weeks.
Similar experience the other week on another query, ''Melony'' said ''He's with a customer, I'll get him to call you back'', he didn't, after about five 'phone calls throughout that day to ''Melony'' with me complaining that no one had rung me back she did at last put me through - at about - 5pm.
Perhaps one day I'll arrive at CS, see the guy I want to talk to from a distance and me a bit out of site, see that he's free, 'phone CS reception, wait for ''He's with a customer'' then say, ''really? I'm right here and I can see he's NOT with a customer.
James, the young(ish) salesman is great - very polite, helpful, friendly and knowledgable, he deserves promotion.
Would anyone be interested in my 3 month and 2000 mile experience with the Seven 160? It won't be much of a technical review, just the thoughts of an ordinary, non mechanical guy who's living with and using the car most weeks.
Edited by Tonythesalesman on Monday 25th May 00:46
To add some more 'customer experience'.
Ive wanted a caterham for a looonngg time but never had the cash to afford one. Times changed and I found myself in the market a Caterham but didnt know wether SV or S3 would suit. I called Caterham South and left a few messages etc for call backs which didnt happen and left me feeling like "seriously guys??! These things arent cheap, the money is sat in my wallet and you're not returning my calls?"
However I booked a day off from work and visited Caterham South, Sevens & Classics and also a private seller all in the same day. Turned out to be a great idea.
Dominic at Caterham South was incredably helpful, looking after myself and a friend for nearly three and a half hours (might be my fault he didnt call someone back.. sorry!). We got to sit in a huge number of caterhams and were shown the various options. Any questions we asked were answered fully. Had a test drive in an R400 which was great fun.
I really cant thank Dominic enough for his help as he knew I wasnt buying a car there and then, but would make a decision the next day.
The only downside was when his boss came out. I really liked a silver supersport R, and was happy to go away and think about it. Dominics boss informed me that I should make the decision really quick because they were upgrading that car to R300 spec and it would cost me another £1200 to purchase it. When I asked what the upgrades are I was told they would be applying the R300 stickers and new gear shift ball.
Really felt like we'd gone from informative friendly customer service where Id have been happy to purchase from them to YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION NOW OR ELSE FACE LOSING THIS CAR!!.
Sadly put a sour note on the day, but overall I really cant rate Dominics help highly enough.
Sevens and Classics. Unfortunately because we'd spent so much time at Caterham South we turned up about 40 mins before they closed.
Even so, Callum was very helpful and talked us through the Caterham range from his very knowledgable perspective. Id not heard a K series engine before and got to experience its wonderful burbles, cracks and pops As much as Ive raved about Caterham Souths help above, I would rate those at Sevens and Classics as high. They went the extra mile for us and are very passionate about their work.
Ive wanted a caterham for a looonngg time but never had the cash to afford one. Times changed and I found myself in the market a Caterham but didnt know wether SV or S3 would suit. I called Caterham South and left a few messages etc for call backs which didnt happen and left me feeling like "seriously guys??! These things arent cheap, the money is sat in my wallet and you're not returning my calls?"
However I booked a day off from work and visited Caterham South, Sevens & Classics and also a private seller all in the same day. Turned out to be a great idea.
Dominic at Caterham South was incredably helpful, looking after myself and a friend for nearly three and a half hours (might be my fault he didnt call someone back.. sorry!). We got to sit in a huge number of caterhams and were shown the various options. Any questions we asked were answered fully. Had a test drive in an R400 which was great fun.
I really cant thank Dominic enough for his help as he knew I wasnt buying a car there and then, but would make a decision the next day.
The only downside was when his boss came out. I really liked a silver supersport R, and was happy to go away and think about it. Dominics boss informed me that I should make the decision really quick because they were upgrading that car to R300 spec and it would cost me another £1200 to purchase it. When I asked what the upgrades are I was told they would be applying the R300 stickers and new gear shift ball.
Really felt like we'd gone from informative friendly customer service where Id have been happy to purchase from them to YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION NOW OR ELSE FACE LOSING THIS CAR!!.
Sadly put a sour note on the day, but overall I really cant rate Dominics help highly enough.
Sevens and Classics. Unfortunately because we'd spent so much time at Caterham South we turned up about 40 mins before they closed.
Even so, Callum was very helpful and talked us through the Caterham range from his very knowledgable perspective. Id not heard a K series engine before and got to experience its wonderful burbles, cracks and pops
As much as Ive raved about Caterham Souths help above, I would rate those at Sevens and Classics as high. They went the extra mile for us and are very passionate about their work.Another thumbs up for Callum at Sevens and Classics here.
Went down to see their stock and was treated well, left alone to inspect, offered coffee, all questions answered. No pressure.
When I called about one particular car a few weeks later was told it was sold, but that they would call if something suitable came in.
Next day Callum phoned me suggesting that they could do a deal on a car by re-spraying and converting to cycle wings from clams. 45mins later I was in the showroom and on a test drive with Callum. He insisted I drove it.
A couple of weeks later I picked up my lovely fully resprayed car, kept fully informed at all times, sent pictures of the paint job, they organised a custom half hood too.
When I went with a friend to pick it up (they had already offered to pick me up from local station) they spent time with him to see if he'd fit an SV... (He may well be back!)
Heartily recommend them.
Went down to see their stock and was treated well, left alone to inspect, offered coffee, all questions answered. No pressure.
When I called about one particular car a few weeks later was told it was sold, but that they would call if something suitable came in.
Next day Callum phoned me suggesting that they could do a deal on a car by re-spraying and converting to cycle wings from clams. 45mins later I was in the showroom and on a test drive with Callum. He insisted I drove it.
A couple of weeks later I picked up my lovely fully resprayed car, kept fully informed at all times, sent pictures of the paint job, they organised a custom half hood too.
When I went with a friend to pick it up (they had already offered to pick me up from local station) they spent time with him to see if he'd fit an SV... (He may well be back!)
Heartily recommend them.
I had a positive experience with Dominic when I bought my new Caterham, he was great in helping me to decide on lowered floors etc and advised on a few options I didn't need to bother with.
But thereafter, all my dealings with Caterham have been negative. I had a breakdown on the way to Le Mans when my car was just over a year old from new, the garage I got recovered to called Caterham for some technical advice, and they couldn't have been more unhelpful. I got on the phone to them and explained the situation and that I was in need of a fix to the electrical problem asap so I could make the ferry to Le Mans .... they were disinterested. Thankfully the garage found the fix themselves and I made the ferry (it turned out the electrical problem was caused by laziness by Caterham in the build of the car).
As much as I love the product, 'Caterham Cars' and 'customer service' do not belong in the same sentence.
But thereafter, all my dealings with Caterham have been negative. I had a breakdown on the way to Le Mans when my car was just over a year old from new, the garage I got recovered to called Caterham for some technical advice, and they couldn't have been more unhelpful. I got on the phone to them and explained the situation and that I was in need of a fix to the electrical problem asap so I could make the ferry to Le Mans .... they were disinterested. Thankfully the garage found the fix themselves and I made the ferry (it turned out the electrical problem was caused by laziness by Caterham in the build of the car).
As much as I love the product, 'Caterham Cars' and 'customer service' do not belong in the same sentence.
JasonRIx said:
I too left messages and nobody got back. I have to say that given that I plan to build a car myself I would need to know that were parts missing etc that I would be in good hands. It doesn't bode well.
Don't they want to sell these cars?
During my build my contact was Derek Howlett. He always answered my mails within an hour or so except when he was on paternity leave when it might take 3 or 4 on occasion. Not only for parts also clarification of the manual etc. Don't they want to sell these cars?
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