Bit of a rant - Maserati don't want to sell cars

[col 4 door]

Not sure if this is the right section, but couldn't find an Italian section of the forum to rant in.

Just been to Maserati in Leeds. I've been toying with the idea of a Quattroporte. This is a pretty big deal for me and I really want to savour the experience.

Walked in and asked if they had any used ones in stock. Was directed to a rude salesman that didn't really want to know me at all. Granted, I was vague and am unsure of which car I want exactly.

I got very little out of the guy. I even asked if all interiors were the same because the used example was a GTS. I wondered if it had sportier seats. The rsponse I received was "they're all different". That was it.

I went over to the car and tried to open the door. I received "they're all locked". Again, that was it. I had to then ask permission to have a look inside. With a grunt, the salesman walked off, followed by a beep of central locking some time later.

I'd like to point out that I've also been to the Manchester branch, which has now given up on Maserati. They were great. They had no stock, but took the time to sit with me and run through options and ideas.

Anyone got any ideas of where would be better for me to try?

Leeds was a horrible experience.

[col 4 door]

Thing is, I have every intention of buying a Quattroporte. I just don't fully understand the exact model/spec line up yet.

If they'd been polite and the one car they had was the right one, I'd have bought it today. Hell, if they'd been polite, I'd have waited for them to get one in.

[col 4 door]

Cheers Blib. I've loitered on there a bit. Will try to get some more reading in. Just need to get to see some in the flesh and see if they suit me.

[col 4 door]

TheTurbonator said:

The garage is a Ferrari, Aston Martin, Lotus, Maserati garage all in one. Although each marque has their own section, time wasters must drift from marque to marque all the time.

I get where you're coming from, but manners are free and the place was empty. As was said above, it must be an occupational hazard (but all dealerships must get that). It could have been a nice easy sale or at least could have convinced me to use them for servicing, etc.

[col 4 door]

Tribal Chestnut said:

Best be rude to everyone then eh, just in case!

Perfectly put. Actually had a genuine giggle to that.

[col 4 door]

Motorrad said:

The good thing about this experience is that you didn't buy a car from them. Imagine what they are like once they have your money. That salesman sounds like an ignorant, jumped up prick. Also probably has an ugly wife/boyfriend who refuses to give him sex given his attitude problem.

Good point (about them having my money). Lol.

[col 4 door]

Ozzie Osmond said:

I would phone and make an appointment.

I don't really think I should have to. It's an open dealership and I went during normal sales times.

Having said that, I had to drop something off at Porsche first (they're in the same franchise and 2 minutes away). The person on the Porsche desk phoned through to check they were open for me...so, in a way, they knew I was going. Porsche Leeds were epic, by the way!

I agree with what was said above. I refuse to dress or act a certain way. It's just a car and on my days off, I will only wear jeans and t-shirts.

[col 4 door]

carl_w said:

I wouldn't be phoning up the DP and complaining. I'd be voting with my feet and going elsewhere.

Don't worry, they certainly won't be seeing me again. I have no problem with travelling the country for the right car. It's a shame for them because they've guaranteed a lost sale and I was going to use them for all the servicing.... I'm happy to give myself a few hours of extra hassle to drive somewhere else for servicing as well now.

[col 4 door]

Thing is, the sales guy asked if I'd heard of pistonheads and suggested I take a look at it.......

Hope he follows his own advice....

[col 4 door]

Just to clarify, I did go in and specifically ask for a used example....and that's the one I was trying to look at in their showroom. I didn't even venture near the new ones.

I think I'll try the specialist, mentioned above.

[col 4 door]

I was quite vague with budget, simply because I'm not sure what I need to spend. I did explain that I wanted the best built version and had seen them between 20 and 60k, but just wasn't sure where I should aim. I know that probably didn't help his attitude, bit I still don't think it's a fully valid excuse.

[col 4 door]

I'm still just not sure on budget. Will have a think and post back.

Thing is, I'd got my heart set on a duoselect, but everyone says they're awful. They just sounded like quite interesting technology. Because everyone is so against them, i think it's going to make me reassess.

I'd like to say I want the cheapest, but years of buying lemons has taught me differently. Age doesn't bother me, mileage plays a part, but history and condition are key for me. I honestly think budget may be dictated by seeing the right car. I know that probably sounds stupid, but there aren't that many to choose from, so it should be a limited variable......it's not like picking a vectra from a hay stack....

[col 4 door]

I understand that I was vague about budget, but I did quite openly say I wanted a used car and which model phase I wanted. That surely narrows prices a fair way when there are very few in the country in total.

I was openly asking for advice and had sensible queries.

Being vague is still no reason to be treated rudely.

[col 4 door]

robsa said:

Read my post for an explanation of why I said there was no excuse for his behaviour. He wasn't buying tea-bags, he was buying an aspirational and extremely expensive luxury item.

'Having a bad day' is no excuse.

Spot on.

Everyone has to start their real-world research somewhere. Classified ads don't compensate for actually going and looking for real. The dealership seemed the obvious place to start. I once wandered into a Porsche garage, saying I wanted a 911, but not sure which spec and wanted to look at some and discuss options... that was perfectly fine..... Same happened at Infiniti. Both dealers were incredibly helpful and it really helped us pick out the cars we bought.

[col 4 door]

samvia said:

Was he buying though? With absolutely no idea of budget while looking at a used car with values set over a £100,000 range and not having done a great deal of research beforehand, it doesn't sound like it.

Yes, I do understand that treating somebody right at the early stages can lead to a sale months down the line, but as others have said we're only ever going to hear one side, I'm sure the sales exec interpreted it quite differently.

I can see where you're coming from. They only had one car that loosely fitted the bill. I didn't waste much of his time on it though. I was open about being at the start of the road to picking the car. He said they were rare and they only got two or three in per year. I even asked if he'd email details of them to me when they came in. He said he didn't want to waste his time. I even reminded him that if they only got two or three in per year, it would only be two or three emails.

He did talk to us for a little while after this and seemed to warm slightly (when I said I wouldn't bother him with my contact details and would go elsewhere). He even picked out a couple of classifieds that might suit me from specialists he liked.

Overall, I'm certainly not saying I was the ideal customer, or even a particularly good one. I only popped in because I was in the area and I've decided I want a QP. I'm just saying it was an unpleasant experience and I shan't be going back.

I didn't intend for such a long thread. Just wanted a quick rant about a bad dealership experience and some advice about other places I could try. Thanks to those that gave some ideas. Will have a look when time allows.

[col 4 door]

The guy was rude, but warmed slightly, to become slightly less rude, when I said I'd just go elsewhere.

Perhaps I should have quoted the entire dialogue in my original post, but at the time, I had just left the place and the "highlights" were still spinning in my head. The whole event was about 15 minutes.

Other places I've been to have just simply been nicer and significantly more welcoming.

[col 4 door]

FalconWood said:

Hi. I do not believe that Manchester necessarily gave up on the brand, it has been taken over by Bowker Ribble Valley in Osbaldeston and they are a very good set of unpretentious guys there

When speaking with them, they said they were giving up maserati, so that they could focus on ferrari because their showroom was too small. Sorry, wasn't implying anything bad there. They were brilliant when I visited, but just didn't sell the cars I wanted to look at.

[col 4 door]

Thanks for the tips and suggestions. Will look at the forum and try other dealers/specialists.