Car Dealerships - Another Rant
Discussion
We are looking for a 7-seater SUV (5+2 style), the shortlist includes the Peugeot 5008, the Skoda Kodiaq and the Tiguan Allspace.
Call each showroom to book a test drive.
Peugeot - call up, book the appointment, turn up on time, car ready to go and away we go. Had the usual "it's your lucky day" BS afterwards which I have no problem with, turned down the offer as I was waiting to look at the other cars.
Skoda - call up, book a test drive for 11am on a Sunday. I arrive at 11am on the dot to be told the salesman has just popped out. I wait around and the guy comes back at 11:15. Surely if you have an appointment at 11am, you wouldn't pop out at 11am?
VW - call up, told I can only test drive Monday - Friday as they don't have an Allspace there at the weekends. Initially accept this and book for a Friday, then decide it won't work for me so call back to cancel unless I can do it at the weekend. Said they would call me back to confirm, never heard anything. Call up a separate VW dealership, they say I can test drive at the weekend and they are expecting a new demonstrator in so will call to confirm, I never heard anything again. We are still yet to test drive an Allspace.
Also had a call from BMW about the finance on our X1 ending, asked her to drop me an email and I'd get back to her with a decision. She e-mailed me and I responded asking if we could take out a 2 series Gran Tourer, never heard anything again.
Do these companies not need to sell cars? I don't expect the red carpet to be rolled out, but common courtesy of being ready for appointments on time and returning calls/emails isn't too much to ask is it? I'm hardly a tyre kicker, we need a new car so will definitely be buying one at some point.
Call each showroom to book a test drive.
Peugeot - call up, book the appointment, turn up on time, car ready to go and away we go. Had the usual "it's your lucky day" BS afterwards which I have no problem with, turned down the offer as I was waiting to look at the other cars.
Skoda - call up, book a test drive for 11am on a Sunday. I arrive at 11am on the dot to be told the salesman has just popped out. I wait around and the guy comes back at 11:15. Surely if you have an appointment at 11am, you wouldn't pop out at 11am?
VW - call up, told I can only test drive Monday - Friday as they don't have an Allspace there at the weekends. Initially accept this and book for a Friday, then decide it won't work for me so call back to cancel unless I can do it at the weekend. Said they would call me back to confirm, never heard anything. Call up a separate VW dealership, they say I can test drive at the weekend and they are expecting a new demonstrator in so will call to confirm, I never heard anything again. We are still yet to test drive an Allspace.
Also had a call from BMW about the finance on our X1 ending, asked her to drop me an email and I'd get back to her with a decision. She e-mailed me and I responded asking if we could take out a 2 series Gran Tourer, never heard anything again.
Do these companies not need to sell cars? I don't expect the red carpet to be rolled out, but common courtesy of being ready for appointments on time and returning calls/emails isn't too much to ask is it? I'm hardly a tyre kicker, we need a new car so will definitely be buying one at some point.
Could be one of two things with the ones that aren't 'performing'.
Either they're screwing with you, psychologically, to weed you out or to test your desire or they're just a bit s
t.
You've got to wonder, these days, how much the dealerships really care about prospective buyers and how much of that is the buyers' fault. I can't remember the amount of times on here I've read about potential buyers, that are actually really going to be leasees, looking for test drives with a dealership's car with no real intention of buying from them and every intention of simply leasing from whichever faceless online lease company gives them the 'best deal'.
Not saying that's you, OP, mind!
Either they're screwing with you, psychologically, to weed you out or to test your desire or they're just a bit s
t.You've got to wonder, these days, how much the dealerships really care about prospective buyers and how much of that is the buyers' fault. I can't remember the amount of times on here I've read about potential buyers, that are actually really going to be leasees, looking for test drives with a dealership's car with no real intention of buying from them and every intention of simply leasing from whichever faceless online lease company gives them the 'best deal'.
Not saying that's you, OP, mind!
Not excusing them, but think about when you sell a car privately.
The time-wasters, no-shows, tyre kickers, dreamers and test pilots.
Now imagine doing that for a living and trying to organise a schedule around it.
For everyone that turns up at 1100 on the dot for their appointment, there must be 10 that don't show at all and another 10 that show up 10 mins/30mins/3 hours late.
Car dealers work on the here and now. If you're here now I can/will deal with you, if I'm not engaged with someone else.
As a considerate customer, I can only assume that you/we are in the minority.
The time-wasters, no-shows, tyre kickers, dreamers and test pilots.
Now imagine doing that for a living and trying to organise a schedule around it.
For everyone that turns up at 1100 on the dot for their appointment, there must be 10 that don't show at all and another 10 that show up 10 mins/30mins/3 hours late.
Car dealers work on the here and now. If you're here now I can/will deal with you, if I'm not engaged with someone else.
As a considerate customer, I can only assume that you/we are in the minority.
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