David Robson (TVR Owner)?
Discussion
Hi
I'm trying to trace the former owner of a TVR I want to buy. I just want a quick chat to make sure the car and mileage is genuine.
His name is David Robson from around the Henley on Thames region. I know he is still a TVR owner so hoped somebody on here (or even Mr Robson himself) might be able to mail me off lie so I can supply a number to call me on.
I tried calling Henley Heritage who are the supplying dealer of this car and Mr Robson's new car and also where ALL the service history was undertaken. They REFUSED to pass on my details telling me that they "were in the business of selling their *own* cars".
(What they are clearly not in the business of is building customer relationships! Guess where my next decade of TVR servicing is not going to be.)
Thanks
Marco
>>> Edited by marco on Thursday 18th April 21:03
I'm trying to trace the former owner of a TVR I want to buy. I just want a quick chat to make sure the car and mileage is genuine.
His name is David Robson from around the Henley on Thames region. I know he is still a TVR owner so hoped somebody on here (or even Mr Robson himself) might be able to mail me off lie so I can supply a number to call me on.
I tried calling Henley Heritage who are the supplying dealer of this car and Mr Robson's new car and also where ALL the service history was undertaken. They REFUSED to pass on my details telling me that they "were in the business of selling their *own* cars".
(What they are clearly not in the business of is building customer relationships! Guess where my next decade of TVR servicing is not going to be.)
Thanks
Marco
>>> Edited by marco on Thursday 18th April 21:03
quote:
I tried calling Henley Heritage who are the supplying dealer of this car and Mr Robson's new car and also where ALL the service history was undertaken. They REFUSED to pass on my details telling me that they "were in the business of selling their *own* cars".
HH just don't seem to get it do they?
I bought from HH and whilst I have no major problem with the service that I got, there was no sense of being "in the club....and see you at your next service". I infer from PH that there are other dealers that are more "in the club" and thus more likely to attract repeat business. It is likely that I will give my next franchised service to a dealer nearer Cambs because they were very helpful and saved me some money through some advice given. Isn't it all about personalities??!!
quote:
Marco, are you actually buying the car from them? if so walk away if they are that unhelpful.
No I'm buying privately but as I said this car was bought new from them and was service there it's whole life. The original owner upgraded to a new Griff at HH which is also (I believe) serviced there.
I thought a lot about whether my asking was an unreasonable question but how much harm would it have done to give me 30 seconds assistance? I might have felt inclined to visit there if this deal falls through or service the car there if I do buy it.
I'm in marketing too but this seems just such a self defeating attitude! Oh well - off to Peninsula for some manners and 50% off!!
Marco
(Rod - thanks for the number)
>> Edited by marco on Friday 19th April 00:00
quote:
Marco
Why don't you drop HH a line, fax or email telling 'em your thoughts and how they should be employ you as their marketing man!
Mind you, probably a waste of time with them.
Well, I guess its up to them what they tell "timewasters" on the phone. Also I haven't bought a car or been a service customer of theirs in the past - Not that they knew that of course as they didn't ask me!
Marco
quote:
Marco
Why don't you drop HH a line, fax or email telling 'em your thoughts and how they should be employ you as their marketing man!
Mind you, probably a waste of time with them.
I don't live anywhere near HH so have no view personal view on them at all (I also don't think they should have been named in this case).
However the above seems the most reasonible to me, it is very easy to phone any business and get a brush off by one person, there may be a 1000 reasons from they want you off the phone to go for a piss, to being busy, to of had a row with the Mrs that morning, or even just being bloody rude and un caring. What I would say is that written communiction works much better it sits on a desk and gets dealt with (or binned) at leasure. If you draft a well worded request stating the vehicle details and that the previous owner appears to be one of their loyal customers, and that you may follow in his footsteps if you get a favourable response to your request, any business would be bloody idiots to ignore this. Even if they write back and say they have past a copy of your letter on and your hear FA you'd think better of them.
Marco
I'm not sure you have the right to expect anything from HH on this one. From where they stand you could be a car thief with an order in your books for a beautiful TVR specced up just like Mr Robsons. Or maybe you're an ingenious burglar looking for details of people who can afford expensive cars. Like you say, you've never had any dealings with them so why should they trust you?
I certainly wouldn't want a dealer, with whom I delt a number of years previously, giving my details out to Joe Public, regardless of the reason.
Maybe the way forward is to try Directory Enquiries for the region round HH, your old buyer might come up. I'm guessing he was not the last registered keeper otherwise you'd be able to ask for his details from the log book... Any decent seller would have no problem giving you this kind of info.
Anyhow, good luck with the car. Let's hope you have the sound of twin popping exhausts in your ears soon.
AF
I'm not sure you have the right to expect anything from HH on this one. From where they stand you could be a car thief with an order in your books for a beautiful TVR specced up just like Mr Robsons. Or maybe you're an ingenious burglar looking for details of people who can afford expensive cars. Like you say, you've never had any dealings with them so why should they trust you?
I certainly wouldn't want a dealer, with whom I delt a number of years previously, giving my details out to Joe Public, regardless of the reason.
Maybe the way forward is to try Directory Enquiries for the region round HH, your old buyer might come up. I'm guessing he was not the last registered keeper otherwise you'd be able to ask for his details from the log book... Any decent seller would have no problem giving you this kind of info.
Anyhow, good luck with the car. Let's hope you have the sound of twin popping exhausts in your ears soon.
AF
quote:
(Rod - thanks for the number)
Hi Marco, if you're in the Surrey area I can highly recommend you get your car serviced at Rods place ! He looked after my Griffith and both my Tuscans and I always got superb service.
Cheers for all your help in the past Rod. Having not replaced the Tuscan with a Cerbie 4.5LW I've unfortunately now passed over to the 'dark side' and pick up the following car tomorrow (can't wait). Just a thought but you haven't thought of going into a Caterham franchise/service department have you?
cheers,
Mike.
New toy? >>> www.caterham.co.uk/gallery/hires/r300_c.jpg
quote:
... I also don't think they should have been named in this case
I only mentioned this as the reason I'm asking you guys for help locating the previous owner rather than doing the obvious thing and calling the supplying dealer!
Sorry if this caused any offence - I know nothing about this dealer other than my 15 second experience with them yesterday and made absolutely no comment on their expertise or abilities. No name/shame intended or executed I hope, just stating that they were unable to help me!
OK?
Marco
>> Edited by marco on Friday 19th April 12:06
yeah sorry about that - thing is the only picture available is the publicity shot of the new R300 (which is really a mock-up using my car) on the Caterham website (so that's the link I put in)
sorry
PS I've just looked again and it looks like Teds sorted out my balls up - cheers Ted.
>> Edited by MikeE on Friday 19th April 14:21
sorry
PS I've just looked again and it looks like Teds sorted out my balls up - cheers Ted.
>> Edited by MikeE on Friday 19th April 14:21
When I was investigating buying my car from a TVR dealer the following happened:
1) I wanted to speak to the previous owner, but forgot to note down his name from the V5 when I was at the showroom. The saleman refused to give me these details over the phone. They did eventually contact the guy themselves and got his ok for me to phone him at home. So I got there in the end.
2) The car was supplied new and serviced throughout its life by a dealer 8 miles from my house. I telephoned them to get more details of the service history of the car (this was after I had paid a deposit on it). I wanted to know if it was still on the original clutch and if it had ever had any major mechanical or bodywork repairs. They refused point blank to help me, hid behind the data protection act (even though I said I wanted NO information whatsoever about any of the two previous owners) and gave me a grilling about why I wasn't buying a car from them.
The Data Protection Act thing is rubbish. Are they seriously suggesting that if a TVR dealer phones another TVR dealer to check when the brake fluid was last changed, the law prevents them from sharing this information?
It wasn't quite the friendly, helpful TVR welcome I had been expecting...
I went back in there after getting the car and mentioned I had been less than pleased about this treatment. I had a call back from them earlier this week and am just about to call back - so you never know - I might get some more info yet....
1) I wanted to speak to the previous owner, but forgot to note down his name from the V5 when I was at the showroom. The saleman refused to give me these details over the phone. They did eventually contact the guy themselves and got his ok for me to phone him at home. So I got there in the end.
2) The car was supplied new and serviced throughout its life by a dealer 8 miles from my house. I telephoned them to get more details of the service history of the car (this was after I had paid a deposit on it). I wanted to know if it was still on the original clutch and if it had ever had any major mechanical or bodywork repairs. They refused point blank to help me, hid behind the data protection act (even though I said I wanted NO information whatsoever about any of the two previous owners) and gave me a grilling about why I wasn't buying a car from them.
The Data Protection Act thing is rubbish. Are they seriously suggesting that if a TVR dealer phones another TVR dealer to check when the brake fluid was last changed, the law prevents them from sharing this information?
It wasn't quite the friendly, helpful TVR welcome I had been expecting...
I went back in there after getting the car and mentioned I had been less than pleased about this treatment. I had a call back from them earlier this week and am just about to call back - so you never know - I might get some more info yet....
After I'd bought my car privately I sent a kind letter to the previous garages that had serviced the car, asking for a copy of the bills so that I could see what had been done (The TVR factory had confirmed the services, so was happy to purchase). One Independent TVR specialist sent me the details by return, the franchised dealers never replied ! Guess where I go for servicing now ?
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