Alfa Romeo Main Dealers
Discussion
Summed up perfectly earlier in the thread, Alfa Dealerships should have been separated from Fiat years ago, where they could have created a much more exclusive feel to the experience. We have had Fiats in the family for well over 30 years and only ever found one main dealer that was any good, but they were bought out by AC and are now just awful. Had my wifes 124 serviced by 2 different dealers and both were equally dreadful..we only did it becuse no 2 son got us discounts as he worked for the same group at the time. I cant imagine how I would feel if I took my very expensive QF to a dealer and got the same treatment....
This morning has seen another turn of events,
"Palmers" Matthew actually, decided to give a review on Google of my old company, telling people I had earned 1.8 million last year according to
Companies House and to avoid the business. (since been removed), all in retaliation for the negative feedback received from me.
So business owners beware, "Palmers" will play dirty if you upset them. (This has never happened anywhere before)
Alfa Customers Services has asked "Palmers" to release the car to another dealership but "Palmers" refused. (No shock there!)
"Palmers" Matthew actually, decided to give a review on Google of my old company, telling people I had earned 1.8 million last year according to
Companies House and to avoid the business. (since been removed), all in retaliation for the negative feedback received from me.
So business owners beware, "Palmers" will play dirty if you upset them. (This has never happened anywhere before)
Alfa Customers Services has asked "Palmers" to release the car to another dealership but "Palmers" refused. (No shock there!)
Alfa dealers probably know their time is relatively limited - they will either have poor performance and be sacked from the franchise or they won't make money, so there's little real incentive to try and make a decent job at it. Well, that's my theory anyway.
I'm in Scotland and seen huge changes to the network here, we had Eastern/Western group with branches Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth all gone. Before that Arnold Clark but that was along time ago.
There's no Alfa dealer in Edinburgh, imagine that! There's two Mercedes and two BMW sites in Edinburgh alone! For central belt and whole south Scotland our nearest Alfa dealer is Newcastle!
I'm in Scotland and seen huge changes to the network here, we had Eastern/Western group with branches Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth all gone. Before that Arnold Clark but that was along time ago.
There's no Alfa dealer in Edinburgh, imagine that! There's two Mercedes and two BMW sites in Edinburgh alone! For central belt and whole south Scotland our nearest Alfa dealer is Newcastle!
There is one in Glasgow, bit it's AC so probably not worth bothering about IMHO
https://www.arnoldclark-auto.co.uk/dealer/alfa-rom...
https://www.arnoldclark-auto.co.uk/dealer/alfa-rom...
As one poster has already said Alfa's staff don't seem to stay very long,
Palmers where the same.
The other salesman had only been there a matter weeks, Lee, the DP. had informed me, (unusual for a family business)
but hats off to them for giving younger people a chance.
Its just reassuring when you are spending a lot of money, that the people who you are spending it with,
are staying with the brand. My original salesman was off to MG and best of luck to him.
Palmers where the same.
The other salesman had only been there a matter weeks, Lee, the DP. had informed me, (unusual for a family business)
but hats off to them for giving younger people a chance.
Its just reassuring when you are spending a lot of money, that the people who you are spending it with,
are staying with the brand. My original salesman was off to MG and best of luck to him.
Rang my local one - not that local - on Thursday about a test drive. They said they would get car for me for today. Rang them this morning to check before leaving, all good. Get there and they didnt have the car at all.
Embarrassing and likely to lead me sticking with the germans as the other local dealer is even further away and I would not touch this one (Chester) again.
Basic customer service fail
Embarrassing and likely to lead me sticking with the germans as the other local dealer is even further away and I would not touch this one (Chester) again.
Basic customer service fail
Why do they let themselves down, Hemel Hempstead were the same in the end, but now i'm the customer from hell.
Don't try and straight talk them either, they get so upset and throw all their toys out of the pram.
Perhaps these dealerships need a few more challenging customers to keep them on their toes, to
make their lives a little more exciting, because right now their customers are certainly not feeling the fun.
Don't try and straight talk them either, they get so upset and throw all their toys out of the pram.
Perhaps these dealerships need a few more challenging customers to keep them on their toes, to
make their lives a little more exciting, because right now their customers are certainly not feeling the fun.
It’s a shame Variava’s sold out to Stoneacre and then moved the Alfa franchise from Nottingham.
They also had (still have) Mitsubishi and Suzuki.
Bought my first Mitsubishi L200 from them in 2006, another in 2008 and then a Vitara in 2017.
95% of the staff were still there in 2017 from when I bought the first L200.
Never got to buy my Alfa from them though.
They also had (still have) Mitsubishi and Suzuki.
Bought my first Mitsubishi L200 from them in 2006, another in 2008 and then a Vitara in 2017.
95% of the staff were still there in 2017 from when I bought the first L200.
Never got to buy my Alfa from them though.
A group of motoring journalists are taking up the story, we have today told them our side of the Shenanigans. I don't think Palmers will see the
funny side but people deserve better, it doesn't matter if you paying £10k or £60k. It should still be exciting to buy a new car.
Looking forward to re - ordering mine with someone else, might even change the colour! (originally white, might go black)
funny side but people deserve better, it doesn't matter if you paying £10k or £60k. It should still be exciting to buy a new car.
Looking forward to re - ordering mine with someone else, might even change the colour! (originally white, might go black)
I would just add that I took delivery of my new Giulia QF from the Palmers entity in Hemel in september '17. I am not young and have bought a few cars during my adult life and never, ever endured such an unpleasant experience. A company lacking any sense of veracity.
Never been back since having found the next nearest Alfa dealer to me, Glyn Hopkin in St.Albans, to be a competent and thoroughly decent outfit.
I would also add that I had a personal contact fairly high up at Alfa in Slough to whom i related my experience with Palmers..... her reaction, knowing the people involved that I mentioned, was that it was a continuing problem for them .....
Don.
Never been back since having found the next nearest Alfa dealer to me, Glyn Hopkin in St.Albans, to be a competent and thoroughly decent outfit.
I would also add that I had a personal contact fairly high up at Alfa in Slough to whom i related my experience with Palmers..... her reaction, knowing the people involved that I mentioned, was that it was a continuing problem for them .....
Don.
G u l f said:
There's no Alfa dealer in Edinburgh, imagine that! There's two Mercedes and two BMW sites in Edinburgh alone! For central belt and whole south Scotland our nearest Alfa dealer is Newcastle!
The is an independent Alfa dealer within half a mile of where I work. Alexanders of Thornaby are excellent and nothing is too much trouble (sales and service). I'm on my third Alfa from there, from the same salesman and when they were a Saab dealer, my wife bought one of those too!Edited by chopper602 on Monday 22 July 11:05
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