What ever became of...
Discussion
...Smart Alfa? ? I recall there being more than a few bad words being said regards them on AlfaOwner.com, and IIRC even Watchdog.
I only ask because they seem to have disappeared, and now a firm called Auto Lusso (www.autolusso.co.uk/) has sprung up offering attractively priced (read: "Within my budget"
Alfas...and I think they've made a boo-boo 
www.autolusso.co.uk/stockcar.php?stockref=17
Hmmmm...
A shame really as a) they looked good, and b) I found that site via Veloces who have a GTV I am/was interested in, and if they (Smart Alfa) were as bad as I heard, they I can't bring myself to buy from a firm who openly associates with them.
I only ask because they seem to have disappeared, and now a firm called Auto Lusso (www.autolusso.co.uk/) has sprung up offering attractively priced (read: "Within my budget"
Alfas...and I think they've made a boo-boo www.autolusso.co.uk/stockcar.php?stockref=17
Hmmmm...
A shame really as a) they looked good, and b) I found that site via Veloces who have a GTV I am/was interested in, and if they (Smart Alfa) were as bad as I heard, they I can't bring myself to buy from a firm who openly associates with them.
It's a bit complicated but I think Smart Car Group Ltd (trading as Smart Alfa) ceased trading, taking with them several people's deposits, and then a new company (Beacon Automotive Ltd) started up the same day, from the same premises, with the same directors, trading as something like SmartAlfa Sales. Apparently Alfa Romeo UK took issue with them using 'Alfa' in their trading name, hence the change to Auto Lusso.
It's not an uncommon practice I suppose - get your company into debt, shut down the company to write it off, start a very similar company again...it's not illegal, but immoral? Hard to say.
On the other hand, I know some people have got cars from them at good discounts with no problems.
If anyone reckons the facts above are wrong, please feel free to correct me.
It's not an uncommon practice I suppose - get your company into debt, shut down the company to write it off, start a very similar company again...it's not illegal, but immoral? Hard to say.
On the other hand, I know some people have got cars from them at good discounts with no problems.
If anyone reckons the facts above are wrong, please feel free to correct me.
Edited by jamieboy on Thursday 4th January 18:05
An all too familiar tale, not just within the car industry. I also read several reports of the reprehensible way Smart Alfa allegedly treated some of their customers. I think that if there's any doubt about the credentials of Auto Lusso then best to leave well alone. They may be fine but I won't be the one to find out.
Phil
Phil
If you go to the alfaowner forum you will find a lot of stories to put you off of buying from Smart Alfa/Auto Lusso.
If you're gonna buy a car from them, I'd only go for a brand new one with no mile which they currently have in stock. Otherwise you may find yourself waiting a long time...
If you're gonna buy a car from them, I'd only go for a brand new one with no mile which they currently have in stock. Otherwise you may find yourself waiting a long time...
Hi All
I will try and clarify a few things:
Smart Alfa was the trading name used by Smart Car Group LTD (SCG) and when it went in to liquidation by no choice of our own we formed Beacon Automotive LTD (BA) to enable all the customers of Smart Car Group LTD to get the cars they had ordered and not to let down our supplier.
Beacon Automotive LTD (BA) traded as Smart Alfa until Alfa UK threatened to take action against us for infringement if trade mark (if any one wants to see copies of the correspondence please e-mail me ned@autolusso.co.uk . We are aware we don’t have the best reputation and we wanted to improve this by hard work not by changing our name to make it look like we are some one else.
The only people that lost deposits were people that cancelled there orders as it would have be illegal for BA to pay these deposits back as it would have been showing preference to one creditor over another (this was advise we received from our solicitor) we had to be really careful what we were doing was correct as the Official Receiver was doing an investigation into the conduct of the directors to see if there was any misconduct on there behalf. This investigation is now complete and that will be no action taken against me or any other director (again if any one wants to see documentation please e-mail me)
We had a really bad year in 04 when Alfa UK managed to cancel cars we had on order through a European dealer and when we managed to place the orders again through a broker in Europe we were again let down.
We eventually managed to sort out supply problem and have the supply of cars we have now.
Last year we sold approximately 20% of the GT’s sold in England and the deal we have is unbeatable with £6k off list price and lots available. We have them in stock as well as 147’s and 159’s. Our deal on 159 was featured by The Sunday Times as there “Deal of the Week” a few months ago.
We try and make buying from us as safe for the customer as possible, deposits are only taken by credit card and balance is not due until the customer has come to collect the car and been able to inspect the car to make sure they are 100% happy.
Any one is welcome to come and see us before making any decision whether to buy from us or not.
I will try and clarify a few things:
Smart Alfa was the trading name used by Smart Car Group LTD (SCG) and when it went in to liquidation by no choice of our own we formed Beacon Automotive LTD (BA) to enable all the customers of Smart Car Group LTD to get the cars they had ordered and not to let down our supplier.
Beacon Automotive LTD (BA) traded as Smart Alfa until Alfa UK threatened to take action against us for infringement if trade mark (if any one wants to see copies of the correspondence please e-mail me ned@autolusso.co.uk . We are aware we don’t have the best reputation and we wanted to improve this by hard work not by changing our name to make it look like we are some one else.
The only people that lost deposits were people that cancelled there orders as it would have be illegal for BA to pay these deposits back as it would have been showing preference to one creditor over another (this was advise we received from our solicitor) we had to be really careful what we were doing was correct as the Official Receiver was doing an investigation into the conduct of the directors to see if there was any misconduct on there behalf. This investigation is now complete and that will be no action taken against me or any other director (again if any one wants to see documentation please e-mail me)
We had a really bad year in 04 when Alfa UK managed to cancel cars we had on order through a European dealer and when we managed to place the orders again through a broker in Europe we were again let down.
We eventually managed to sort out supply problem and have the supply of cars we have now.
Last year we sold approximately 20% of the GT’s sold in England and the deal we have is unbeatable with £6k off list price and lots available. We have them in stock as well as 147’s and 159’s. Our deal on 159 was featured by The Sunday Times as there “Deal of the Week” a few months ago.
We try and make buying from us as safe for the customer as possible, deposits are only taken by credit card and balance is not due until the customer has come to collect the car and been able to inspect the car to make sure they are 100% happy.
Any one is welcome to come and see us before making any decision whether to buy from us or not.
Edited by big ned on Saturday 20th January 09:50
big ned said:
Hi All
I will try and clarify a few things:
Smart Alfa was the trading name used by Smart Car Group LTD (SCG) and when it went in to liquidation by no choice of our own we formed Beacon Automotive LTD (BA) to enable all the customers of Smart Car Group LTD to get the cars they had ordered and not to let down our supplier.
Beacon Automotive LTD (BA) traded as Smart Alfa until Alfa UK threatened to take action against us for infringement if trade mark (if any one wants to see copies of the correspondence please e-mail me ned@autolusso.co.uk . We are aware we don’t have the best reputation and we wanted to improve this by hard work not by changing our name to make it look like we are some one else.
The only people that lost deposits were people that cancelled there orders as it would have be illegal for BA to pay these deposits back as it would have been showing preference to one creditor over another (this was advise we received from our solicitor) we had to be really careful what we were doing was correct as the Official Receiver was doing an investigation into the conduct of the directors to see if there was any misconduct on there behalf. This investigation is now complete and that will be no action taken against me or any other director (again if any one wants to see documentation please e-mail me)
We had a really bad year in 04 when Alfa UK managed to cancel cars we had on order through a European dealer and when we managed to place the orders again through a broker in Europe we were again let down.
We eventually managed to sort out supply problem and have the supply of cars we have now.
Last year we sold approximately 20% of the GT’s sold in England and the deal we have is unbeatable with £6k off list price and lots available. We have them in stock as well as 147’s and 159’s. Our deal on 159 was featured by The Sunday Times as there “Deal of the Week” a few months ago.
We try and make buying from us as safe for the customer as possible, deposits are only taken by credit car and balance is not due until the customer has come to collect the car and been able to inspect the car to make sure they are 100% happy.
Any one is welcome to come and see us before making any decision whether to buy from us or not.
I will try and clarify a few things:
Smart Alfa was the trading name used by Smart Car Group LTD (SCG) and when it went in to liquidation by no choice of our own we formed Beacon Automotive LTD (BA) to enable all the customers of Smart Car Group LTD to get the cars they had ordered and not to let down our supplier.
Beacon Automotive LTD (BA) traded as Smart Alfa until Alfa UK threatened to take action against us for infringement if trade mark (if any one wants to see copies of the correspondence please e-mail me ned@autolusso.co.uk . We are aware we don’t have the best reputation and we wanted to improve this by hard work not by changing our name to make it look like we are some one else.
The only people that lost deposits were people that cancelled there orders as it would have be illegal for BA to pay these deposits back as it would have been showing preference to one creditor over another (this was advise we received from our solicitor) we had to be really careful what we were doing was correct as the Official Receiver was doing an investigation into the conduct of the directors to see if there was any misconduct on there behalf. This investigation is now complete and that will be no action taken against me or any other director (again if any one wants to see documentation please e-mail me)
We had a really bad year in 04 when Alfa UK managed to cancel cars we had on order through a European dealer and when we managed to place the orders again through a broker in Europe we were again let down.
We eventually managed to sort out supply problem and have the supply of cars we have now.
Last year we sold approximately 20% of the GT’s sold in England and the deal we have is unbeatable with £6k off list price and lots available. We have them in stock as well as 147’s and 159’s. Our deal on 159 was featured by The Sunday Times as there “Deal of the Week” a few months ago.
We try and make buying from us as safe for the customer as possible, deposits are only taken by credit car and balance is not due until the customer has come to collect the car and been able to inspect the car to make sure they are 100% happy.
Any one is welcome to come and see us before making any decision whether to buy from us or not.
So why couldn't you have given "discounts" to previous customers of Smart Alfa if they bought a new car?
big ned said:
Hi
We would have no problem with giving a discount to any previous customer of Smart Car Group LTD (SCG) if they want to continue with the purchase of a new car, as I said it was only people that did not want to continue with there orders that lost out.
We would have no problem with giving a discount to any previous customer of Smart Car Group LTD (SCG) if they want to continue with the purchase of a new car, as I said it was only people that did not want to continue with there orders that lost out.
Fair play for putting your head above the parapet, Ned, but I'd understand if Ted didn't want this played out on here.
There is absolutely no risk, deposit is paid by credit card which is guaranteed by the card company and balance is not due until the customer has had the opportunity to view the car then pay the balance by debit card and drive way happy. We have new Alfa Romeo’s in stock and plenty more on there way at between £4k - £7K off list price.
I know of these guys, and people that work for Ned (though I don't know Ned personally).
They are not cowboys - they are real petrolheads that have a very good reputation, locally at least, and know what they are talking about.
If I were in the market for a new Alfa, I wouldn't have any problems going to them.
Hope it helps. (And no, I'm not one of their salespeople!)
They are not cowboys - they are real petrolheads that have a very good reputation, locally at least, and know what they are talking about.
If I were in the market for a new Alfa, I wouldn't have any problems going to them.
Hope it helps. (And no, I'm not one of their salespeople!)
big ned said:
There is absolutely no risk, deposit is paid by credit card which is guaranteed by the card company and balance is not due until the customer has had the opportunity to view the car then pay the balance by debit card and drive way happy. We have new Alfa Romeo’s in stock and plenty more on there way at between £4k - £7K off list price.
Just a point of clarification.
There is no 'guarantee' either actual or implied by any credit card issuer. There may be recourse to the card issuer by the card account holder under the terms and conditions laid down under the Consumer Credit Act in the event that the merchant fails in their obligations to provide goods or services as described and/or promised. In which case the card company may seek recourse against the merchant and/or associates. The consumer should not see this as any form of 'insurance' merely their statutory rights under the aforementioned act. Such default by any merchant, irrespective of payment mechanism, may also be addressed by the consumer by excercising their statutory rights under the Sale of Goods Act and/or the Trades Descriptions Act.
I should also point out that the above statement is anecdotal and based on my professional experience (I am not a lawyer) and does not imply that the above mentioned courses of action will necessarily apply in all cases, hence the use of the term 'may'.
Gassing Station | Alfa Romeo, Fiat & Lancia | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff