New 2020 reg delivered with chip windscreen
Discussion
Hi I'm really frustrated here. Bought a car over the phone last week from Arnold Clark. Sent me a video of car in showroom (Fiat Panda) had no reg. Was delivered on 17 aug, same day it was registered. Suppose to have been a showroom car. It arrived in the afternoon.The the chap was very pleasant during handover, distance measures and all that. He made a point of saying it was in showroom condition.
I have since noticed the windscreen has two chips. Actually it was my mother that noticed them when I took her for a drive, as the chips are on the passenger side. subsequently noticed that there is green gunk/mold or something on the rubber around the windows. No way this car has been sitting a showroom.
I am kicking myself that I didnt see them before completing the payment (made in full).
Call yesterday (18th Aug) to speak to the sales guy who delivered car but told it was his day off, called again this morning and told he would call me back. So waiting on his call.
My question is should I return the car or ask for him to repair the chipped windscreen? I'm not the most confident person on the phone or real life for that matter so this is causing me a lot of stress. Would I lose money if returning?
I have since noticed the windscreen has two chips. Actually it was my mother that noticed them when I took her for a drive, as the chips are on the passenger side. subsequently noticed that there is green gunk/mold or something on the rubber around the windows. No way this car has been sitting a showroom.
I am kicking myself that I didnt see them before completing the payment (made in full).
Call yesterday (18th Aug) to speak to the sales guy who delivered car but told it was his day off, called again this morning and told he would call me back. So waiting on his call.
My question is should I return the car or ask for him to repair the chipped windscreen? I'm not the most confident person on the phone or real life for that matter so this is causing me a lot of stress. Would I lose money if returning?
The Moose said:
Are the chips on the windscreen the only things you’re unhappy with about the car? It doesn’t make any weird noises when driving especially at higher speeds?
Cant see anything wrong other than the chips. I have only driven 13 miles at town speeds. Far as I can tell its running ok. Im not a car guy so if there was something wrong with it I prbably wouldnt know.Sadly I think "showroom condition" is just a phrase people throw around. Many new pre-reg run of the mill cars are parked up for a long time outdoors, either at the docks as they're transported in vast car parks, or for business reasons at large disused airfields around the country, thus they'll gain a bit of mould, bird dirts on them etc, even though mechanically they are new.
Was the car delivered by road? If so, stone chips are sadly just part of that, but I'd still take a photo and mention it to the dealer.
Was the car delivered by road? If so, stone chips are sadly just part of that, but I'd still take a photo and mention it to the dealer.
frazzlejack said:
RobM77 said:
Was the car delivered by road? If so, stone chips are sadly just part of that, but I'd still take a photo and mention it to the dealer.
Yeah was deliverd road 38 miles on clock.Dealer will likely blame it on the transport company, they will blame the dealer, or you.
frazzlejack said:
RobM77 said:
Was the car delivered by road? If so, stone chips are sadly just part of that, but I'd still take a photo and mention it to the dealer.
Yeah was deliverd road 38 miles on clock.I bought an immaculate low mileage car last year, and within weeks some idiot in a Range Rover bounced along the verge at speed to pass me on a single track road, instead of slowing like usual, which peppered the roof with stone chips. Upsetting, but sadly part of driving on the road.
frazzlejack said:
The Rotrex Kid said:
It was delivered less than 40 miles? Why didn’t you go get it?
Dealer will likely blame it on the transport company, they will blame the dealer, or you.
I wouldnt have like driving a new car back home on unfamiliar roads. I rarely ever drive outside of my town. Dealer will likely blame it on the transport company, they will blame the dealer, or you.

If you were my customer I’d probably just pay for a mobile windscreen company to repair it to keep you happy. Hopefully that do that!
If it was delivered with 38 miles on the clock - and you live ~38 miles from the dealer - the most likely time it got chips is during that journey. Which could have happened just as easily if you'd collected it.
Windscreen chips are just a fact of life.
(I'm assuming the post is genuine, even though I'm increasingly dubious of threads like this from new posters)
Windscreen chips are just a fact of life.
(I'm assuming the post is genuine, even though I'm increasingly dubious of threads like this from new posters)
frazzlejack said:
The Rotrex Kid said:
Fair enough 
If you were my customer I’d probably just pay for a mobile windscreen company to repair it to keep you happy. Hopefully that do that!
How good are the rapairs? Can the repair be seen and does it last?
If you were my customer I’d probably just pay for a mobile windscreen company to repair it to keep you happy. Hopefully that do that!
Gavin and his special resin should be able to fill your crack.
https://www.autoglass.co.uk/glass-repair-and-repla...
https://www.autoglass.co.uk/glass-repair-and-repla...
Jonno02 said:
Yes, stone chips are a fact of driving, but the fact is YOU weren't driving. It's like a dealer damaging the paint on your car and saying "ah yes, paint damage is fact of driving."
It really isn't.Should the dealer also get new tyres fitted by a mobile tyre company? There is 38 miles worth of wear that the OP didn't put on there after all.
davek_964 said:
Jonno02 said:
Yes, stone chips are a fact of driving, but the fact is YOU weren't driving. It's like a dealer damaging the paint on your car and saying "ah yes, paint damage is fact of driving."
It really isn't.Should the dealer also get new tyres fitted by a mobile tyre company? There is 38 miles worth of wear that the OP didn't put on there after all.
Stone chips aren't usually subject to due care from the delivery driver - they just happen. Sure, he could have been tailgating a tractor, but quite often stones fly across the carriageway from lorries and there's nothing you can do.RobM77 said:
davek_964 said:
Jonno02 said:
Yes, stone chips are a fact of driving, but the fact is YOU weren't driving. It's like a dealer damaging the paint on your car and saying "ah yes, paint damage is fact of driving."
It really isn't.Should the dealer also get new tyres fitted by a mobile tyre company? There is 38 miles worth of wear that the OP didn't put on there after all.
Stone chips aren't usually subject to due care from the delivery driver - they just happen. Sure, he could have been tailgating a tractor, but quite often stones fly across the carriageway from lorries and there's nothing you can do.The Rotrex Kid said:
Also, the OP has said he’s done 18 or so miles himself. Go in guns blazing, the dealer could just say it’s happened then. Prove otherwise!
Sadly I expect this is the case. If you can’t prove who done it, it’s your responsibility to fix. If you’re a regular customer or they simply want to avoid you giving them a sore head with a complaint, they might pay to have it fixed. And by that, likely they would cover your excess for an autoglass claim.
But it is Arnold Clark after all, so I’d say you’re lucky the car came with wheels and an engine 👍
Sorry, but unsure how anyone can blame the dealer here?
OP buys car blind
Car gets delivered
OP doesn't thoroughly check car before accepting delivery
OP drives car
OP's mother notices stone chip in windscreen
OP blames dealer!?
Screen chip is so minor, likely caused when it left the showroom, possibly even caused by OP himself.
OP buys car blind
Car gets delivered
OP doesn't thoroughly check car before accepting delivery
OP drives car
OP's mother notices stone chip in windscreen
OP blames dealer!?
Screen chip is so minor, likely caused when it left the showroom, possibly even caused by OP himself.
zedx19 said:
Sorry, but unsure how anyone can blame the dealer here?
OP buys car blind
Car gets delivered
OP doesn't thoroughly check car before accepting delivery
OP drives car
OP's mother notices stone chip in windscreen
OP blames dealer!?
Screen chip is so minor, likely caused when it left the showroom, possibly even caused by OP himself.
The car is the dealers responsibility until it is signed for by the customer. OP buys car blind
Car gets delivered
OP doesn't thoroughly check car before accepting delivery
OP drives car
OP's mother notices stone chip in windscreen
OP blames dealer!?
Screen chip is so minor, likely caused when it left the showroom, possibly even caused by OP himself.
I’ve had 5 cars delivered to my house over recent years, all leased. You can bet your bottom dollar if it turned up with a chip in the windscreen, the dealer would be paying to fix it or I’d reject the delivery.
However if I drove it 18 miles after signing for it, I’d expect the dealer to tell me where to go.
Salesman isnt going to be interested, why would he be?
His job is done, sold car, delivered car....Next.
You are wasting your time trying to contact him, whats he going to do about it?
You need to speak to sales manager or aftersales, but don't expect miracles to happen.
The first bonnet stone chip will occur next week, what then?
His job is done, sold car, delivered car....Next.
You are wasting your time trying to contact him, whats he going to do about it?
You need to speak to sales manager or aftersales, but don't expect miracles to happen.
The first bonnet stone chip will occur next week, what then?
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff


