So I went to buy a car today...
Discussion
...I've been on the hunt for a new daily commute car the last few weeks. I always seems to call just as somebody else had bought the car I was interested in. Until that is, I found a Mondeo diesel estate at a main dealer for a good price.
So I called in advance to check they still had it, which they did, so I took the morning off work and went to have a look the following day. Told the dealership I was coming and gave them a time. When I turned up the guy I was due to meet was talking to somebody else, and palmed me off to another salesman. That's fine I thought, I only want to have a look around the car, flick through the book and make sure it's straight as I had another couple of cars in the area to see.
So the guy comes out to greet me, and opens with "I've not got much time for you, I've got to run some cars to the garage to fill them up for customers coming in later" Not the best opening line, and when I asked about the history he couldn't be bothered to go and get it for me... I over looked this as the car was quite tidy and told him I'll call him back after I've seen the other cars.
Looked at the others, and called the guy back and put a deposit down to hold the car until Friday. Paid him £500 for the deposit, which I felt was a little high for the value of the car, but at least I can get it back if I'm not happy with the drive.
So, fast forward to this morning, I turn up on time. The guy I was due to see wasn't there, but they knew I was coming. The guy heads off to the yard, 20 minutes later comes back and says he can't find the car! They have the key, but can't see the actual car anyway, they think it might be in the bodyshop, but can't be sure!
So they can't give me my deposit back until Tuesday as they aren't allowed to do. Couldn't believe it really, it was a 100 mile round trip, twice to be made to feel like my money didn't matter. It's not that hard to sell a car to somebody who has put a deposit down, but these guys seem to be doing a very good job of it! All this from a main dealer of a major 4x4 brand, looks like I'll be taking my money elsewhere now...
So I called in advance to check they still had it, which they did, so I took the morning off work and went to have a look the following day. Told the dealership I was coming and gave them a time. When I turned up the guy I was due to meet was talking to somebody else, and palmed me off to another salesman. That's fine I thought, I only want to have a look around the car, flick through the book and make sure it's straight as I had another couple of cars in the area to see.
So the guy comes out to greet me, and opens with "I've not got much time for you, I've got to run some cars to the garage to fill them up for customers coming in later" Not the best opening line, and when I asked about the history he couldn't be bothered to go and get it for me... I over looked this as the car was quite tidy and told him I'll call him back after I've seen the other cars.
Looked at the others, and called the guy back and put a deposit down to hold the car until Friday. Paid him £500 for the deposit, which I felt was a little high for the value of the car, but at least I can get it back if I'm not happy with the drive.
So, fast forward to this morning, I turn up on time. The guy I was due to see wasn't there, but they knew I was coming. The guy heads off to the yard, 20 minutes later comes back and says he can't find the car! They have the key, but can't see the actual car anyway, they think it might be in the bodyshop, but can't be sure!
So they can't give me my deposit back until Tuesday as they aren't allowed to do. Couldn't believe it really, it was a 100 mile round trip, twice to be made to feel like my money didn't matter. It's not that hard to sell a car to somebody who has put a deposit down, but these guys seem to be doing a very good job of it! All this from a main dealer of a major 4x4 brand, looks like I'll be taking my money elsewhere now...
"Aren't allowed to" That is the same as "Ooh its not policy" which has precisely NO weight in law. Ask for the most senior person on the site, demand your money in a loud voice, and threaten them with the police. Be sure to mention to everyone around how shabbily they have treated you. Are you confident that they will actually have your money next week, or is it possible that the garage might have closed by then?
Well the thing is, I still quite want to car. So I didn't get all shouty, I was quite calm and managed to talk to the 'Finance Director' and told him that I'm still interested in the car. So you can call me back on Tuesday and either give me my money back or make me an offer I can't refuse. So we will see what happens!
I would have made a scene, but we were the only people in the dealership at the time! It was dead.
But yes, granted, they should have given me my money back there and the, but I thought I'm going to play it out and see what happens...
I would have made a scene, but we were the only people in the dealership at the time! It was dead.
But yes, granted, they should have given me my money back there and the, but I thought I'm going to play it out and see what happens...
redstu said:
You have been treated very badly but Seem to have taken it a lot better than most people would have done. I'd probably have exploded! Of course you cant name and shame but you can give some clues?
There is a big clue in the original post, and I think I might get my wrists slapped if I say anymore. I've found sometimes the quiet approach is the best way, I'm going to see what they say when they call me on Tuesday.
I agree with Jas.. but
I would now be calling the Dealer Principle 9am Tuesday for the following
A: A substancial discount 15%+ for the way you have been messed around and treated.
B: the car to be delivered on a low loader at their cost to you, fully serviced new mot, & tax.
Offer to call the Manufacturer's own Aftersales Manager at Headoffice to lodge a formal complaint not giving yo a deposit back for a car/product that cannot be located or suiotable substituted is simply unacceptable.
D
I would now be calling the Dealer Principle 9am Tuesday for the following
A: A substancial discount 15%+ for the way you have been messed around and treated.
B: the car to be delivered on a low loader at their cost to you, fully serviced new mot, & tax.
Offer to call the Manufacturer's own Aftersales Manager at Headoffice to lodge a formal complaint not giving yo a deposit back for a car/product that cannot be located or suiotable substituted is simply unacceptable.
D
jas xjr said:
to be honest if they cannot be bothered , i would not buy from them out of principle.plenty of cars out there
Quite, but if I can get the discount I want it will be a good buy, if I can't then the search continues. Super Veloce said:
I agree with Jas.. but
I would now be calling the Dealer Principle 9am Tuesday for the following
A: A substancial discount 15%+ for the way you have been messed around and treated.
B: the car to be delivered on a low loader at their cost to you, fully serviced new mot, & tax.
Offer to call the Manufacturer's own Aftersales Manager at Headoffice to lodge a formal complaint not giving yo a deposit back for a car/product that cannot be located or suiotable substituted is simply unacceptable.
D
Yep, that's the plan. Get the car on my terms at my price otherwise walk away and get something else.I would now be calling the Dealer Principle 9am Tuesday for the following
A: A substancial discount 15%+ for the way you have been messed around and treated.
B: the car to be delivered on a low loader at their cost to you, fully serviced new mot, & tax.
Offer to call the Manufacturer's own Aftersales Manager at Headoffice to lodge a formal complaint not giving yo a deposit back for a car/product that cannot be located or suiotable substituted is simply unacceptable.
D
ps: How's the Nissan treating you? Is she back on the road yet?
theboyfold said:
Soooooo, this phone call first thing on Tuesday hasn't arrived yet.
I'm going to give them time, and if they don't call by close of play Wednesday I'll go down and make sure that I can get my money back!
Wish I had £500 I could leave around like that.I'm going to give them time, and if they don't call by close of play Wednesday I'll go down and make sure that I can get my money back!
I wouldn't be doing business with such a shoddy outfit. Period. Plenty of Mondeos around.
)
t service from a main dealer of such a 'high-end' 4x4...theboyfold said:
Well the thing is, I still quite want to car.
I was in exactly the same position with my Audi. Bought from dealer (not Audi), worst dealer ever to deal with. All organised, finalised, everything sorted; picking car up on day X. I got the train to Birmingham from Kent with my girlfriend to pick up the car, then drive up to Liverpool where my band were playing a gig.I arrive, to no car. Ah, now we haven't had a chance to do the MOT. It's just being cleaned. Oh we've replaced the brake pads. Then why is the pad warning light still on? Oh they've not been replaced. Etc. etc. No spare wheel, no tax, no MOT, no DVD in the sat nav system. No second key. Etc. etc. All as ridiculous as you could imagine.
However, all they'd done is buy the car, then sell it on. So their incompetence really shouldn't have a bad effect on the car. All the "things" that were bad we basically phoned Audi, got a price from them, then took it off the final figure, and I'd sort. Then we took off slightly more for the inconvenience and the sheer ridiculousness of it.
The result is a car that they'd had for a couple of weeks, but that I got a cracking deal on and, frankly, is one of the best cars I've owned (bought in May last year).
So, try to remember that if the car is exactly what you want, mileage etc. etc, then you'll never need see them again and you'll have the car you want
In my case I'd been looking months for the specific spec and this was the first one that turned up - so really didn't want the opportunity to pass.
Just spoke to the guy who was looking after me. Not that apologetic, didn't seem at all concerned that the car wasn't there when I turned up and seemed to just suggest "Well it's not my fault".
Told me he couldn't call back first thing this morning as he'd been with a customer since 9am! I explained he'd 'been with me since last week', to which he said nothing.
So I've told him I still want the car, but don't want to pay the price or deal with him really. He's got 15 minutes to call me back with the discount that I've asked for which is just over 10%. It's actually a well priced car at the moment and if I get it for what I want it should turn out to be a nice deal.
Fingers crossed...
Told me he couldn't call back first thing this morning as he'd been with a customer since 9am! I explained he'd 'been with me since last week', to which he said nothing.
So I've told him I still want the car, but don't want to pay the price or deal with him really. He's got 15 minutes to call me back with the discount that I've asked for which is just over 10%. It's actually a well priced car at the moment and if I get it for what I want it should turn out to be a nice deal.
Fingers crossed...
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