Dealers Are all car salesmen the same?

[Ramsay]

Excellent service from YEOMANS HONDA GUILDFORD, right the way through from test drive, model / package selection, Reg plate selection, on time delivery and aftersales follow up calls. And oh yes, the Salesperson was female - very impressed.

Ramsay

[philiphenderson]

Same thing here. Salesman never off the phone before I signed. He wasn't interested in any options unless they're on the car from the factory. That's limited to just the 18" alloys. Asked for prices on dealer fitted options and never got a call back. Spoke to the companys trouble shooter that I know through a friend and the salesman called me back with prices 40 minutes later. Asked him for the price of the Studio Pack and heard nothing till I visited the dealer 3 days later.

Opted for the Studio Pack and spare wheel. Wheel is sorted but Studio Pack will have to be done next week. Due to collect the car tomorrow night.

Phil.

[Kremmen]

I know it's difficult but you need to play them at their own game. If they don't call back then don't pester them, they seem to thrive on the attention.

As TC has said, Ruislip is good and I never had any issues with them. Prior to that I had a Lexus and they were top notch also. Before that I had a Citroen and I also suffered the no calls syndrome from the salesman when promised.

When they did eventually call to see why I hadn't turned up to collect the car I gave them the lowdown that I wasn't clairvoyant and they really needed to call me to tell me that it was ready.

He wasn't happy when I left the car in their showroom for another 10 days or so whilst I waited for the next month to roll over for tax disc purposes.
He did try to hint that he may need to adjust the trade in figure to which I said I might look at a Ford instead. The original deal stayed intact.

[Hartside]

had to pester the dealer all the time for info after i had signed on the line...that was springfield on scotswood road

same here!

[philiphenderson]

had to pester the dealer all the time for info after i had signed on the line...that was springfield on scotswood road

Originally Posted by Hartside

same here!

Same company...different location.

I have to say that the trouble shooter I spoke with was very helpful.

Phil.

[longitude]

My experience at Crown Honda, Bushey, was very good. The salesman wasn't at all pushy and once we had agreed a deal he kept me informed every step of the way with delivery dates, reg number etc. I didn't have to call him at all and he phoned me a couple of days after taking delivery to make sure everything was ok. Just hope the service dept match the salesman's enthusiasm when it comes to tracing an annoying buzz I'm getting at 1600-1800 rpm from the left hand front dash board area.

[Keasden]

Just to update you all on this.

I kept my cool till 2pm today when, having still not had a call back I gave in and rang the dealership. Guess what, it was the salesmans day off

Predictable or what!

At that point I had had enough so I asked to speak to the Dealer Principal. He was on the phone and would phone me back said the receptionist so I told her that I wanted to complain about one of his salesmens continual failure to call me back when promised.

Anyone here think that the dealer principal called me back?

Did he hell.

BUT - I think he may have taken some action because at 5 to 7 tonight I got a call from a very apologetic salesman who said that he had got tied up with a customer and it had completely slipped his mind but he remembered when he was on the golf course today that he hadn't rung me back. Yeah right

Anyway, he gave me the list of reg numbers and I thanked him for coming in on his day off, although I doubt his boss gave him much option.

Next problem is already looming though, the car hasn't arrived at the dealership and he can't promise delivery on Monday, he just says it has to be done by the 3rd which is Wednesday.

Why isn't the new car purchase process the pleasant stress free experience it should be

[bobbyrobbo]

I have had some very bad experiences with Dealers ** but so far dealing with Honda has been good.

I'm a firm believer with being honest and trying to cut out all of the crap when it comes to buying a new car. I had a budget (which I went over) and of course so does the dealer and it is just a case of trying to get both of our figures to match.

I went to Cardiff Honda and Bridgend Honda, One just didn't want to even try and compromise but the other was great. Initially we were trying to get me into a Deep Bronze Type S GT. The salesman gave me his best offer but unfortunatly it was too steep for me, so he went away and came back with a really good deal on a Milano Red Type S GT. It is still way more than I can afford but I think it is worth the hardship. Plus I really liked the attitude of the salesman. Very patient and not at all pushy. Of course there are bad salesmen out there but I think that it makes it all the more refreshing when you come across a good one. Though saying that I still have no Idea when I am gonna get my car. Should have been last week.

I just hope that I get Type S mats or I am gonna be faced with a stark choice, buy Mats or pay the gas bill. Think it will be a cold winter if I go for the first option.

[iains]

It is definately the dealer you are with. I have also had excellent service from Crown Honda in Bushey. When I ordered my car due to it being one of the first I-Shifts I had just over a five month wait. During the wait I had regular phone calls to update me. A week and then a month after pucrhase and a day after the first service I was phoned to check if everything was okay. The other thing I have found with them is the place is spottless clean which to me shows attention to detail. An example of the service is today when I phone on a minor query and left a message with the service department's answer phone. Within an hour they phoned back and said come down for them to have a look.

Before buying I went to a couple of other dealers. Their attitude made me decide to not goto them. I even had a phone call from one of them after I had made the purchase. They felt because they had given me a test drive I should have pucrhased from them. The guy trying to sell to me talking about all the mods and speeding he had done in his car also put me off the dealer.

[andylangtree]

I think i may have finally got a result. After speaking to sales director yesterday was promised a call back this morning. I got the call at 9am from the salesman saying he would ring in the afternoon to confirm pickup date. Waited till 5.10pm but no call, rang them and spoke to sales manager. He has promised me the car for next Tuesday. Glad about this but will never buy a car from them again. This is my first brand new car purchase and it was not what i expected. I maybe a bit naive but common courtesy of keeping people informed only costs a phone call that the salesman cannot be bothered making. This has ruined the excitement of getting the car. I do plan to ask for some form of compensation as the car was due on the 2nd Sept but never arrived. I dont think i will get anywhere but worth a try.

[TTDegs]

Originally Posted by bobbyrobbo

I have had some very bad experiences with Dealers ** but so far dealing with Honda has been good.

I'm a firm believer with being honest and trying to cut out all of the crap when it comes to buying a new car. I had a budget (which I went over) and of course so does the dealer and it is just a case of trying to get both of our figures to match.

I went to Cardiff Honda and Bridgend Honda, One just didn't want to even try and compromise but the other was great. Initially we were trying to get me into a Deep Bronze Type S GT. The salesman gave me his best offer but unfortunatly it was too steep for me, so he went away and came back with a really good deal on a Milano Red Type S GT. It is still way more than I can afford but I think it is worth the hardship. Plus I really liked the attitude of the salesman. Very patient and not at all pushy. Of course there are bad salesmen out there but I think that it makes it all the more refreshing when you come across a good one. Though saying that I still have no Idea when I am gonna get my car. Should have been last week.

I just hope that I get Type S mats or I am gonna be faced with a stark choice, buy Mats or pay the gas bill. Think it will be a cold winter if I go for the first option.

I'm going to make 2 guesses here

1) you ended up doing the deal with Bridgend
2) the salesman was Neil...

[robbo51]

Originally Posted by screawm

guess you could make FIAT stand for anything, but I guess crap would be better

(Obviously that is my opinion)

btw. I had a Fiat Grande Punto Sporting.

The only decent part of the car was the Blue & Me system, it could show Hondas HFT a thing or 2.

Fairs fair here:They are a lot better and beinning to get it right. The new Punto and Bravo are very good and the Panda is a great little car.

[bobbyrobbo]

Originally Posted by TTDegs

I'm going to make 2 guesses here

1) you ended up doing the deal with Bridgend
2) the salesman was Neil...

Yeah, how did you know?

Probably too early to say but I do think/hope he is one of the good guys.

[TTDegs]

went down a similar path for servicing

And yes, I would put him squarely in that category

[DeanFYoung]

I've also been impressed with the gus at Alan Day Honda - Southampton

[bobbyrobbo]

I hope your right TTdegs

I'm starting to get a little concerned now. Last contact I had was on 25th when I was told that they would have some idea about when I could expect my car on the 26th. It's now 27th and no word. Should have had it last week, then the begining of this week. Now have no idea when it will be.

Guess I am being a little impatient is all, though the 7 day driveaway insurance started today. So I hope it is soon.

Also with regards to good versus bad salesman, perhaps it is shallow of me to go on about the mats, but I have always been promised them and a tank of petrol everytime I have bought a new car, and what do you know, come collection day they are always missing. Guess I will have to wait and see.

[Keasden]

Well, just when you thought things couldn't get any worse -

Got a call from the sales manager at the dealership this morning, initially thought he was calling to apologise for all the messing about, silly me.

Turns out the car won't be at the dealers until Weds of next week, despite the salesman assuring me it would arrive early this week and that delivery had to be made to me by 3rd October in order for them to get it registered and qualify for their bonus.

And, this is the really good bit, they wanted me to pay for it today so that it shows up as a September sale !

So not only is my car going to be delayed, I am expected to pay for the privilege, turns out that they are able to register it as soon as its been allocated to them rather than when it arrives at the dealership.

Now I am a big boy and I can understand they are doing a really good deal, but why oh why tell me one thing when ordering and make promises they can't keep. If they had said up front, we need you to pay for the car now and take delivery in 2 weeks, I could have handled that, no problem, at least I know where I stand.

Went over to the dealership a short while later and saw 'my' salesman, to say he looked a little sheepish is an understatement. After giving him a piece of my mind about all the missed calls I asked why he hadn't been man enough to ring me and tell me about the delayed delivery. Turns out that the sales manager always handle those types of calls as the salesman is supposed to be building a rapport with the customer! He accepted the irony of his statement.

So I had a choice to make, hand over a cheque or walk away and try and get a similar deal elsewhere.

I have a new delivery date of 5th October. I'll keep you all informed.

Don't think I have named and shamed the dealership yet, I will do so after I have taken delivery.

[nellz_bassettshonda]

Hi Keasdon

Its Neil @ Bassetts again . I know the feeling , I have just had the dreaded call from " Ontime Automotive " ( Honda's logistic agents ) to say 7 of my customers cars will not be here until next week when I was told this week initially .... Truly gutted as my customers were expecting to take delivery this weekend which would have been really nice for them. Oh I now have to email / phone around to inform them of the bad news .

Good luck with your car

[nellz_bassettshonda]

Originally Posted by bobbyrobbo

I have had some very bad experiences with Dealers ** but so far dealing with Honda has been good.

I'm a firm believer with being honest and trying to cut out all of the crap when it comes to buying a new car. I had a budget (which I went over) and of course so does the dealer and it is just a case of trying to get both of our figures to match.

I went to Cardiff Honda and Bridgend Honda, One just didn't want to even try and compromise but the other was great. Initially we were trying to get me into a Deep Bronze Type S GT. The salesman gave me his best offer but unfortunatly it was too steep for me, so he went away and came back with a really good deal on a Milano Red Type S GT. It is still way more than I can afford but I think it is worth the hardship. Plus I really liked the attitude of the salesman. Very patient and not at all pushy. Of course there are bad salesmen out there but I think that it makes it all the more refreshing when you come across a good one. Though saying that I still have no Idea when I am gonna get my car. Should have been last week.

I just hope that I get Type S mats or I am gonna be faced with a stark choice, buy Mats or pay the gas bill. Think it will be a cold winter if I go for the first option.

Hi Bobby

Appreciate your comments & concerns ! Sorry I feel bad as I am getting no positives with On Time ( Honda's Logistic agent ) Honest .

Mats & a full tank will be sorted also one or two lil extra's I will fight for.

The likelyhood is next week now as dreaded

Sorry again mate

Nellz

[Keasden]

Originally Posted by nellz_bassettshonda

Hi Keasdon

Its Neil @ Bassetts again . I know the feeling , I have just had the dreaded call from " Ontime Automotive " ( Honda's logistic agents ) to say 7 of my customers cars will not be here until next week when I was told this week initially .... Truly gutted as my customers were expecting to take delivery this weekend which would have been really nice for them. Oh I now have to email / phone around to inform them of the bad news .

Good luck with your car

Thanks Neil, I realise that the dealers don't actually want to contact a customer and tell them that the car will be delayed and at the end of the day it is out of their hands as you point out. I just never envisaged this happening as I was told that the car had to be collected by 3rd Oct at the latest to get it into Sept sales figures. All I ask is to be treated by a salesman as they themselves would like to be treated. To me that means honesty, openness and being conscientious about calling customers back. I am sure you manage that, why can't mine?