Bit gutted after purchase of Octavia III VRS

[cupragavs]

Hi all,

So beginning of August, went to buy a used superb and ended up ordering a new Octavia VRS due for delivery mid October... Great!

Salesman mentioned thought car now comes with sat nav as standard, also paint was free for solid red or meteor grey (not just white). Still great!

Car ordered, deposit paid. Goes home with July edition brochure. Realised brochure lists sat nav as circa £750 option.

Goes in to dealers 2 weeks later to check. My original salesman has left. Asked anorher salesman if car comes with nav -reply: "I'm 99% sure it does" so I kindly asked if he would find out, reminding him that a) if it doesn't, I want it, and I won't be too pleased if it's costing an extra £750. Salesman popped to his desk, then returned to my relief to tell me the car does come with nav. Phew.

So, car arrives for collection 23rd October. First ever brand new car. My original salesman is back! So he takes me through the audio system. I ask about the nav. "Oh no this one doesn't have sat nav. If you had ordered it 2 weeks later it would have". At this point my excitement turned quickly to disappointment. I explained but was politely told the car was as I had ordered it. Also that the other (identified) salesman had probably looked at the computer and seen the spec and relayed the then current info to me.

So with my beautiful new car in front of me, yes I should have said go ram it, but I had waited so long and got rid of my last car that I was left with little option other than to pretty much accept the situation.

I was also formed that a retrofit would be about £2k.

Unfortunately my salesman then informed me that the dealer was after 100% satisfaction on a survey which skoda were to send me in a couple of days time. He obviously read my upset and went to speak to the assistant manager about getting smart link put on for free, therefore enabling a nav function. No decision could be made until the manager was in. That was Friday 23rd October.

Salesman called the following Monday to confirm smart link would be provided free of charge. It would take a couple of days to get the pack. Also I was again hinted upon to give 100% satisfaction. I kindly made him aware that I wouldn't fill anything in until the situation is resolved.

Skoda have sent the survey invite and a reminder. To date I have not completed it. A few people have told me to be honest!

So, nothing heard. Called dealers last wed (4/11/15) salesman on day off.

Called dealers Thurs 5/11/15, salesman busy, left number to call back. No call back.

Called dealers Fri 6/11/15, salesman off.

Called dealers Monday 9/11/15 spoke to my salesman, went to make enquiries, called straight back, informed me the parts guy is in a meeting, will call back approx 16:00. Nothing further heard.

Salesman called about 1600 10/11/15, smart link on back order, will be about 14 days.

Parts person called today (11/11/15) smart link arrived arranged to go over this afternoon.

I went to the dealers at about 15:45 today. Car was taken in to workshop. Had a nice coffee while waiting. 30/35 mins later, my salesman popped over. The install would not work as it was a pack for a yeti as stated on the front of the box.

Just to add insult to injury, the rush hour 30 mins drive home from work was now 50 mins.

So what are people's thoughts?

Should I accept this smart link?

Should I have accepted the car?

Should I have insisted on sat nav?

Is the smart link being offered as an easy option after a dealer mess up?

Am I daft not to fill in the survey as I find it?

Should I complain to SUK?

Maybe I am being over the top, but the whole new car thing has been very marred.

Edited 11 November, 2015 by cupragavs

[devonutopia]

The problem is this I think

"Salesman mentioned thought car now comes with sat nav as standard"

 

If nothing is down in writing about nav, then you may have no real comeback.

[BATVANVRS]

Hi & Welcome to the forum

 

From reading your post, I too would be very annoyed & pee'd off especially as you seem to be doing most of the chasing  :| but saying that, what is done is done & the best bet would be to enjoy your new car.

 

I would still ask & be on there case for the smartlink & I would not let this drop! tell the salesman to get his butt into gear & get it sorted sharpish otherwise you know that 100% feedback you want, I will have to reconsider the rating I give unless smartlink is sorted for free ASAP & even let him know that you have the survey form! to which the longer time passes with no smartlink the sooner I'm ready to fill this form in

 

There is a few people on the forum that have or are in the same situation as yourself!

 

On a side note it is nice to have the sat-nav but its not to everyone's taste, even for those that have had sat-nav before (marmite)

 

Also tell the salesman to add a TomTom FOC but saying that! that is if the order is originally down on paper as sat-nav

Edited 11 November, 2015 by BATVANVRS

[cupragavs]

Thanks for the input!

I'm sure the snart link will be ok (not totally sure if it's benefits). I'm also sure it will be sorted.

I must say that this aside the car is better than expected. I would say great value with some ace features.

Just waiting to run it in! The few blips of power use so far have been interesting!

Always been a vag man, formerly had many a mi1 and mk2 golf, 16v Ibiza cup ta and a 20vt 250bhp ibiza Cupra

[B33fy]

I wouldn't have accepted the car and kicked up a fuss. Once you accept and drive the car off the forecourt youyr bargaining power diminishes. Speak to the biggest cheese you can find as well.

 

I learnt my lesson, buying a new Sorrento, salesman got the colour wrong (any colour except blue), ended up with a blue one and specced an auto instead of a manual, on return to the dealers original salesman had gone. had to pay for the auto and managed to change the colour. Drove if off the forecourt and returned two days later with the engine knocking. (200 miles approx.) had to return a few times to get sorted (two hour round trip) In the end I let rip at the sales manager and told him I was going to write to the dealer principal about the whole experience, along with anyone else I could think of..

 

Suddenly I was offered any extra under the sun and free servicing, had free servicing already, so got privacy glass done. Car was picked up from work by the sales manager who left me his car then dropped back all done later in the day.

 

Unfortunately customer care stops once the money has been exchanged with some dealers. I've no tolerance for them.

 

On the other hand I had a great experience with a Volvo salesman who facilitated a demo test car from Volvo UK for me for a few days, delivered and collected from my front door. All done over the phone etc., didn't buy in the end and went for the Merc, threw him a decent bottle of red for his trouble.

Edited 11 November, 2015 by B33fy

[Lofty]

Always get important things like spec confirmed in writing, I'm a Sales Manager for a large dealership and we insist all our sales people confirm all conversations in writing via e-mail, cuts down on any "he said /she said" scenarios.

 

If its in black and white and NOT being done still then you've got them bang to rights. I wouldn't have accepted or paid for the car / signed finance docs whatever, if the car is in their stock, fully paid but not delivered that'll focus their thoughts on getting it sorted asap.

 

In this instance I'd be speaking to Skoda Customer Services as they will be able to apply pressure on the dealer from above.

[cupragavs]

Finally sorted 16th December. Do I now fill in the satisfaction survey?

Quite impressed with Apple car play. Now to find the best Apps. Appears they are ever improving the number and quality available.

[kevberlin]

Finally sorted 16th December. Do I now fill in the satisfaction survey?

Quite impressed with Apple car play. Now to find the best Apps. Appears they are ever improving the number and quality available.

Yes, fill in the satisfaction survey if you feel inclined to do so, and give honest feedback. If you think they were poor, then tell them.