I suppose this is the same with all manufacturers, but this happened to be with Volvo....

 

Short version.

Agreed a lease on a new XC60 for business use. Local dealer locates a "spare" (i.e. unsold) car at another dealer 90 miles away. This was good news, as I certainly didn't have three months to wait for a new one to be delivered.

 

Fast forward a week, and my dealer was scouring the country for an available car that would be released by the dealer that possesses it. It turns out that dealers will not release stock to other dealers even if an order has been placed. From my perspective this sounds a lot like "I can't sell you this car you want, in case someone else wants to buy it"

 

I've a very low tolerance indeed for this sort of nonsense and horse trading. I cancelled the order and told Volvo UK about this via Twitter, and surprisingly they didn't seem at all bothered. I guess with a huge waiting list for the new XC40 they don't care....

 

Anyone else experienced something similar?

That is positively comical  (except for the effect on you).  Sell cars?.... whatever next!

 

Gaz

I went out to trade and buy a new car...........my intention was to do the deal THAT day. My list of 3 dealers and cars were set.

Second dealer was  VW.  I advised them of my clear and specific intentions. They refused to give me a trade in price for my car unless I took out their VW Golf  for a test drive. I said, “OK, let’s get the Golf out for a run”.  The response came back “You will have to come back in 2 days time for a test drive”.

 

I said “Thank you. Goodbye”

 

i vowed never to buy a new VAG car again and then the emissions scandal hit!  Karma

3 hours ago, kevberlin said:

I went out to trade and buy a new car...........my intention was to do the deal THAT day. My list of 3 dealers and cars were set.

Second dealer was  VW.  I advised them of my clear and specific intentions. They refused to give me a trade in price for my car unless I took out their VW Golf  for a test drive. I said, “OK, let’s get the Golf out for a run”.

 

Oh I hate that nonsense with a passion.

 

Last time I got similar to that I said exactly - "You are wasting my ****ing time" and walked out.

34 minutes ago, Aspman said:

 

Oh I hate that nonsense with a passion.

 

Last time I got similar to that I said exactly - "You are wasting my ****ing time" and walked out.

Me too. It’s a generalisation but I detest car dealerships nowadays. Perhaps it’s just me getting old and grumpy.

K'B'   sounds familiar wasn't near Crewe by any chance  ?    my reaction too when they can afford to bugger about when cash is waved under their nose,  VW Uk  too busy worrying about the class of biscuits served whilst punters are walking out the door !!!!     hope someone in MK is reading this --but there's probl'y  no one who gives a toss as long as the wage slip turns up each month

Unfortunately it's probably due to franchising. Your dealer will be "X" and they have approached "Y" who are not going to sell them the car at trade. Might be Volvo above the door but its only the brand. 

 

Kind of the same as Tesco running out of beans and asking Morrisons to buy their stock. Just in this case it's one brand but multiple "companies"

3 hours ago, cheshire_cat said:

K'B'   sounds familiar wasn't near Crewe by any chance  ?    my reaction too when they can afford to bugger about when cash is waved under their nose,  VW Uk  too busy worrying about the class of biscuits served whilst punters are walking out the door !!!!     hope someone in MK is reading this --but there's probl'y  no one who gives a toss as long as the wage slip turns up each month

No. It was worcester but I am sure it’s happening everywhere.

I spent an interesting hour a few months back waiting for my BMW bike to have a service. I was at a massive franchise dealing in BMW bikes, cars and the Mini brand. I was waiting in the “restaurant” drinking my “free” coffee with cake. Potential car buyers were each greeted by a clone in snappy dress and well groomed hair. The first question on each and every occasion was “can I get you a coffee?”.

it was highly entertaining.

I once went to look at (shudder) a Meriva and told the boy that I had a budget of £4500 to £5000, insurance money after one of my previous cars were written off. We had a look at a more expensive Meriva just for a look, salesman said he would find us one in our budget.

 

Two days later I get a video e mail of a Meriva that we looked out and was out our price range, saying I have found your new car and here it is!

 

Lets just say I never bought Meriva and got a Astra instead.

 

On the flip side buying this Fabia was a pleasure, no pushy sales, salesman bent over backwards for us, just the after sales that has let the car down.

 

Davy

1 hour ago, kevberlin said:

No. It was worcester but I am sure it’s happening everywhere.

I spent an interesting hour a few months back waiting for my BMW bike to have a service. I was at a massive franchise dealing in BMW bikes, cars and the Mini brand. I was waiting in the “restaurant” drinking my “free” coffee with cake. Potential car buyers were each greeted by a clone in snappy dress and well groomed hair. The first question on each and every occasion was “can I get you a coffee?”.

it was highly entertaining.

They're  all nice until you have a problem. 

 

But the buying experience with BMW is second to none. 

 

I prefer straight talk and an honest deal. I'll have more respect for a salesman that says the truth I.e I'm not making enough to give you a deal etc. I'll come back to him. But I seem to be in a minority.

Have had similar this last month when buying a Swift.  Went to the local dealer to test drive various cars and models over a period of a couple of weeks.  Decided what we wanted so did some research and found a few, some if which were in another of the same dealers branches a few miles away.  Phoned the local guy again to let him know what we were interested in and three weeks on he's still not got back to me even though I know the carsxare therevon the forecourt...   Although I should have known what would happen when he didn't seem to know the spec of the cars he was selling!

 

I've now purchased from elsewhere many miles away from a dealer who was far more communicative.

This seems to be a common malady across many brands.

Over the years I have had a number of "experiences" with Audi that have left me less than impressed. Last year, somewhat against my better judgement, I decided to have a look at their S3. Two dealerships later I had another tale of indifference/ arrogance/ incompetence. They seem to believe that they are doing us a huge favour by condescending to sell us one of their cars.

In contrast, I received a great deal and excellent customer support from a VW dealership in Sevenoaks which made the whole purchasing experience a pleasure - and it's a cracking car!

18 hours ago, Chris said:

Unfortunately it's probably due to franchising. Your dealer will be "X" and they have approached "Y" who are not going to sell them the car at trade. Might be Volvo above the door but its only the brand. 

 

Kind of the same as Tesco running out of beans and asking Morrisons to buy their stock. Just in this case it's one brand but multiple "companies"

No, it's like Tesco running out of beans in town A, and calling Tesco in town B to see if they have any. Or, to put it another way, "customer service".

 

Car manufacturers should enforce exchange of stock through the dealership network, and appropriately compensate for this. At the moment, high selling dealerships are being penalised by low selling dealerships. It's a farce.

11 minutes ago, 2SkodaFamily said:

No, it's like Tesco running out of beans in town A, and calling Tesco in town B to see if they have any. Or, to put it another way, "customer service".

 

Car manufacturers should enforce exchange of stock through the dealership network, and appropriately compensate for this. At the moment, high selling dealerships are being penalised by low selling dealerships. It's a farce.

 

 

Your buying a car, in this case a Volvo. Dealer A has run out. Dealer B has stock. Dealer B is owned by a completely different company. Why would they give up one of their cars for a competitor to take advantage? 

 

You aren't buying from Volvo. You are buying from a company. That's like saying Heinz should make Morrisons give Tesco's their beans if they run out. Same brand, different company. Same scenario as your car. 

Yeah, one dealer is a separate franchise to another. Whilst they "May" help you out, it is a bit unlikely unless there is an incentive  from the manufacturer. 

 

As for the coffee business mentioned earlier, this is just one of two things. Firstly, good manners and customer relations, making you feel welcome. Secondly, (And more importantly to the company) once you feel welcome, you feel more obliged to buy from this particular salesperson. It will be a lot harder to walk away after being offered free drinks/snacks and given plenty of flannel by a well groomed, knowledgable sales representative, then by being left to decide on your own and you having to go up to someone to ask about buying a product. 

 

Too pushy a salesperson can have the opposite effect but in general, they sell more with this approach. Lose a few, gain significantly more!

9 minutes ago, mrgf said:

Yeah, one dealer is a separate franchise to another. Whilst they "May" help you out, it is a bit unlikely unless there is an incentive  from the manufacturer. 

 

As for the coffee business mentioned earlier, this is just one of two things. Firstly, good manners and customer relations, making you feel welcome. Secondly, (And more importantly to the company) once you feel welcome, you feel more obliged to buy from this particular salesperson. It will be a lot harder to walk away after being offered free drinks/snacks and given plenty of flannel by a well groomed, knowledgable sales representative, then by being left to decide on your own and you having to go up to someone to ask about buying a product. 

 

Too pushy a salesperson can have the opposite effect but in general, they sell more with this approach. Lose a few, gain significantly more!

You may be correct. A most interesting observation regarding car sales staff was posted on Briskoda a few months back. Essentially, sales staff in these big dealerships are not selling you a car, they are selling you a financial package. Hence product knowledge is secondary to financial product knowledge.

I am just rude.

I say yes please to the coffee, then ask that they don't ask about my holidays etc, that is a barber / hairdressers patter.

If they start talking going to ask the manager about a good deal i just ask them to go bring out the manager or go get someone that can do deals.

They do not like it, and some just lose a sale if they take an attitude.

 

I find family members of the dealership owner on the sales team can be some of the most up their own backside, but then it is always easy to let Mummy, Daddy or the firms directors know what they must already know.

 

There are some great cars sales executives around that like their job and income and they are staying selling for year after year and can be the first people you visit, sadly too many good ones move on to even better things.

3 hours ago, Chris said:

 

 

Your buying a car, in this case a Volvo. Dealer A has run out. Dealer B has stock. Dealer B is owned by a completely different company. Why would they give up one of their cars for a competitor to take advantage? 

 

You aren't buying from Volvo. You are buying from a company. That's like saying Heinz should make Morrisons give Tesco's their beans if they run out. Same brand, different company. Same scenario as your car. 

but it would be a car that they haven't yet sold---might be next day or next month,  it's not like B L days with stacks of cars the wrong colour ("Old English White " anyone)  clagging up airfields ,   what happened to I'll scratch your back etc ?  good of the brand? who cares "I'll be selling Honda next week  who knows what next month"  

3 hours ago, kevberlin said:

You may be correct. A most interesting observation regarding car sales staff was posted on Briskoda a few months back. Essentially, sales staff in these big dealerships are not selling you a car, they are selling you a financial package. Hence product knowledge is secondary to financial product knowledge.

 

Listers Group, both Audi and VW, I found dismissive and snooty.

Nice to deal with proper nice dealers like the Mini dealership and the local dealership that was Skoda, and then Renault, but now dealership tend to be mainly the big franchises their customer service is very poor compared to the family firms.

Combined with the huge rise in RRP of cars ie one needs to negotiate a massive discount to avoid losing a third of value in first 18 months, makes whole experience a trial.  

Happy to buy nearly new and avoid higher road tax and to get huge discount compared to unrealistic new values. Weird to go to the showroom and see diesels at a lower price than petrols for the same mileage and spec!

Edited 2 June, 20188 yr by lol-lol

30 minutes ago, lol-lol said:

 

Listers Group, both Audi and VW, I found dismissive and snooty.

Nice to deal with proper nice dealers like the Mini dealership and the local dealership that was Skoda, and then Renault, but now dealership tend to be mainly the big franchises their customer service is very poor compared to the family firms.

Combined with the huge rise in RRP of cars ie one needs to negotiate a massive discount to avoid losing a third of value in first 18 months, makes whole experience a trial.  

Happy to buy nearly new and avoid higher road tax and to get huge discount compared to unrealistic new values. Weird to go to the showroom and see diesels at a lower price than petrols for the same mileage and spec!

Agree entirely.

Savilles were a sad loss to the Skoda brand, as we both know.

Used cars the way forward for me too. My last new one was 5yrs ago.

15 hours ago, kevberlin said:

Agree entirely.

Savilles were a sad loss to the Skoda brand, as we both know.

Used cars the way forward for me too. My last new one was 5yrs ago.

 

The new car dealership model in the UK created by the car manufacturers is broken and much of it is their own doing by prioritising these soulless large franchises at the expenses of better customer service.  It is not all their fault as cars become more expensive as most cars are made in Europe mainland, Japan etc and the UK exchange rate has suffered over the last couple of years.  Thankfully the cars still get made and they have to be sold.  So they are landed, Skoda UK force the big dealers to buy masses of stock, presumably at tens of percent below RRP, and then they get passed to the nearly new market at about two-thirds the price with just a few hundred or thousand miles on them and a year or so old.

 

Savilles, for example, look to me to be selling as many Skodas as they were when they were a Skoda franchise, I was one of several customers picking up Skoda Octavias and Superbs on the day.  So I get the car I want, from the dealer I want and therefore get the on-going service I want.  As a huge bonus, compared to "official" Skoda dealers, I get servicing costs about 25% cheaper than officials, those official ones have to charge the SUK rate for servicing, service staff are VAG trained and fit the OE parts from the Tamworth VAG UK parts depot.

 

So, thankfully, do not have to put up with horrible official SUK dealers and can still get the great cars with the great service with this work around.  Very pleased this is the case.  

As next car will probably have to be electric it is going to be a whole new scenario to source, get the deal, get the service from such a quantum change in hardware.    

Edited 3 June, 20188 yr by lol-lol

11 hours ago, lol-lol said:

 

Savilles, for example, look to me to be selling as many Skodas as they were when they were a Skoda franchise, I was one of several customers picking up Skoda Octavias and Superbs on the day.  So I get the car I want, from the dealer I want and therefore get the on-going service I want.  As a huge bonus, compared to "official" Skoda dealers, I get servicing costs about 25% cheaper than officials, those official ones have to charge the SUK rate for servicing, service staff are VAG trained and fit the OE parts from the Tamworth VAG UK parts depot.

    

 

Errr...   You've got rid of the Dacia...???   but you LOVED that car and were always on about how good it was and you'd have another in a blink of an eye???

 

Please explain...

Opposite experience on Thursday / Saturday.

 

No nonsense, no lies, car sensibly prices, decent offer put on the table and I bought the car.

Didn't try to push GAP or anything more than he had to to tick the boxes.

 

No one's time wasted.

14 hours ago, skomaz said:

 

Errr...   You've got rid of the Dacia...???   but you LOVED that car and were always on about how good it was and you'd have another in a blink of an eye???

 

Please explain...

 

The Dacia Logan (TCE Laureate) is a great car and served me so well.  £200 a month for a 20k per annum lease, nearly £1k  trade-in above the balloon payment, fantastic cheap motoring, comfortable, versatile, economical. 

 

65k miles done, 3 years PCP deal up so what to do.  Pay £20 a month to get an extended warranty, £100 a month coverting the PCP to a HP deal to pay off the £3.3k ballon payment.

 

Downside of keeping  the Logan, it is not an automatic and at some point, soon-ish, I need my left knee replacing with an artificial one,  Dacia not doing their Easy-R autos in the UK and it is not as goods as the Renault EDC system or VAG DSG of course.  A couple of niggles with the Dacia, headlight adjustment siezed, maybe some corrosion issues in some areas coming up in the next year or two, aircon needed regassing, my 13 plate Clio does not yet so bit odd.  Minor-ish things but additional things nudged me to change.

 

Then the draw of the Mark 3 Octy 1.4 TSI SEL DSG.  Fuel consumption is astonishing, use to getting 50 mpg from the Logan, 60 mpg looks like more than average I will get from Octy,  engine-auto gearbox is a great,  Savilles know their Skodas as they do Dacia/Renaults.  Third off the price of new, less than £10k miles, £30 road tax still, super clever tech ie radar braking safety.  Seats should be better than Dacia ie with lumber support, but initially do not feel as comfy as Dacia.  Fuel tank seems smaller, could only get 48 litres in when mileage near zero.  Even with this car, 15 months old, there is a lit bit of rust on the wheel hubs so will need to treat when I get the wheels off to put 17s or 18s on there. Will use the existing 16 in alloys for winter use as I have loads of 205/55-16s I had for the Dacia.

 

Would get another Dacia in a heartbeat, probably a Sandero with the SCE engine just for the town hops rather than use the Octy that needs a few Kms to warm up.  Hopefully off the same dealer ie Savilles though second hand Dacias seem to be quite rare or go really quickly due to their unparalleled value.   May have to go to Dacia/Renault Retail who probably sell around half of all new Dacia-Renaults, not looking forward to that but will just have to be blunt ie just sell me the car, accept the published deal at the time ie £250, £750 off, whatever it is, say a strong no to GAP insurance and all that jazz, stick it on the drive to replace the spark or even Clio at some point.  I do not mind the badge, did not when I bought a Skoda Felecia back in the 90s, kids however tend to be more badge snobs, second class driving is better than first class walking I maintain.    

 

Seems to be common, especially in big groups,  once went to test drive a Mercedes C class, ex demo, booked the test drive midweek on the phone for drive on Saturday, got there, no one available, car in a compound quarter of mile away.

They did eventually (after about 30 minute wait and having shown them the text confirmation of test drive) get the car and allow test drive in it

 

Didn't buy it as was by then too fed up  (it was a nice car with premium plus pack), would have bought it on spot if hadn't been messed about

 

On Monday their Mercedes Poole office called as follow up, explained the incompetence and how they had lost a sale, they didn't seem to concerned.