[DumfriesDik]

We all know that there is a global problem and, generally speaking, the motor trade has been hard it. What irks me is the lack of communication from the dealership. I live in the real world, but it would be nice to get an email once a month saying, ‘no change’ if nothing else. Am I expecting too much? If new cars are not being shipped out, you might have thought it would give them time to concentrate on customer care. *sigh*

Skoda Enyaq Race Blue

Topic

[ChrisK]

I don’t know why they keep saying there’s a chip shortage because apparently Autoglass have loads of them. ?

A word from the dealer once a month would be nice but some folk just don’t understand and get nasty if they believe there being strung along but the vast majority if given truthful answers would appreciate it.

I visited my dealer to order in October and they sent me an e-mail in December saying nothing has change and said they will get back to me after the New Year but haven’t heard anything.

I was told I might be lucky to see the car in April / May so a bit pointless badgering them now but I will mid April if only to hear more bad news. ?

[Rene]

DumfriesDik wrote:

I live in the real world, but it would be nice to get an email once a month saying, ‘no change’ if nothing else. Am I expecting too much?

No, you just went to the “wrong” dealership.

In the months after the order, i did get an update every two weeks, even if it was just a quick message with “sorry, no change just yet”. Once the factory accepted the order, i got told, and after that, i now get an update every four weeks telling me that nothing changed.

So there are dealerships/salespeople who do go that extra mile. I suppose it depends on the size of the dealership (ours is rather small and has a distinct “family run” vibe), if a dealership has hundreds of orders to deal with, it might not be feasible to go through all of them all the time to check for changes, and then email 200 people.

That being said.. i don’t really need those updates. I don’t mind sending an email to our saleslady if i have a question, but knowing that nothing changed kinda, well, changes nothing lol.

What i’d much rather have is some kind of automated message by the dealerships system to let me know “a change occurred” in the order. I could then follow up on that.

Prior: SEAT Ateca Xcellence Lux 1.5 TSI DSG MY19, VW Golf GTE PHEV DSG MY23
Current: Hyundai Ioniq 6 Ultimate
Next: we'll see what's available in 2028.

[Micky]

Agreed we all know of problems pandemic has caused chips,wait times, spare etc, people customers will understand IF THEY ARE KEPT INFORMED,

COMMUNICATION,

But if customers are egnored by dealers they get offended AND WILL NOT FORGET HOW THE DEALERSHIP TREATED THEM.

My dealer was good but didn’t always reply, I posted a polite but truthfully review of dealership,it seem to prick conscience of mercedes ,they responded said they had seen review & that it was written out of frustration having waited patiently over 8 months ,I phoned dealership got put through emediately they confirmed they had seen my review,said they understood, 20 mins later had call a development new stock had been released ,the dealership found exact car to my order, maybe my car ? Put temp reserve on it explaining this customer had patiently  waited 8 months, had written review and it could be cause for concern for mercedes, we await deffinate yes to order being fulfilled, it has been reserved, my dealer has said twice I think we have pulled it off ,you deserve it. I thank my dealer for his initiative,and care.

Stay safe.

[Micky]

[Micky]

[Martin B]

H I everyone.  I ordered a new MG HS in blue early July 2021 and was told delivery October 2021 but in August had phone call to say MG were changing the shade of blue car would now be early November in November was told it might be December then would have news after 7th January 2022, had call last week to tell me  MG unable to make blue cars and they couldn’t give a date when they could get some blue paint only colours they would let me have was black or white but they still couldn’t give me  a date all they could tell me  is i had more chance of getting a black and white one,  great customer service (NOT) its not just the dealer have tried to talk to MG headoffice all they say is go back to dealer to discuss my option’s

MG couldn’t organise a drink up in brewery

[DumfriesDik]

How do you know which is the wrong or right dealer?

How far would you go, in miles, to be at the right dealer??

I went 35 miles to be at the wrong dealer!!

Skoda Enyaq Race Blue

[Rene]

I said “wrong” dealer on purpose 😉

For our GTE we went to two dealerships, the one we bought from in the end and one we intended to order from – which also made a good impression. The one we ordered from is 45 miles away, the other one 55 in the other direction. If both of those would’ve behaved like the one that’s only 20 miles away, we would’ve driven further.

And of course, you can’t actually know beforehand whether or not the guys will make an effort. They might as well do it, and stop once you ordered.

As for maximum distance, hard to say. Depends on how we’d get there. Via M4 we probably would’ve driven 100 miles, via A-roads and through city centres, .. not so much lol.

I made the suggestion before, we really need a pinned thread with experiences for particular dealerships, for others to have an indicator as to where to go.

[DumfriesDik]

Yes, I agree @Rene. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

I am fairly laid back about things, and the extra time it takes to get the car is just ‘one of those things’. It is the lack of dealer communication that frustrates me, as I think it would be so easy for the dealer to ‘fix’. Just email customers – hardly rocket science.

I was just looking at the map, to see where VW dealers are. There is one here in Dumfries. I never knew that! I have never seen it despite having been to the garage franchise to look at a Hyundai and Skoda. No sign of VW, strange. Live and learn!!

Skoda Enyaq Race Blue

[Rene]

Yeah we’re fine with the waiting too, sucks, but you know.. nothing we can do about it, screeching won’t make it arrive faster. And if you scour through forums, private buyers have similar waiting times, it’s what it is.

I understand that not knowing what’s going on with your order is frustrating, but in the end, i’d just call them whenever i feel like i need an update. Unless they’re outright denying to check on the order, i’d be fine. Happened with our current car, SEAT. The dealership itself was friendly etc, but didn’t update us unprompted. So i prompted, and they replied. They get paid to do so, so i’ll absolutely take advantage of that.

And yes, there’s one in Dumfries, has reasonably good reviews too (though that doesn’t really mean much).

My tip, if i had to come up with one – try small dealerships, and if you can, try them in towns that aren’t as affluent. Our dealership is small, in a small town, with plenty of “working class” people (and below). They need every customer they can get, and try to keep them. At least, that’s our experience.

[Author]

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