x-no-archive: yes Chris wrote: news:c8rdc4$gu3$ snipped-for-privacy@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk
Hi Group,
>
> Just want to share my experience with a franchise dealer in Southampton
> area. A week ago on Sunday, we drove pass this dealer and saw a C3 on
> sale, price on sticker was £7995, it was a 03 Reg HDi SX, went in the
> office and spoke to the only guy who's working there, let's call him
> salesman A from now.
>
> Salesman A told me the car is £7495, we tried to be sure by asking the
> price difference on the car's sticker by asking him out of the office,
> right down to the car and my fingers pointed on the sticker. And his
> reply was the price has been reduced.
>
> On the next day (Monday) morning, I phoned up to arrange for a test drive,
> the guy I spoke to wasn't salesman A, let's call this guy Salesman B.
> I've asked Salesman B about the details of the car I'm interested, I
> mentioned it is a 03Reg C3 SX16V 92bhp version done 17,000 miles for
> £7495, Salesman B found the car on his computer confirmed all details are
> correct, so we agree to meet up on Saturday 1:00pm.
>
> On Saturday, I turned up on time, but there're no signs of Salesman B,
> but I could see Salesman A is inside the office, however, a very young
> boy came out and try to offer service to me, so I ask for Salesman B, and
> the little boy said Salesman B is not in today, I found that strange then
> asked if the office is aware we got an appointment for a test drive
> today, and unconditionally he replied yes.
>
> So, we took the car out with this young boy btw he dressed very smart,
> white shirt and tie, very polite as well, but during the test drive I
> found out that Salesman B has just left the company a couple days ago,
> and this little young boy is on his first day job (or on the job training
> with a customer) because of staff shortage, he insisted he has to sit on
> the front so I had no choice but chuck my partner to the back seat, he's
> holding a mobile on his hand and in my opinion he's a bit nervous, the
> only explanation I can come up with is that he's bit worried if I hijack
> the car and push him out in the middle of nowhere, but of course I
> didn't, anyway, after the test drive and back to the dealer, he was
> ordered to serve another customer, a couple, who has been waiting to test
> drive a Skoda immediately by the only one in charge - Salesman A, as I
> remember we arrive the dealer more or less the same time as this couple,
> and we went out for at least 1/2 hour, so this couple was waiting under
> the sunlight with no refreshments or anything to cool them down. >
> Now, this is the interesting part:
>
> Salesman A: "So, how do you think of this car?"
> Me: "well, There're something I like about it and something I don't; it's
> got a very good diesel engine very nippy, but cornering for this car is
> not as good, there is a scratch on the side and I can hear squeak every
> time I use the foot brake...(before I finish)"
>
> Salesman A: "This car has got an ABS, this is normal for any car..." >
> and I tried to interrupt by saying "... but the brake feel a bit spongy
> and it is filthy inside..." and he went:
>
> "This car is nearly new and it's done a very low mileage... it'll come
> with a full valet before we hand it to our customer."
>
> I then pointed out on the clock, it showed 23000, and I said "Last week on
> the advert, it shown 17,000miles so what this car has been up to for the
> last 7 days, then?"
>
> I didn't get a reply at all. So, I try to negotiate on price by asking
> for a discount, and check this out, he went:
>
> "As the price says £8495"
>
> He was pointing to the sticker, well yes, it was £8495 when I turned up
> this time, but it was £7995 a week ago, it bloody gone up!
>
> And I said to him that I was told by himself a week ago, this car is
> £7495, and he went:
>
> "No, £8495 I cannot give you a discount or I will lose money"
>
> I replied, "I'm not asking you to do something that you dun want!", and he > went:
>
> "Well, it is not the fac that I dun but it I can't, I'm here to take a
> offer, any offer."
>
> I then said, "You can check the advert on autotrader's website, I found
> the advert on Monday morning, it is priced at £7995 which is the same as
> the price last week. But you told us it just been reduced to £7495." >
> This cheeky git went: " I was talking about that Citroen Xsara!" >
> "What Xsara, which one?", I ask.
>
> And he point at the one parked right outside his office, which believe me
> or not I know what car I'm trying to buy, and I'm not that old that can't
> tell the difference between the 2.
>
> At this point, my partner pointed the little A4 print out sticking on the
> side window of the C2, it is the description sheet for the car, and right
> at the bottom, priced £7995.
>
> And now this cheeky Salesman A went "Okay, it's £7995, then!"
>
> And he kept on saying I'm here ready for an offer.
>
> I said "Well, thank you very much for your time." And without a bit of
> shame he said "Okay...", as we're walking away.
>
> End of story.
>
> I dun want to say which dealer is it, but you can take a good guess, they
> mainly do Citroen and Skoda, and I was told by Salesman B (before he left
> his job) that they won't let cars display on the forecourt when there's a
> football. These are the hints.
>
> In terms of customer service, I have to say from this experience, it is
> awful. The young boy was very good apart from his chesty coughing all the
> way thru out the test drive so I had to wind down the window fully just
> not to catch whatever he's got, but I'm not sure if he's old enough to > work though.
>
> About the car, it is filthy, full of biscuit crumbs and I can even find an
> empty packet left on the rear passenger seat. The car has only one
> service, it was done beyond the manufacturer's recommended 12,000 miles > interval.
>
> Afterall, I just cannot justify myself to buy any car from this dealer at
> all. I wished I got a hidden camera with me at the time.
>
> Please let me know if you have similar experice with them.
>
> Enough said.
alt.autos.citroen added.