Have I done the right thing?? Or is this going to be another on going saga

Raptor Mike

Raptor Mike

Suspended / Banned
Messages
2,812
Name
Mike
Edit My Images
Yes
It's time to replace my Transporter T4, which although on an R plate has only done 108,000 miles I've decided need to go. So I've ordered a brand new van last week. It could take 10 weeks to be made but the salesman phoned me on Tuesday and said he's trying to get it for a lot closer and he'd phone me in the morning (yesterday). SO after not hearing from him I phoned the showroom today twice to be told each time he's with a customer and that they'd leave him a message to get back to me. Why he couldn't get back to me between customers is anyone's guess.

The thing is that I have no idea if he's even ordered my van. I hope he's ordered one that's going to take 10 weeks incase he can't get it earlier.

Now I've just put a fresh MOT on my van and I can't put that up for sale until my new one comes in, or how do I do any work.

Have I messed up here and is this going to be one of those sagas that seems to go on forever? Or do I need to be patient? One more thing, he did mention one customer waited 9 months.

The guy seems really nice, but he wold.. he's a salesman, but if I'm having problems this early on is it worth it?

PS. I really hope he's not on this forum which is why there's no mention of company name.
 
I would visit the showroom and get clarification. Phone the sales manager to make sure the chap you're dealing with is in before making the trip. Make it a condition of you buying that the new van is delivered within the originally quoted 10 weeks.
 
Raptor Mike said:
PS. I really hope he's not on this forum which is why there's no mention of company name.
Click to expand...
Well you know, there are 60,000 + members on here, wouldn't it be nice to tell them that the
the "company" came through for you after reading this thread, and realising the potential amount of good publicity for the company concerned ?
Or the crap publicity he will get if he doesn't come through ? ;)

Either way Mike, I hope its not too long to wait :thumbs:
 
Cobra said:
Well you know, there are 60,000 + members on here, wouldn't it be nice to tell them that the
the "company" came through for you after reading this thread, and realising the potential amount of good publicity for the company concerned ?
Or the crap publicity he will get if he doesn't come through ? ;)

Either way Mike, I hope its not too long to wait (y)
Click to expand...
Because, and it some ways I may be answering my own question, it's early days. But if I do have problems then there will be plenty of that ;)
The reason I posted is because I am a bit of a worryer and apart form my bike, which was pre reg and in the shop I worked for already, I've never brought a new vehicle like this and wondered if it's normal.
 
Raptor Mike said:
The reason I posted is because I am a bit of a worryer and apart form my bike, which was pre reg and in the shop I worked for already, I've never brought a new vehicle like this and wondered if it's normal.
Click to expand...
I've never bought a new van, (they've always been company supplied) but IIRC it was 2 weeks from the company telling me it was on order,
to it arriving at the head office.
A couple of new cars, I have bought in the past, have also been around 2 weeks
Maybe I'm just lucky, I don't know.
 
6 weeks for my current car, so 10 doesn't sound utterly unreasonable!

I'd expect better customer service than calls not being returned or made when promised though.
It may have been a one off on an exceptionally busy day, but that sort of thing always makes me wonder what their after-sales service is going to be like if there's a problem.

Give them a chance, see whether he calls tomorrow or arrange to pop in and see them as Nod suggested.
But, at this stage, I don't think you've messed up at all :)
Still not too late to change your mind and pull out of the sale if you want to and/or step back out of it if they can't deliver within the 10 weeks.
 
Last edited:
Waiting time of nigh on two years if you want a Porsche Macan in North Kent :lol:
 
When I bought the Royal Enfield, I paid a minimal deposit (IIRC it was pretty much just the cost of the crash bar and rack I ordered with it) up front with the balance to be paid on delivery. Never bought a brand new 4 wheeler so not sure what the norm is there.
 
Thanks folks. I've paid a deposit for the order when I went there. I am a bit worried about after sales service like Sarah says but like he said, he wants the sale in March which he won't get until I pay for it. I really uate it when people don't phone back, especially if you keep nagging. I hate uncertainty and need to know what was going on. I get a lot of time to think in my job as well which doesn't help lol.

I will call them tomorrow and have a bit of a whinge. I don't expect him to call while he has a customer but I do expect him to call that day or when he says he will, after all I'm going to be spending a lot of money.
 
The "They are with another customer" is bullsh!t in my experience

When we bought our last car we were given that line until they were caught out with the lie

Also it is amazing how quick they will call you when you tell them you will cancel and take your business elsewhere
 
Keith W said:
The "They are with another customer" is bullsh!t in my experience

When we bought our last car we were given that line until they were caught out with the lie

Also it is amazing how quick they will call you when you tell them you will cancel and take your business elsewhere
Click to expand...
But I've put a deposit down.
 
First off, 10 weeks is not unusual at all, depending on your specs and what is sitting around in a pound somewhere as yet unspoken for. If your exact model in your exact spec is sitting around, it can be less than two weeks, if it has to made from scratch it can be easily up to 3 mths depending what the production line is doing at the given time and how many other orders are in front of you, etc. So, I wouldn't worry too much about the time frame as presented.

Secondly, if he has suggested he might be able to get you one earlier, it is possible that another dealer has earmarked a particular van that fits yours without having an actual buyer, so what he is probably doing is checking on that. It might also be why he hasn't called you back, because he himself is waiting on call to let him know [and this can often involve a chain of 4 or 5 people]. Yes, he perhaps should have done, just to keep you updated but you do get days where you really do have everything coming at you from all directions and something gets forgotten.

However, try and speak to them today [either if he calls you back, or mid afternoon phone or call in and see them] and remember something else while you are doing it... you are a car valeter as I recall Mike? A bit of tongue biting initially and allowing them a chance to explain, followed by some careful 'networking' on your part, could reap you some extra work to help pay for that shiny new van ;)
 
I assume you had a duplicate of the order form with spec etc Mike. If the order has gone in the salesman should be able to go on his computer and tell you exactly what week your build is in.

If he tells you he can't see that info or won't tell you then he's talking cobblers and I would speak to the manager of the dealership.
 
Keith W said:
If you change your mind then they would have to return your deposit
Click to expand...

Yes, you have a cooling off period in which you can change your mind. We ordered a new car Tuesday, of the 2 dealerships we went to, we went for the more expensive of the 2, because we felt the sales guy was more professional. It's a lot of money and you have the right to expect an attentive service...........ll
 
I'm not sure what the issue is other than someone not yet returning a phone call.

Surely you'll have your order form outlining what you've bought, expected delivery times etc. if factory build to order those times sound perfectly normal, and further more I wouldn't expect them to place the actual factory order until after the cooling off period.

Further paperwork for a new car won't become available until the vin is known etc.
 
Thanks guys.
Seems I was just flapping. I phoned up late Friday morning but he wasn't there until later in the day. He phoned me back and was very apologetic. The van should be ready in about five weeks.
The thing is because he didn't get back to me when he said and then wasn't returning my calls, I didn't know that. I've said to another guy on Friday that if someone says they gonna find something out and then get back to me the next day, I'd rather hear back from them saying 'sorry but we haven't managed too sort it yet' than nothing at all, and he agreed.
My fears where that although he was trying to get me a van earlier than the expected date, which is really good, that because I hadn't heard a week later it would mean if I did have to wait full time is plus's another week, hence the flapping. That and the mention of 9 months.

Thank you all so much for your helpful advise/reassurance and I will keep you up to date. An although so far this seems to have worked out for me (fingers crossed) this thread may be helpful too someone else (y)
 
A really interesting thread for all sales people to understand what goes through a purchasers mind.

Your concern regards after sales is also largely unfounded, as this will be different people different department even if under the same roof.

It can be a completely different experience.
 
It's just common courtesy to return a call when you say you will and I'd be annoyed too in the same situation. Hope everything works out ok.
 
Agreed. Never promise what you cant deliver...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top