[Guest: Domino] New Car Buying Process and The “Quality” After Service
I was in the fortunate/unfortunate position of being able to purchase a brand new car, after engaging the first level bullshit filter when dealing with the salesman the actual ordering was relatively straightforward, but not without its issues – which should have warned me about what was to come.
Having checked a week later to confirm order placed I discovered that after going through the required options several times, not all of these had made it to the order.
The other problem is that this car was to replace an identical one that had been written off so I was very aware of a tyre / suspension combination problem with a particular Dunlop (or should that be Dunpoop) tyre. I was assured that there was little chance of the car arriving on this tyre – but there was no control over this – with hindsight I should have got this assurance in writing.
Step forward to the delivery off the new car in Feb – itself earlier than planned – and guess what tyres it was fitted with – yep the unwanted, unsuitable, crappy dunlops.
Dealer now states can’t / won’t do anything about the tyres. Now at this point a letter is fired at the MD of the UK importers – with a copy of the letter sent regarding same issue on previous car, cue a customer service “person” who states that the car was set up at the factory (level 2 bullshit filter engaged during this conversation) – so it is now a case of when not if the problem occurs – 2000 miles later problem is developing (as expected by me)
Now the Customer service person says there is a Service bulletin to cover this problem and fix is under warranty – I ask when this was issued – no answer – but dealer service manager (needs a level 3 bullshit filter engaged during all conversations) says this was issued in Dec – a full 2 months before the CS told me there was nothing.
The CS person now does not remember the conversation had with me when stating the factory set it up (convenient) and no says factory can’t do this as he visited (before conversations with me) and knew this for himself.
The car is therefore booked in to have the alignment done – it goes from main dealer to someone else who has the right equipment to do this.
When the car comes back “correct” it now pulls to the left and has been put through a car wash so has a damaged alloy and paintwork – and because main dealer doesn’t have car wash it is now apparently my fault for not telling them not to use one.
It therefore has to go back in to have the “correct” alignment corrected a second time.
The main dealer gets the other dealer to fund replacing the alloy but claims swirl marks are a consequence of polishing not just a car wash (hence the level 3 filter) and implies that I should be grateful the wheel was replaced, so after expressing my severe displeasure vow never to return to that dealer again.
So I now have to go to the two expenses of putting suitable tyres on the car and getting a professional company to see if the paintwork can be saved on a car that is only 4 months old.
I will never buy another car from this brand that has a big promotion on “creating happy drivers” as it is such a lie.
MisterShouty 