First MB, not as expected

[mark.t]

A number of months ago a member purchased a second-hand Mercedes-Benz under their warranty scheme and to be polite the vehicle was a 'dog'.

After receiving certain advice from this forum and getting and independant assessment of thevehicle he obtained a complete refund and £1500 'compensation'. Part of the deal however was that he did not discuss the case.

The thread was therefore removed. I am not saying your vehicle is as bad, but reading your comments so far it would appear your vehicle leaves a lot to be desired.

This is an exact quote from the Mercedes-Benz site:

**********A used car has to work particularly hard to get our seal of approval. Mechanics, electrics, bodywork, interior, tyres, wheels, vehicle history and mileage - all are checked and double-checked before the car even gets close to the showroom. So you enjoy the kind of reliability you´d expect from a new car.*******

http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/con...oducts/used_cars/approved_used_programme.html

Has your paintwork been checked and double-checked before it was sold to you?

Regards,
John

we know this but do the dealers

 

[Jesters Tear]

Have spoken with the dealer. They have sourced another, this time black. Unsure of exact specification but hope to view it this afternoon. Mileage unknown at the moment although it is a demonstrator and of similar age. Will update later if anything newsworthy materialises...

JT

 

[Flash]

Stealers are nothign but a pain.

Had an incident with a brand new CLk Cab that the Stealer crashed on PDI test drive. They even offered at first to fix it up in bodyshop

In the end the Sales Manager was very rude and insulting to us (depsite negotiating a free AMG bodykit as compensation) as we had already opted for the big AMg alloys thd Sales Manager continued to bd very rude and insulltive which was just not on - in the end we told him to stick car/AMG bodykit up his a$$ "...and see if it fits" famsous lines from Al Pacino in Scar FAce - Sales Manager did not likr that and we got our deposit and walked away.

Its all down to teh Stealer you deal with. For future I am now trying one that is good 130 miles away for the next purcahse.

Flash

 

[garystu1965]

Tomorrow I return the car for good. I do not know at this stage what the options are because no one at the dealer has deigned to fill me in.

JT

The car is not fit for purpose.
Tell them you will go to Trading Standards.
Sack the replacement - get your money back - you are entitled to it under the Sales of Goods Act.

 

[PORSCHE911]

jesters

See your PM

We need to compare notes

 

[Jesters Tear]

Car has been returned today. Have no transport now. Have been forced to hire a Renault Modus for the weekend. The dealer did offer to allow me continued use of the tainted car but I wouldn't for fear of prejudicing legal position and in case I had an accident in it...no other courtesy car though surprise surprise. I have a strange feeling that feet are going to be dragged in conjuring up a replacement. Will keep you posted. I have one to look at tomorrow but doesnt sound all that impressive tbh. I think I will be giving them a deadline and asking for a refund if it appears I am gonna be messed around...

Regards

JT

 

[glojo]

I think I will be giving them a deadline and asking for a refund if it appears I am gonna be messed around...

Morning JT,
You certainly do not appear to be given the five star treatment by your dealer. They have attempted to sell you a vehicle that falls way below the standards that have been set by Mercedes-Benz. They should be falling over backwards to make amends and illustrate to you how this was a genuine mistake on their part.

If they are not doing this, then is it a company that you feel confident about dealing with?

Porsche911 appears to be having problems and the only way things will improve is by letting Mercedes-Benz know about the way you are being treated.

Not by phone calls, not by e-mail, but by old fashioned letter writing. I realise it is time consuming but it is a small price to pay.

Some folks will say it is a waste of time, but if done correctly and most importantly... 'politely', then I disagree.

My previous example was someone who returned their vehicle and received £1500 compensation, plus of course a full refund. My own experience was with a new V-class which Mercedes-Benz took back and swapped for a new fully fitted out W210 320CDI Estate. (a significant financial difference)

We can only talk through passed experiences and these have been mine. I accept others have been dealt with less successfully. I certainly have no power, or influence so can only assume that Mercedes-Benz saw that my complaint was genuine and dealt with it accordingly.

Good luck with your complaint and I hope everything turns out to your satisfaction.

Regards,
John

 

[Jesters Tear]

Thanks Glojo, everything from my side has been done in writing, by fax as well. Unsurprisingly, nothing has come from the dealer in writing at all. Nothing. Every time they confirm something verbally, I have confirmed it back in writing to them from my perspective if you see what I mean...'I understand by that comment you meant xxxxx' if you follow me.

All I have in writing from them is a receipt for the vehicle, with a note of the cherished plate on it. The receipt shows a time and date they received the vehicle back from me yesterday. I took a colleague as a witness.

I agree with you on the politess stance, it is preferable to being confrontational for sure. I have also notified DC in Milton Keynes of the problem, only briefly though, and will consider how I involve them further after this mornings trip to the dealer.

Will keep you all posted, and thanks again....

 

[Kinky]

JT - do you have proof that they have received all your letters?

I know they could 'argue' that they may have not received 1 letter .... but to say they have not received many would be downright suspicious.

And of course, you have your faxes to back it all up with - have they got those?

The only thing that does not seem to have been covered is a specific timeframe for them to resolve this .... have you given them 5 or 7 days (or whatever) to resolve this to your satisafaction?

K

 

[Jesters Tear]

Been back today, their proposed replacement was very poor. In fact, the salesman had left a message on my voicemail telling me not bother wasting a journey to even go and look at it.

I have told them that unless they can find a new 180 with the same spec as before, including sport pack, rain sensing wipers, bird eye maple, parking and Tracker, for the same price as the rejected car, by the end of Tuesday, then I want a bankers draft in full refund.

Interesting that the rejected car was in the workshop with its number plates removed - the vehicle is still registered to my cherished plate...and the logbook hasnt arrived yet.

Ivan

 

[Jesters Tear]

It's over. I have been away from my phone for an hour but Mrs Jesters Tear took a call from the dealer to say that they were preparing a cheque, which I can collect tomorrow. They have not even attempted to try and find us a replacement car. except for the pile of rubbish I looked at on Saturday.

 

[glojo]

It's over.

Hi JT,
How do you feel about the way you have been treated?

Would you buy another Mercedes-Benz?

I am so sorry the first vehicle did not meet the high standard that Mercedes-Benz themselves have set.

Thank you very much for keeping us updated,

Kind regards,
John

 

[Jesters Tear]

John

I am very upset about the whole thing - I thought Mercedes ownership was something to aspire to but on the whole, it has been no better than other marques I have owned. Most of the dealerships around here are all part of the Drayton group so I doubt I will have another - I am probably blacklisted as 'shoot on sight'...persona non gratis?

 

[glojo]

John

I am very upset about the whole thing - I thought Mercedes ownership was something to aspire to but on the whole, it has been no better than other marques I have owned. Most of the dealerships around here are all part of the Drayton group so I doubt I will have another - I am probably blacklisted as 'shoot on sight'...persona non gratis?

Unfortunately I guessed you were going to say that. I can't help but wonder if these new super dealerships are dragging the good name of Mercedes-Benz down.

You have hit the nail right on the head when you say that the Drayton Group own most of the nearby dealerships. Mercedes-Benz wanted this and it is obviously in their interest to have dealers that are not trying to under cut each other. The flip side however is that there is a growing tendency of the dealer to adopt a "take it, or leave it" type atitude because he knows if you want to buy a Mercedes-Benz you will have to deal with them.

We can all say that is bad business and their sales will suffer, but at present they have huge waiting lists for their vehicles and if you walk out the door there will be two other customers walking in. This situation will eventually catch up with them, but will it be in our life times?

Have you read the thread by 'Flash'? Travelling 150 miles to have a demonstrator for the week-end! This journey was solely because of the way he had been treated by the local dealer. To rub salt into the wound the demonstrator he travelled a 150 miles for was both dirty and low on fuel!

I am so tempted to write to Mercedes-Benz UK and invite them to read some of the many, many complaints that have been aired on this forum in relation to the way customers have been treated by dealerships. No doubt though it would not get to the right desk and I would be referred to some university graduate with a degree in customer relations!

Having had my huge great rant, I have read some posts that have highlighted good service, so they are out there!!

Good luck with your future car,
and I will have to find my Audi joke!! (That was my second choice if we had not liked the E-class)
Regards,
John

 

[Jesters Tear]

We are considering an S2000.

 

[peterchurch]

We are considering an S2000.

Now that sound like a plan The dealerships are great and the build quality is good too 10K in our CRV and not a single complaint (except for the obvious one about a bigger, more powerful engine )

 

[glojo]

We are considering an S2000.

If that's the Honda, one of my brothers close friends has just bought a new one. He tells me they have just had a face lift? Anyway he really raves about it.

Good luck with your decision,
John

 

[fuzzer]

No such thing as a used or second-hand mercedes, apparently the term is "pre-loved".

Get with the beat baggy .......

its previously enjoyed

 

[Kinky]

It's over ....... dealer ... preparing a cheque, which I can collect tomorrow ....

JT (Marillion fan by any chance?),

How much did they refund you? Your full payment?, or a bit less for 'wear and tear' or a bit more for the inconvenience, and maybe to buy your silence?

K

 

[Jesters Tear]

Collected cheque last night for full purchase price, plus Tracker subscription, one weeks hire car charges and they also paid the £115 to transfer the cherished plate back onto retention. Shame they weren't keen to find me another car. I have ordered something else non Mercedes now for 1st March so they have lost me, at 36 years old, for life.
Thanks everyone for your support.

Regards

JT (yes a big Marillion fan)