Is it just me....

[Mr. B]

or are all car salesmen the same once you’ve paid your money and driven away.

I very recently purchased a used (12 month) vehicle from MB main dealership and everything appeared to go smoothly on the handover day, probably because they wanted me to part with as much money as possible with GAP insurance and service plan etc.

When I got home I realised there wasn’t an owners manual in the glove box. I’m more annoyed with myself for not spotting the absent manual in the first place.

No problem I thought, so I contacted the salesman and he said because the vehicle has Command it doesn’t have one. Not true as I’ve spoken to several other owners of the same vehicle who have stated that their vehicle came with a manual. I even have a copy of the original Oasis order form which confirms that a manual was issued with the vehicle. Now they refuse to return my calls.

I don’t think I’m being petty in my pursuit of a manual because it’s all documentation that accompanies the vehicle throughout its life.

The only option I have left is to complain to MB although I feel it would be a waste of time or just order another one from my local dealer.

The value of the book is immaterial it’s more to do with the principle.

If I dint have the internet I would have to sit in the garage to access the vehicles data.

So is it just me being OCD and petty ??

Opinions welcome.

 

[jpwilliams]

or are all car salesmen the same once you’ve paid your money and driven away.

I very recently purchased a used (12 month) vehicle from MB main dealership and everything appeared to go smoothly on the handover day, probably because they wanted me to part with as much money as possible with GAP insurance and service plan etc.

When I got home I realised there wasn’t an owners manual in the glove box. I’m more annoyed with myself for not spotting the absent manual in the first place.

No problem I thought, so I contacted the salesman and he said because the vehicle has Command it doesn’t have one. Not true as I’ve spoken to several other owners of the same vehicle who have stated that their vehicle came with a manual. I even have a copy of the original Oasis order form which confirms that a manual was issued with the vehicle. Now they refuse to return my calls.

I don’t think I’m being petty in my pursuit of a manual because it’s all documentation that accompanies the vehicle throughout its life.

The only option I have left is to complain to MB although I feel it would be a waste of time or just order another one from my local dealer.

The value of the book is immaterial it’s more to do with the principle.

If I dint have the internet I would have to sit in the garage to access the vehicles data.

So is it just me being OCD and petty ??

Opinions welcome.

Send an email to the Dealer Principal and explain your concerns and tell him that as a customer you expect a lot more than they seems to be offering.Name names and demand action or else you will immediately raise the matter with MB UK.

 

[tonysmb]

No, not you; unfortunately it seems to be a common experience. One of the sales staff at my local dealer talks about 'units', simply a numbers game now for many. Not all, of course, but for many, the old standards of service are disappearing. Once they've sold the unit, responsibility passes to 'after-sales'. My two penny worth.

 

[ioweddie]

Pop back to the dealers...show interest in a similar model...open the glove box...if there is an owners manual in there...take it and say I'm having this as I did not get one from (mr salesman) when promised...tel him sort it out with the bloke who sold you the car

 

[flowrider]

Send an email to the Dealer Principal and explain your concerns and tell him that as a customer you expect a lot more than they seems to be offering.Name names and demand action or else you will immediately raise the matter with MB UK.

MBUK will just refer him to the dealer.

 

[ash59fifty-uk]

Just download the Mercedes app which has all manuals on it

 

[Gollom]

Just a thought - on some cars, the manual is in the rear fold-down armrest. I'm sure you have looked however

 

[Mr. B]

Just a thought - on some cars, the manual is in the rear fold-down armrest. I'm sure you have looked however

I hope not because I will look a plonker but I shall check later. Thanks.

 

[Gollom]

I hope not because I will look a plonker but I shall check later. Thanks.

Was in my W203 and I think also in my saloon W211. Part of me hopes not, because I know how "I'd" feel! LOL

 

[belongabob]

or are all car salesmen the same once you’ve paid your money and driven away.

I very recently purchased a used (12 month) vehicle from MB main dealership and everything appeared to go smoothly on the handover day, probably because they wanted me to part with as much money as possible with GAP insurance and service plan etc.

When I got home I realised there wasn’t an owners manual in the glove box. I’m more annoyed with myself for not spotting the absent manual in the first place.

No problem I thought, so I contacted the salesman and he said because the vehicle has Command it doesn’t have one. Not true as I’ve spoken to several other owners of the same vehicle who have stated that their vehicle came with a manual. I even have a copy of the original Oasis order form which confirms that a manual was issued with the vehicle. Now they refuse to return my calls.

I don’t think I’m being petty in my pursuit of a manual because it’s all documentation that accompanies the vehicle throughout its life.

The only option I have left is to complain to MB although I feel it would be a waste of time or just order another one from my local dealer.

The value of the book is immaterial it’s more to do with the principle.

If I dint have the internet I would have to sit in the garage to access the vehicles data.

So is it just me being OCD and petty ??

Opinions welcome.

I guess it’s quite common. Exactly the same when I bought my C200. I was told “there are loads kicking around the office and I’ll get one sent off to you on Monday”.

Several phone calls later and still no manual, so I called in to the dealership and spoke to another guy (not the original salesman) and he did what should have been done at the start and ordered one. Collected it within days.

I also found out from this very helpful person that the guy who sold me the car had not sent off my V50 either!

 

[KennyN]

Last week we were looking at a replacement car for the wifes current vehicle , we popped into Arnold Shark and put a deposit down on one that we fancied which would be delivered to our local branch later that week.

Car arrived and we were told to pop down and pick it up . providing it passed our inspection.

There was a big crack on the rear bumper of the 11 month old car but we were still asked to pay the balance of the car and return it for repair, which we refused and told them we would pick it up when it was repaired.

They called a few days ago to inform us it was ready to be picked up so off we went , after swapping the insurance - again.

Arrived at the garage to find the pearlescent white paint on the bumper had been "repaired" with normal white paint , overspray on the bootlid , finish like sandpaper as it had obviously been painted outside on a windy day , no badge and a very badly filled repair.

We rejected the car and have only just received our deposit back , to$$ers.

K

 

[markjay]

My car came without a manual... I bought one of eBay complete with an original wallet. £15 (from memory).

Yes you are OCD... but then we all are

 

[Eddy77]

I think a bit of balance usually helps. Let’s be honest. You can buy a manual for peanuts. In the scheme of buying the car it’s nothing. I know it’s the principle but it’s kind of your fault you didn’t raise it at the time so I would just take it on the chin and buy one. Life really is too short to get hung up on the small stuff. If there was a proper issue with the car, that’d be a different story. But for a manual, chalk it up to experience and buy one. I’m perhaps too philosophical with these things. I had a few issues with various building works at home but I take a view of ‘the basic work is all good’ and on that basis I don’t mind doing a bit of making good even if technically it should have been done by the builder. The reason being that it’s more stressful and time consuming to chase the builder. When I can fix it myself and move on. Always ask yourself is it REALLY worth the agro. I know it’s only a point of view but it’s how I operate. It’s a lot less stressful and annoying for me. But we are all different!

 

[Teego]

You probably paid megabux for a 12 month car. Everything should be there and perfect. I'd be lost without my manual. Yes, I have it on Comand and on my laptop but there's nothing like a proper book when you want to soak up the information.
Problem with the dealer system is that the metal pushers don't have skin in the game, just commission and then sod off elsewhere when that dries up or they are found out.
Several years ago Chris Walker started a new Kawaski dealership in Grantham. He wouldn't employ any sales people from the trade because of the baggage. Bad customer experience follows the sales people and contaminates the business.
In business cash is king and seamless customer service keeps it rolling in.

 

[Mr. B]

You probably paid megabux for a 12 month car. Everything should be there and perfect. I'd be lost without my manual. Yes, I have it on Comand and on my laptop but there's nothing like a proper book when you want to soak up the information.
Problem with the dealer system is that the metal pushers don't have skin in the game, just commission and then sod off elsewhere when that dries up or they are found out.
Several years ago Chris Walker started a new Kawaski dealership in Grantham. He wouldn't employ any sales people from the trade because of the baggage. Bad customer experience follows the sales people and contaminates the business.
In business cash is king and seamless customer service keeps it rolling in.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[RonFleet]

or are all car salesmen the same once you’ve paid your money and driven away.

The value of the book is immaterial it’s more to do with the principle.

To quote Eddie Izzard..."It's not the principle - it's the money."

 

[zipdip]

I agree with Eddy77,you can get hung up on small details,like Eddy I am doing a extension,it is built but can I find somebody to draw up a beam to go above a sliding doors unit and have three double glazed units on top of it,seems nobody wants to know,might well have to leave it to next year,life is too short to worry about it.

 

[Deleted member 149005]

No it isn’t just you...

Customer experience at today’s test drive...

 

[Mr. B]

No it isn’t just you...

Customer experience at today’s test drive...

Prior to purchasing said vehicle I spent many weeks driving up and down the M1 looking at various other motors, mainly at main dealers.
My experience with BMW was no better and they are not alone with their dishonest advertising.
Briefly saw a vehicle advertised on autotrader, looked mint with v.low miles. Upon arrival at showroom vehicle hadn’t even been prepared and had an extra 5k miles on the clock. I sarcastically asked the salesman where was the vehicle which had been advertised. He gave me a blank expression so I just walked off. They had clearly used old photographs of the vehicle in their advertisement, which they appear to get away with because they are not library photos.
I had exactly the same issues with VW garage when looking at car for son.
Rant over

 

[RonFleet]

I must put a word in for Mercedes-Benz Brooklands. I bought a one-year-old C200 from them in 2017. A year later, the salesman phoned me to see if everything was OK with it. He didn't try to sell me anything, either. I know it only takes a few minutes to make such a call, but it does make a difference.