Mercedes of Preston may make me defect

[Junior Jack]

Having moved to the North West recently from the south, and hoping to change my car I was going to visit Mercedes Preston, which is how I found this thread. Unfortunately what i read was not what I was hoping to hear about such a prestigious company, and I am now in two minds whether to visit the dealership or not.

However, as rightly pointed out, one salesman doesnt always reflect the whole dealership so I think I'll still consider them.

Also, I can't help thinking that this thread is very one-sided. Having been in sales myself, I'm thrust into the role of devil's advocate.

Has anyone confronted the salesperson in question? Or asked his side of the story? It's too easy to believe whatever's been posted without questioning it or hearing both sides of the story.

I'm curious if the salesman is still working there when I visit....
Does anyone have his details...?

 

[Dieselman]

Also, I can't help thinking that this thread is very one-sided. Having been in sales myself,

Don't worry, you're still welcome on this forum..

Has anyone confronted the salesperson in question? Or asked his side of the story?

The problem here is that he will be awake when he answers so getting the truth might be a tad difficult..

 

[Ian B Walker]

I'm curious if the salesman is still working there when I visit....
Does anyone have his details...?

Yes I do but I am not prepared to post them on a public forum. Hope you understand. Call me at work tomorrow (01772 681210)and I will answer any questions you may have. BTW welcome to the forum and No I don't work for Mb Preston. However I have a working relationship with them that is beyond belief.

 

[Colin_b]

When I bought my first merc over the internet from Mercedes Benz of Carlisle I paid a 1000 deposit over the phone ..... the weekend I was due to pick it up I had some work to do at our static at Ribby Hall ...... so worked all day Saturday very hot weather.... got up Sunday went to boot ...no change of clothes upppps...arrived for new car in a less than appropriate way.... they did't know me from adam.... what fantastic customer service, would yu like a drink sir, how can we help ...right away as i first stepped through the door, rather smelly and covered in cement and soil. so with a bunch of flowers for the missus ...full tank of fuel . 2 new p6000 on the rear off i went very happy ...and the follow up customer service was just as good.

Just goes to show - I've very recently had some truly apalling service from them, and wouldn't dream of touching them with a barge pole...

Colin.

 

[gl boy]

are you still local to mb of shrewsbury?? if so they may be able to source you the same type of car for you...I cannot say a bad word about the salespeople there they have always bent over backwards to sort me out..

 

[glojo]

I always find life is never perfect and you will always get good and bad reports about almost everyone and everything. I tend to judge folks as individuals and am a great believer in treating folks in a manner I would like to be treated. I have read good and bad reports about most car dealers throughout the UK. By all means ask, but at the end of the day you will have to rely on your own judgement.

Good luck with the decision
John

 

[garystu1965]

Also, I can't help thinking that this thread is very one-sided. Having been in sales myself, I'm thrust into the role of devil's advocate.

Has anyone confronted the salesperson in question? Or asked his side of the story? It's too easy to believe whatever's been posted without questioning it or hearing both sides of the story.

One sided ? Well if the salesperson didn't ring me back despite various chase-up calls what else can you expect ?

Has anyone confronted the salesperson directly ? Yes I think I will travel the 70 mile round trip to see him even though he didn't bother to ring me back.

So ring him and get his side of the story then. Best of luck.

 

[James Fearn]

Having been a proud Mercedes owner for coming up to three years I'm now looking around for a replacement.

My missus wants me to stay with Mercedes so I've recently been looking at the CLK 320 CDI. I saw that Preston had one in and as it's a 80 mile round trip I gave them a ring today to arrange a test drive. The one in question is an 06 plate with 39,000 miles at £27k.

I explained to the sales person that I bought my car from Mercedes in Shrewsbury and wanted to stay with the brand. I told him I'd test driven a C320 CDI and was very impressed and wanted to see what the CLK 320 CDI drove like in comparison. I told him I was prepared to drive the 80 mile round trip that same afternoon if he could arrange it for me.

He curtly asked me whether I was likely to buy the car today. I haven't even driven one and only seen a blurry small photo of it on their website.

I replied that I wasn't prepared to make a decision on a £27k car that afternoon but if I liked the car I would consider purchasing it and would go away and think about it.

He then snapped "Well it's a rare car so if you don't buy it it'll probably be gone within the week anyway".

I asked again whether I would be able to test drive it and politely told him that I'm no tyre kicker off the street and that I was a current Mercedes customer looking to replace.

"I'll go and check with someone and I'll ring you back" he said.

So I waited a couple of hours and no call came.

I rang them again and the receptionist told me the salesman was with another customer. I left my mobile number this time as I said I needed to pop out to the shops.

Needless to say they never rang back.

What a shambolic way to treat a customer. I wouldn't even expect a car supermarket to treat a customer like this !

Basically he wasn't interested in the slightest and I could tell I was putting him out. I think he just wanted me off the phone (he sounded like he wanted to sell me the car over the phone).

Well he's not only lost a potential customer at his dealership but he's probably lost my custom of the Mercedes brand.

I will be writing a stinking letter to the customer service manager at Preston and will send a copy the head office.

How on earth are Mercedes expecting people to stay with loyal to their brand when they employ such atrocious sales people ?

It's unprofessional enough not to call back a customer after promising to do so but the way he spoke to me was appalling.

When the sales guy at Mercedes Shrewsbury sold me my car he said "Look Gary I don't want to just sell you this car, I want your next car to be a Mercedes".

Until recently I thought that was going to be the case but now I'm not so sure.

I too have been UBER dissapointed at the lack of professionalism of MB Preston. I bought my E320CDi from there around 3 months ago and the second they had my money they were no longer interested in me. I had several items on order from Mercedes as part of me buying my car (mats, a spare key, touch up stick etc) and I only recieved them a couple of weeks ago!

I was that peed off with them that i have put all my servicing and mods through Ian Walker from 124 Works, he's not far from MB Preston and its the best thing I've ever done. :bannana:

Will stay a Mercedes customer for as long as I can but would never go back to Preston.

 

[glojo]

One sided ? Well if the salesperson didn't ring me back despite various chase-up calls what else can you expect ?

Has anyone confronted the salesperson directly ? Yes I think I will travel the 70 mile round trip to see him even though he didn't bother to ring me back.

So ring him and get his side of the story then. Best of luck.

From my own personal experience I strongly suspect the salesperson forgot\couldn't be bothered to phone back. I have very little faith in any sales person keeping their word about returning any phone call and if I speak to a sales person and they offer to phone me back, I tend to ask how long will it take for the return call. If they fail to phone me back then I either get back in touch, or go elsewhere; this decision is based on what is best for me. I would never punish myself and walk off in a huff. If I thought I could get better service elsewhere then that is what would influence my decision.

A point worth remembering is that the sales staff at a main dealer are usually separate from the service department? Are we guilty of stereo typing everyone into one basket? A sales person might be employed on a commission based contract?? and loosing a definite customer because of a phone call might in their mind be bad short term economics? (these are questions, not statements) Service staff really need to keep customers happy and I tend to try to keep a very open mind when reading complaints about attitudes of servicing staff and would love to be a fly on the wall regarding the actual confrontation. I hate people that pick on servicing staff, mouth off, then a few days later apologise saying how they were under pressure, or they had a heavy night, or a disagreement with their partner. Treat everyone how you would like to be treated, and do NOT lash out at junior members of staff.

John

 

[BonzoDog]

Having moved to the North West recently from the south, and hoping to change my car I was going to visit Mercedes Preston, which is how I found this thread. Unfortunately what i read was not what I was hoping to hear about such a prestigious company, and I am now in two minds whether to visit the dealership or not.

However, as rightly pointed out, one salesman doesnt always reflect the whole dealership so I think I'll still consider them.

Also, I can't help thinking that this thread is very one-sided. Having been in sales myself, I'm thrust into the role of devil's advocate.

Has anyone confronted the salesperson in question? Or asked his side of the story? It's too easy to believe whatever's been posted without questioning it or hearing both sides of the story.

I'm curious if the salesman is still working there when I visit....
Does anyone have his details...?

Good point. In sales, you can get a lot of people trying it on , especially with a new model and something perceived as being desirable. Maybe he had some real cutsomers hew was desperate to work with and he perceived this as another time waster.
Wrong yes but maybe he saw it as a judgement call and he had to go with helping out a customer on hand.

 

[garystu1965]

I hate people that pick on servicing staff, mouth off, then a few days later apologise saying how they were under pressure, or they had a heavy night, or a disagreement with their partner. Treat everyone how you would like to be treated, and do NOT lash out at junior members of staff.

John

What a load of nonsense. I was the victim here not this snotty sales person.

 

[garystu1965]

Good point. In sales, you can get a lot of people trying it on , especially with a new model and something perceived as being desirable. Maybe he had some real cutsomers hew was desperate to work with and he perceived this as another time waster.
Wrong yes but maybe he saw it as a judgement call and he had to go with helping out a customer on hand.

I'm not a time waster. I explained the situation that I was an existing Mercedes customer and looking to change motor after three years.

Time waster ? He's not a very good judge then is he ?

 

[glojo]

What a load of nonsense. I was the victim here not this snotty sales person.

Hi culpano,
I thought your beef was with the sales department?

John