Why do MB Dealers treat you like sh*t ?

[Aoraki]

There's a lot of truth in this.

I would also consider what is being proposed to be a grey import and could have the effect above.

Why not make more enquiries first? Particularly insurance.

Already have done as part of the homework by the method I detail of bringing the car into the country DVLA/VOSA do not class the car as a grey Import as its first registration will be in the UK just as though a MB dealer were bringing it in from the MB factory and registering it on your behalf.

Insurance not an issue as long as it is a UK first registered car and not a re registered German car which it won't be.

Ian, the grey import thing had nothing to do with being first registered here or not, in my example the Peugeot would have been first registered in the UK but would have been classed as a grey import do to it not being bought through the UK dealer network. A friend has recently bought a Scooby through someone like Motorpoint, first registered in UK BUT insurance class it as grey (non UK dealership purchase). Not sure if this is because a Scooby is from outside EU though.

 

[flango]

Ian, the grey import thing had nothing to do with being first registered here or not, in my example the Peugeot would have been first registered in the UK but would have been classed as a grey import do to it not being bought through the UK dealer network. A friend has recently bought a Scooby through someone like Motorpoint, first registered in UK BUT insurance class it as grey (non UK dealership purchase). Not sure if this is because a Scooby is from outside EU though.

I understand what you are saying but the definition of a grey import is a vehicle that is not produced in the EU and brought into the UK and not registered through the official dealer network. It would be a grey Import if I for example bought a Subaru in Germany from a Subaru dealer because the production of the car was outside of the EU.

Under EU legislation If the car is produced in the EU and purchased from any dealer within the EU it can be registered in any EU country and is classed as that country's vehicle just the same as if a UK dealer had registered it.

So in my case if I purchase a BMW or MB from A German Franchised dealer then because the paperwork carries an EU dealers details and certificate of conformity the car is not classed as a grey Import. The EU rules were tightened to stop UK (and other countries) dealers refusing to do warranty work although they are still obstructive when it comes to this.

 

[Aterrasse]

Been this morning to enquire about the E class coupe so I'm looking at a £40k spend, the salesman could not remove his head from his backside long enough to be even bothered to talk to me. Totally useless asked for the sales manager and got some pratt who knew nothing about the car, couldn't answer my questions and gave me more of an impression of Arthur Daley than someone who was selling prestige cars, this and plus we spend more then £40k with them through the business but that didn't cut any ice at all.

So I am off to BMW tomorrow to have a chat about a 535d and lets see how I get treat there.

It's a shame Glen Henderson in Ayr are no longer a franchised dealer used to get all my MB from there, excellent sales attention and brilliant after sales service.

Any of our Scottish members have experience of a good dealer North of the border? would be happy to make the trip?

Meanwhile a strongly worded complaint letter to MB Uk & Germany Customer services is on the way.

rant over

Like you, I have enquired into a new E Estate with lots of specs (worth approx. £15k) and still waiting to hear from my local Tonbridge dealer. I was promised a quote on 4 January! I called the dealership 10 days ago to complain but I am still awaiting to receive the requested quote. I was so tired of waiting that I call customers service on Friday. Still nothing....

If I was treating my clients the way Mercedes dealers are treating me, I would have been out of job a long time ago!!

If I carried on like this, I will have to go for the new 5-series BMW which BTW looks as good as the new E-estate... if not better!

Cheers

Alex

 

[flango]

Totally agree Alex the way MB UK Dealers treat their customers is unbelieveable having been in Technical sales for over 30 years if I treat my clients this way I would very soon find myself unemployed.

 

[solarmer1]

Totally agree Alex the way MB UK Dealers treat their customers is unbelieveable having been in Technical sales for over 30 years if I treat my clients this way I would very soon find myself unemployed.

Hi.
I keep saying this;

Great cars but pity they have to be bought from MB agents. Arrogant, dismissive and rude. Tesco would do a better job at selling MB and believe me the experience from Tesco Cars is pretty awful.

Worst of the lot? Well, I only have direct experience of 7 MB dealerships together with 20 or so agents whom I contacted via 'phone or email. You will be very, very lucky to receive any response at all. Worst of the lot for both service and sales? Has to be Mercedes Benz Shrewsbury.
Regards
solarmer

P.S. I know that their satisafction rate is in the 90s yet they achieve thais by only sending feedback forms to customers whom they beleive are satisfied with the service received. If you question the price, quality of work or the state they give you your car back then you will not recieve a feedback form. Hey Presto...instant excellent feedback levels!

Now, happily off to BMW. As I said MB are great cars however the dealer hassle is just not worth it.
Regards
solarmer.

 

[Rory]

P.S. I know that their satisafction rate is in the 90s yet they achieve thais by only sending feedback forms to customers whom they beleive are satisfied with the service received. If you question the price, quality of work or the state they give you your car back then you will not recieve a feedback form. Hey Presto...instant excellent feedback levels!

The score is entirely based on one question - would you recommend the dealership to someone else?

Let's face it, they'd have to be pretty bad for you say no.

 

[fertilogue]

Setanta
You have a brush with an aweful lot of tar on it!
I will say this: Not all 50 to 60 year olds are at the end of their career, some are are just starting and hopefully some time in your life you will be a 50 to 60 year old.

I know some 18 to 30 year olds who fit your, "No motivation no ambition no intelligence"; statement perfectly!! As I am sure a lot of other members do.

I agree there are some people who just should not be doing the job they are doing.
But who employed them?

 

[renault12ts]

Setanta
You have a brush with an aweful lot of tar on it!
I will say this: Not all 50 to 60 year olds are at the end of their career, some are are just starting and hopefully some time in your life you will be a 50 to 60 year old.

I know some 18 to 30 year olds who fit your, "No motivation no ambition no intelligence"; statement perfectly!! As I am sure a lot of other members do.

I agree there are some people who just should not be doing the job they are doing.
But who employed them?

Two things.

1 This thread is more than a year old.

2 When talking about someone's post press quote, then the rest of us will not have to hunt for said post to see what's upsetting you.

To everyone else...post 12 is the offending post.

 

[davethemus]

two things.

1 this thread is more than a year old.

2 when talking about someone's post press quote, then the rest of us will not have to hunt for said post to see what's upsetting you.

To everyone else...post 12 is the offending post.

+1

 

[Setanta]

Setanta
You have a brush with an aweful lot of tar on it!
I will say this: Not all 50 to 60 year olds are at the end of their career, some are are just starting and hopefully some time in your life you will be a 50 to 60 year old.

I know some 18 to 30 year olds who fit your, "No motivation no ambition no intelligence"; statement perfectly!! As I am sure a lot of other members do.

I agree there are some people who just should not be doing the job they are doing.
But who employed them?

Emmm...hello? Not sure why you are reviving a year-old thread but as others have commented, let's see this in context.

I stated:

Like the clown last week who could not bothered to get off his fat backside and check a stocklist, instead saying "rare car, you won't find one of those" and pretty much dismissed me out of hand.

Funny that another saleschap was able to locate TWO of them in under a minute.

That, my friend, is why you are in your late 50's/early 60's, approacing the end of your career, and still doing the same job that a 20 year old is doing. No motivation. No ambition. No intelligence.

Absolute moron.

That was my experience of the "clown" and my comments were directly at him, based on my experience of him, and how he conducted himself.

I see no reference in my post to a generalisation as to people of that age but a comment on the fact that he was doing exactly the same job as someone starting out in their career.

It is, I would suggest, a common view that you enter the workforce and (usually) the aim is to leave the workforce at a higher level than you entered.

What I was faced with was, plain and simple, someone who could not be bothered. That this person was taking the place of someone with a bit more drive, a bit more ambition or at the very least, who would actually do what they were being paid to do, was a disgrace. His job is to sell cars, not pontificate from on high.

Given that you were not there, I think there is really nothing more that you can add.

As for me, I am happy to say that I have worked extremely hard to be where I am at present, with a a lot more ahead of me too (and which I fully intend to reach) so forgive me if I come across as a bit more than ticked off with some timewasting employee in a dealership (who is potentially costing them sales too) when there are , in this economic climate, a raft of people of all ages who would give a limb for his job.

 

[Deleted member 11979]

Setanta
You have a brush with an aweful lot of tar on it!
I will say this: Not all 50 to 60 year olds are at the end of their career, some are are just starting and hopefully some time in your life you will be a 50 to 60 year old.

I know some 18 to 30 year olds who fit your, "No motivation no ambition no intelligence"; statement perfectly!! As I am sure a lot of other members do.

I agree there are some people who just should not be doing the job they are doing.
But who employed them?

Welcome to the friendly forum fertilogue

 

[Setanta]

I think we are all a generally happy bunch though. The "frustration" is perhaps that we all work very hard and when it comes to spending the hard earned on a product/brand that we admire and like, it is a bit of a disappointment when someone on the other side of the table does not really do their part.

I think it is a real problem when the overall 'experience' and level of service can (and is) often higher when buying something for £20 or £200 than it is for £20,000 or more!

With the experience that I had with that fellow (and it is not unique) if I was to respond to a client or prospective client in the same manner, I would be fired.

FWIW, I spent nearly 9 years in retail alongside 2 years in a customer service role.

 

[MYML270]

We went in to trade our A160 in on a new A170 at the one and only dealershio in this city.

There are only two dealerships in the state, the other three hundred kilometres away.

Was initially told "we don't have a demo vehicle available, at the moment. Could you come back?"

Made an appointment for 9.30 a couple of days later.

Turned up and the salesman is not there, "Sorry, Bill is not in at the moment, he has taken his wife down the road. Take a seat."

Twenty minutes later, he arrives and goes on to tell me the car is not ready, it is still in the service department. He will go and get it.

Car arrives, "Sorry, the dash will show it's due for a service, take no notice. You do know how to operate all the features. How long do you think you will be? See you later."

When I returned at the designated time, salesman is missing. Out to lunch. Take a seat, he won't be long.

On his return, we have a chat and he tells me "We have had a look at your trade in and can do a deal for $xxxxx" I reply, that's well out of the price I told you I was willing to spend and I have had my car valued at a much higher price that that.

"Oh, I can't remember how much you said you wanted to spend, can you remind me?"

"No, I suggest you have a good think about it, try being a bit more professional in your attitude and contat me if you come up with the answer."

We then went down the road and purchased a Honda.

Salesmans age? About 50+ Needs to change his job to one where he does not have to deal with people.

Since purchased a secondhand ML270 from the other dealership.

KenM

 

[Maz]

Did the OP buy a car then?

Looks like he wasted a lot of time, and a lot of sales peoples (persons?) time.

Some sales people can just spot these people a mile away, I used to sell Mercs for a main dealer and loved the job made good money (£50 a deal someone here says) on average £250-300 a deal is what these guys are getting paid.

You have just proved to those 7-8 people that you weren't going to buy a car, because they'd rather spend that time (worth £250-£300) on someone who would have earned them that money and not just slagged them off on the Internet!

I run my own used car pitch these days selling cars from £3k - £10 car (30+) and the odd £15k car or £30k car - we also broker new car deals and finance.

One thing I don't miss is having to deal with all the princesses who expect you to jump through hoops to sell them a car, for every one of those customers there are another 6-7 customers who are reasonable and just want to buy a car.

 

[rothbury]

Setanta
You have a brush with an aweful lot of tar on it!
I will say this: Not all 50 to 60 year olds are at the end of their career, some are are just starting and hopefully some time in your life you will be a 50 to 60 year old.

?

Some may be not at the end like me but at the beginning???