Cancelled Order

[sveleganza]

Has anyone cancelled an order for a new Fiat? I am having to do it as salesman is mucking me around as I wanted Grande Punto in 16v but they have stopped doing them and as such I ordered one in 8v. Salesman was meant to phone me next day for deposit, and when he didn't I phoned garage to say I was not happy taking 8v version. That's enough rabbiting, it's too long a story, upshot is another Fiat dealer says I can cancel order without any penalties as I never signed anything and paid no deposit. Hope this is correct.

 

[x Alex x]

i wouldnt worry if you havent paid or signed anything, nothing too loose.......

 

[french bean]

If you haven't signed an order form then you haven't entered into an agreement therefore no penalty. They may try to bull**** you but just quote back 'Sale of Goods Act 1979, 1982 and 1994. can't remember where but there is something about entering a contractual agreement.

 

[thepottleflump]

Stopped doing the 16v sounds wrong to me. As said, if you haven't signed an order form and you haven't placed anything in writing, e.g. letter of intent then you haven't placed an order, ignore the bloke if he keeps hassling you.

 

[sveleganza]

Thanks for the info folks, salesman eventually phoned me at 7.30 saying he was stuck in traffic jam as there had been an accident. He said he had spoke to Fiat (Lies) and there was no more 16v Eleganzas on the system other than 1 in the Bellydance Sand and I don't like that colour. I told him to cancel as I had decided to go for the one at Grays of Warwick who are a far better garage to deal with as far as sales people go. Cheers again.

 

[T14086]

Least he got back to you though,he did try

 

[sveleganza]

Only after I phoned him twice because he failed to phone me like he said he would. First time today I spoke to him and he promised to phone before 5 pm, second time I phoned spoke to receptionist/sales girl who said he was with a customer and he would phone as soon as he was finished with them, that was at 4.35 pm. He phoned me at 7.30. I think he can take a run and jump 'cos if thats the way they treat prospective customers they don't deserve the business!!

 

[sveleganza]

Don't mean to rant on T but I am a patient man but service like that really bugs me. Grays of Warwick have been excellent and very helpful so I will be pleased to deal with them. Forgive me if it sounds as if I have an axe to grind with the bad dealer.

 

[T14086]

Nah its cool,its a forum & your entitled to your say

 

[Old River Man]

I have just read this thread and must say having just ordered a little Panda today I feel some sympathy with you. Why is buying a car full of deceit and rubbish passed on to us the people who pay their wages. I now hate the process and if it a little more simple and the sales staff understood the needs of clients it would be so much better, After all you should not have to worry about asales person who really is just too lazy to call you.

Ok Rant over I really dont think you have a problem signed nowt owe nowt.

 

[T14086]

Worse buying a house though

 

[Old River Man]

Yes OK house buying is very stressful but buying a car SHOULD be very simple.

 

[french bean]

There you go, **** poor dealers costing Fiat SPA valuable business. no wonder the techy's on this site have to put up with underserved abuse.

 

[sveleganza]

Obviously the bad service is an individual thing, I suppose you may even get it at dealerships dealing with more upmarket stuff. Poor customer relations is bad for both the garage and the manufacturer and could cost them sales in the long term. T is right, house buying is stressful but car buying should be fun especially when it comes to seeing what you can haggle out of the dealers.

 

[french bean]

One thing to remember with a lot of volume dealers, the sales guy is told what to say by his manager who in turn is pressured by the DP. The fact he was pushing the 8 valve compared to the 16 valve suggests they've got a few hanging around and they would do anything to shift old stock. If he were honest up front and suggested a special price for the 8 valve then he may have sold some.

It's the same old story, undervalue the customer, get some poor bloke to sign on the dotted line and then walk away laughing, seen it happen so many times in a volume Fiat dealer.

 

[sveleganza]

I know what you're saying but I don't think this was the case here though as the 8v Eleganza is a new model and Fiat only started building them last week from what I heard from a dealer. But you're right, they would be inclined to try and shift the 8v version as I don't see it being a big hit.

 

[french bean]

I'm confused, when the GP came out last year, it was originally fitted with a 1.4, 8 valve engine producing 75 BHP and the 16 valve producing 90BHP, I thought you were talking about the original 8 valve engine. I must be out of touch!

 

[sveleganza]

You're right about the engines (1.4 16v is 95bhp) Originally the Eleganza was done with 16v engine but from 1st March they are only going to be doing it in 8v version, something to do with demand and customers not wanting to pay top dollar for all the extras + 16v engine. Think maybe it's because Eleganza appeals to middle aged and more mature age group so don't need extra 8v. I hasten to add I am prob in this group somewhere, physically but not mentally.

 

[Ess_Three]

My limited experience of the italian mass market car makers agrees with these views...
The cars aren't nearly as bad as the reputation would suggest...it's usually the dealers / salesmen that are the problem.
I'll informed salesmen, not returning calls, general poor service etc...at the end of the day, it's the car buyers who pay their wages!

The Techs tend to be fine...just the middlemen you have to deal with...


Sadly, having spent 15 years buying German cars, many of their dealers are going the same way...and the products aren't nearly as reliable as the 'reliable German' reputation would suggest!

 

[Renegade_8]

First of all well done for digging in and getting the car you want. I know that in the motor trade the sales people get paid peanuts and if they don't earn commission they starve . This is a dumb policy as they tend to move on fast and while they are there all they want to do is shove what's easiest at you and don't care about the next car you will buy as they won't be there to sell it to you. the unfortunate side effect is that neither may the garage. There can be no contract where there is misrepresentation, if you ever hear from the garage who lied just tell them that.
Oh, and I hope the GP 16v is all you wanted.