General Green touch up paint.

[S33]

I have a Panda 4x4 which is almost a year old. I last enquired about a touch up paint when it was 3 months old and was told they hadn't released one yet. I thought I'd try again recently as there are a couple of tiny stone chips and........they say there is still no touch up paint available!
When I ordered my car, the colour was called Surprising Green. I believe its now Tuscan Green but its the same colour and the name was changed soon after launch. Paint code on my car is 374c.
Has anyone managed to get an official Fiat touch up paint, and if so, how?!
Thanks

 

[triumph7]

I have a Panda 4x4 which is almost a year old. I last enquired about a touch up paint when it was 3 months old and was told they hadn't released one yet. I thought I'd try again recently as there are a couple of tiny stone chips and........they say there is still no touch up paint available!
When I ordered my car, the colour was called Surprising Green. I believe its now Tuscan Green but its the same colour and the name was changed soon after launch. Paint code on my car is 374c.
Has anyone managed to get an official Fiat touch up paint, and if so, how?!
Thanks

If it's any consolation, I have the same problem with Sicilian Orange!! Bit of a joke really.....

 

[Palio]

Mum was in the local dealer for an hour yesterday trying to get a Tuscany green touch up pen. They are meant to be ringing her......

I agree, it's ridiculous!

Is this colour available in Italy? If so, I wonder if anyone can order from there for us? :idea:

 

[S33]

So. I spoke to Fiat customer relations about this and the outcome.....they don't make one in this colour due to "supply and demand". What on earth does that mean!! I was helpfully advised that I could get one made up elsewhere if I had the paint code. I was unhappy with this response so asked to speak to someone else or at least ask the question why there is no touch up paint for a car which is a year old. Result? - can't help me any more and they have answered my question. ABSOLUTE RUBBISH FIAT! How can they get away with service like this?

 

[triumph7]

So. I spoke to Fiat customer relations about this and the outcome.....they don't make one in this colour due to "supply and demand". What on earth does that mean!! I was helpfully advised that I could get one made up elsewhere if I had the paint code. I was unhappy with this response so asked to speak to someone else or at least ask the question why there is no touch up paint for a car which is a year old. Result? - can't help me any more and they have answered my question. ABSOLUTE RUBBISH FIAT! How can they get away with service like this?

I shall contact them tomorrow. Pester power....
I have the same grievance with them over the lack of mud flaps for the new 4x4...,they still supply them for the previous model for chrissake!

 

[babbo_umbro]

So. I spoke to Fiat customer relations about this and the outcome.....they don't make one in this colour due to "supply and demand". What on earth does that mean!! I was helpfully advised that I could get one made up elsewhere if I had the paint code. I was unhappy with this response so asked to speak to someone else or at least ask the question why there is no touch up paint for a car which is a year old. Result? - can't help me any more and they have answered my question. ABSOLUTE RUBBISH FIAT! How can they get away with service like this?

We're off to Italy in a month or so and I'll enquire while we're there.

 

[Super Uwe]

So. I spoke to Fiat customer relations about this and the outcome.....they don't make one in this colour due to "supply and demand". What on earth does that mean!! I was helpfully advised that I could get one made up elsewhere if I had the paint code. I was unhappy with this response so asked to speak to someone else or at least ask the question why there is no touch up paint for a car which is a year old. Result? - can't help me any more and they have answered my question. ABSOLUTE RUBBISH FIAT! How can they get away with service like this?

That is a truly pathetic response. I'm sorry, you've paid a lot of money for your car (the 4x4's aren't exactly cheap compared to a 1.2 Pop), and spare parts should be made available. It's not as if you are asking for free touch-up paint either. Supply and demand, what utter balls!

If I were you, then I would definitely keep on at them. Also, I would post on the Fiat UK Facebook page if you are a Facebook user; quote the "supply and demand" line! That should make interesting reading...

Would also try your dealer as well; I was very lucky in that my dealer was quite persistent when it came to ordering new heated mirror glass for our Panda (see this thread: https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-iii/337449-important-info-re-heated-wing-mirrors.html).

 

[S33]

Thanks for the responses. Good suggestion about the Facebook page. I'll see if this gets us anywhere!

 

[triumph7]

Thanks for the responses. Good suggestion about the Facebook page. I'll see if this gets us anywhere!

I've posted on fb and also have raised a case enquiry with fiat customer service

 

[triumph7]

I have had this reply from Fiat


We are sorry to inform that the we do not have the Sicilian orange color code available as a touch up from Fiat due to the low volume of cars produced in this color...this will need to be mixed and obtained from a local bodyshop/paint supplier and would like to offer our genuine apologies for any inconvenience you may have experienced through this situation.


Does anyone think this is acceptable because I don't and will be taking it further

 

[Alsatian1]

I have had this reply from Fiat


We are sorry to inform that the we do not have the Sicilian orange color code available as a touch up from Fiat due to the low volume of cars produced in this color...this will need to be mixed and obtained from a local bodyshop/paint supplier and would like to offer our genuine apologies for any inconvenience you may have experienced through this situation.


Does anyone think this is acceptable because I don't and will be taking it further

I completely get your annoyance, but are fiat obliged to actually offer these touch up pens? As a business, they have profits to consider before selling anything and if the pens aren't worth it for them why bother? I suppose the only way to get one is if everyone with sicilian orange and tuscany green harasses them with emails and shows there is enough demand. Personally I would have said that response was polite and professional.

 

[triumph7]

I completely get your annoyance, but are fiat obliged to actually offer these touch up pens? As a business, they have profits to consider before selling anything and if the pens aren't worth it for them why bother? I suppose the only way to get one is if everyone with sicilian orange and tuscany green harasses them with emails and shows there is enough demand. Personally I would have said that response was polite and professional.

I don't disagree with its politeness and professionalism.... Thats not the issue.

 

[Super Uwe]

I completely get your annoyance, but are fiat obliged to actually offer these touch up pens? As a business, they have profits to consider before selling anything and if the pens aren't worth it for them why bother? I suppose the only way to get one is if everyone with sicilian orange and tuscany green harasses them with emails and shows there is enough demand. Personally I would have said that response was polite and professional.

I agree with you it's polite and professional, but it's still truly pathetic IMO. If cost is such an issue then why on earth did they even bother offering these colours in the first place anyway?

Am not sure how the touch up paint is manufactured, but given the Sicilian Orange paint is still available to order for new cars, it can't really be that hard, surely?

And as I mentioned above, the customer would have to pay for the touch up paint anyway. So if Fiat can't get their maths right and make a loss on these products, then they would only have themselves to blame IMO.
triumph7 - I would definitely pursue this, but I agree with Alsatian1 that you will need some others to come on board.

 

[babbo_umbro]

It's a bit of a bummer but I assume they must be able to supply the paint itself, just not in touch-up form. I've never used one, so is the form of the paint different in a touch-up pen than in, say, a litre can?

 

[Teflon]

I would ask customer services to organise one of their dealer body shops to mix you some up, after all the handbook does say to repair damage immediately!

 

[deeyup]

I don't know what you don't just buy the paint from an automotive paint shop?
The fiat branded one would be no different.

My Sicilian orange mirrors are a spot on match and my local Bodyshop painted them from the code I gave them.

 

[triumph7]

Well yes I could do if I wanted a pint of the stuff, I need an amount less than half a little fingernails worth! I don't think my expectations for a touch up tin is unreasonable. Every other car I have ever owned has had one available - in fact with one or 2 there was one supplied with the car. How difficult can it be.
Its a small thing but really annoying.

 

[deeyup]

There's a few suppliers out there who can give you exactly what you want.
Here's one. http://cartouchuppaints.co.uk