Why should you feel special? You bought a car, get over it
General Why Minis will will be more profitable than 500s
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General Why Minis will will be more profitable than 500s
My dealer was fantastic - and the after sales care is good too.
In the old days, being made to feel 'special' was your reward for paying the asking price, or to make sure you come back again.Why should you feel special? You bought a car, get over it
Everyone walks away happy.
However, nowadays, the whole experience for both parties is tainted by slashed internet prices, fierce competitors, low margins, higher customer expectations etc etc.
I guess if the salesperson is pressured to meet large targets and their bosses keep shouting 'numbers, numbers', they lose sight of the 'personal touch' or risk losing business to the competition..
At the end of the day, because of increased marketing & the internet, people do shop around for the best deal, not everyone, but most do...
And its highly unlikely people will return to the same dealer for their next purchase... as there is so much choice...
I agree with the sentiment of this thread whole heartedly. The 500 apprears to be the first car in ages that has attracted people who wouldnt normaly concider a Fiat. I am one of them.
Having been to a "few" other car deelers I looked at Smart, mini, and ford before i went to Fiat, I can safely say the Fiat one was hopelss in comparison, they just are no where near as professional as I had expected. Im sure there are some deelerships and personel that are excellent but on the whole Fiats customer face sucks and makes them look like a cheep and rough outfit.
If i hadnt wanted the car as much as i did Fiat wouldnt have gotten a penny out of me.
This forum was the main reason I went with then and then stuck with the purchase the deeler was a annoying middle man !
Having been to a "few" other car deelers I looked at Smart, mini, and ford before i went to Fiat, I can safely say the Fiat one was hopelss in comparison, they just are no where near as professional as I had expected. Im sure there are some deelerships and personel that are excellent but on the whole Fiats customer face sucks and makes them look like a cheep and rough outfit.
If i hadnt wanted the car as much as i did Fiat wouldnt have gotten a penny out of me.
This forum was the main reason I went with then and then stuck with the purchase the deeler was a annoying middle man !
trphil
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A few years ago now I was sitting in the showroom of the local Volkwagen dealership waiting for my 24 hour test drive Bora to be ready, this was just after the New Beetle became available in right hand drive and there was one in the showroom. The salesman was showing the car to a potential customer who asked "Is the engine still in the back?", now I jest you not, the salesman said "I'll go and find out" and walked off!
While he was gone I answered the chap's question and opened the bonnet for him.
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Bear in mind somebody has to PAY for all those high-gloss stone tiles, tailored suits, discharge lights, and heavily air conditioned greenhouses run by BMW, Audi, Merc etc etc.
Personally I'd rather leave that to drivers of those brands
Dealers are getting there and much improved from say 5 years ago.
They are just middlemen under pressure like all businesses in a recession, enjoy the car and look past your pre-conceptions.
The car is priced many thousands less than MINI - think about that.
They are just middlemen under pressure like all businesses in a recession, enjoy the car and look past your pre-conceptions.
The car is priced many thousands less than MINI - think about that.
Few years back I walked into a Mercedes Dealership (just cos I fancied a New Merc at the time) and I kid you not, I was completely ignored.
I even went over to a salesguy and started to ask him a question, he interupted me and said he was busy with another client and would come to me as soon as he could.
20 minutes of standing around and I walked out fuming.... ok... I did look a bit young for my age, but never the less....
Went to the BMW dealer down the road, was greeted straight away, sat down with a coffee, discussed the options and bought a £33k car :worship:
Would never buy a Merc now...
I even went over to a salesguy and started to ask him a question, he interupted me and said he was busy with another client and would come to me as soon as he could.
20 minutes of standing around and I walked out fuming.... ok... I did look a bit young for my age, but never the less....
Went to the BMW dealer down the road, was greeted straight away, sat down with a coffee, discussed the options and bought a £33k car :worship:
Would never buy a Merc now...
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Few years back I walked into a Mercedes Dealership (just cos I fancied a New Merc at the time) and I kid you not, I was completely ignored.
I even went over to a salesguy and started to ask him a question, he interupted me and said he was busy with another client and would come to me as soon as he could.
20 minutes of standing around and I walked out fuming.... ok... I did look a bit young for my age, but never the less....
Went to the BMW dealer down the road, was greeted straight away, sat down with a coffee, discussed the options and bought a £33k car :worship:
Would never buy a Merc now...
You have to book an appointment to see a Mercedes Consultant
Hmmm ... it may be a geographic issue as you are Glasgow based and have had a similar experience.
Can you name the last "cutey" before the 500?..............Thought not!!
When the Mini was introduced the girl in the dealership knew everything about it. She was a very impressive saleswoman.
When the 500 was introduced the salespeople I spoke to knew less about it than I did. If the public has access to information on the net, so do car sellers. They should make themselves aware of their product, and the competition. That is what professionalism is all about.
And they shouldn't, ever, be rude to prospective buyers; which a few Fiat people are quite capable of.
I don't know what it is about car dealerships. The goods are very expensive ; the biggest transactions most of us make, yet the buying experience can be truly unpleasant. Some of them are excellent though; and I know who I will be buying my next car from.
But then; look at estate agents!
When the 500 was introduced the salespeople I spoke to knew less about it than I did. If the public has access to information on the net, so do car sellers. They should make themselves aware of their product, and the competition. That is what professionalism is all about.
And they shouldn't, ever, be rude to prospective buyers; which a few Fiat people are quite capable of.
I don't know what it is about car dealerships. The goods are very expensive ; the biggest transactions most of us make, yet the buying experience can be truly unpleasant. Some of them are excellent though; and I know who I will be buying my next car from.
But then; look at estate agents!
There is no question the 500 is a cute car, we had a similar problem with our local fiat dealer when ordering our car. They showed little interest in trying to sell the car to me as they know there is a waiting time, however this will not last forever so very short sighted attitude!! Anyway I went to a fiat dealer 50 miles away as they were happy to give me the time unlike my nearest dealer and they explained in detail the ins / outs of the car. Being the owner of an original mini, fiat have made a good job of releasing a car with similar character to the original, unlike the new mini!!!
So fiat dealers think on and remember customers are king, even more so in this climate!
So fiat dealers think on and remember customers are king, even more so in this climate!
Mitsubishi Evo X
Even has a little 'X' kiss after its name.... awwww.... cutesie...
Agreed
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Due to collect 1.2 Sport sometime this month.This will be my 4th Fiat(or should i say my wife's). I have always been pleased with dealers service and knowledge of vehicles.Have owned BMW's and Mercs and have not had any bad experiences.Presently dealing with Glyn Hopkin(Buckhurst Hill) whilst their showroom is not state of the art salesman are knowledgeable and up to speed.Did visit Mini showroom at Chigwell and i knew more about the range than she did!
There are some good estate agents-hopefully i am one of them!
The only thing that appeals to me about the Mini is the 5 years servicing TLC package for £185. Fiat service is expensive against this. But to be fair, the mini is SO much more expensive to buy in the first place you really pay it up front.
As for the dealers, I went to several before I found a salesman I wanted to deal with. I went with my bro's girlfriend to pick up her 500, and her salesman was rude, snappy and arguementative. I had great fun annoying him, even though I had to behave myself for her sake!
They said dealing with him has really soured their buying experience.
I wouldn't let a bad dealer put me off buying a brand though, I go to another dealership. I am a first time fiat buyer. If I really wanted a Mercedes I wouldn't go and buy a BMW....using that logic I would have bought either a Suzuki or Hyundai as both their dealers were superb. But then I looked at a 500, and that's what it had to be!
As for the dealers, I went to several before I found a salesman I wanted to deal with. I went with my bro's girlfriend to pick up her 500, and her salesman was rude, snappy and arguementative. I had great fun annoying him, even though I had to behave myself for her sake!
They said dealing with him has really soured their buying experience.
I wouldn't let a bad dealer put me off buying a brand though, I go to another dealership. I am a first time fiat buyer. If I really wanted a Mercedes I wouldn't go and buy a BMW....using that logic I would have bought either a Suzuki or Hyundai as both their dealers were superb. But then I looked at a 500, and that's what it had to be!
Arnold Clark - Paisley (Rude)what 4 garages did you go to
Arnold Clark - Springburn (Clueless - think this might also be the Abarth dealer, not sure)
Bickets Kilmarnock - Pleasant, facilitating but little knowledge of the car - misquoted key 'facts'
Parks, East Kilbride - patronising and not much knowledge
This is in essence my main point. The honeymoon won't last for ever and Fiat need to make the most of the opportunity
I tried AC Paisley to buy my 500, they hadn't a clue.
I bought mine from Parks, the 500 specialist was very good, and the sales manager was there when the 500 guy was off.
No complaints
Was considering an AbarthSS so, yup, Springburn is the Abarth dealership. Still waiting for a test drive, 6 months after being promised a call. I called three times, never got a reply, no sale, I'll keep my money thanks.
Cheers
SPD
