Are all VW dealers the same?

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Depends on the dealer.

Loughborough (Arthur Prince) Bad - uninterested, treated us like we were a hindrance.
Leicester (Reg Vardy) Better

So we bought fiancé's Polo in Leicester...

Leicester Audi are shockers though! 

[Teutonic_Tamer]

I've no experience of Audi though being a pauper. 

Still get good uns, still get shockers!

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Speaking on behalf of our dealership, Des Winks.. I can honestly say I think were way better than those experiences youve stated.
We are a family run dealership (Des Winks being a person - who has since passed away, dealership since run by his son in law). We own only this one dealership, in this one area, so no automated answering machines for different departments of dealerships. It's just us. 

Never heard of them?  What town are they based in? 

[Merlinman]

Arthur Prince is my local dealership.

I've used them for 30+ years.

Parts and service are very good - and I get exemplary service and good prices.

However my last 3 Golf have been sourced from other dealerships via brokers - well worth a £16.50 train trip to Brighton to save £3k on my current car AP were suggesting £500!

Sales Dept seems to exist on old customers coming back and 'trusting' the salesman  - how daft is that?

However, like all dealerships there seems to be a 'wind of change' and hopefully they'll step up to the mark next time?

[Merlinman]

Des Winks - Scarborough?

[Teutonic_Tamer]

they should check for updates/recalls to ALL vehicles before the vehicle comes in.. its good practice, as they say. 

Yup, I think you will find they all will check for updates and the likes - but if there arn't actually any updates to be applied - then they can't put em on!   

the more courses i go on and more people from other dealerships i talk to, it is amazing how some are still up and running, as they just dont have the enthusiasum for the brand or customers to be deliverying good customer service.

You hit the nail on the head.  Most sales monkeys are just nomads on comission - they may just be 'transitting through' at a specific VW dealership - having been at Ford a year earlier.  Next year, they will probably work for Honda or whatever.

[DanoGTI]

Well I can add to the list....

Recommended
Specialist cars
GR8 cars - very courteous and did their best to help,
James & James cars - really helpful. Shame the car had sold.
Mark Richards car - again, really courteous, but we couldn't do a deal.


AVOID
South Hereford VW - left too many calls to mention now. Won't even call back.
Wrexham VW - same as above.
Bristol haven't even returned my call.


In all fairness I haven't tried Listers of Worcester, although they did try to do the dirty when I was buying my Audi.
May give em a shout to see what they say
Will also be trying Birmingham too.

Dan

[No Golf Clubs at all]

Dealers that dont call back, why?
1. Lazy
2. Stupid
3. Don't think you were serious
4. Poor local admin
5. Think if you're serious you'll call them
6. Ignorant and rude
7. Unprofessional

I wonder which is the most likely root cause, whatever it is, it makes my blood boil. When they fail to call me now, I go to the head of sales, complain (sorry give them positive feedback) and don't ever go back. I'd love a name and shame section in here.....

[DanoGTI]

My personal experiences were based around points 4 & 7 with potentially (from the impressions given) a bit of 1.

Still, on the move with another dealer at the moment - will see what happens.


I *do* want to use the VW dealer network, as despite everybody's experiences, they provide the "OEM" service for these cars.
I think it's just a case of finding a good one, and sticking to them.

From my perspective, this will provide years of purchases, as I'm interested in PCP, as will my wife be later this year (not bullsh1t - we're both looking at long-term purchasing here). Could be a lot of business for the right dealer.

Mad innit?!!!

Dan

[DanoGTI]

Well I can confirm that from my findings, there's at least TWO good dealers

1. Listers VW (not Audi - see previous post) in Worcester (Maria Jeary to be precise) - great service, went above and beyond to help. Answered all of my questions AND managed to give me a p/ex valuation on the Audi   
Sadly, the car I looked at was sold before we could do any deal. I knew this may be the issue anyway - the aim was to get the p/ex price. She ALSO sorted out the question why nobody could find the car....... it originally came from Audi Ireland. When they did the paperwork, somebody missed/screwed up a digit off the VIN 
She's on the look out for a car now.

Still, happy to get to the bottom of it and I'm very relieved.

2. Cheltenham VW (Lee Evans) - despite not actually having a car in stock, has BENT over backwards to help. Also on the lookout for a car.

Phew!!

In the meantime, I'm still going to try and sell mine privately (anybody want a 1998 S4 Avant with 117K for £4750? )

I'm getting there - slowly, but I'm getting there

DAn