Date: Sat, 14 Oct 2000 21:30:49 +1000
Reply-To: Chris Mundy <cwmundy@OPTUSNET.COM.AU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Chris Mundy <cwmundy@OPTUSNET.COM.AU>
Subject: Re: yet another VW-dealer-jerk story (long)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Hi Björn and others,
In Australia we have couple means whereby these people can be exposed for
their "inappropriate business behaviour" Do you have these types of
organisations in Canada??
Consumer Affairs Department
These high powered public(civil) servants can give a business a "really bad
time" if they have breached the trade practise acts or abuse their
privileges as a company. Many state governments like to loose these types of
business'. It would be not uncommon for them to provide a "referral" to Tax
Office(IRS in USA) to come and peruse their "books", nothing worse than
having a relationship with the Tax Department.
Motor Traders Association
This is an association whereby Car Dealers and Repairers have a "Code of
Conduct to abide by" nothing worse than being struck of the MTA list. For a
look see http://www.mtansw.com.au/ for the MTA in NSW, Australia.
TV Current Affairs Show
These guys are on national television and create Hell on earth for the poor
recipient if they are right or wrong. Usually shoot first and ask questions
later stuff. If the story is about people getting "ripped off" by "con men"
then it's a sure bet it will be on TV. Aussie's hate being ripped off. For a
look see http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/default.asp
I would certainly use what available means you have to further this so that
these people are protected and along with the other people who will venture
their way.
Have they made complaint to the owner of the business? Maybe the owner's are
not aware of what is going on within their organisation.
Dave Marshall's suggestion about e-mails and fax fan-mail might make them
see the light!
As dictionary.com says about Oxymoron
oxymoron n : conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening silence',
cruel kindness, laborious idleness)
in this case its "Customer Service"
All the best...
Chris
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christopher W. Mundy
89 VW Caravelle GL
Canberra Australia
Ph: 61 2 62419343 AEST
Wk: 61 2 62446749 AEST
E-Mail: cwmundy@optusnet.com.au
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alan Bosch wrote:
> Has anyone taken the initiative to post Bjorn's tale to any of the other
VW
> lists? Realising that those that suffered are Vanagon owners, isn't
> limiting this discussion and exposure to this particular list throttling
> said exposure, and therefore the potential impact wide-spread exposure
> could bring? There must be a New Beetle, Jetta, Passat list out there
> somewhere - some here may even be members of said lists - and putting this
> tale on those lists could bring even greater pressure to bear on the
> offending dealer. Let's face it - there are fewer Vanagon owners than
> there are owners of Passats, Jettas, and New Beetles.
>
> Just a thought...
>
> Alan Bosch
> & Phred ('88 Wolfsburg)
> Rochester, NY
>
> David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> on 10/11/2000
> 09:50:17 PM
>
> Please respond to David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
>
> Sent by: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> cc:
> Subject: Re: yet another VW-dealer-jerk story (long)
>
> Bjorn,
> A few summers ago just after I bought my Syncro I stopped at Harbourview
VW
> to get some coolant as it was down a little. After paying around $18 for
> the 4L jug of coolant, I asked the parts department guy how do I know
where
> there is enough coolant in there (remember I was still VERY green to the
> boxer engine at that time). Basically after he sold me the coolant and
> knew I wasn't going to buy anything else he wouldn't give me the time of
> day and said all the mechanics were too busy to help... at this point **I
> knew** I was CERTANLY NOT going to buy anything else from them. I later
> drove to my friends house and he showed me the correct procedure.
>
> Looks like their sales people suck just as much as their parts department.
>
> To put a happy(er) glow on the bad dealer saga - I can not recommend Hub
> City Motors in Prince George enough! The parts guys are great and service
> guys are great - sales people, well their OK :)
>
> Next time I am in Nanaimo I will make a point of going in and give them a
> hard time over this. Perhaps I should fax this email to them and tell
them
> THOUSANDS of people have seen what kind of jerks they are...
>
> At 11:41 PM 10/10/2000 -0700, Bjorn Ratjen wrote:
> >Hello Volks,
> >
> >Friends of mine who are retired and are just selling their house were
> >looking for a good car to travel and live in. They owned a 1986 Syncro
> >Crewcab (rebuild engine) and a 1990 Westfalia Vanagon (175000 kms)
> >Automatic. They would really like a good Syncro Westie.
> >
> >The VW dealership in Nanaimo, BC (Harbourview) sold them a 1997 Winnebago
> >Eurovan with VR6 (37900 kms) for can$46995. They took both of their
> >vehicles in trade for a total of can$20500. After tax and extended
> warranty
> >this left their bill at can$33000. (Note: the same vehicle is currently
> >offered at the Victoria dealership for can$41900).
> >
> >They tried the Winnebago Eurovan for almost two weeks and did not like
it.
> >In the meantime the dealer had done repairs to their Westfalia totalling
> >can$7200 retail (engine replacement, new tires, new sliding door) with
> >another can$2000 still to come for paint jobs. Their Syncro had all CV
> >joints replaced and new brakes (I would estimate this at about $2000).
> >
> >My friends offered to pay can$12000 for all repairs plus can$3000 for use
> >of the Eurovan in order to reverse the trade. The dealer offered a return
> >value af the Eurovan at can$36000 and they could buy their Vanagon back
> >valued at can$18500 and they would get can$17500 back from their cheque.
> >This would basically mean that they would pay can$15500 (33000-17500) for
> >repairs totalling less than can$10000 and loose their Syncro crewcab. The
> >owner of the dealership insists that he is now owning the Syncro Crewcab
> >and he proudly said that he intends to fully restore it. (He knows that
he
> >will make money on that one.)
> >
> >When I heard the story I was quite offended and offered help with
> >negotiations. After about three hours and ridiculous posturing and
inuendo
> >on the salesman's part, twists and turns where they wanted to sell their
> >version as a good deal, they basically said: too bad. I have to say that
> my
> >friends are very honest people who do not have much experience with
> dealing
> >and wheeling. It was very hard on them as they also are giving up their
> >home and were under time pressure.
> >
> >After a couple more pushes the dealer finally suggested an alternate
> >option: to guarantee a buyback value of can$38000 as a trade in and first
> >dibs on a Westfalia Vanagon when available. (That's where the whole game
> >will start again of course when values are inflated as needed.)
> >
> >Apart from the financial loss it also leaves the bad taste, when honest
> >elderly people - who are maybe not up to speed when it comes to
negotiating
> >and are not always aware of the pitfalls - are being taken for a ride for
> >someone else's profit.
> >
> >I just wanted to vent this and hopefully this serves as warning for
others
> >in dealing with car dealerships. Forget customer satisfaction and all the
> >advertised lies, prepare for a trip through the jungle.
> >
> >Björn
> >
> >
> >
> >Björn Ratjen
> >Mill Bay, B.C.
> >
> >1987 Vanagon Syncro est alia (self camperized, TDI wannabe)
> >1978 VW Bulli (self camperized)
> >1995 Passat TD Wagon (hers)
> >1970 VW Beetle (son's)
> >
> >
>
> -- David Marshall - Volkswagen Enthusiast - Quesnel, BC, Canada --
> -- 78 VW Rabbit, 79 VW Iltis, 80 VW Caddy, 84 VW Westfalia --
> -- 85 VW Cabriolet, 87 Audi 5000 Quattro, 88 VW Syncro Double Cab --
> -- David's Volkswagen Home Page http://www.volkswagen.org --
> -- Fast Forward Autobahn Sport Tuning http://www.fastforward.ca --
> -- david@volkswagen.org (pmail) or vanagon@volkswagen.org (list) --