Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2000 19:43:00 -0700
Reply-To: Rennie Wible <volksdragon@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Rennie Wible <volksdragon@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: yet another VW-dealer-jerk story (long)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
I am on the New Beetle list and will forward the story.
Rennie
VolksDragon@earthlink.net
Los Angeles
61 crew cab (911 conversion)
65 convertible
84 vanagon (for sale)
84 vanagon (another for sale)
86 syncro
93 fox
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) --
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