Vanagon EuroVan
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Date:         Wed, 11 Oct 2000 18:50:17 -0700
Reply-To:     David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Subject:      Re: yet another VW-dealer-jerk story (long)
Comments: To: Bjorn Ratjen <Bjorn@IGLIDE.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <4.1.20001010225839.044386e0@mail.direct.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

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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