The joys of large dealerships

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Tue 28 Aug 2007 12:06
The joys of large dealerships - tyro
I have a Ford Ka which I purchased from a large dealership 4 years ago. The dealership has several branches. When buying, I initially went to the dealership in town A, but found the salesman more helpful at the dealership in town B, so I purchased the car at that branch. However since town A is much more convenient, I have always had the car serviced at the branch there.

A few weeks ago, I got a telephone call from the dealership, saying that they noticed my car was due for servicing, and could they book me in. I had been planning to phone them, so I said "Yes" and proceeded to book the car in for a service followed by an MOT.

Yesterday I turned up at the garage with the car. I gave my name, and the car registration number. She had a bit of difficulty finding my booking. She asked if I had been contacted by the call centre, and I said that I had. She went and looked again, and came back with papers, which I signed. I had booked a courtesy car, so she gave me the keys, and off I went. At 4.30, I came back and picked up my car, serviced and MOTed, and went home.

This morning I got a telephone call from the dealership saying that I hadn't showed up, and would I like to book in on another date. I assured the lady on the telephone that I had indeed showed up, and the work had been done to my satisfaction - adding that it had been done at the branch in town A. She then told me that the booking was for the branch in town B. No mention of this had been made in the original phone call, and I had just assumed it was the town A branch, since they have done all the previous services. She wasn't bothered, so it seems that all is well that ends well.

The totally astonishing thing was that the branch in town A had managed not only to fit me in without any problem, but had also given me a courtesy car!
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Tue 28 Aug 2007 13:46
The joys of large dealerships - Bill Payer
but had also given me a courtesy car!


I always book a courtesy car but I'd say that about 50% of the time I ran compnay cars when I turn up at the dealership they'd flatly deny it. They always manage to rustle one up though, so they must have plently kicking around.

Although my brothers wife was called a liar by an Audi dealer when she took her car in and said she'd booked a courtesy car - she was made to wait "90 mins" that turned into 4 hours.
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Wed 29 Aug 2007 09:34
The joys of large dealerships - ijws15
I cannot imagine any dealer wanting my wife sat in their showroom for 4 hours in the mood she would be in if they had done that to her.

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