I just rang my local FIAT dealer to arrange for them to check out an electrical problem under warranty. They say they have been told by HEAD OFFICE not to book in any more jobs!
I couldn't get any more sense out of the girl on the phone, and she gave me the names of two other local dealers.
This is my first new car since 1965 ( a MINI COOPER. LMB 472C £590) and I'm somewhat taken aback to find a Franchised dealer just saying "we can't do it, go somewhere else". Should I just "go somewhere else" or try contacting FIAT UK?
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If I was an employee of that group, I'd be finding out where the local Jobcentre was.
Sounds like the receivers have arrived.
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I know that in an attempt to improve their dealer performance, Fiat UK were in the process of getting rid of poor dealerships. I suspect they are one of them, so will no longer be authorised to carry out warranty repairs. I would try calling Fiat UK and if that is the case, get the nearest alternative from them.
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Sounds like the receivers have arrived.
Yup. The bit about not booking in any more jobs is a dead giveaway.
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When they say "Head Office" I think they may mean head office of their franchise or organisation and not the office of FIAT UK. I can't see FIAT UK issuing an instruction like that; maybe there are financial problems at the dealership?
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I just spoke to FIAT UK. They say they haven't told the dealership to suspend workshop bookings. They suggest that the dealership probably has too many jobs booked in already, and that I should contact other nearby dealers.
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'too many jobs booked in' ?!?!?!!?!!??!??!!??!?
Yeah, right!
Make no business sense. The least they would do is say "it'll be three weeks before we can look at it, sir."
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. "I can't see FIAT UK issuing an instruction like that; maybe there are financial problems at the dealership?"
Is`t there a big dealer group at the moment that`s sort of, er, having trouble continuing to *breathe fire*
If it is, I wonder if the Fiat dealers were `the weakest link`
Regards
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oilrag.
I know what you mean. Nicely put. :-)
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My local Northampton Fiat dealer just refuses to come up on the dealer search on Fiat's website, despite the fact that they are looking forward to the launch of the 500 on the 21st and were as suprised as I was to learn that they dont appear in the searches.
Maybe they have lost their franchise, who knows. It is a little pokey place altho great for access.
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I gave an incorrect, out of vogue answer, I think....
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i have mentioned this several times before....Fiat are the worst at paying warranty claims in terms of "Hard cash". Very often a dealer will either do the work gratis or wait and wait.
I waited for 3 days for a water pump to be authoridsed to be repalced under warranty once it was It was delivered and fitted in less than 24 hours !!
Most dealers accept that Fiat is a secondary brand or to add to a portfolio. The MD of a resonably large chain who i know well told me that the only reason they keep going with Fiat is they don't have to invest in a new property based on a two year deal - they do with VW and the finance deals bring a fair few punters through the door.
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Stuart,
Our local Citroen dealer - part of the group mentioned above - has similarly gone "off the radar", though in that case Cit have appointed a new franchise albeit a name I'd previously associated with Ford and on the other side of town. Apparently only the spares bit was in profit (how can you charge nearly £100/hr for labour and loose!!!!); the site was worth more under houses.
Cannot help thinking they boarded the slippery slope when the very well known local name was replaced by a "national" brand.
Edited by Bromptonaut on 08/01/2008 at 19:21
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Bromptonaut,
I know the dealer you mean - terrible customer service, so its no wonder. I like the sign that says they have relocated in the next town - thats not a relocation, thats a shut down if ever I heard it!
Also note that the local Suzuki dealer shut down - I spoke to someone who used to work there and was told that customers were deserting in huge numbers on account of the poor customer service - something which has benefitted the next most local dealer that I have used since I bought my Suzuki, in a huge way by all accounts.
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When Reg Vardy were taken over and their Fiat dealerships were closed down, the only way I got to find out that the Sunderland dealership was closing was when they refused to book me in for warranty work on my Panda. Fortunately I moved to Benfield in Newcastle and would not move from them. In addition, Vardy's new owners would be unlikely to get my business in the future if I was looking for one of the models that they continue to sell locally.
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Yes, i forgot, Vardy`s new owners seemed to close all the taken over Fiat franchises some time ago.
Maybe Fiat are still still directly closing Alfa and fiat franchises too.
I think its unfortunate that the franchised Fiat network seems so thin now, because the cars are good (galvanised) when contrasted with the low cost to purchase.
Although there was (allegedly) a stated intent to roll out new franchises, perhaps Fiat could usefully consider the customer/ dealer, propinquity effect, surely as essential as any individually improved franchise?
Regards
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Is the dealer Caledonia?
Correct.....
collect your coconut at the exit.
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>> Is the dealer Caledonia? Correct..... collect your coconut at the exit.
>>
I would say a prime candidate for uncle Arnie to buy out then. Heaven help you all then . . . . . . . ..
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"Correct.....
collect your coconut at the exit. "
In that case, the reason is they went in to administration yesterday.....
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