Ordered my car 3 weeks ago from "that mad Chinese woman" - very efficient service - perhaps not the most professional in that she is quite informal, but I have no problem with that. Always answers emails - usually within minutes.
My car is a factory order (8 week wait) and she still emails me at least once each week just to keep in touch even if there is nothing to say. Also sent me one of her infamous free lunch's :-)
|
That lovely chineese lady once told me that she would never never under any circumstances lease a car to me because
a) She knows I will be paraonoid about getting little scratches on it
b) She knows I will be taking it back every week with a new fault.
I think she is fairly selected of who she deals with, and prefers older drivers with a bit of experience as these are usualy less hassle.
I know her via another site and has given me quite a lot of business advice.
With regard the other companies would it be worth reporting it to trading standards if the deals don't exist? A lot of travel agents have got into trouble for doing just that.
|
|
|
|
>>I complained to a certain car mag 'What' should have known better>>
If, as I presume, you are referring to a monthly magazine, then some advertising pages information could well be incorrect due to the time lapse between placing advertisements and the appearance and shelf life of the magazine.
Remember it will be on sale for approximately a month after publication.
|
If you are talking about Lings I honestly thought that was a spoof website!
No-one would buy from there unless they were in on it would they?
|
Her website breaks just about every single design rule but she is sucessful and it works for her but if she ever asks for opinions on her site I will be more than happy to give it :D.
It makes a fefreshing change from the bland looking corperate things I have designed for clients in the past.
Knowing Ling I suspect she gets most her business from forums and her dragon's den publicity rather than the website itself. She is quite a well known forum poster although I don't think she is a member on here.
It really does add a nice personal touch though which is lacking in so many businesses.
|
|
|
|
If as I presume you are referring to a monthly magazine
SQ
Sorry, I actually meant the online website of the magazine. I rang up the companies offering the slightly unbelievably cheap deals and every one of them said both the magazine website and their own websites were out of date and they offered to email me the excel spreadsheet.
Of course, I did this over a two month period with exactly the same spiel from them, so it's clearly misleading the public.
On the other hand, the Chinese lady updates her site every week day. Mind you, even she was caught out when I requested a quote to lease a Chrysler Voyager - after a bit of a merry dance she then said she couldn't get the cars listed, but it took 5 days to get the listing off the site.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 22/04/2009 at 01:11
|
|
|
|
Thanks for all the replies. I might try the chinese one. Though I have to say it doesn't portray much confidence.
I have to say that DSG have been polite and helpful but cannot get the cars.
Also bit surprised they have been 'recommended' by Honestjohn - well that's what they told me, also said it takes a lot of effort to get an advert on the HJ website.
Edited by Neilly on 21/04/2009 at 23:27
|
Thanks for all the replies. I might try the chinese one. Though I have to say it doesn't portray much confidence.
I don't know how she can conduct business the way she does and get away with it - apart from being generally rude, her remarks are sometimes extremely racist. And have a look at the "moan" link on her website.
I have to say that DSG have been polite and helpful but cannot get the cars.
Perhaps turn it around and ask them what they have actually got available?
I don't know how DSG work, but Ling is simply a broker, marketing deals that are available in lots of places. She doesn't lease the cars herself, your contract would be with a finance house.
|
|
(Bell Boy's post has been blitzed because it might have caused offence.)
Edited by Honestjohn on 22/04/2009 at 04:47
|
Bill you may need to be a little bit careful what you say on a public forum, I have been very nice about things but when I did enquire on a public forum about leasing she replied to me (with what I said in my first reply to this thread) and I can't say it was that polite.
I can't say I have read anything that was racist though.
Either I have been told that she does not want me as a customer, I wish I could do that with some of mine!!!
Edited by Rattle on 22/04/2009 at 00:18
|
I can't say I have read anything that was racist though.
She's probably most critical about Chinese - perhaps she's allowed to do that!
She's a very small-time operator - she's just good at generating publicity. They say there's no such thing as bad publicity, but I'm not so sure.
|
Think you will find that she is the "Front Man" of the outfit. Her husband set up the leasing company Caledonian (spelling?) so as a family they are well experienced.
Also the comment re her being a broker is correct - my car is actually being financed by Citroen direct, but the price through Ling was cheaper than the local dealer could get to.
She can be a little direct, and I suspect that she scares off quite a few punters, but I imagine that she does well through recomendations. Many of her customers have had multiple cars from her.
|
Well, I can't say I'm racist, unless you count Japanese, Tibetans, Mongols or the French :)
Anyway, the DSG website is illegal under current laws - I am in discussion with Honest John about re another site they endorse. Sites MUST represent including VAT to consumers. Cannot show ex-vat prices anywhere a consumer will see them. That is a criminal act under the law. So many companies break it.
Of course I choose customers carefully, I don't want every Tom Dick and Harry giving me problems :) If you have been excluded, then sorry.
Remarkably I am the UK's favourite car leasing website. Bigger than just about everyone else, and with 1280 fully attributed testimonial letters published, so I think you can trust me.
Problem with Chrysler Voyagers is that occasionally the prices work out well, but Chrysler has so few sales lately that when you order one, you can't get stocks. It is a big problem as the dealers say : yeah, yeah, loads - and then there aren't any. So frustrating for everyone.
My husband works behind the scenes, I publish this on my website, but I do all customer facing stuff. Caledonia was in 1997 when I first met Jon! That is a long time ago. He left that outfit in 1997. On my website, you deal with me while Jon is doing the VAT and typing letters to suppliers.
And have a look at the "moan" link on her website
Yep, if people moan, I tell them the truth. I tell shrinking violets not to post there.
Am I "just" a broker? I provide a full service for my customers, and have the best customer handling service in the UK. Everything is secure and even EV, never mind https. No one else in the car industry has that. I have won many awards from the motor industry. I do not try to push people to a phone, my website works well. To give an idea, I have 220 tables in my database, it is a hell of a lot of work, but worth it.
Love to chat, but just trying to figure this crazy scrappage scheme. Who in their right mind will have a 10-year old banger to crush, to exchange for a new car? I think it's rubbish and environmental terrorism.
Ling
|
|
Nice to see you on here Ling (I think) it would be nice if you stuck around to help people with their contract hire questions.
|
>> help people >> >> >> :rofl:>>
Do I detect a whiff that Bill Payer has at some time been at the receiving sharp end of Ling's sense of humour!
|
Do I detect a whiff that Bill Payer has at some time been at the receiving sharp end of Ling's sense of humour!
Not personally, but I've several times seen the sort of "answer" that she gave Rattle. What's the point of that?
She may think of herself of the "Ryanair of the contract hire industry" but I'm sure anybody who has encountered Ryanair's legendary customer service would want to run a mile.
|
Rattle, Ok I will :)
I will helpfully give answers before the questions are asked:
1) A: A picture of Jesus and a dog playing poker.
2) A : Due to Tibetans being trouble-making ethnic Chinese who just take and take all the taxpayer benefits provided to them; but continually moan and moan about the excellent public lavatory and mobile phone coverage provided to them by the Beijing Government. A bit like Liverpudlians in the UK.
3) A: Because Mercedes have sued me for using their pointy star today. The lawyer in Mercedes did not agree about my solution (shove it somewhere dark) so I have told them to prepare for battle in the high court. They tried to tout me for £300 too. Despite the fact I have sold 58 new Mercedes this year. Achtung!
4) A: Nanjing.
5) A: No.
I hope this is helpful in advance.
Ling
|
|
Ling - you dont have time for all this chit chat - get back and sort out my new car :-)
|
|
|
Neil
You might want to try this website:
www.contracthireandleasing.com/
I've no connection with it and I've no idea how independent it is but it seems to act as a pretty good contract hire "comparison" site.
One negative is that it doesn't sort the results in price order but I have come across some very good deals in the past from manufacturers' finance companies - particularly Citroen, Renault and Mercedes.
|
In my view there are some problems with that Contract Hire and Leasing site.
It is illegal in the way it displays prices. It breaks the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. VAT should be included in all prices shown to consumers. That is a criminal offence.
The advertised deals are unchecked. Many do not exist, a problem referred to earlier. Initial payments can be whatever the advertiser feels (and often remain undeclared in adverts) meaning that there is no common standard on prices (in order to represent a lower headline figure).
Advertisers often work on that very principal of getting you on their site before a) telling you the car does not exist and b) you figuring out that the price is not what it seems.
Hidden charges (often "invented" document fees) are not declared up front by many advertisers, another difficulty for consumers.
XML updates are only allowed every few days, meaning expired prices hang around. Based on those points, I withdrew my advertising from that site.
It does however, provide a good place to compare many advertisers, but I wish they would comply with the law and also create a checked and level playing field.
|
Well, Ling if you are making a purchase as significant as a new car and you don't check the detail behind the advert carefully prior to purchase then perhaps you shouldn't be allowed behind a wheel either.
As for displaying VAT or not, cars not existing, misleading payment schedules etc - well surely anyone half sensible would thoroughly examine any contract for such a purchase.
It's a shame you withdrew your advertising - you may have been able to influence the standards on the site. The comparison sites work well in the insurance and financial worlds, maybe there's another opportunity for you - lingthemeerkat.com (or maybe not)!
|
Hahaha, well not sure about that.
But the advertising was expensive on there and was totally devalued by false offers from some others. I just don't agree with doing things illegally, and the representation on that site is illegal. Advertising on there means I am acting illegally with my advertising. Trading Standards say they have visited and the site says they will change to comply with the law - but no action yet.
It's the same old story, people are blinded by the cheapest price (even though it is stripping out VAT illegally) and that is sad. The good thing is I am just behind that site on Google position (they have massive links etc), on Google unpaid searches, so I get 85,000 unique visitors a month -enough customers to keep the wolf away :). Plus I don't need to spend a penny on adwords. It is this lack of advertising which means I can reduce my costs and prices. That's good, eh?
Ling
|
I've got to give you your due Ling, you had Rattle sussed re not wanting to sell him a car! :-)
No offence Rattle, I just find Ling's reasons quite amusing lol.
|
|
It was on a business site (I am sure Ling will know who I am now) I made a general enquiry about leasing and a few people suggested I give Ling's site a try she replied warning me not to :).
|
|
|
|
Thanks for that PST. I do look at that as a 'rough guide' of what's available.
Seems really difficult ths time to secure a genuine deal. I'm really disappointed that so many websites for contract hire seem happy to advertise deals that quite simply do not exist.
The company I have used for the last two cars advertised a Honda Type R for £175 a month ex vat. By the time I got round to calling them they had sold all their stock. I would like to think this was a genuine offer as they have always only made genuine offers before, well that's what they told me anyway.
My local Honda dealer could not get near the price.
The way it's going I might just buy a car instead.
Neil.
Edited by Neilly on 23/04/2009 at 23:19
|
Rattle, I am struggling to be sure who you are. Drop me a quick e to clarify , thx :) I am sure that not doing you a car sounded tounge in cheek, but it may be that you were just paranoid about damage (that's what it sounds like).
Neilly- I will give you the accurate info:
I don't want to get blasted for "selling" but I will tell Neilly that Civic Type R GT (and most Civics) are now getting thin on the ground. This is due to factory stoppage and selling of the overstock cars which is approaching the end.
Currently, Milano Red (flat) Civic Type R GTs are just about sold out (I think there is one left, I am still advertising but will remove today I guess) at £224 + VAT = £257.58 (24 months) or £227 +VAT = £261.05 at 36 months. I am waiting for clarification on stock.
After that, there are just Nighthawk Black (pearl met) at £230 +vat = £264.50 at 36-mths. I am told there are currently 10 units available.
Now, this is a fast £19500 OTR car. You also get a "Built in Britain" good feeling. That price is still quite attractive (but not as cheap as it has been, but the at the moment there have been massive price fluctuations at various levels of motor industry panic). But still cheap bang for buck.
To be open, I will say that you can probably get these cars from several sources (local Honda dealer is an unlikely source at these prices, but some may be willing to do it).
Another faster car is the VXR Astra, but apart from these two deals on "performance hatch" cars are few.
Hope this clarifies without overtly selling.
Ling
|
Ling,
Thanks for that info.
Doesn't have to be a performance car - it just seemed a really good deal. I was also looking at the Type S - some site are still advertising this at £169.99 and in stock - but nothing ever materialises after enquiring.
Will have alook at your website.
Neil.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
