Vauxhall - supagard

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Mon 29 Mar 2010 16:44
Vauxhall - supagard - sunseasand

Hi, We had our new car supagarded 2.5 months ago and one panel is really dirty - the rain, dirt runs off everywhere else except this one panel which is very dirty. Also when it was first done I think this panel felt 'different' to the rest. Supagard say 'does it face into the wind'!!!!!! They say some-one may get back to us or not in the next 2 days if they deem it to be a warranty problem. How can they even tell if it is a warrenty problem if they won't look at it despite it supposedly having a 3 year warrenty. All we are saying is that maybe this panel was missed when the product was put on. No one seems to want to be bothered with this despite us paying 300 pounds for it. Supagard said we should buy some more of their product to put on but as we said - 'why should we - we have just paid 300 pounds'.

Any advice as to any thought on why this panel looks so different to the rest of the car would be much appreciated.

Thanks

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Mon 29 Mar 2010 17:16
Vauxhall - supagard - concrete

If it is so obvious then nobody could dispute the difference in appearance. Take it to the dealer who applied the coating, your contract is with them and you look to them to rectify any faults. They should have some influence with Supaguard. Take photographs too, if the eye can see the fault so will a good camera. Not impressed with Supaguards customer service though. Firstly, they should direct you to the people who applied their coating. Secondly they shoud not dismiss you out of hand with a vauge promise that they may or may not get back to you!!! You may also try a friendly bodywork expert for an opinion. If an expert opinion is given it should have some weight, especially if you have to threaten them with the small claims court to get satisfaction. Hope it works out for you. Concrete

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Mon 29 Mar 2010 18:43
Vauxhall - supagard - sunseasand

Hi,

Thank you for your reply. I will try to get some-one to look at it but don't knw who. AS -
THE DEALER totally disregarded our request for some-one to look at it - would not even leave their desk. Told us he was a salesman. We asked if we should take it to the service part and was told 'no point - they wouldn't know either and would have to take a bit off the paint'!!! He said we should use some of the paintseal from the aftercare pack - which we had not been given (even though we queried an aftercare pack at the time and was told 'no - they are too expensive - if you want one we can sell you one for 50 pounds'!!! ) When we said we hadn't had an aftercare pack the salesman said 'I can't say if you did or did not get a pack' . Totally unhelpful.

Anymore advice much appreciated.

(Strict No-naming and shaming policy, changed to "THE DEALER")

Edited by BorisTheSpider on 29/03/2010 at 18:53

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Mon 29 Mar 2010 20:01
Vauxhall - supagard - hillman1 {p}

Go back to the dealer and ask to see the Dealer Principal, and ask them to rectify the problem. It sounds as though it wasn't applied in the first place and if the 'sales' people aren't prepared to help you then maybe the DP should be made aware of the behaviour of his staff.

If you paid by credit card you maybe able to claim via that? But any Dealer Principal worth his/her salt should sort this out for you so as not to lose potential recommendations or repeat business.

Nick

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Tue 30 Mar 2010 11:52
Vauxhall - supagard - 832ark

These protective treatments make huge profit for the dealers I believe, a friend who used to have a franchise would purchase each kit for around £25 which would do two cars and was a piece of cake - I even did my own car, took about an hour.

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Tue 30 Mar 2010 14:27
Vauxhall - supagard - oilrag

I had similar done for free by a main dealer, of which I have been a regular new car customer.

"some left over from another customer - we did yours for free"

First time i washed it with a hot solution a Fairy liquid it was gone. (as expected - I did not attach any value to it`s unexpected presence)

Not bothered - it seems it can`t stand up to a bird dropping either.

Nice little earner - it seems.

Sorry about your situation though, OP.

Regards

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Tue 30 Mar 2010 17:09
Vauxhall - supagard - concrete

This is appalling behaviour by the dealer. They cannot just dismiss you out of hand. You had a contract with them to apply a Supagard coating in accordance with the manufacturers instructions and then provide you with an aftercare kit and a warranty that the coating has been properly applied and will be guaranteed against defects for 1 year. That is it. Cast Iron. I am guessing the 'dealer' is not a franchised main dealer but a second hand car lot. Nontheless you are entitled to your rights but it looks like you may have to fight for them. Which generally costs some outlay of money, all of which you can get back- if the 'dealer' is worth sueing. Before that, put your case simply and clearly on paper, check it over several times for accuracy and clarity. Don't ramble. KEEP A COPY. Then send it recorded delivery to the owner of the 'dealership' asking for the defect to be rectified, the aftercare kit and warranty to be provided and a small consideration for all the agravation you have been caused. Maybe a free tank of fuel would be acceptable. State that "time is now of the essence" and give him 14 days to reply, after which if you are not satisfied then you may decide to initiate proceedings against him to fulfill his obligations under the contract. You should have some Supagard paperwork so copy that too, it will probably spell out what you are entitled to with their coating system, and enclose a copy with your letter. I hope that LucyBC is watching this thread, she seems to have very good advice to offer when it comes to the legal issues. It looks like you may be in for a battle so dig in and fight for your rights. Don't let this 'dealer' get away with this. He needs to learn to treat customers properly. Sometimes the threat of proceedings is enough to instigate action. Good luck. Concrete

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Tue 30 Mar 2010 17:12
Vauxhall - supagard - concrete

sunseasand, put your case on the Legal Questions thread. There are some pretty sharp brains out there who may well have been through what you are experiencing and have some more practical advice to offer. Concrete

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Tue 30 Mar 2010 22:20
Vauxhall - supagard - kithmo

I just cannot for the life of me understand why anybody pays £300 for something you can't see ???

I know of a valeter who worked for a Main dealer, who told me that they don't even put the stuff on sometimes as a new car is so shiny that the punter can't tell the difference. His car boot was full of unused kits.

The stuff is available on ebay for around £20, DIY.

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Wed 31 Mar 2010 10:48
Vauxhall - supagard - 832ark

I've seen the kit on ebay for under a tenner, its probably less hassle to get one and apply yourself if you're that fussed about having it. Personally what I've done with my g/f's brand new car is get some decent (expensive wax) and apply several coats over a few weeks and then I'll re apply every couple of months. Much better protection IMHO, much cheaper and I know exactly what has and hasn't been done. Its just a way of making money for the dealership I'm afraid!

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Thu 8 Apr 2010 16:43
Vauxhall - supagard - sunseasand

Hi, Thank you all for your messages and help. Supagard came through and a valeter has just been to rectify the problem. The one panel had been missed as we had thought and the valeter has done a very professional job in rectifying it all. But - Supagard does need to have a better system in place to deal with this (or maybe we were just unlucky with the first person we spoke to). But great - the car paintwork not only looks different but feels different now. The car dealer was useless but Supagard did helpe after a few calls.

Thanks again for all the messages and support. Much Appreciated.

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