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GREENI

Member Since: 22 Aug 2010
Location: staffs
Posts: 10383

It was Patriot I asked themselves, Brendan. I know you need a prod

I don't think anyone can complain about your service.

@me...( not me ) a single sale, especially if it's a new customer has got to be one of the most important sales a company can make?

I wasn't really trying finger point, I just wandered if people were having the same experiences.

I can accept a company screwing something up (they are run by people after all), as long as they go out their way to put stuff right.

22nd Feb 2013 7:28am

diesel_jim

Member Since: 13 Oct 2008
Location: hiding
Posts: 6105

iPints wrote:
Two weeks ago I went into a Landrover main dealer (big mistake) and wanted to take a lovely 110 out for a test drive but after twenty five minutes of being mostly ignored a sales man came over and asked if he could help. I told him what I wanted and then he asked me....and I quote " Are you looking to buy or just to have a go!"
I said I was looking to buy and he then made some crappy exuse that I would have to book a time, despite the fact that another chap had walked in, without an appointment, and went out to test drive an evoque while i was there.....
I told him not to bother as my time was too valuable to waste if they arent really interested and then left.....
Now decided to keep the old 90 going as there is nowt really wrong with her! (that and I bought myself another toy instead!)

Was that Hartwells up towards Cumnor?

22nd Feb 2013 7:51am

SteveG

Member Since: 29 Nov 2011
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 661

iPints wrote:
Two weeks ago I went into a Landrover main dealer (big mistake) and wanted to take a lovely 110 out for a test drive but after twenty five minutes of being mostly ignored a sales man came over and asked if he could help.

Personally I'm not sure I understand this approach. If I want service at a car dealer I walk in, straight to reception and tell them what I want. If I want a test drive, I normally phone in advance and book one, then there is no waiting around. It's quite easy.

If I walked into a dealer and wasn't bothered by anyone while looking around, that would be a bonus

None of this excuses the salesperson's response to you, but moaning about no one coming over to you for 25 minutes is a bit bizarre to me.

Cheers

Steve

22nd Feb 2013 8:52am

noworries4x4

Member Since: 24 Dec 2010
Location: Newton Abbot Devon
Posts: 1195

Practically had to beg to get mine serviced today, "no sorry cant fit it in untill mid March, workshops busy with new reg pdi's" grrrrrrr. If everything is under control you are not going fast enough.

Every Day 16 MY Discovery 4 Commercial Workshop and Escort Vehicle
Weekends 07MY L322 TDV8 Vogue SE
Series 1 80" 3ltr 6cyl with overdrive
No Worries 4X4

22nd Feb 2013 9:08am

MartinK

Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2665

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey

It's worth building a relationship with your friendly LR dealer.

George at Macrae & Dick always gives us great service (and a decent deal)

I guess we have the benefit that the Invreness dealer is a smaller dealership than those "down south" so the staff may have a bit more time to be friendly and offer better service.

Last time I booked a test drive (phone ahead a week in advance to make sure he could accommodate us) in a Freelander2 for my Dad (swapping a 3-series BM for something more practical), George let us borrow the FL2 for the whole weekend, great service

When we got there the gleaming FL2 was waiting with plenty of diesel it it (I did give it back with more fuel than I collected it with). We had a great drive around Scotland. Unfortunately my Dad bought a X3...he just likes BM's for some bizarre reason.

Once you have a relationshp with a dealer, it's worth maintaining the rapport - even drop-in on a rainy day for a coffee. The guys remember us, sometimes remembering our names (they at least remember the Defender & the Evoque) MrsK's Evoque is booked-in for it's 1st service (same dealer), and I'm confident we'll get good treatment...complimentary coffee, and a valet as well (and a courtesy car if we requested one)...

More locally, Pentland garage in Edinburgh (there's some recent negative threads on here about them) are a huge dealership. Much less personal. Still OK really, but lask the personal touch, and customer focus of Macrae & Dick... Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)

22nd Feb 2013 10:00am

ZeDefender

Member Since: 15 Sep 2011
Location: Munich
Posts: 4731

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Baltic Blue

My German dealer has a rather nervous/stand-offish chap front of house with a short little moustache (a bit disconcerting). It took several visits but last time I spoke to him, we ended up joking about the robustness of my wife during the cold weather

Not sure exactly what happened but I think it may have been a bonding moment... Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing...

22nd Feb 2013 12:50pm

iPints

Member Since: 15 Jun 2012
Location: SC
Posts: 294

1994 Defender 90 300 Tdi CSW Epsom Green

diesel_jim wrote:
iPints wrote:
Two weeks ago I went into a Landrover main dealer (big mistake) and wanted to take a lovely 110 out for a test drive but after twenty five minutes of being mostly ignored a sales man came over and asked if he could help. I told him what I wanted and then he asked me....and I quote " Are you looking to buy or just to have a go!"
I said I was looking to buy and he then made some crappy exuse that I would have to book a time, despite the fact that another chap had walked in, without an appointment, and went out to test drive an evoque while i was there.....
I told him not to bother as my time was too valuable to waste if they arent really interested and then left.....
Now decided to keep the old 90 going as there is nowt really wrong with her! (that and I bought myself another toy instead!)

Was that Hartwells up towards Cumnor?

Yes Sir....

22nd Feb 2013 1:02pm

me@td5.org

Member Since: 16 Jan 2011
Location: Warwick
Posts: 856

GREENI wrote:

@me...( not me ) a single sale, especially if it's a new customer has got to be one of the most important sales a company can make?

Imagine it differently, you remember when you needed a rear mech (back in the day before the internet) and you would go into your LBS. You would say "I need a new XT rear mech please" and they would look at the LX one in stock and say "this is what you really need"and you say, "no order me one in"

So is got written down in the little book that all bikeshops recorded their orders in and you waited and waited and waited.

Well now everybody knows thats because bikeshops always had 2 problems. 1. They needed to place huge orders to get postage discounts so didn't want to order 1 item. 2. They were on stop with Madison because they hadn't paid their last bill yet.

My point, 1 order can be more difficult to fulfil when your short of capital but 10 orders might be possible. I imagine that A?ll Makes is the LR equivalent of Madison

22nd Feb 2013 6:43pm

GREENI

Member Since: 22 Aug 2010
Location: staffs
Posts: 10383

Tonight is the wrong night to talk about bike parts.... See MTB post

22nd Feb 2013 7:10pm

yobbie

Member Since: 15 Nov 2010
Location: Isle of Wight
Posts: 713

1999 Defender 90 Td5 Heritage LE Bronze Green

bell-auto-services wrote:
yobbie wrote:
Same here offered about £2000 of trade to someone, just to supply parts (even offered cash) no reply

Im efficent most of he time lol.

21/02/2013 21:02 TAMWORTH, GB IN TRANSIT TO
21/02/2013 21:01 LEEDS, GB DEPARTURE SCAN
21/02/2013 10:35 LEEDS, GB PICKUP SCAN
20/02/2013 12:45 BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED

Don't worry Pete it's not you! Can't fault your service, in fact I may spend some more with you soon

22nd Feb 2013 8:03pm

22900013A

Member Since: 23 Dec 2010
Location: Oxfordshire
Posts: 3150

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Keswick Green

iPints wrote:
diesel_jim wrote:
iPints wrote:
Two weeks ago I went into a Landrover main dealer (big mistake) and wanted to take a lovely 110 out for a test drive but after twenty five minutes of being mostly ignored a sales man came over and asked if he could help. I told him what I wanted and then he asked me....and I quote " Are you looking to buy or just to have a go!"
I said I was looking to buy and he then made some crappy exuse that I would have to book a time, despite the fact that another chap had walked in, without an appointment, and went out to test drive an evoque while i was there.....
I told him not to bother as my time was too valuable to waste if they arent really interested and then left.....
Now decided to keep the old 90 going as there is nowt really wrong with her! (that and I bought myself another toy instead!)

Was that Hartwells up towards Cumnor?

Yes Sir....

When I went and spoke with them, a long, long time ago, I wasn't even offered a test drive. They told me to come back with the money. And told me I couldn't spec up a base spec 110. ("if you want aircon and heated seats you MUST buy an XS)

And that I couldn't get a printed brochure or price list.

We went elsewhere.

2011 110 USW
1973 Series III 1-Ton
1972 Series III 1-Ton Cherrypicker
1969 IIA 1-Ton
1966 IIA 88"

22nd Feb 2013 9:19pm

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