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Matt

Member Since: 28 Feb 2011
Location: Aylesbury, Bucks
Posts: 180

2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Corris Grey

Here is my Hartwell story:

When I was thinking about ordering my new 90 a couple of months back, I travelled to Stratstones in Aylesbury first, got a quote from a very nice salesman who seemed to do all he could to make the deal as good as possible for me, but I thougt I should still shop around to get the lowest price. I said to the salesman at Stratstones that I was going to see what Hartwells would do one for and he was very polite saying that it is a good idea to shop around and call him back if we wanted to procede with his offer.

Anyway went to Hartwells in Oxford, and even though I bought my Td5 from them in 2006, I was told I shouldnt be going there as I live in Bucks not Oxon

, AND I should not go around different dealers to get the best price because land rover dont like it

. I was also told that I should not drive a defender and get a better vehicle for my age

(im 24, a farmer and have had 2 defenders, this would be my 3rd). Anyway I eventually got them to start quoting me for a new one with the exact same option packs Stratstones quoted for. After I had explained what I wanted, I was told that metalic paint and towbar would be an extra even though I wanted the style pack which includes these options

. I was also told that the amount of extras I wanted was stupid ( a steering guard, ABS, cubby and mats ) Also on the quote was pdi, on top of the LR on the road price, of £250

I questioned the paint and towbar and was told I did not know what I was taking about, and the pdi was done on all vehicles and was a fixed dealership price on top of the on the road price. So I said would they sell me a non pdi vehicle to save the £250 and was told yes

.
The quote came out at nearly £5000 over stratstones, so I told the salesman I was going back to Aylesbury where he ripped up the piece of paper, threw it at me and told me to leave the showroom

. As I was leaving all I could hear was the bad mouthing of Stratstones by the Hartwells salesman.
I drove straight back to Aylesbury and ordered my puma. I have to say that although Stratstones have a bad reputation, and I have had issues with their service side, their salesman were a lot friendlier, would not bad mouth other dealerships and would seem to try and help me as much as possible to ensure a sale.

This was all from a returning customer as well. I will not even waste the diesel to drive over to Hartwells ever again.

Rant over.

13th Aug 2011 4:34pm

22900013A

Member Since: 23 Dec 2010
Location: Oxfordshire
Posts: 3149

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Keswick Green

Thats absolutely shocking. You really should copy that to Landrover directly, he threw paper at you??? Told you to leave the showroom??? Who do these people think they are???

I say lets go for it, all of us send in our complaints about Hartwells to Landrover, I reckon they are probably the worst Landrover dealer out there and need a serious shake up. 2011 110 USW
1973 Series III 1-Ton
1972 Series III 1-Ton Cherrypicker
1969 IIA 1-Ton
1966 IIA 88"

13th Aug 2011 5:22pm

Matt

Member Since: 28 Feb 2011
Location: Aylesbury, Bucks
Posts: 180

22900013A wrote:
Thats absolutely shocking. You really should copy that to Landrover directly, he threw paper at you??? Told you to leave the showroom??? Who do these people think they are???.

Yeah, I could not quite belive it was happening, was as if I had jut been caught for shoplifting not for turning down a ridiculous quote. The pdi charge was the final straw.

Seriously thought about emailing LR, but at the end of the day it will be my word against the Hartwells and they will all stick together and nothing will come of it. Had it not been for the helpful chap at stratstones I think I may have even thought about buying a Jap 4x4 instead

13th Aug 2011 5:51pm

MuddyMarky

Member Since: 01 Feb 2010
Location: Oxfordshire
Posts: 548

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

I'm up for it......anyone have an email address for someone who might care at Land Rover that we can send our emails to? Mark
2011 110 XS DC
Stornoway Grey

13th Aug 2011 5:54pm

22900013A

Member Since: 23 Dec 2010
Location: Oxfordshire
Posts: 3149

MuddyMarky wrote:
I'm up for it......anyone have an email address for someone who might care at Land Rover that we can send our emails to?

Just ring up customer services and ask for one, I found them quite helpful when I spoke to them.
You are right Landrover may not give a stuff, but I imagine several different complainants all working together may show them something is up. That said, you have to wonder how they got away with

of Clarkson...I mean, no matter what you may think of him, you don't want tp upset him, do you? 2011 110 USW
1973 Series III 1-Ton
1972 Series III 1-Ton Cherrypicker
1969 IIA 1-Ton
1966 IIA 88"

13th Aug 2011 6:03pm

MuddyMarky

Member Since: 01 Feb 2010
Location: Oxfordshire
Posts: 548

I wonder if we could find out how to email him (Clarkson) aswell.....he loves to go public with terrible service etc normally, doesnt he? Mark
2011 110 XS DC
Stornoway Grey

13th Aug 2011 6:35pm

22900013A

Member Since: 23 Dec 2010
Location: Oxfordshire
Posts: 3149

MuddyMarky wrote:
I wonder if we could find out how to email him (Clarkson) aswell.....he loves to go public with terrible service etc normally, doesnt he?

He already has, I was told that he printed an article about them in Tog Gear magazine, presumably the same one poster previously in this thread. 2011 110 USW
1973 Series III 1-Ton
1972 Series III 1-Ton Cherrypicker
1969 IIA 1-Ton
1966 IIA 88"

13th Aug 2011 7:03pm

Happyoldgit

Member Since: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3471

2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Corris Grey

Copy all correspondence to LR Chief Exec & Sales Director. I found a hardcopy sent via recorded delivery marked 'for the personal attention of' got the best results. E-mail is too easily lost / diverted / dealt with by minions. Steve.
Owned numerous Land Rover vehicles of all shapes and sizes over the decades.
Current Defender: A non tarts hand-bagged Puma 110 XS USW.

[Insert something impressive here such as extensive list of previous Land Rovers or examples of your prestigeous and expensive items, trinkets, houses, bikes, vehicles etc]

http://forums.lr4x4.com

I used to be Miserable ...but now I'm ecstatic.

14th Aug 2011 2:39pm

pom

Member Since: 01 Jun 2010
Location: Worcester
Posts: 1343

fax machine is best, his PA is bound to have one.

now to get the number of it.....

Pom

14th Aug 2011 4:30pm

spudfan

Member Since: 10 Sep 2007
Location: Co Donegal
Posts: 4663

Bit of a long shot this, but what if any disgruntled owners contacted Tata HQ and aired their complaints there. Mr Tata, would not be too pleased to learn that the company he bought to make money is treating customers like s***. If he got enough complaints I think Land Rover HQ would get a sharp inter company missive telling them to get their act together. Might be worth a try. 1982 88" 2.25 diesel
1992 110 200tdi csw -Zikali
2008 110 2.4 tdci csw-Zulu
2011 110 2.4 tdci csw-Masai

14th Aug 2011 11:14pm

Happyoldgit

Member Since: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3471

pom wrote:
fax machine is best, his PA is bound to have one.

now to get the number of it.....

Pom

Nope. Faxes are easily lost or endlessly shuffled to the bottom of the pile. Good old snailmail using recorded delivery [meaning you have evidence of the correspondence arriving where it should] adds an effective air of gravitas lacking in e-mail and faxes. Steve.
Owned numerous Land Rover vehicles of all shapes and sizes over the decades.
Current Defender: A non tarts hand-bagged Puma 110 XS USW.

[Insert something impressive here such as extensive list of previous Land Rovers or examples of your prestigeous and expensive items, trinkets, houses, bikes, vehicles etc]

http://forums.lr4x4.com

I used to be Miserable ...but now I'm ecstatic.

15th Aug 2011 10:46am

Captain Speaking

Member Since: 23 Jan 2012
Location: Oxfordshire
Posts: 159

2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 CSW Tonga Green

I've tried to buy from Hartwells several times in the past 8yrs and each time it's the same - feckless sales people, dirty stock and no follow-up...

23rd May 2012 10:58pm

spudfan

Member Since: 10 Sep 2007
Location: Co Donegal
Posts: 4663

This is a full page advertisement from the May 1994 Land Rover Owner International-page 213
Hartwell-The Best.Tried & Tested.
At Hartwells we pride ourselves on all the Land Rovers we sell.And to ensure that the used Land Rover you buy lives up to it's name,we put it through the most thorough examination.
In a 61 point check, conducted by our factory trained technicians, nothing goes unnoticed. Any necessary servicing is completed using genuine factory parts.
The only test that remains, is the one you put it to.

I can put up a copy if you like, the vehicle prices make for interesting reading! 1982 88" 2.25 diesel
1992 110 200tdi csw -Zikali
2008 110 2.4 tdci csw-Zulu
2011 110 2.4 tdci csw-Masai

29th May 2012 10:03pm

pjb

Member Since: 08 Apr 2009
Location: Sunny Oxford
Posts: 1244

Leave you to make your own conclusion

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go...3179992133

Not 100% accurate as it was in for first MOT & an ABS fault, and the ABS fault had been coming up on start up for the previous 10 days so it was NOT an intermittent fault 2020 P300 HSE

8th Feb 2013 10:11am

pjb

Member Since: 08 Apr 2009
Location: Sunny Oxford
Posts: 1244

Just in case the link does not work

http://www.rrsport.co.uk/gallery/albums/us...rticle.pdf 2020 P300 HSE

8th Feb 2013 10:27am

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