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Is this the worst treatment from a MB dealer ever ?

966 views 7 replies 6 participants last post by  scottw 
#1 ·
We visited Mercedes Benz of Giffnock mid July looking for a new car.
In the following days they offered us a trade-in deal of £40k for our Audi RS6 against a new ML420CDI. This fugure was based on the trade-in value at that time and we also asked for a value when the new car was ready ( October 2006) and were told it would drop by £2k. We paid a £1000 deposit for the new car. After a couple of weeks , we decided to just trade the car in now and take advantage of the extra £2k we would be saving. I telephoned the garage Grant Cameron told me that was no problem and , as soon as the private plate was off it , bring it in and they would give us a cheque for £38k. This was due to part of the £40k being a £2k discount from the new car.

We took the car in on Thursday 10th August and on arrival we were told that there was a problem with the mileage on the HPI check and they couldnt give us the cheque that night until it was sorted. We were assured it would be sorted the following day. We agreed to leave the car and they took our bank details , agreeing to make the transfer when the problem was sorted out.

After telephoning several times over the next week , I was not getting any answers and kept being told it would be sorted the next day. On Sunday 20th August I happened to be looking on the internet and came across my car for sale in another Glasgow Garage , Killermont Motor Co in Maryhill Road. As I had not yet been paid for the car , it seemed that they had sold on my car without consulting me or paying me for it.

I called them and their excuse was that they didnt have space to keep it and had to move it on. They said that no money had changed hands for it . It seems strange if there was a problem with the HPI check that they were happy to move it on. I told them , in writing ,that I wanted the bank transfer done that day or I was coming back to collect the car. They then said they couldnt do a bank transfer but would give me a cheque for £36k that night. I said that the figure agreed was £38k but they now tell me that they cant give me that as a few weeks have gone by and that is the new trade-in figure ! They said that the other £2k would be taken off the price of the new car, making the same changeover figure. I asked them for this in writing .

I have banked the cheque for £36k but I want confirmation of the £4k discount on the new car.

24/8 - Grant Cameron called at 09.13 and left message to say Order and HPI report were on the fax " this minute".

24/8 - fax arrives at 10.38am but with £1000 less than promised on the order form. Rang him and tries to offer £500. I have told him that we go with the original deal or nothing. He then suggest a free servicing package to the value of £500 to which I agreed but he says he will have to get this agreed with David.

31/8 - Phones again and Grant suggest a meeting if he doesnt sort it out before weekend. Hear nothing

4/9 - Phones again and was told that should be sorted out today but if not will arrange meeting for Wednesday. He will speak to David this afternoon and will definitely call before he leaves at 5pm. Heard nothing as usual.

7/9 - Spoke to David McBennett and he says that this is the first he has heard of the problem and asks me to fax all the details through which I have done.

10/9 David McBennet phoned back and says that Grant Cameron tried to handle the deal himself without consulting anyone and if thats the deal that was done , then he will stick to it. Promises to post out a revised copy of the order with the correct car on it and the correct level of discount ,together with a copy of the factory order by first class post on Monday 11th. I asked him to confirm the delivery date and he says he cant look that up as it is a Sunday but will post it with revised order.

12/9 - nothing arrived in post
13/9 - nothing arrived in post
14/9 - nothing arrived in post. Called David McBennet at 11.30 and was told he would call me back.
14/9 - 4PM - No return call so called them again and was told that David McBennet was very busy and was not taking calls , not returning them either by the look of it !
15/9 - Nothing in post , called David McBennet , told he will call back again. Grant Cameron calls back to see if he can help. Says he will fax the information and guarantees to do it today.
16/9 - still no fax. Spoke to Grant Cameron at 12.45pm and was told it would be on the fax in 5 minutes. He didnt manage to speak to David yesterday.
17/9 - fed up waiting so drove to Glasgow and collected the paperwork. Sales order still says ML500 petrol but given print out of order to factory for ML420CDI . Delivery date shown as 6/11/06.

23/10 - 10.am Phoned Grant Cameron to get an ETA on the car. He told me he has been off for 2 weeks and will check it out and call me back within 2 hours. Heard nothing.

24/10 - 11.30am - Phoned again and was told that he was busy but would call me back.
24/10 - 11.55am - Grant left message on answering machine to say that the car is built and has a chassis and engine number on the system but no delivery date as yet. He will monitor it over the next day or two to make sure it comes up with a date and will advise me of it.
26/10 - I called again and was told Grant was busy and he would call me back. Heard nothing as usual.
30/10 - 10.30am. Phone yet again and Grant said he never got my message. He says he will go and check if there is a delivery date on the system yet and call me back " very shortly". He again re-assures me that the car is built and on its way to them.
1/11 - Rang Grant again and he now tells me that he thinks the car will be late and will be nearer the middle to the end of the month but still no delivery date on the system. He will keep monitoring it and let me know.
9/11 - rang and left message for Grant to call me back , he didnt
11/11 - range and left message for Grant to call me back , he didnt
12/11 - range and left message for Grant to call me back and guess what , he didnt !
12/11 - Grant eventually called me back. He now tells me that we wont get it until mid December. He tells me it is very much dependent on the weather and if they get a tail wind we might get it a week sooner. There was every excuse from the weather to Christmas holidays !I have never heard so much bullshit from start to finish on this whole saga in my life. He also admits that the never ordered it as soon as they could have either .
27/11 - phoned for update and left message for Grant to call me back. He didnt as usual !
29/11 - Grant phoned back and says that the car is due between 10th and 15th December. I asked him if the towbar and sidesteps were organised and he said he has already checked and they are there ready to be fitted when the car arrives. He promises a 2 day turnaround when the car arrives. I told him that , if the car is any later than 15th , I dont want it registered until Jan 2007.

8/12 - Get a phone call from Helen to say the car is arriving this afternoon or Monday. I asked about the towbar and side-steps and she says the side-steps are on back order ! I told her that I had specifically check this with Grant and he said the 2 extras were there to be fitted when the car arrived. She will call me on Monday to sort out the insurance etc. She also asked about the private reg and I advised her that it is to just go on a 56 plate at the moment.

12/12 - Grant rang to say that they cant fit they side steps as there is a "worldwide shortage" of Mercedes side steps. I suggested he took them off them ML63 he has in his showroom but he tells me that that doesnt belong to them ! I asked about the payment and he suggests paying by switch after we see the car and are happy with it. He says he will fax through the final invoice , which believe it or not , he does !

Helen then rang to say the car will be ready for collection Wednesday afternoon . I arranged Mercedes 1 week free insurance to allow them to tax the car when the cover note gets emailed to them. She agrees to take the payment by switch.

13/12 - Collected the car !!!! ( minus the running boards)
 
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#4 ·
The actions of your dealer are shameful. I don't know how business is conducted in the UK (I figured its the same as here in the US) but wouldn't all of your hassles have been avoided if you had your agreement in writing before you gave them the car? Or is it more normal to do word of mouth deals?
 
#5 · (Edited)
Sorry, i just can't believe you traded an RS6 for a new Mercedes.
I really like new Audis, whereas new MBs feel cheap.

As for the design of my car, it's horses for courses.
According to Bruno Sacco (you know who he is, don't you?) the W201/190-Class is
his favourite design ever, and the most important MB of modern times.

The best of luck with your new purchase.
 
#8 ·
That is the worst story I have heard of in buying a car. I am surprised that they took title to your original car without having paid for it.....you should report them to the UK version of the Better Business Bureau or to the Attorney General. That is very shameful conduct on their part.
 
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