How to track the car you have ordered?

[Maverick]

Thanxs again GP.
I did ask the dealer last week in no uncertain way if my car had been damaged or had some similar issue and she assured me NO...but why would she do the right thing and tell me if it had?, then I could have made an informed decision about what I wanted to do. The last few weeks have really taken much of the joy out of this experience for me!. I agree too there should be some compensation for whoever's car is delayed due to any damage and the buyer should be TOLD if the car has had to have some form of repair, otherwise it is fraud, pure and simple.....Some my laugh it off and say it is common practice but it should NOT be.
I wonder if the Candy white golf R's new owner will know it has already had some console instrumentation replaced??
I think I may conatct VWA directly and ask for verification that my car has not been delayed due to such reasons.
Anyone know the number for VWA head office???

VWA will tell you nothing and the dealer will tell you nothing as at the end of the day it's none of your business, cars are repaired at the factory and cars can be repaired before they get to the dealer but unless this damage is major they have no reason or obligation to disclose anything to you. Cars rarely get damaged on the ships as they are tied down and if they do suffer damage it's very minor during the drive off the ship or during the compliance process and might be a new alloy wheel or a piece of trim.

You signed a contract for a car and this is what the dealer and VW are going to deliver to you. Volkswagen are not going to offer compensation on top of fixing your car, the same applies when it's under warranty if something goes wrong. It sucks that your car has been delayed but there isn't anything you can do about it, if you had put some clauses in the contract you would have some grounds but really all you can do is wait.

[sman66]

Thanks for that Maverick...but
I was under the impression that such blogs were here for people to ask questions,air grievances or concerns, and perhaps to help those who experience similar difficulties now or in the future? I know I have learnt a few valuable facts from others who have shared experiences and thoughts.......
And just maybe to let others know they are not the only ones experiencing 'unexplained' delays.
In my occupation I am accountable for everything I do, or do not do for that matter, and transparency in communication is expected.
I expect the same in any other service provider....forgive me.

[JPanDAX]

Sorry Maverick - I disagree in part with what you are saying.

VWA or the dealer may not want to help their customers to understand what is going on with the product that the customer just dished out a truck load of cash for and has eagerly tracked for the past 6-8 weeks but they SHOULD be accountable an inform their customers.

This is like any other product, it should be provided to the customer in AS NEW condition, not modified or changed. If there is no damage or no change in quality to a vehicle that say has a stereo removed at the wharves and then replaced in an as new condition then I dont see a problem with that and agree with that - though still this should NOT be happening in the first place....further.... the customer should still be notified of any issues if the issue is going to cause a delay - full stop. It is called transparency and communication and helps to control, improve and resolve customer relations.

On another note - if your car was promised to you in 3 weeks time and you got it in 5 weeks time, I think this is probably excusable to some extent, as long as the reasons are given. However if you are a customer and have been waiting some extra 4-5 or more weeks and perhaps don't have a means of transport as you have sold your previous vehicle in the understanding you would have your car by a contracted date then I think there is an issue there.

I agree this forum is here to be helpful and help those who are looking for answers. Perhaps those who have received their cars (may be done here somewhere already - should be sticky noted as it is a critical information stream I feel for new buyers) can post up their experiences from day 1 to pick up of their car. This would give new buyers all the info they need and what to expect. Expectations can be a funny thing - if you have the right expectations in the beginning then you are better prepared to make the right decision and also NOT to go out and bash dealers and VWA for that for no reason, or your unrealistic expectations...

As for contracts - what contract? I have received a contract via email and have never signed a thing. I however have every intention to purchase my car, even if the contract did not exist as I am quite happy with the service I have received to date from PW and Nathan and would recommend Nathan, as I have to anyone else purchasing a car. This is because he has been friendly, informative, polite, helpful and provided a good price and service. This is how I believe it should work - good service and quality means people come back again.... poor service and quality and you get no returns and no references...

Cheers and good luck to everyone out there waiting (in the final stages in particular) for their car. I hope you receive good service and quality and if you don't let us all know - in fairness to the dealer though, we don't need to create a dealer bashing forum here that deals unnecessary negative impact to someone who does not deserve it...

JP

[markwid]

As for contracts - what contract? I have received a contract via email and have never signed a thing. I however have every intention to purchase my car, even if the contract did not exist

Best of luck.

What if a punter walks into your dealer and offer full price for your specs in order to bypass the 4-5 months wait? Hope your dealer won't do the nasty to you.

[ralp2dam]

Has anyone received or got a pick up date for their car which recently arrived in Port Kembla on the Morning Carol yet?

[Corey_R]

So JPanDAX,

If you feel the way you do, can you please supply the list of other car companies that do what you say Volkswagen should be doing.

I mean, Volkswagen cannot
1) Pick ship staff
2) Pick dock staff
3) Pick compliance staff

I mean, have a look at the ports in Australia and see how many of them are run by Patricks... yep, all of them. The logistics company that Volkswagen use are the same one that BMW and Rolls Royce use. I mean, if it's good enough for a $1.35 million Phantom Drophed, then it's good enough for our Volkswagens.

Whilst I understand your frustration and your point, the thing is, there is no way to transport cars whilst ensuring 100% damage free. Scratches and bumps happen, and sometimes parts get damaged, or maybe even stolen. I'm sure that theft is reported and dealt with, but seriously, can you please tell me 1 car company out there that gives their owner a report of any pre-delivery damage etc?

(We're talking minor damage, not "it's been in a car accident" damage.)


Beyond that point, which I know you won't be able to provide a list, because none do, all of this thread of information is because one forum member is having to wait a while for his car, and another forum member has "heresay" about a "random car" which has a missing sat nav. I have news for you.... peoples cars get delayed all the time for no other reason than there is a backlog at the time when that particular ship arrives - and then it gets delivered to predelivery and that company is busy too...

[Transporter]

On another note - if your car was promised to you in 3 weeks time and you got it in 5 weeks time, I think this is probably excusable to some extent, as long as the reasons are given. However if you are a customer and have been waiting some extra 4-5 or more weeks and perhaps don't have a means of transport as you have sold your previous vehicle in the understanding you would have your car by a contracted date then I think there is an issue there.
JP

No issue! You don't have a contract. If you want the guaranty that you have a transport, because you need to sell your old car before the new one arrives, make sure that you put in the contract that, you get a loan car if the one you've ordered didn't arrive on time.

[JPanDAX]

Always good to be SHOT down by a forum moderator - there seems to be a recurring theme with you on this forum - Corey. Hope you don't work in customer relations anywhere.

My comments are based on the ideal situation - I don't believe this is going to happen as there will inherently always be issues. I am purely venting and throwing ideas into the pot along the way.

I at no stage raise other car manufacturers and I am in no way saying that no one else does this or has the same issues. VA or Ford, Subaru etc etc I am sure have all the same issues. They should all be working together to try and improve the industry - not just sit on their hands and say that is the way it is..... All the better - if the whole INDUSTRY clamp down on these issues, then they have some clout... remember the collective.... anyhow, shoot me for trying to suggest someone, somehow consider improving things... I am guilty!

Oh - I am not stupid enough to fall into that situation - I have a contract, just haven't formalised it yet, not signed - I have paid a small deposit also. Also Markwid - this would be bad practise I believe and would once again fall into the bad services category.

Transporter - I don't think a dealer would write that into your contract. But don't take my word on it, I am no expert on dealer contracts. They especially wouldn't write it in if there are so many factors out of their control as being discussed herein.

Ralp - yes I have and have been told 18 June - at this stage.

Cheers

JP

[Corey_R]

I may be a forum moderator, but I'm also a car enthusiast and just as entitled to discuss and talk on these forums as you are.

Plus, you've only been "shot down" because I made a good point which you cannot refute because your point was, as you say "based on an ideal situation". Another way to state that "an ideal situation" is "its fantasy"... but hey. To-ma-to To-mar-to right?!


In any case, it's not the motor industry that needs improving in what you're complaining about. It's the logistics industry.
You know what happens when you tell a chef his cooking sucks... he spits in your food. How do you think the wharfies will react if the car manufacturers start telling them how to do their jobs I mean hey... they already went on strike this year. Lets see how far we can push them!

Whilst I'd also love this ideal situation you speak of, I don't think it's a simple issue to resolve, and it's definitely not within the realm of possibilities for the members of this forum to resolve.

... and nor is it the topic of this thread

[Maverick]

I at no stage raise other car manufacturers and I am in no way saying that no one else does this or has the same issues. VA or Ford, Subaru etc etc I am sure have all the same issues. They should all be working together to try and improve the industry - not just sit on their hands and say that is the way it is..... All the better - if the whole INDUSTRY clamp down on these issues, then they have some clout... remember the collective.... anyhow, shoot me for trying to suggest someone, somehow consider improving things... I am guilty!

The government has been trying to sort out the wharfs for ages and if they can't do it do you really think that VW can? Or for that matter a few manufacturers? I think VW would rather the cars get through then have a union ban placed on their cars being processed. The system works generally pretty efficiently but sometimes there are delays and I fail to see how anything can be done about it without throwing a heap more money at the wharfies which will in turn drive up car prices.

Oh - I am not stupid enough to fall into that situation - I have a contract, just haven't formalised it yet, not signed - I have paid a small deposit also. Also Markwid - this would be bad practise I believe and would once again fall into the bad services category.

No contract means no contract, your car can be sold out from under you. The dealer cannot reserve stock that does not have a valid contract against it and an unsigned contract is just a piece of paper.

Transporter - I don't think a dealer would write that into your contract. But don't take my word on it, I am no expert on dealer contracts. They especially wouldn't write it in if there are so many factors out of their control as being discussed herein.

Some dealers have written things like that onto contracts, however expect the dealer to factor in the cost to the final price so you're paying for it one way or another.

[JPanDAX]

We could go on forever here but I for one am not going to waste my time.

Good luck to all that have cars on order, I hope they arrive as you expect and please let us know how you go, the good and the bad stories.

JP

[Transporter]

JPanDAX, I ordered T5 in 7/2004 and from 11/2004 I was driving VW supplied new T4 for 3 months as a part of the deal. I'm happy to wait, because I plan ahead. But, I understand some people's frustrations when they need a car earlier.

Nobody is trying to shoot you down, it's just the communication over the internet.
However, this thread has 196 pages and is getting too long, but keep debating.

[Corey_R]

However, this thread has 196 pages and is getting too long, but keep debating.

People use it as a place to track their cars.... I'm ok with that, but it'll forever get longer and longer. Anything which is actually required to know "How to track the car you have ordered?" is hopefully in the first post!

[xordis]

I think the next 6-12 months will be interesting. I have heard several (electrical) parts on the VW came from plants affected in Japan.
It may not be true, but if it is, then build times may be affected if those parts can't be sourced from other plants already making them.

Also the fact that cars coming out of Japan are starting to slow, you will notice that the demand for euros will increase putting further delay times on orders.

For me, it's good to read the current wait times on orders/shipping/processing, much like it's still interesting to read what people have paid for cars.

[sman66]

So JPanDAX,

If you feel the way you do, can you please supply the list of other car companies that do what you say Volkswagen should be doing.

I mean, Volkswagen cannot
1) Pick ship staff
2) Pick dock staff
3) Pick compliance staff

I mean, have a look at the ports in Australia and see how many of them are run by Patricks... yep, all of them. The logistics company that Volkswagen use are the same one that BMW and Rolls Royce use. I mean, if it's good enough for a $1.35 million Phantom Drophed, then it's good enough for our Volkswagens.

Whilst I understand your frustration and your point, the thing is, there is no way to transport cars whilst ensuring 100% damage free. Scratches and bumps happen, and sometimes parts get damaged, or maybe even stolen. I'm sure that theft is reported and dealt with, but seriously, can you please tell me 1 car company out there that gives their owner a report of any pre-delivery damage etc?

(We're talking minor damage, not "it's been in a car accident" damage.)


Beyond that point, which I know you won't be able to provide a list, because none do, all of this thread of information is because one forum member is having to wait a while for his car, and another forum member has "heresay" about a "random car" which has a missing sat nav. I have news for you.... peoples cars get delayed all the time for no other reason than there is a backlog at the time when that particular ship arrives - and then it gets delivered to predelivery and that company is busy too...

Dear Supermoderator and moderator.
It is great that you take the stand of the car companies, Patricks and dealers.
I now have waited 10 months for my car when I was promised it 4 months ago in the "worst case"
I was able to see it travel from the day it left the factory to the day it was "dispatched from the port" 3 days later.
For the past 5 weeks now... No news but 'delayed being complianced' while someone else on the same ship received their car 2 weeks ago.
I have a right to be annoyed and/or concerned...as others may be as well.
It may be 'the way it is' but we dont have to be happy about it..
I am sure when we eventually get our cars we will all be happy and on posting on another thread...
K thanks bye!