VW Dealer negative experience

[HiddenTaco]

Buying a VW from NMG Sydney was the best car buying experience I've had.

Lander Toyota was my worst. There was some negotiating on the price and the sales guy had switched the contact out last second. I ended up paying a few k more than accepted. I had no evidence of this and they were extremely rude about it when I realized a week later. The sales guy was fired a few days later and I got no "good will" from them. Things you learn.... I copped it and put it down as my fault...

[Rocket36]

If you talked "drive away" price on the phone, then that includes stamp duty. Also know your rights. If you don't end up with the car, you get your deposit back. They've just used a scare tactic.

This is simply a case of the dealer using dodgy tactics to get more money out of you, and quicker.

A dealer tried to whack me with a $750 finance broker fee when I bought my motorbike. Well, technically the finance company did. But since I wasn't ever told about it by the dealer or the finance company, I said I wasn't paying it. Told the dealer if it mean the deal was off I'd take my deposit back and go buy something somewhere else. A day later, the dealer had sorted it out.

End of the day, it's THEM that need YOUR business not the other way around.

When I bought my a VW back in Jan, I had a great experience but there was still a bit of a stuff up afterwards (too much to go into here) and I ended up speaking with the Managing Director of Bayford Group about it. He was absolutely awesome to talk to. I didn't care what he did with the information or whether he too was yanking my chain but I told him I'd give him the benefit of the doubt rather than leave a negative Google Review. That's the thing that works in your favour too - the Google Review. You can post honestly about the facts of what happened and name the dealer and sales person. Makes them pay attention.

[LukePolo]

Hey, I'm a sales person at a new car dealer (not VW) and wanted to maybe clear up a couple things for anyone who does phone deals.

1. If the vehicle is a Demonstrator and not classed as "Used", the dealership is up for the stamp duty, not you. They have not paid stamp duty on the vehicle by putting it on as a demonstrator.

2. Any phone deal done, until the contract has been signed which should have been the sales person's priority to get you to the dealership ASAP after taking your deposit to explain terms and conditions of sale and sell the ming moles aftercare, the dealer should return your deposit if there were any special conditions. Legally, there is no leg to stand on here, especially if it went any further.

3. With outside finance, the vehicle should not be processed through pre-delivery until the outside finance has been cleared and confirmed by the business manager. ESPECIALLY not before you have signed the Contract of Sale.

4. Offering their own finance and the situation around it was a total scare tactic, I would have said... And if the business manager can't settle in 3 days, I don't want the car. Realistically, the process would have taken ALOT longer if the dealer has provided finance and you would have been back at step 1.

5. Know your rights. They exist to keep both the consumer and the dealership safe and provide a smooth process for purchasing a new car.

In my opinion, you COULD have dug your heels in a little further and the mess might not be so... messy.

At the end of the day, It's a big investment and it's easy to detract from the experience. I hope next time it won't be so bumpy, maybe walk into the dealership :-P

[nickit78]

At the end of the day, It's a big investment and it's easy to detract from the experience. I hope next time it won't be so bumpy, maybe walk into the dealership :-P

Thank for the replies. Next time I will be only be dealing face to face and will be much more careful. I did not take the time I should have to consider the risks dealing with these guys and was naive assuming they would deal in good faith.

I did hear form the sales manager after leaving a negative google review.
He said he saw my review then asked me to describe the issue as if it he had not understood it reading the review. He seemed to be struggling to see what the issue was.
He asked me what he could do for me, I asked what he was offering, he replied nothing but wanted to know what I wanted. I said paying the Stamp duty would help, he then accused me of blackmail saying that I was suggesting that I be paid to remove my negative review. I don't think he honestly thought I was suggesting that but rather was attempting to discredit me.

It went further down hill from there. he said everything they did was allowed/legal and I should of read the fine print. In regards to delivery timing, he said they could of taken my deposit after 7 days if they had wanted but graciously gave me 9 days. He wanted me to modify the review as it was 'dishonest'. The only issue he saw was that the sales person I dealt with did not deliver the message correctly.

On the plus side, I have contacted VW Australia and they seem to genuinely want to help improve the situation, I never have to visit that dealership again and its a great car.

[Rocket36]

Whatever you do DON'T take down the review. This dealership sounds like it should be shut down or taken over by people that ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING!!!

When you put a deposit down, it's usually without ever having signed a single thing. It's 100% refundable for ANY reason and WITHOUT ANY time limit.