Angry with dealer

colliecrew

Can anyone give me some advice?
I ordered a Renault Trafic last month from a local dealer. I was initially told it would take 8 weeks(early June) to arrive as it's a custom build(lots of fiddly extras). Then the dealer told(assured me) it would arrive on the 10th May.
As I need my van for my 6 dogs, I tried to be as organised as possible and sold my old van(to another doggy person) and arranged a date to have cages fitted into me new van.
Being a little bit sceptical, I e-mailed the dealer again regarding the delivery date, again I was reassured the 10th May!!!!.
Contacted them today to arrange collection, only to be told it's not here and won't be here for another 7-8 weeks!!! AARRRGGHHH!!!!!
So the situaiton is, I'll be without my old van on Monday and without transport for my dogs(agility competitions) for nearly 2 months.
I've been offered a Kangoo, but it's not nearly big enough.
What should I do?
And what response should I expect from the dealer??
Appreciate any advice!

tomstickland

Was the delivery date in writing?

vansboy

Your order will have a disclaimer within the small print, to protect the supplier from any claim you might think of making. Unless you had written a clause into it of DEFINITE timescale for delivery.

Guess your offer of Kango is free use of it, 'till the original van comes? They MIGHT be able to find a bigger vehicle, if they tried a bit harder.

Think I'd press for this, but that's about it.

VB

colliecrew

Hi there,
I have 2 e-mails confirming the delivery date of 10/5/6.

JBsplit

can an email be considered legaly binding.?????

nej

I think push them for a loan van, provided at their expense. Threaten to cancel the order as well

highguyuk

Especially as its custom build, I'd threaten to cancel the order. If they try and sell this to someone else they are going to have to have all the extras you have ordered.

Explain the situation to them calmly, in the showroom. And tell them what you would like to be done for you...

As an alternative suggestion, surely they have a Trafic demonstrator around?

DealDrivers_company_representative

Trafic stock has been very thin on the ground but you need to clarify quickly where the fault lies here: if Renault have failed to meet a date they offered their dealer to get that vehicle into their stock you should ask the dealer why Renault are not providing a suitable loan vehicle or weekly compensation while it is delayed from its initial estimated date of stocking to the dealer whn the order was placed (some of our dealers can get this in these circumstances for customers, where it is the manuf'r who has failed to deliver to the dealer when they said they would).

(Some loan vehicle arrangements exclude the carrying of animals though, so make it clear how it will be used)

If the fault is with the dealer (forgetting to order it at the factory maybe?- due to an admin' error or similar) I would get them to confirm it is their error then ask them if they will approach Renault Customer Services on your behalf, or if not- tell them that you'll be doing it yourself.

All factory leadtimes are estimated but Renault are one of the more accurate manuf'rs when promising their dealers dates for stock to arrive, but without knowing the full facts here it sounds as though someone may have slipped up ordering that vehicle...if not, the dealer would have been advising you of production delays during the leadtime to keep you updated.

Hope this helps

Wig

Don't ever put yourself into jeopardy by burning your bridges, unless you have a clause written into the contract incase the supplier fails to deliver.

Alan_M_2

You don't have any redress here, delivery dates are all estimates and subject to change. If you have special build requirements on your vehicle then I'm very sure you'll have paid a deposit, if you cancel your order you'll lose your deposit.

You've sold your vehicle before your new one is delivered, hardly your dealers fault. Very kindly they offered a vehicle free of charge to help you out. What else do you want them to do?

Bob63

Tell them to shove it then go an buy a Vito. It is a much better van, holds its value, drives more like a car and can be adapted really easy for dog use. A friend of mine uses their Vito for just that purpose.

Mike