Car dealership not been honest over deliver times

jimmy_cricket

Hi all,

I'm looking for some advice.
Ordered a new car second week of September with an estimated delivery time of beginning of November. Two weeks later I asked if the spec could be changed, yep no prob came the reply.

Earlier this month, as I had heard nothing (was told I would be informed on a regular basis) I contacted dealer to be told that as I had changed the spec, the delivery was now the beginning of December (over the phone).

I emailed so this I had written confirmation (beginning to lose trust now) to be told that because I had changed the spec it had moved to the end of December and I was informed of this over the phone (I was definitely not).

So still not being kept informed, yesterday, I emailed for an update. Nada, nothing, no response at all.

What would you guys do? I have a letter ready to go to head office (but can't find any contact details at all) but have not sent it as yet.

Am I overreacting? Should there be a firm delivery date? I've not ordered a new car from this manufacturer before so unsure of their procedures. It's a mass production car.

TBH, I really have lost all trust in them. I would walk away and go elsewhere but I've paid a deposit and on the receipt it says no refunds
Cheers

verityboo

I do think you're overreacting

I would expect the dealer to contract you with news when they have some - when the car has been built for instance. I don’t think many customers would be happy to constantly be rung by a car dealer who had nothing new to say

Regarding the change from early to late December, it is probably them protecting their backs. You do not say which car or where it’s made but if abroad, especially, the only definite date they can give is the build date, the delivery afterwards can easily slip by a week or two.

Tom99

I have been looking for a car last week. Most dealers quoted January but it turns out that is the week it will be built then + 3 or 4 weeks to get to the dealer.

jimmy_cricket

Thanks both. It's a mini so built in this country.
It's the constant moving of delivery date that I find disconcerting. Beginning November, beginning of December, mid December, end December.

Herzlos

I don't think you've got much complaint here - you changed the spec which has given you a new date. Maybe you can complain that this wasn't communicated to you properly (would you have changed spec if you knew about the date change?).

I'd email the dealership, express your frustration politely and ask them for confirmation on what the actual delivery date it.

Presumably you're still in a position to cancel it if you wanted, though I'm not sure what'd happen to your deposit.

jimmy_cricket

Herzlos wrote: »

I don't think you've got much complaint here - you changed the spec which has given you a new date. Maybe you can complain that this wasn't communicated to you properly (would you have changed spec if you knew about the date change?).

I'd email the dealership, express your frustration politely and ask them for confirmation on what the actual delivery date it.

Presumably you're still in a position to cancel it if you wanted, though I'm not sure what'd happen to your deposit.

A very minor change to trim. I really would not have bothered if I had been informed that it would mean an extra six week or so delay.

Yep, the issue is that I have already emailed the dealership asking for confirmation of delivery date. The first time, it was a vague, of it's the middle to end of December, second time, no response.

That's the issue, I've paid a deposit and wonder about the return of this.

BeenThroughItAll

Jeez, first world problems.

What are you going to do if you cancel it? Presumably you'll still want a Mini for some reason, so you'll end up re ordering and waiting even longer.

The dealer don't build cars, they sell them. The dates on their screens for build slots and delivery dates change. When you buy a brand new car made to order, that's what you sign up for.

Would you rather they inflated the delivery delay by several months to cover their backs as some manufacturers do, and your new car sat in a field or at the dealership for weeks before delivery? Though not.

Strider590

jimmy_cricket wrote: »

Car dealership not been honest

I'll read the rest after I mop up my cup of tea from my keyboard and monitor :rotfl:

Herzlos

jimmy_cricket wrote: »

A very minor change to trim. I really would not have bothered if I had been informed that it would mean an extra six week or so delay.

It might be worth pointing this out and asking if they can get you one from the original spec earlier.

But to be honest, I doubt you'll get anything from them. It's fairly obvious that any change to the order will likely cause a change to the schedule, and whilst it sucks they didn't tell you (or you missed it), that's life.

The different spec will potentially be built on a different line, or have to sit in a different queue for a while, so will take a different amount of time to come through. Potentially, they had to cancel your first order and lose that slot and re-order with a fresh slot at the back of the queue. The way cars are built these days it's not just a case of getting the fitter/robot to put on a different part when they are at it.

jimmy_cricket

Herzlos wrote: »

It might be worth pointing this out and asking if they can get you one from the original spec earlier.

But to be honest, I doubt you'll get anything from them. It's fairly obvious that any change to the order will likely cause a change to the schedule, and whilst it sucks they didn't tell you (or you missed it), that's life.

The different spec will potentially be built on a different line, or have to sit in a different queue for a while, so will take a different amount of time to come through. Potentially, they had to cancel your first order and lose that slot and re-order with a fresh slot at the back of the queue. The way cars are built these days it's not just a case of getting the fitter/robot to put on a different part when they are at it.

Cheers. It was a change of steering wheel from the stock to a sports one.

I didn't miss being told - I did it via email not verbally.

AdrianC

jimmy_cricket wrote: »

It's a mini so built in this country.

I wouldn't bet on it. Some Minis are assembled in NL.