The Car Shop Megastore - help!

Portland_Posse

vaio wrote: »

Suspicious that a competitor of the Car Shop Megastore in Swindon was registering on a consumer web site, using it to slag their competitor off and then disappearing never to be seen again.

Vaio, think you need to read things properly before you spout. I am not a competitor of the Car Shop. I was a potential customer

photome

Portland_Posse wrote: »

All sorted. Cheque for £450 arrived yesterday!

Thanks for replying.....hope the cheque clears

hammotr

Have just joined and wanted to add to this thread as have also experienced similar issues and would like others to beware. I am normally extremely careful with money and not easily convinced to do something silly like put down a deposit on a car I am not 100% sure I want - however that is what the sales technique of the Car Shop Swindon got me to do.
I was in there for 4 hours and repeatedly attempted to leave - I was actually starting to feel quite ill - but they are very manipulative and extremely good at appearing to be nice while they try every thing they can to stop you leaving and instead they work on getting you to commit to putting down a deposit. They agreed I could simply transfer it to another car if I changed my mind (true but there is a time limit I was never told about), and eventually I agreed - I think by that time part of me saw it as the only way out without a scene. Needless to say, getting my deposit back was an absolute nightmare and only happened after Trading Standards got involved. The cars may be fine, I couldn't really say - BUT know what you may be faced with before you go in and do not part with any money no matter what they say unless you are 110% sure you want that car.

SassyJ

I agreed to buy a 2007 Seat Leon in May 2010 from the Car Shop Megastore in Northampton. Their sales technique was "unusual" with the commitment to buy and taking debit card details. They offered us less money for my part ex than I wanted and my partner and I were on our way to walking out on the deal, waiting for the keys for my car, when they amazingly came back with a higher price and we agreed to buy the Seat.
I noticed a knocking noise from under the bonnet on the test drive. As part of the sale, they agreed to investigate and sort it before we picked it up. The noise was not there when we collected the car and we enquired as to what the noise was, and check that it had indeed been remedied. They did not inform us what the issue was, but agreed that it had been sorted and we were on our merry way. The noise returned shortly after and whilst it was in the main dealer getting the service light reset (as The Car Shop were not able to- they paid) I got them to check it. They diagnosed a faulty flywheel. I called The Car Shop to get them to repair or replace it. They agreed to take a look and then informed me that the workshop manager said there was "nothing wrong with it and that some types of flywheel are noisy". I checked the consequences of not getting this resolved with the main dealer and they said that it would only get worse and would eventually need replacing. Numerous calls to the workshop manager were not returned, so I wrote to their customer service manager an explained my situation. This letter was not answered, so I made a visit to the citizens advice bureau. We deduced that they were in the wrong, selling me a car not fit for purpose. I sent a letter, registered delivery to the Operations Director at their Northampton HQ, giving them 14 days to reply. It outlined the shockingly bad customer service and the issue I had with the flywheel. I received a reply within the 14 days, reiterrating the comments of the Workshop Manager, but that if there was an issue with it, to let them know. Well, know there is an issue with it. Having had just over 20k miles with a mild rattle from the bonnet, it now sounds like I drive a tractor ! It definitely needs sorting and I can only imagine the reply, or lack of, that I will be getting from The Car Shop when I contact them about it. Anyone any ideas/comments ??

Woody._2

SassyJ wrote: »

I agreed to buy a 2007 Seat Leon in May 2010 from the Car Shop Megastore in Northampton. Their sales technique was "unusual" with the commitment to buy and taking debit card details. They offered us less money for my part ex than I wanted and my partner and I were on our way to walking out on the deal, waiting for the keys for my car, when they amazingly came back with a higher price and we agreed to buy the Seat.
I noticed a knocking noise from under the bonnet on the test drive. As part of the sale, they agreed to investigate and sort it before we picked it up. The noise was not there when we collected the car and we enquired as to what the noise was, and check that it had indeed been remedied. They did not inform us what the issue was, but agreed that it had been sorted and we were on our merry way. The noise returned shortly after and whilst it was in the main dealer getting the service light reset (as The Car Shop were not able to- they paid) I got them to check it. They diagnosed a faulty flywheel. I called The Car Shop to get them to repair or replace it. They agreed to take a look and then informed me that the workshop manager said there was "nothing wrong with it and that some types of flywheel are noisy". I checked the consequences of not getting this resolved with the main dealer and they said that it would only get worse and would eventually need replacing. Numerous calls to the workshop manager were not returned, so I wrote to their customer service manager an explained my situation. This letter was not answered, so I made a visit to the citizens advice bureau. We deduced that they were in the wrong, selling me a car not fit for purpose. I sent a letter, registered delivery to the Operations Director at their Northampton HQ, giving them 14 days to reply. It outlined the shockingly bad customer service and the issue I had with the flywheel. I received a reply within the 14 days, reiterrating the comments of the Workshop Manager, but that if there was an issue with it, to let them know. Well, know there is an issue with it. Having had just over 20k miles with a mild rattle from the bonnet, it now sounds like I drive a tractor ! It definitely needs sorting and I can only imagine the reply, or lack of, that I will be getting from The Car Shop when I contact them about it. Anyone any ideas/comments ??

Start your own thread.

pint6x

The worst experience I have had trying to buy a car in 25 yrs. I saw a car which would suit on their website. I was interested in the claim that they guarantee lowest price. I found 15 more cars available on autotrader. In each case, it was better spec, less miles & cheaper than theirs. I printed the details. I rang & spoke with Jason Pelham, who said he would deal with me when I came along. When I turned up, Jason was busy so Dave dealt with me. He started taking details, I suggested he was premature & I wanted to see the car 1st & give them a chance to value mine. At each point I was told "this is the way we do things" or "it's our procedure". At all stages, the assumption was that the deal was done. I was asked what I wanted for my car, so I told them. I was told to sign an agreement stating that I would go ahead with purchase if they gave me the deal I wanted on my car. I wanted to sleep on it, but there was pressure to sign. I did but refused to hand over a debit card. We went out to see the car, it was OK. To value my car, Dave gets Jason, who told me he would take over so we went out to my car. I said I wasn't happy with the high pressure sell & the over-familiar way I was treated. He asked what I wanted & I said I wanted to eff off & leave - I shouldn't have said this, but I was fed up. Jason got aggressive & abusive as we exited the building out of earshot of other staff. As we walked thru the door he barged me as if he wanted to fight. Reaching the carpark, he said he wouldn't give a penny for my "effing" car, I said his cars were overpriced & I'd shown them up as a ripoff. He followed me to my car, then went back & got into a 4x4 car. He pulled out behind me - I wasn't sure if he was going to follow. I felt with Car Shop I would avoid the sales tactics at the shoddier end of the market. My experience showed that the tactics are alive & well at Swindon Car Shop. You must avoid this place & other branches & advise everyone to do the same

Tremour-88

Thats horrible tactics for a car salesman, I know they usually blow smoke outta there a**e but to be rude and aggressive like that how the hell do they get business or is it purely by bullying people.

How much did they actually offer for your car?

pint6x

We didn't get as far as that - their only comment being that they wouldn't give me a penny "for my effing car"

Angry_and_stressed

Carshop is extremely fraudulent. I went into car shop swindon, to have a look at the cars they have on display. On arrival they would not let me have a look at the cars without putting me through the buying process. They have pushy sales tactics and won't give you an opportunity to say no. I told them that I could not afford the finance because I do not work, but they still insist that if I pass the credit check I could get a car.

Obviously I was in need of a car, buy was looking to buy a cheap car cash. They said they need a deposited to do the credit check and to secure the car for me. A deposit of 300 pounds. I asked when will I get that money back, they said as soon as I fail the credit check. I paid and failed the dry same day but they reuse to give me my money back.

They are trying every dirty trick in the book to keep my money. Obviously I can't get credit, they are now trying to get 3rd party finance and brokers to give me finance at interest rate they reuse to tell me.

I am extremely frustrated because I am in desperate need of my money, but they won't give it back. I have emailed the financial ombudsman and trading standards, but these processes take time. I just want my money back. I feel so stupid for going along with their sale tactics. What else can I do?

pint6x

Small claims court would be the way I would do it.

They will try every tactic in the book to avoid giving you your money back.

Experience of reading many other posts about carshop show that their practices are fraudulent and they will usually relent if you get "legal" with them.