On customer service at Alfa dealers

[fensaddler]

Given the mixed reputation of Alfa's dealer network, I thought my recent experiences would be interesting.

I've been to an Alfa dealer, a VW dealer and a Seat dealer in the last couple of weeks (I know, it sounds like the start of a gag), to look at alternative company car options.  The VW dealer was lukewarm about selling me a Scirocco, didn't have a brochure, wasn't keen about helping me to locate the right engine variant to test drive, and wasn't apparently keen on trying to find out what the contract hire rates were.  The Seat dealer was happy to provide a brochure for the new Exeo, would have given me contract hire rates had they had them, but then proceeded to tell me that there would be no test drive until I had committed to source the car through them (ie signed on the dotted line).  Now I thought the key word in the phrase test drive was test...

In the Alfa dealer, we were made welcome, including our 10 year old daughter.  There were plenty of brochures - Mito, GT, 159, whatever you need sir.  The following morning (we visited on a Sunday afternoon) the fleet manager rang me, talked to me, rang back with a quote for a 159, which he then e-mailed to me.  And then said that when I was ready they would lend me a car for the day - and bring it to my work - becuase no one could be expected to choose a car they had not driven.  So congratulations Alfa, and Guest Motors of Willenhall.  Proper service - who do you think is most likely to get my business?

[Harvey]

The Italian car company...? 
The pre-sales service was a bonus!

[ncundy]

Being asked to "sign on the dotted line" before a test drive is seemingly becoming more common...... a strange sales technique in these times (or at any time).
Nice to hear an Alfa garage offering good service, any sign of a discount ?

[fensaddler]

Nice to hear an Alfa garage offering good service, any sign of a discount ?

Good one, I imagine, given the pcm I was quoted, from the official Fiat UK system.  Way cheaper than one would imagine for a car with a list price of £22k.  It was more akin to a list of £16-£18k.  I'm astounded that there are dealers out there who aren't trying very hard every time a customer walks through the door, but there you go.  Incidentally, the Alfa dealer I mentioned are one of the half dozen or so designated as specialist fleet centres.  Which may explain why they were so on the ball - I'm sure they would be one of the top Alfa dealers who would be expected to get a Lancia franchise.

[sparehead3]

I would have thought that anyway selling anything in this current climate would be 100% focused on customer service ...

[lee69]

Chris, you might want to have a look at this: http://www.renault24td.co.uk/