oooo eerrrrr a good Stratstone Dealer .....whatever next??Cheers Ian
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MY13 FL2 HSE lux - just gone
MY10 D4 XS
MY07 D3 SE
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The law of averages say there must be one somewhere in the world - it appears this is the place.
"I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you read is not what I meant"
3rd Oct 2009 8:10 pm
ad15
Member Since: 14 Dec 2008
Location: up that tree
Posts: 4866
can you be a bit more specific?
glastonbury........
tilbury......
salisbury........
which one is it? I know most of them are pants so wouldn't want to go to a duffer.... one wife.......livid
3rd Oct 2009 10:43 pm
mzplcg
Member Since: 23 Jun 2009
Location: Gone
Posts: 1087
I don't have a problem sith Stratstones but they are like any large group. You have to make a friend of someone in the dealership.
I have someone I've known for years who works as dealer principal in Stratstone Jaguar. I only ever deal with him or one of his immediate team (all of whom know that Mark and I are good friends) and I have never had bad service.
I would add that his dealership is small and there are 2 or 3 much larger ones around him in Birmingham but his drivers do the ferrying and I get great service every time. The other bonus is the courtesy cars I get are fantastic - last time was a new XKR, before that an XF, etc.
I know people have different experiences at various places but I really will never go anywhere else for my cars now.
I can't speak for others but I tend to do business with other people rather than companies. If Mark were to leave and go someplace else I would take my custom to his new location. The relationship works too well for me to ignore it. He makes a profit and sells me a car every year (we change both my wife's and mine every 2 years), I get great service, he makes the profit from servicing etc, I get guaranteed quality, he gets repeat business and I get looked after like royalty.
But, like I said, I deal with a person, not a company. Dealers reading this would do well to take note. If you are doing well it is probably because of a couple of individuals in your organisation.
.....and in that post above we have my problem with Stratstone Bury.
Why should I try and do business (Service, brakes etc) with a COMPANY who try and fleece you well beyond what is reasonable - but if someone else has a pal there they will get it on the cheap. Why should I subsidise other people getting a good deal?
I have heard they will do a price match - but as it is for work on a car - and cars, by definition is a mobile piece of kit - I don't see why anyone would not just take it to the other dealer who offers the best price.
4th Oct 2009 9:24 am
10forcash
Member Since: 09 Jun 2005
Location: Ubique
Posts: 16534
And I'm sure its not them.. FORECAST FOR TONIGHT: things have happened out there!!!
The countryside is still OURS!!
Club 3 Musketeers, Club D3C, Club Midland CB, Club Vertex PMR, Club GNVP Sump Plate, Club GNVP Sliders, Club Uncle Ray Spare Wheel Protector, Club Smooth Steering Wheel, Club McStuckie
07 HSE Z Silver, black leather, Black RRS badges,
19" anthracite wheels - off, 18" Silver / General AT2's - on,
300 TDI Disco 1 - Sheltering the lawn!
Maybe I need to rob a bank so I can afford to chage my car every 2 years and then buy a new one from my local SS dealership.
To be fair I did try to buy my present D3 from them but in the end they could not provide what I specified and I ended up buying it Way up in the NE ....and that guy (a forum member) had gone to Tag's in Glasgow to get the best deal.FORECAST FOR TONIGHT: things have happened out there!!!
The countryside is still OURS!!
Club 3 Musketeers, Club D3C, Club Midland CB, Club Vertex PMR, Club GNVP Sump Plate, Club GNVP Sliders, Club Uncle Ray Spare Wheel Protector, Club Smooth Steering Wheel, Club McStuckie
07 HSE Z Silver, black leather, Black RRS badges,
19" anthracite wheels - off, 18" Silver / General AT2's - on,
300 TDI Disco 1 - Sheltering the lawn!
5th Oct 2009 12:09 pm
John C
Member Since: 28 Aug 2007
Location: East Yorkshire
Posts: 3292
I had my leg well and truly lifted when I bought my D2 from a local $$, I took it to a different $$ for servicing who were again useless. I stopped using them when I couldn't stop the D2 after a service... fun fun fun.
Gave them the benefit of the doubt when buying the D3 to see if they could offer a decent price. Salesman (who had been selling Vectras the previous week) grounded the tow pack on their forecourt off-road course. Was seriously funny - I knew exactly what he'd done, but he went white... Anyway, they never called me back and their initial offer for my D2 was insulting...
John2020 SDV6 D5 HSE, Carpathian Grey +
2022 Tesla Model Y LR... almost Carpathian Grey
Previously : 2005 TDV6 SE Auto, Cairns Blue (288K) - ours for 16 years
5th Oct 2009 12:22 pm
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
Mmm. I hope they didnt sign a long term advertising contract.... the increased profile doesnt seem to be working Duncan
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5th Oct 2009 12:36 pm
goodfella
Member Since: 03 Apr 2007
Location: Salford
Posts: 533
With respect to all your views on Stratstone generally, this thread was about Stratstone, Bury who do seem to be doing a good job mostly. I have no affiliation to them or have any friends there but was happy with the service provided and now the extra forum discount will possibly come in handy should I need them again. (TFC first preference).
Nobody slags John Lewis off for price matching do they and you generally won't get the best price from them unless you price match so whats the difference. Take it at face value that they appear to take their customer service more seriously than other dealerships in the group.Badda bing.......How you doin'?
Java black SE, standard spec. Clean and shiny.
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5th Oct 2009 2:56 pm
mzplcg
Member Since: 23 Jun 2009
Location: Gone
Posts: 1087
blue_manc wrote:
Why should I try and do business (Service, brakes etc) with a COMPANY who try and fleece you well beyond what is reasonable - but if someone else has a pal there they will get it on the cheap. Why should I subsidise other people getting a good deal?
This is what I was pointing out. Always avoid doing business with companies, people are much better. It's not so much a deal as the personal touch. Are you subsidising someone else? I'm not sure. But one thing I do know for sure; they aren't going to give you any of the discounts if you don't ask. Ultimately they have figures to make or their bosses will be on to them. That's why I deal with one of the bosses.
As regards salesmen and pricing techniques, I have seen plenty over the years, not just in the auto industry. These things are all about negotiation, something which you can never achieve if you walk away after their opening offer. All opening offers are derisory, you have to go back with an equally ridiculous one and begin the negotiation to a sort of halfway house which is OK for both parties. Yes it can be like charades but I actually get a kick out of it. The only place where negotiations commence at a sensible level is where the 2 parties are already acquainted and the BS was done a long time before.
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