Name the Dealer

[timhum2002]

Helen

Which is the OPC that has given you so much grief with your order for the GT3 and is now proving uncooperative with youe Cayenne enquiries?

Tim

 

[Helen Goff]

actually i've been singing their praises from the highest hill top for the past year, because they have been really good sorting out my Boxster and allowing me my full 10% discount for my services,and parts.
so no real complaints except communication from the sales department. which has been poor at best,

But trying to get some prices out of them for extra bit's for my (still no date on delivery)cayenne s, proved to be very very frustrating. and confusing. we have put in an order for £2039.66 worth of extras. only then were we told that that didn't include fitting. which they say would be 5 hours worth at £85+VAT. []

now out of choice i would prefer to collect my new car with all the bits fitted and ready to go,and i don't mind paying a fair price, but this has left me feeling like im being ripped off.


as we had already been in the show room for 2 hours at this stage and i seemed to be alergic to something (my eyes were streaming..which was very embaressing) we left without ordering the tracker system,to be fitted.

i think we will go else where for that. I can't afford sutton coldfields prices.

 

[Guest]

It seems from reading the mails, plus talking to people, that the experience you get is down to the individual you see.
Others have reported varied experiences, even when visiting the same place.
I have no problem with Guildford.
I have my calls returned, emails answered, had progress on the car reported, got written confirmation of various things, and they are generally very cooperative. The servicing was also carried out smoothly. Even if I wanted to moan, I can't actually think of anything.
I had no real issue at Reading either, when I made some enquiries last week.

I don't think it is me; I'm not rich or famous so there is no particular reason for them to be nicer to me than anyone else.
I don't think I am unduly assertive, nor do I think I have particularly low expectations.

So maybe I am just lucky (or they have me confused with someone else[]).

 

[Mark_Bennett]

This is where Stuart and I always disagree - as Guildford just about flat refused to take my (stinking?) money.
So much so, I moved my order.

I was unlucky perhaps - or they had me and Stuart mixed up and they thought they were being nice to me[]
That was 3 years ago now though - so maybe things are different.

Reading have lately been making a big effort - and I have recipricated by promoting the events they have so sucessfully held - everyone wins, I like that.

Porsche Centre Mid Sussex have always been staunch supporters of the club. Not aware of any complaints either. I can't say fairer than that.

 

[ashley]

Got to admit the service I have received from OPC Newcastle from both sales and service has been first class.

Perhaps they have to work harder for the business in the first place from us poor Northerners and customer service is therefore a high priority[]

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: Helen Goff

But trying to get some prices out of them for extra bit's for my (still no date on delivery)cayenne s, proved to be very very frustrating. and confusing.
***************************************************************************

Helen I was an AFN, now OPC Chiswick, customer from 78-2000. I bought cars from them in 78, 81, 84 and then in 89 after getting a Speedster I didn't return until 96/97 when I became a Boxster Boy [] 97,99,2000.

The service I received from sales was truly appalling because I no longer fitted the AFN late 90's customer profile IMO, they wanted cheque book charlies and not petrol heads who had lived the Porsche Experience for nearly as many years as said sales persons age! OK give or take a decade []

When a life long Porsche contact at AFN Chiswick no longer worked there my standing in the franchise had fallen to the point where emails, phone calls, or faxes were not being responded too in a business like manner, so I decided for my 2003 purchase to find an OPC who actually wanted to sell me a car and treat me as one would expect when spending £40K+

My chosen new OPC also invited me to several motorsport events they were entertaining at 2 before my new car arrived and 2 since. That was 4 more than AFN ever asked me too in 22 years []

Funny thing is since moving my business elsewhere I get more invites to test drives, free check ups and run of the mill PR type offers from OPC Chiswick than when I was an actual cash paying customer!

I have decided that from now on if someone wants my money then they are going to have to return my calls, answer my occasional questions and treat me like a valued customer and not some pain in the ar*e

OK rant over pills have kicked in

 

[Mark_Bennett]

But Robert, you didn't say where you went?[8|]

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: Mark Bennett

But Robert, you didn't say where you went?[8|]

Well it's a bit of a story why I went where I went [] but I do know it isn't a very popular choice on many forums ..... Wanna guess?

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: Mark Bennett

But Robert, you didn't say where you went?[8|]

I know you are gagging OPC East London

 

[Helen Goff]

It seems from reading the mails, plus talking to people, that the experience you get is down to the individual you see.

very true, i expect it didn't help either that it was a saturday morning, with hardly any staff in the service department.
but i had e-mailed the list of parts i wanted prices for including the part numbers,so i really shouldn't have had to make the trip to the OPC at all.

maybe i should charge them for travel time=2 hours +petrol.+2hours in the show room[][]

 

[Guest]

Mark,

i have switched to Guildford as I have moved there. I have not tried to order anything there, but their service department has been very good. I needed the RMS changing again and they arranged authorisation through Porche for that to be paid. I also needed a new water pump as well during the service. Extending the loan car was not a problem.

I received a questionaire from them to deatil what I though about them.. Do not know if they are under new management, but I wil lbe going back there. Might just be lucky

Graeme

 

[Mark_Bennett]

I'm really glad to hear it.

At the time I tried to buy my car, I met several people who had all gone elsewhere after being annoyed by an indifferent sales force.

The nature of car dealers/salesmen means that none of those people are likely to be there anymore. But the reputation lingers. There are an awful lot of Surrey region members who refuse to go near the place after being referred to as "the bobble hat brigade". (That's right guys, annoy your repeat customers[])

Maybe the new broom that seems to be sweeping through Reading will touch on Guildford and make a difference there - maybe it has already going by Stuart's experience[]

 

[Peter_Bull]

I have a few experiences of late.
I had been looking to buy a 993 with a view to getting one of these last air-cooled ones in my garage to pamper. But having seen the 'dogs' on sale both private and trade - one supposed 'minter' with 24K miles at OPC Newcastle was a wasted 330 mile round trip - we decided to go for a modern car i.e. a newish Boxster.
We tried to buy a nearly new Boxster from JCT, the OPC in Leeds but gave up in the end, as all the salesmen were too busy to attend to us!! Unfortunately after waiting about an hour we had to leave, but a salesman did call me on the way home. We talked about the nearly car and also the possibility of buying a new one. A new one appealed to us so we asked about deliver etc and he said he would get back to us. Despite repeated calls to JCT over the following week they failed to return my phone calls so we gave up.[]
I place the order for an 'S' with Mann Island Porsche in Liverpool about 6 - 7 weeks ago, and apart from a written receipt, I have had no letter of confirmation of my order. I thought this odd and asked the salesman about it to which he replied that there 'system' didn't let them do it! ?????[]
Oh - and by the way, I was told that I wouldn't get any discount and would be lucky to get even a wind deflector thrown in!!
This is my first experience of buying a new Porsche, and to be honest I expected something just a little bit more special. I don't want a red carpet or anything like that, but when you are parting with over £40K, it all seems a bit flat.
Yesterday I went to the OPC in Wilmslow just for a look around the models on display and to check out colours etc. They are going through a building refurbishment, so mulling about in the rain to look at the secondhand Porsche's didn't appeal to us. However, when we eventually did get into the showroom (we had to wait some time until an erratic alarm on a newish 996 could be silenced!) we were greeted with total indifference. The girl on the desk looked up, smiled and put her head down! Wandering into the showroom we looked at a new V6 Cayenne and Boxster S. We overheard one punter ask the salesman what cc the engine was on the V6 - he didn't know because it was so new!! We left!!
Is it all worth it eh?[8|]

 

[Mark_Bennett]

I expected something just a little bit more special. I don't want a red carpet or anything like that, but when you are parting with over £40K, it all seems a bit flat.

Our original order form with Guildford, was one that had been started, with someone elses name on it crossed out.

That made us feel special[&o]

As I say, I'm sure they treat people differently now...

 

[JCB..]

Peter

That just about sums up my experiences at OPCs - rebranded or not.

They don't show the slightest interest in you once you have bought the car either.

Definitely a downside of the Porsche experience.

JCB..

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: JCB..

Peter

That just about sums up my experiences at OPCs - rebranded or not.

They don't show the slightest interest in you once you have bought the car either.

Definitely a downside of the Porsche experience.

JCB..

Porsche Experience! Bit like WMD these days as in Where Are They Then?

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Oh dear!

Are you reading this Paul?[]

 

[Peter_Bull]

John
I visited the same Liverpool OPC in 2000 with my parent in laws and saw on display was a brand new 996 Cab with about £9K worth of extras on. It had just been delivered to the dealership to be used as a demonstrator and was stunning in Forest Green and Savannah leather interior. My mother in law fell in love with it instantly and wanted it. At £68K it was rather expensive but after a great deal of haggling a deal was struck. We managed to get £1K off and wall rack for the cab roof thrown in!!! I get a better deal from my Fiat dealership and less hassle!
The car is now 3 1/2 years old now and although its only done about 1000 miles, it's a special car for a special lady and that's the way she wants it. Each to there own.
However, in all the time she has had the car, she has not been invited to anything (race days at Oulton park etc) or even been sent any promotional literature. It seems case of '..we've got the sale.. we don't need you now...' Maybe I am being harsh, but it's the way we feel and I feel a little disappointed for her.
Oh, at 1 year old, (and less than 400 miles) it went in for a service. Came back with the rear bumper scratched (done by the transporter cover) and both engine lid / and bonnet lid levers so badly scratched that you could see the black plastic underneath! They did supply the new handles, but we elected to have them fitted with someone (non Porsche) who really cars about cars. The same person (Graham Green) also got rid of the deep scratches. Needless to say she is extremely reluctant for the car to go back there for any reason.

 

[garyw]

ORIGINAL: JCB..





Definitely a downside of the Porsche experience.

I would agree with you all and definetly the quote. It was/has been the worse ever experience of buying a car.
The most I have ever paid for a car and yet the worse treatment ever. And not from just 1 OPC, I walked from another dealer after being left waiting for over 30 minutes to put a deposit down, with cash in hand!!
Its a real shame as I do want to purchase another Porsche but don't really want to go through the experience all over again, but what choice do we have? and I think they know that.
Garyw

 

[dawn lang]

What a shame. Makes my local OPC (Colchester) sound like saints.

I will admit that i've never been invited to any track days but in fairness to OPC's i've never bought a car from them as i'm ever so slightly gobsmaked at the prices most of the time!

I just use my local OPC for servicing and maintenance on my car but they've always invited me to clinics and have very kindly loaned me a Boxster S for a couple of days whilst my Boxster was having a service and the rear main oil seal sorted (on warranty - even though the car was out of warranty - top notch!) and a 911 C2 for a long weekend when we went to Eynsham Hall!

Always found them fairly attentive and on the ball - generally nice people!