General Fiat Customer Service WORST EVER!

[Jake_in_notts]

a saleslady remarked that the bodypanels werent swapable like they are on the older smarts.... so I wonder why smart sell them as a cheaper way to change your cars colour still? An example of a not so good salesperson

This is pretty much the nub of the problem. People just want to tell you stuff even when its made up. I would respect someone who said "this is a new model and we havent had all the training or information about it yet".

Coordinating training with product launch is always poor. Products appears then people learn about it and then they tell us. If your in asking techincal questions early expect to use your BS detector alot. The trouble I had finding out if the POP came with a SS tailpipe as shown in the web site configurator took ages as no one had seen a POP in the flesh!!! I was told both yes and no on numerous occasions.

 

[white 500]

When I ordered my smart, the salesguy was telling me about the stop/start stuff and he said he went online to find out exactly how it worked, as Mercedes hadnt told him... an example of a good salesperson.
However, when I went in to sign some paperwork a saleslady remarked that the bodypanels werent swapable like they are on the older smarts.... so I wonder why smart sell them as a cheaper way to change your cars colour still? An example of a not so good salesperson

having to find stuff on the net isn't good merc should have supplied him with all the detail's needed, my local smart center (sheffield) have dedicated smart staff who only sell smart's so they are verry clued up on them, btw you CAN buy replacement bodypannels for the new fortwo they are available and fitted by local smart dealers only, look on www.smart.com click accesories for the smart and there they are. sorry but he sound's like a typtcal salesman to me ! has some knowledge on some thing's and talk's utter ****e about the rest.
:edit: i'm impressed that the site wont let me write ****e...

 

[Venters]

:edit: i'm impressed that the site wont let me write ****e...

A Fiat site needs a good swear filter.

 

[white 500]

lol i like it, my other half needs one

 

[grimwau]

And don't forget that if a car is a hatchback it is still obligatory to go round and open them all which in itself is very time consuming on a big lot.

 

[RobW]

And don't forget that if a car is a hatchback it is still obligatory to go round and open them all which in itself is very time consuming on a big lot.

never understood why they do that

 

[Venters]

never understood why they do that

The longer someone spends looking at a car the easier it is for a salesman to get to them before they move on.
It's also easier to sneak up on someone with their head stuck in a boot looking at the spare wheel.

 

[Gempop]

Sadly I said this a few pages ago and no one listened.

How many people on this thread read papers or research on the internet about their job? I can sure as hell tell you I'm not going to be spending any of my own time at home researching about my job!

Like Rob said, if Fiat haven't told them they won't know.

I do. I have a professional duty to be up-to-date with my practice so that it is safe and effective.

I would expect any car dealership to be up-to-date, as a customer with some knowledge I would exepect to walk into a dealership and have questions answered and information available. It would be unprofessional otherwise!

 

[Venters]

I do. I have a professional duty to be up-to-date with my practice so that it is safe and effective.

I would expect any car dealership to be up-to-date, as a customer with some knowledge I would exepect to walk into a dealership and have questions answered and information available. It would be unprofessional otherwise!

Not being upto date is not on. Even for a Fiat salesman, the question is about being beyond up to date. As we are talking about a product Fiat themselves have not released much information on.

 

[RobW]

FFS THE 500C ISN'T LAUNCHED UNTIL APRIL :bang:

It Premieres at Geneva Show in March

and breathe...

 

[roocarl]

I research stuff outta hours but my company and im interested in what i do and makin a decent living!
That said I can understand why salesmen would not want to!

Fiat Italy & sales managent I think at fault for not giving enough Info to team at the sharp End!

But again common courtesy to be polite and return calls was my original point surely that helps secure sales more than shuffling cars around!

It is fun/interesting finding out info yourself but my initial Fiat experience was just Pants

Sorry just remembered my initial Fiat experience were 2 Fiat Berlinetta 3P cars ( early 70's hot hatch) I had as a teenager first one engine seized next one I was looning it into a corner and the lower trailing arm ripped out of the car due to rust which had an interesting effect on Handling to say the least!!!

But I did love them, when they were working remember the tastefull orange check seats lol have not seen one for at least 20 years I think they must all have dissolved by now! remember having to strip n rebuild carbs a lot why dont they make cars like that anymore with character and a sense of occasion that it actually started and reached its destination!
Sorry gone off topic but hey ho......

 

[princessgracie]

I have been trying to find out from Fiat about 500c the service is
the worst I have ever experienced!!!!

Hi there,
When I first looked at fiat 500 I logged onto the showroom site and put my details in and then fiat pass this on to dealers near where you live and this is I think 'leads'!
I then got a phone call from Fiat head office to see how the lead went and was asked a few questions about service, how much the dealership knew etc.... I have never had any problems where I have had my car from because they drive a 500 so know all about them.
I did however have problems with Lythgoe in Bolton they were pants at customer service and knew nothing about the product!

Count to 10 and try again!!!!!! Fiat do have a number that you can contact and if you tell them what you have just been through they will do everything they can to rectify it (I hope)

 

[ianrm]

So far I have nothing but praise for Fiat. I ordered a 500 brochure and price list online at about 10:00 pm Sunday evening. I got a phone call at 09:30 am the next morning asking if I had received a brochure and if there was anything else they could help me with.
I visited the nearesr dealer to view and test drive the car and could not have been treated better. I asked about test driving the diesel and although the only one they had was in the showroom they offered to get it out for me. I said not to so went out in the 1.4 just to get a feel of the car in general.
Salesman was more than helpful and knowledgable and has kept me updated weekly on the progress of my order.:worship:

 

[[email protected]]

I cannot praise my dealer more highly.

They put up with me asking/calling in weekly during my 33 week wait for my car. They made the whole experience joyful.

Even today with the first annual service they let me drop the car off early (5.20am), made provision for keys to be left, called with updates and when I went to collect the sales guys treated me like the prodigal son.

This dealership is far from glamorous, small premises, family run, but they make you feel valued.

Norris Brothers, Tamworth.

 

[sportsnutta]

You know what my 54 reg punto 1.2 8v wasn't bad at all until....the gearbox went and then I had to deal with the comical Ancaster Dealership network who would not honour the 3 year warranty on the vehicle.Eventually I said I would leave the car with them until they did the right thing and fixed it.Do you know what they did?They applied to DVLA for registration docs and sold it with my golf clubs,glasses and personal objects in it!Theft!I'm still arguing with them to this day,years on to no avail (Been mugged off properly)!£6000 for this! THEFT no less.

Have called and emailed Fiat constantly and got nowhere. Ancaster Fiat blame Fiat Group and vice versa.Some Director,Kaye Seaton sent me a 3 line disinterested letter recently telling me that Fiat automobiles UK Ltd are unable to help!Scandalous. The truth is that the new Grande Puntos aren't bad but the CUSTOMER SERVICE IS SO BAD it amazes me that they are still in business.I would advise prospective Fiat purchasers to look at companies with better maintenance records than FIX IT AGAIN TOMORROW!

:bang:

 

[RobinPJ]

You know what my 54 reg punto 1.2 8v wasn't bad at all until....the gearbox went and then I had to deal with the comical Ancaster Dealership network who would not honour the 3 year warranty on the vehicle.Eventually I said I would leave the car with them until they did the right thing and fixed it.Do you know what they did?They applied to DVLA for registration docs and sold it with my golf clubs,glasses and personal objects in it!Theft!I'm still arguing with them to this day,years on to no avail (Been mugged off properly)!£6000 for this! THEFT no less.

Have called and emailed Fiat constantly and got nowhere. Ancaster Fiat blame Fiat Group and vice versa.Some Director,Kaye Seaton sent me a 3 line disinterested letter recently telling me that Fiat automobiles UK Ltd are unable to help!Scandalous. The truth is that the new Grande Puntos aren't bad but the CUSTOMER SERVICE IS SO BAD it amazes me that they are still in business.I would advise prospective Fiat purchasers to look at companies with better maintenance records than FIX IT AGAIN TOMORROW!

:bang:

I know you are only saying this to make RUI feel better.

 

[loveshandbags]

You know what my 54 reg punto 1.2 8v wasn't bad at all until....the gearbox went and then I had to deal with the comical Ancaster Dealership network who would not honour the 3 year warranty on the vehicle.Eventually I said I would leave the car with them until they did the right thing and fixed it.Do you know what they did?They applied to DVLA for registration docs and sold it with my golf clubs,glasses and personal objects in it!Theft!I'm still arguing with them to this day,years on to no avail (Been mugged off properly)!£6000 for this! THEFT no less.

Have called and emailed Fiat constantly and got nowhere. Ancaster Fiat blame Fiat Group and vice versa.Some Director,Kaye Seaton sent me a 3 line disinterested letter recently telling me that Fiat automobiles UK Ltd are unable to help!Scandalous. The truth is that the new Grande Puntos aren't bad but the CUSTOMER SERVICE IS SO BAD it amazes me that they are still in business.I would advise prospective Fiat purchasers to look at companies with better maintenance records than FIX IT AGAIN TOMORROW!

:bang:

I'm starting to wonder where are all the spammers are coming from .
You've posted in the Punto section and you appear now to have a Grand Punto so why are you reviving an 'old' thread from Feb 2009 in the 500 section ?

 

[RobinPJ]

I'm starting to wonder where are all the spammers are coming from .
You've posted in the Punto section and you appear now to have a Grand Punto so why are you reviving an 'old' thread from Feb 2009 in the 500 section ?

London Borough of Spammersmith & Fulham?

 

[RUI]

You think that's bad. I left my car in for a service and it had my house keys on the key fob..They serviced my car and when I got home they had sold my house. I called fiat and they said there is nothing they can do about it.
Now I live in a tent.

 

[RobinPJ]

You think that's bad. I left my car in for a service and it had my house keys on the key fob..They serviced my car and when I got home they had sold my house. I called fiat and they said there is nothing they can do about it.
Now I live in a tent.

On the upside, I left my wife in the car when I popped into the dealer to buy some spare bulbs, and they sold her into white slavery...

*FRA*