Delivery/Tracking

[Ima]

Agreed @SRGTD. My SEAT buying experience was so good I bought 4 cars from the same dealer even though they were 150 miles away!

I can’t say the salesperson was that interested in making the sale either as they had met their sales targets but in the end the deal compensated and they are local but I won’t recommend them or buy from them again or use them for servicing. I hope they ask for a review as I’ll be clear what I think of the experience over the past 9 months irrespective of COVID delays.

[brainbow]

I’ve not been able to yet get confirmed where my car is.

VW Chat put me back to the dealer and apparently the person who can check is on holiday!

But last Friday it was status 30 in Transit. I thought 30 was on its way to Emden? Does anyone know?

If so I’m working on the basis it’s on the Glovis Century which gets to Emden in the next few days.

[Ima]

My car was at status 30 in transit on 15th July and Glovis Century left SA on 21st so that will give you an idea depend on when your car went to status 30.

[brainbow]

My car was at status 30 in transit on 15th July and Glovis Century left SA on 21st so that will give you an idea depend on when your car went to status 30.

I bought the car last Friday. It was already status 30 in transit. So hoping it’s on the Glovis Century. Looked at departures from Port Elizabeth since the Century left and could not see any other boats on route. So fingers crossed

[monkeyhanger]

Agreed @SRGTD. My SEAT buying experience was so good I bought 4 cars from the same dealer even though they were 150 miles away!

I can’t say the salesperson was that interested in making the sale either as they had met their sales targets but in the end the deal compensated and they are local but I won’t recommend them or buy from them again or use them for servicing. I hope they ask for a review as I’ll be clear what I think of the experience over the past 9 months irrespective of COVID delays.

My SEAT experiences have been pretty poor,so i've never bought one. Back in 2007, I was considering chopping in my MK5 Golf GT TDI140 for a Leon Cupra, but the local dealership in Newcastle was a total arse. He wanted me to commit to buy before letting me have a test drive. I could understand if I was some spotty 17 year old in a beat-up old Corsa trying my luck to get a go in a decent car, but my would-be part-ex wasn't worth much less than the Cupra and I was 32 at the time. He wasn't receptive to any form of discount either, no way I was paying full retail for a SEAT with significantly worse residuals than another Golf, meaning that the monthlies on PCP would've been a lot higher than a Golf GTI with an achievable discount.

Before getting the Polo GTI, an Ibiza 1.5Evo was a contender, except SEAT had pulled almost all the engine choices due to WLTP compliance issues and I was aghast at seeing wind up window handles on the back doors of the whole range (except the Elegance Lux).

The trouble with Skoda and Seat performance models in the VAG range is the residuals. They may have a lower sticker price, but my experience has always been that they are less receptive to discounts, and with worse residuals, they end up costing more than the equivalent VW or Audi in depreciation.

[MrTomOates]

Well I called Customer Services who could see there was an update after all but felt my dealer should be doing the feedback and asked my dealer to call me. Unsurprisingly they didn’t so I contacted dealer again to tell them there is an update so tell me what it was. I had a short email to say they had checked their system and it was not allocated a ship and that’s all they could do. Feeling brassed off I contacted customer services who were able to tell me it is on a ship and a week away from Emden so only another 4 weeks after that for delivery. It was then down to me to tell my dealer what is happening to my car. The dealer isn’t doing much for a 5 star review from me. I’ve never had such little interest from a dealer before. Sours the experience but happy the car is actually on the way.

Similar story to me mate. I feel that customer service on the VW website have provided me more information than my actual dealer, the ship I am on is the Glovis Century. It’s made it journey to Belgium this morning. With it being so close to Germany, I wouldn’t be surprised if the next stop is Emdem, Germany. You could actually be on the same ship as mine.

I’d like to see whether my dealership will ring me with an update like they said they would once they received one and provide me with the same detail as the customer service person did such as; what ship my car is on from Emdem to the UK.

Brilliant news though, gone from not being allocated a ship to being a week away from Germany!

[MrTomOates]

I’ve not been able to yet get confirmed where my car is.

VW Chat put me back to the dealer and apparently the person who can check is on holiday!

But last Friday it was status 30 in Transit. I thought 30 was on its way to Emden? Does anyone know?

If so I’m working on the basis it’s on the Glovis Century which gets to Emden in the next few days.

I used that against customer services.
In order to get information out of them, tell them that you spoke to a customer service person previously and they gave me all the information I needed such as; where my car is and when it’s on a ship, and in regards to having being directed back to your dealership to get information. That’s a standard response from customer services. Simply say that you contacted the dealership countless times and every time you got the same response because your salesman dealing with your car is on holiday, you were told his login details are locked on your profile and nobody from the dealership can access it until he/she comes back off of holiday.

Worked with me, and for a couple of other people especially once you say somebody else has provided you information from customer services.

Good luck pal, just keep pushing them.

[Ima]

@ monkeyhanger, the SEAT dealer I used is a family business that prides itself on service and that made all the difference. I’d built a good relationship and after multiple LEON purchases for all my family meant great deals and I’ve always done well on residuals on the cars I bought from them with good positive equity when changing. My local SEAT dealer the other hand was awful and a pile it high emporium.

Funnily enough when I went to buy my GTi this time he only let me test drive on the basis I was serious about a deal if I liked the car although not to the extent I had to agree before hand as like you I’d have walked away. Talking of residual value the worst I’ve had was from my old Polo GTI which ended up in negative equity. I think the Golf likely to be the strongest performer for residuals so it will be interesting to see how the Polo GTi performs this time.

[Ima]

Well I called Customer Services who could see there was an update after all but felt my dealer should be doing the feedback and asked my dealer to call me. Unsurprisingly they didn’t so I contacted dealer again to tell them there is an update so tell me what it was. I had a short email to say they had checked their system and it was not allocated a ship and that’s all they could do. Feeling brassed off I contacted customer services who were able to tell me it is on a ship and a week away from Emden so only another 4 weeks after that for delivery. It was then down to me to tell my dealer what is happening to my car. The dealer isn’t doing much for a 5 star review from me. I’ve never had such little interest from a dealer before. Sours the experience but happy the car is actually on the way.

Similar story to me mate. I feel that customer service on the VW website have provided me more information than my actual dealer, the ship I am on is the Glovis Century. It’s made it journey to Belgium this morning. With it being so close to Germany, I wouldn’t be surprised if the next stop is Emdem, Germany. You could actually be on the same ship as mine.

I’d like to see whether my dealership will ring me with an update like they said they would once they received one and provide me with the same detail as the customer service person did such as; what ship my car is on from Emdem to the UK.

Brilliant news though, gone from not being allocated a ship to being a week away from Germany!

Cheers yes it is good news and as my 5a notification came on 15th July and Glovis Century left on 21st I think we must be on the same ship and a relief to know the 8 month wait is coming to an end.

It’s poor though when we have to do all the chasing and rely on customer services to do what dealer should. My dealer even told me there was no way of them finding out what ship the car was on. Basically not interested in my custom.

I’m tracking Glovis Century and next stop Emden I hope

[brainbow]

VW Bham confirmed my car is on the Glovis Century and was in Zeebrugge this morning. So great news.

Next stop Eldon then a short hop over the the UK. Sounds like perfect timing for early 70 plates.

[ShockingIce]

VW Bham confirmed my car is on the Glovis Century and was in Zeebrugge this morning. So great news.

Next stop Eldon then a short hop over the the UK. Sounds like perfect timing for early 70 plates.

Yeah mate. Currently sitting in Zeebrugge. Can always check via
https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/GL ... -373599000

Early 70 plates here we come


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[Ima]

Glovis Century now on its way to Emden and arriving tonight. The trick then will be to work out what ship to UK

[MrTomOates]

Glovis Century now on its way to Emden and arriving tonight. The trick then will be to work out what ship to UK

Buzzing. That’s the only thing I’m worried about, I’m confident my salesman has no idea how close my car is to the UK because he’s not made an phone calls off of his own back to say the location and update of the car as of yet. So... it could be that it’s a customer service job to see if they can help me rather than him

[SRGTD]

I’m confident my salesman has no idea how close my car is to the UK because he’s not made an phone calls off of his own back to say the location and update of the car as of yet. So... it could be that it’s a customer service job to see if they can help me rather than him

VW salespeople could learn a lot by reading forums ;

• get an understanding of the type of info that waiting customers would appreciate receiving.

• appreciate that the lack of information and updates, and not responding to customer queries can be very frustrating for the customer.

• find the answers to some of the questions they no doubt get asked many times over by customers.

• improve their product knowledge of the cars they’re selling - many forum members are enthusiasts and have better product knowledge than the salesperson.

Some VW salespeople may be members on forums and understand what’s important to many customers waiting for their cars. The majority probably won’t though.

[Ima]

I’m confident my salesman has no idea how close my car is to the UK because he’s not made an phone calls off of his own back to say the location and update of the car as of yet. So... it could be that it’s a customer service job to see if they can help me rather than him

VW salespeople could learn a lot by reading forums ;

• get an understanding of the type of info that waiting customers would appreciate receiving.

• appreciate that the lack of information and updates, and not responding to customer queries can be very frustrating for the customer.

• find the answers to some of the questions they no doubt get asked many times over by customers.

• improve their product knowledge of the cars they’re selling - many forum members are enthusiasts and have better product knowledge than the salesperson.

Some VW salespeople may be members on forums and understand what’s important to many customers waiting for their cars. The majority probably won’t though.

Absolutely! It's not rocket science about basic customer service and the difference this makes to developing a relationship that in the longer terms maintains brand loyalty. Many small family dealers who rely on customer satisfaction and word of mouth have worked this out but the bigger dealers just don’t bother or seem to care. I’ve often known more about the car I’m buying than the salesperson and had to chase myself for any updates and it puts me off.

On the forums we all share our good and bad experiences that as a larger group can have a big impact on buying choices so it’s in the dealers interest to take notice. However when I mention that I have gained information from a forum I usually get rolled eyes from dealers and exasperated dismissive responses. My current buying experience is so poor I’d happily never go back to VW dealers again. My wife has just bought a Skoda Kamiq from a small family dealer and the experience has been stark in their efforts to meet her needs and far more communication already on car build dates, expected delivery etc than I’ve had and I know my dealer will have no interest in me until it’s time for me to sign the finance documents and once I pick up I’ll never hear from them again.