Dear fellow bhpians, sharing with you all my agonizing experience of booking Fiat Grande Punto MJD E+ and waiting, waiting, and still waiting........
My association with Fiat dates back to 2003 when I bought a Fiat Palio 1.2 which I currently use. All through these years I had no complaints about my car nor the company whose name I use to uphold to everyone. Being a hardcore Fiat fan I was damn sure that my next vehicle will also be from the same family. Waited for the Linea, but it was a bit steep for my budget. Then came the sibling, saw her on June 16th, was mesmerized with the sheer beauty of the car, fixed that this would be my car. Took a TD and I was totally impressed.
So booked a Bossanova white Grande Punto 1.3 MJD Emotion on 1st September 2009 at RF Motors, Cochin. I chose the dealer over Concorde Motors because RF Motors, Cochin was nearer to my town. Gave a cheque of Rs.50,000/- to the sales personnel and he smilingly gave me a receipt.
My loan was processed quicker than I expected, also I could arrange some additional funds. So planned to upgrade the model to Emotion Pack.
Called the sales guy, passed the information to him about upgrade and informed him that DD for full settlement is ready and I can make the payment any day.
From here on starts my war with the dealer.
26th Sept: Dealer giving information that the car will be punched and loaded from the plant in a few days. Also he agreed to the Corporate Discount of Rs.9000/- for which I was eligible.
30th Sept: No contacts from the dealer's side. Rang up the sales guy and he gave an excuse that no load has yet been dispatched from the plant. Also the sales guy now comes up with another issue that Corporate discount cannot be given since I had booked the car in my spouse's name. Some heated arguments followed, I called up the Manager, he was not ready for adjustment in this regard.
2nd Oct: No news from the dealer. Regular version of excuse, "Sir, cars are not yet loaded".
4th Oct: After me raising voice and making a scene at the office the Sales Manager commits that vehicle will be delivered by 9th of October.
9th Oct: No communication from the dealer. Rang up the Manager, he says, "Sir, sorry for the delay, your car is in transit, it will reach in another 7 days."
10th Oct: I came to know from Team-bhp about Diwali offer of free insurance + extended warranty. The sales guy was giving a version that there was no such offer.
11th Oct: I rang up the sales guy to ask the VIN no. He says that there is a Diwali offer which I had mentioned and due to this cars are not being loaded from the plant!
I was shocked to hear that, asked him then what was your manger lying to me the other day. Then he says that his Manager has resigned or rather ABSCONDING.
12th Oct: I was so depressed about the prospects of me getting the car. Rang up Mr. Mangesh of Service Department. He patiently listens to my problems and asks me to contact Ms.Vishakharani of the Corporate department. I divulged the whole script to her. She gives me a guarantee that the problem will be resolved at the earliest.
14th Oct: No further developments. Rang up Ms.Vishakharani again twice or thrice, she makes a statement that the problem is being attended.
15th Oct: My calls to Ms.Vishakharani is interrupted by another lady official. She gives another set of lame excuses which no customer can tolerate.
16th Oct: My calls to Fiat Corporate Department are not picked up which I presume is a deliberate action from there side.
I am so distressed by the whole episode. First I felt the dealer was cheating me, but now I feel the company is equally ignoring customers. The dealer guy is just a dumb instrument. He has no answer, just a word that "Sir,we will give you the vehicle". When ?????? He doesnt know.
I have kept the DD with me and untill now I have only paid the booking amount. So I am not completely ruined in financial terms, but I exactly don't know what next. Whom should I contact in Fiat India Ltd. ??
My father is against the idea of changing the dealer. He says that drama will be same there too. He is insisting me to change the vehicle.
Fiat has paid me for being a loyal customer. I still believe that Punto is a state of the art product. But it is at present being killed by such irresponsible and unreliable dealers.
Fellow bhpians, I humbly seek your help in resolving my problem ....