[Warwithwheels]

SKODA India has launched a new online platform BookYourSkodaOnline.com to enable prospective Indian Resident customers book their favorite SKODA online.



The minimum booking amount is fixed as Rs. 5,000 which is fully refundable in case the customer wishes to cancel the booking (Please read the fine print)

This online platform is available to book the complete lineup of Skoda cars in India Ranging from the Fabia to Superb.



Variant/color Selector



Dealership Locator



Payment Information & Fine Print

[Warwithwheels]

Note: Please read the complete Terms & Conditions available on the payment page of the website before proceeding with the payment


High Points in the Fine Print

• Acceptance of bookings/advance payment is taken on behalf of the dealership by Automotive Exchange Private Limited, the group that owns Carwale.com (hereinafter referred to as 'Agency'), The online booking engine is available at www.skoda-auto.co.in whereas technology, process and backend is powered by Agency.

• In order to book, you need to pay Rs 5,000. Get full refund of Rs. 5,000 should you choose to cancel your booking.

• In order to confirm your booking, you need to pay the balance amount to your chosen dealership.

• Booking from minors will not be accepted.

• Booking is open only for the Indian residents.

• The booking is non-transferable and only the Customer would be eligible to the buy the car if booking is accepted and confirmed by the Dealership.

• A Person will be able to apply for one or more SKODA cars and the person will be required to pay booking amount for as many cars as the person intends to book.

The Process:

• After completing the form and a valid online payment transaction, the system will generate a reference number for the receipt of payment towards the booking amount. The Customer can use that payment reference number to communicate with the Dealership and for any future communication.

• The amount collected online is only part of the Booking Amount and the balance will need to be paid to the selected Dealership within 7 days.

• Only after receipt of the entire booking amount will the booking be binding according to the booking terms and conditions of the Dealership. Until then the amount received is merely a request on part of the Customer and an indication of an intention to sell on part of the Dealership and does not result in a booking confirmation or contract of sale.

• In case of failure on part of the Customer to pay the balance of the booking amount in the next 7 days to the selected Dealership, SAIPL or Dealership reserves the right to cancel the booking without any liability towards the Customer

• The amount paid online by the Customer will be transferred to the Dealership as selected by the Customer within 3 working days from the receipt of online payment.

• The booking details as submitted by the Customer are notified to the Dealerships in real time through email and software communication.

• The online payment amount of Rs. 5,000 (Rupees Five Thousand only) is fully refundable in the event of cancellation prior to confirmation of booking.

• Customer needs to contact selected dealership for any matters pertaining to Cancellations and refunds which are governed by relevant terms and conditions.

[iVento]

A "brave" step forward by Skoda.

The final image shows that they are are running this in association with Carwale.com.

Let's wait and watch how successful is this going to be because most of the negotiations like free accessories, VAS etc. normally happens even before the advance amount is paid. Once this is paid, customer looses his advantage. (even though there is a refund clause).

Also, nowhere it mentions about the loan formalities. But it says the balance need to be paid within a weeks time from the date of booking.

[trinadha]

IMHO the benefit of negotiating the price and any other technicalities of the deal might be lost if booked online.
But in the event of successful booking salesman and the dealer also acknowledge that person who has booked is a certain customer than a mere prospect.

[deetjohn]

Not a great idea is it? Who would want to book a car online? I see more disadvantages here than advantages for the end customer.

If there was configurator, then it would have been totally worth it. Too bad no manufacturer is willing to bring a configurator for the mass produced models here. A car which suits your taste and it is also a great tool to save money on the bits that you don't need.

[rohanjf]

For a moment, I was so excited. I thought Skoda would be the first manufacturer in India to let the customers customize their cars (you know, opt for safety features and discard bluetooth connection - for example).

Also, the website lists Fabia. Are these the unsold cars that were manufactured some 6-8 months ago?

[drmohitg]

I did not understand the logic behind this at all. How does it help a customer? Earlier one had to go to the dealership, see if they like the car and decide on the colour and variant and then pay the booking amount to the dealer. Now under this the customer will still be needed to visit a dealer and decide on the car and variant he wants, then come back home and book the car online and then visit the dealer again and pay the rest of the amount. Infact he just loses out on any potential discounts and freebies that he could have got otherwise. How does the online booking part help anyone?

[shankar.balan]

As a casual observer having just chanced upon this thread, it seems to me that going by the tone of the caustic comments on this new initiative by Skoda, that the Indian public and members of our august forum will never ever forgive them and will only constantly deride any and all efforts that they make and initiatives that they bring.

I guess this is a kind of never ending 'atonement' that Skoda is facing here. They are caught as it were, forever in the clutches and the torments of 'Purgatorio'!

Come on guys. Once in a while if someone does something halfway decent, a few words of appreciation don't hurt!

Just imagine had this initiative been brought by Toyota or Maruti or Hyundai or Honda. I am reasonably sure that people would be falling over themselves in their haste to be the first to heap accolades, praise and plaudits on the said manufacturers and possibly beatify them prior to conferring sainthood!

Jokes apart, let's try and be a little charitable / appreciative and give things a chance, before condemning them completely out of hand!

[dkaile]

I do not see how this scheme can be viable for a company that sells most of its products with discounts. I haven't heard of any Skoda customer having bought his car without discounts.

[VineetG]

So what are we supposed to do? No test drive? No looking at interiors and exteriors? No bargaining? No observing the dealership attitude? Book online, go to the dealership, when he knows you are already sold on the car and may not offer you the best deals?

As mentioned in an earlier post, it would be good if we are able to customize vehicles online, and once booked at the dealership, track its shipment and delivery dates.

Good marketing exercise, but needs to be seen it it delivers any customer benefits.
Better if they pay more attention to improving reliability and customer service

Rgds

[e2p]

This is a good initiative. Booking a car online is something I never heard of.

However studies prove that more than 60% of the people ROPO (research online and purchase offline), for expensive commodities. As such how much this will be viable in the case of cars is a question. For me its really difficult to purchase a car online, without having paid a visit to the showroom and finalised the deal.

Skoda would have done enough analysis before launching this and therefore there should be a valid reason for this initiative.

[abishek2222]

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[selfdrive]

I do not see how this would benefit the customer at all. The problem is not about reaching a dealership. The problem is always dealing with the dealership. So I think the wrong problem is being solved.

If at the end of the day, the booking is transferred to a dealer, it does not help in any way. If the supply chain would have been modified in such a way that it is handled maybe at the corporate office and not at the dealer level, it could make more sense.

Customisation options would also help. In such cases they could take a little more substantial amount as booking and non refundable to cater to genuine customers.

[rohanjf]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

Jokes apart, let's try and be a little charitable / appreciative and give things a chance, before condemning them completely out of hand!

I think more than condemning or deriding Skoda, we are trying to understand the logic behind this move. We are trying to see how it adds value to the prospective customers. Most of us don't see any value because the information provided by this website is already available in Skoda India's official website. Moreover, it is not that the cars are available in limited numbers, so first-come-first-served basis works here.

When a prospective customer decides to buy a car, she/he has to go to the showroom at any cost, because the dealers charge far more than 5000 Rs as booking amount.

The only way this move can add value is if Skoda India ensures that no dealer ever takes more than 5000 Rs as booking amount for any car. This way, a customer will make one less trip to the dealership. You know, something like: test drive a Skoda -> test drive other cars -> finalise a Skoda, go online (instead of going to the dealership) and book -> go for PDI when the car finally arrives at the dealership.

[eq24]

What is the point of this?. It would make sense in maybe another product type but for a car and that too a Skoda car, what is the apparent advantage is beyond me. If one does go to the dealer to view the car can he not just book there and then and also get any discounts or freebies on offer.

This would have worked if they say had a crazy successful product and people would use this to remove any ambiguity of dealer playing spoil sport in the booking process. In this scenario it is just not going to bring any positive traction in my opinion.

What Skoda really needs to do is make people understand how the ownership experience has bettered. They even missed an opportunity in the very high pricing of the Octavia. Had they priced it lesser by atleast a lakh and a half, they would have seen immense foot falls and then such a scheme would have benefited.

Their stores are empty most of the times and the follow up process of most Gurgaon dealers is pathetic at best. So who in their right mind would block 5000 on the net and then face the music.