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Old 4th September 2022, 16:35   #1
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Anecdotes on bookings & waiting lists for cars / bikes

As we all know the administered price mechanism and manufacturing quotas for auto makers were in vogue during the iron curtain era for our automobiles that began in 1957 and lasted till around mid 1975. The Tariff Commission report came into effect from sometime in 1957.

Price control meant that prices of all categories of automobiles were controlled and manufacturers could not increase prices without permission from the government. Only when a new model was introduced were permissions accorded to raise prices. The HM Landmaster sold for some Rs 9000 odd. The early Ambassadors were priced at Rs 11,000 odd and with the coming of the Mark II by October 1963 the price was increased to around Rs 19,000 odd. The Mark 3 came in mid 1975 and just around then the automobile makers won their petition in the Apex Court, where they had agitated against the price control mechanism by the government. The Mark 3 prices immediately rose to about Rs 32,000 odd. Lambrettas and Vespas/Bajajs that cost just Rs 3200 since 1960-75 were now priced at around Rs 4800 odd. However, over the years inflation played its role and the quality deteriorated at the behest of the automakers. They were satisfied as everything they manufactured were sold and there were huge waiting lists for particular models.

Bookings came into vogue since the quota era, as demand and supply were not commensurate with one another. The booking amount had to be deposited in a post office pass book (savings bank) stating that it is for the booking of the particular car or scooter model. Simple interest was paid by the postal department. A priority number was allotted by the dealer upon submission of a booking application. This priority number would come in handy for all future enquiries. In the 1960's, Vespa and Lambretta had nearly similar waiting time of about six years for the booking to mature. Vespa/Bajaj took a lead by the late 1960's and its waiting time increased to 9 to 10 years. Most other two wheelers were available within a week or within a few months.

In the car segment Fiat/Premier and Ambassador had waiting lists. Even the Standard Herald had its waiting list but it matured in around one year or maybe more in some cases. The Premier President/ Padmini took a lead over Ambassador just after the oil shock in 1973 as its waiting time increased.

Premiums were commonplace and Bajajs in the 1970's commanded a premium almost equal to its cost price. Premier cars also commanded a good premium.

But the ironical fact was that in this era a two wheeler or car once bought (not aware about trucks and buses) its ownership could not be transferred to a new name before two years from the date of registration. This was in vogue till the early 1980's.Despite this, brokers made merry and brand new vehicles were sold with signed papers by existing owner, useable for ownership change after two years.

My personal experience is with two wheeler bookings. My father who booked a Lambretta Li 150 Series II scooter in 1960 got the scooter delivered in January 1967. He preferred to book a Vespa as his next two wheeler. But at the time of delivery being in the Army, he was out on duty and not in station. Our neighbour and family friend, another Army officer took delivery of this sea green Lambretta. A choice of shade was almost non existent for two wheelers then. Each batch came with a particular shade. If this was not liked, the buyer had the choice to forego his allotment and wait in limbo for the next batch. The sea green Lambretta had cost us Rs 3198/- on road. The dealer asked our neighbour if he wanted the booking amount to be retained to again book another Lambretta that would mature sometime in the future. Neighbour agreed and the deposit of Rs 250 was secured and carried over for yet another Lambretta. When my father returned back, he was told about the new Lambretta booked during talks with our neighbour. My father said that he would have preferred a Vespa. To this our neighbour retorted "koi baat nahin, Lambretta hum le lenge" meaning "doesn't matter, we will take the new Lambretta booked". Next, the neighbour was transferred and we lost track of him soon after. Father had also booked a Lambretta through the Canteen Stores Department (CSD) of the defence forces. This scooter was delivered in December 1971 in a saffron and light smoky grey shade. It had arrived directly from the CSD store in Bombay packed in gunny bags and cost Rs 3050/-. We took delivery at a local CSD outlet. The older sea green Lambretta was soon sold for Rs 3800/-. I loved this sea green scooter as at a tender age, I had learnt driving on it. It was from the Golden Era of API, the manufacturer when quality mattered. It has Italian components including the speedo and carburettor. But due to my tender age then, I was unable to follow the changeover and sale. We kept the saffron and light smoky grey scooter next. The quality was deteriorating and body rattles above 50 kmph were quite audible. Next, by August 1975 the 1967 Lambretta booking by our neighbour had matured. The new scooter came home and was a light radium green and light smoky white machine. There was a shade choice now for the first time. A canary yellow and light smoky white shade was the other choice, that we did not prefer. The MAC-175 was just then introduced by API and a choice was offered to the Li-150 buyers. My father asked me for my opinion and I said that the proven good old Li 150 would be better preferred. No test drive was offered as these had empty petrol tanks. The dealers would fill up 250 ml at the time of delivery and charge the buyer. It cost us some Rs 4800/- odd. Yes, that's the post price control removal price tag. The saffron and light smoky white scooter was sold for Rs 5500/-.Yes, that was its resale value then. We were overjoyed with the brand new scooter as usual, but the quality had further deteriorated. There were mild rusts on some nuts and bolts and a few welded portions as it was monsoon then. And this quality deterioration was despite the price increase by about 50-60%, post the price control mechanism removal.

Next my father booked a Bajaj in my name in 1976 by paying Rs 500/- also as P. O. savings bank deposit this time. And he had booked another Bajaj for himself through the CSD. The demand was too much even here in the CSD and he was told to wait for another 7-8 years. I still remember the CSD priority booking number VE-13333.VE was presumably for Vespa and the CSD had yet to yield to the new Bajaj brand name.

In October 1985, the 1976 booking of the Bajaj had matured. It was a Bajaj Super that we would get now. Surprisingly, the dealer offered us a test ride on a Bajaj Cub when we went to select the Super. Yes, the Bajaj Cub had arrived and this was an option only for matured booking allottees, where we were eligible. I found the Cub underpowered and my father agreed with me. There was a choice of about three to four shades for the Super. We selected a bright, light green shade. It was a delight to own a Bajaj Super, the model that was swaying our two wheeler market. It's cost came to Rs 10,500 odd.

By then, in 1986 I booked an Ind Suzuki AX 100 and was also owning my blue TVS 50 since 1983. The red Ind-Suzuki was bought in mid 1986 for around Rs 14,500 after a waiting period of six months. The Japanese beauty was extremely user friendly and a breeze to drive and maintain. It attracted gazes and enquiries from onlookers. I gave the Bajaj Super to my elder brother who thankfully still retains it in its factory shade. And thankfully our auto industry was opening up and change of name of the owner was legally permissible by 1985-86. The Ind Suzuki was given to my younger brother as I preferred the Yamaha RX 100 over it. He sold it after 10 plus years of usage. The TVS 50 and the 1990 RX 100 are still with me.

We sold our 1975 Lambretta in 1990 for Rs 3800/-.The Bajaj booking of the 1970's through the CSD did not mature, as my father had retired by then. That was the rule then, but today even after retirements, in service bookings through CSD can mature and can be bought by ex-servicemen.

The Lambretta waiting lists disappeared by 1977. The Bajaj Super waiting lists disappeared by 1988.

It will be interesting to read about other fellow member's experiences and anecdotes from this iron curtain era for our automobile industry and also for its owners. Youngsters can take inputs from the older generation, family members and relatives or family friends and so on.

Last edited by anjan_c2007 : 4th September 2022 at 16:51.
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Old 5th September 2022, 10:01   #2
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Re: Anecdotes on bookings & waiting lists for cars / bikes

With the current 1 - 2 year waiting periods for hot new models (from XUV700 to the Mercedes GLS), we sure are going back in some ways. Customers have no option, but to be patient for their first choice of car, or compromise on the selection and choose something that is available for delivery earlier.

Personally, I have never waited too long for a car (although I'd have no problem if I really liked a car). All of the new cars we've bought have been delivered between 1 - 2 months tops, while the used cars (my favourite) have typically taken 2 - 3 months of searching. With most manufacturers, I prefer to wait for a later model year. Teething issues are resolved & waiting periods have evaporated by the 3rd or 4th year of production.

My 2 paise of an anecdote = the jellybean Zen actually had a lukewarm response when it was launched. We bought one in '95 and got delivery rather quickly. Surprisingly, demand for the jellybean shot up from '96 onward and there was a big market for buying & selling allotment letters for 25k - 50k. Having a Zen allotment letter made you more money than the share market in 96-97.
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Old 5th September 2022, 10:14   #3
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Re: Anecdotes on bookings & waiting lists for cars / bikes

Manufacturers who artificially create the hype due to long waiting list are just loosing the opportunity of higher revenue, higher marketshare, higher scales of economy. They are helping nimble competitors to snatch away their business.

I am sure they must have some reasons, which appear to be beyond my current comprehension.
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Old 5th September 2022, 10:32   #4
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Re: Anecdotes on bookings & waiting lists for cars / bikes

There is a foundational difference between then and now I guess. I do not believe most current wait times are fully justifiable and partly a marketing gimmick - who would want be seen as a ready-to-sell brand today? Perception is that they may not be popular/successful if they do.

Regarding old times, I remember my grandmother's brother's 1978 Bajaj Priya - which I now own. This was bought second hand / at a higher price. I believe for Rs.2000 more as he had a baby on the way and really needed personal transport. He said there was also a small group of people - some from the Govt who would use their clout to get vehicles allocated earlier and then sell them at a good profit. It wasn't like an all-out business for sure but yes, he did buy it from a high ranked official from the arms factory in Jabalpur who didn't really have a need for a scooter but kept buying one after the other to sell.
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Old 5th September 2022, 11:11   #5
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Re: Anecdotes on bookings & waiting lists for cars / bikes

The current trend of soft launching cars without announcing prices, driving up hype and taking advanced booking amounts without providing test drives of all variants is a really bad marketing gimmick and highly unethical practice by automobile companies. They're trying to gauge interests based on booking patterns and also building working capital using the booking amounts!

The government must step in with some regulatory measures and we customers must stop being taken for a ride with such gimmicks and long waiting periods. If the waiting list is too long and a particular dealer starts taking you for granted just look for better alternatives albeit at slightly higher prices!
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Old 6th September 2022, 11:24   #6
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Re: Anecdotes on bookings & waiting lists for cars / bikes

Usually when you are visiting the dealer, SA will rarely give you the car upfront unless it's a common colour on a common car; because the dealer keeps them in stock. If the car is not a hot-seller or the colour is uncommon, the SA tries to push you colour / variant which they have in stock citing that the one you want will take this many days and months due to scarce supply. These are all stories which they are taught to narrate as their number one goal is to sell the existing inventory.

There are some genuine cases though - when I went to book my Thar CRDe in 2014, the SA honestly told me that they do not keep Thars in stock due to staggered demand. Once they have a booking of around 10 cars, they put an order to the company and the vehicle is delivered within 30 to 40 days of the booking.
I remember my father booking two 118NEs with PAL in 1987 and we were allotted one in 1989; a two year wait was common those days. Such was the joy in our family that we were finally allotted ONE car
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Old 6th September 2022, 12:43   #7
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Re: Anecdotes on bookings & waiting lists for cars / bikes

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Originally Posted by Gotcha View Post
.....
The government must step in with some regulatory measures
NO! Please understand that these were horrifying experiences to live through in those years of socialism.
Standing in a km long queue to obtain 5 litres of kerosene.
Applying to the District Supplies Officer for 5 bags of cement to make repairs in your own house.
Getting foreign exchange from your relatives to be able to buy a Bajaj Chetak scooter.

The list is endless. Manufacturers were supplying third rate vehicles at high prices.
Whatever be the introduction method be now, lack of quality control and bad ASS are a sureshit recipe for the company to shutdown.

Let us leave it to the market forces to decide.
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Old 6th September 2022, 14:43   #8
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Re: Anecdotes on bookings & waiting lists for cars / bikes

Although am in the market for a new vehicle i really don't know whether this waiting period is really a shortage of chips / material driven or a marketing gimmick. More so because i hear "in weeks" delivery for some and for some haven't even got theirs in the last 6 months, and also because I am not seeing a proper trend on this. Specially in the world of literally "in minutes" delivery I don't get how is this happening.

As for the earlier era's of booking of Chetaks and M50/80's have seen it and experienced it. My father got an M50 booked by one of my relative in 1985, the RC was hand written then and it later got printed sometimes in 1989/90 so name change of owner at that time was done by "paying a fees" to the babus. Relative to that the Chetak came home in 1995 without any issue as it was booked and delivered within like 2 months (as it was in a special "maroon red" color).

In all i think post that time this is my first time i am seeing a waiting for a vehicle to be delivered and there is a long gap between booking and Delivery.
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Old 6th September 2022, 16:43   #9
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Re: Anecdotes on bookings & waiting lists for cars / bikes

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Originally Posted by GTO View Post

My 2 paise of an anecdote = the jellybean Zen actually had a lukewarm response when it was launched. We bought one in '95 and got delivery rather quickly. Surprisingly, demand for the jellybean shot up from '96 onward and there was a big market for buying & selling allotment letters for 25k - 50k. Having a Zen allotment letter made you more money than the share market in 96-97.
My dad and his elder brother both had booked the Zen in it's first avatar and when it was launched in 1993.

My dad got an allotment number of 24 in the city, while my uncle got the 9th car. At 3,03,000/- it was cheaper than the 118 NE at that point of time, which was priced at 3,25,000/-. So my uncle sold his allotment letter for a premium/black of 40,000 and went and bought a 118 NE, which was a bit roomier than the Zen, while we waited for the Zen.

During the 2nd round of bookings, Zen again picked up pace as people waited or Peugot 309, which did not click much.
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Old 6th September 2022, 16:45   #10
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Re: Anecdotes on bookings & waiting lists for cars / bikes

'Customer' as a concept itself didn't exist back then, forget about being 'always right'. I recall hearing from dad , that when he & Mama(maternal uncle) visited a premier showroom in 85 and asked to have a look at a car, they were told to make a booking or take a hike !!
Witnessed the tail end of it myself as a teenager. In 97, tagged along with Dad & few others to Bathinda, for a new DI jeep purchase. We reached showroom in the afternoon(stock was to arrive later that day), payment had to be made in full before even looking at the vehicle (PDI? What is that?), Had to run back and forth to get few notes replaced, no sales guy attending, no tea/coffee, nothing.!!
The Jeep arrived around 12 in the night, got few minutes to look at it while the clerk prepared the papers and then we rode back home

Looks like another world today !!

Last edited by RaviK : 6th September 2022 at 16:48. Reason: Updated a sentence
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Old 6th September 2022, 17:58   #11
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Re: Anecdotes on bookings & waiting lists for cars / bikes

This was mid-late 90s - we had an aging Premier Padmini which was taking more tolls on my father's nerves than the actual use. He was always on the lookout for buying a new car but kept delaying - from the first iteration of Maruti 800, to the second iteration in late 80s and then the Zen in early 90s citing various reasons. Then his brother (/my uncle) who had ordered & was delivered one of the first set of new model of M800 around '98. We were all in love with the newer sleek model and were going ga-ga at it; most of all my father.

My uncle then dropped a surprise - he had got an opportunity overseas which he had been trying for years and he was ready to sell the brand new car at a discount to my father. It was a fantastic deal but for reasons only known to him, my father declined and ordered the same car from the dealership a month later. Ironically prices went up, delivery timelines got delayed and he had already sold his Padmini and we were without a car for quite a while. All this time, he kept on lamenting only if he'd taken up his brother's offer
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Old 6th September 2022, 18:39   #12
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Re: Anecdotes on bookings & waiting lists for cars / bikes

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Originally Posted by Alfresco View Post
Let us leave it to the market forces to decide.
Many dealers and automobile companies seem to have formed a cartel with regard to booking amounts and waiting period for delivery of new cars. With no checks in place, they're profiteering from hapless consumers.

We can't expect the government to continue turning a blind eye to all the racketeering taking place. Every responsible government in the world steps in to perform corrective actions - Eg: https://www.federalregister.gov/docu...egulation-rule
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Old 7th September 2022, 08:58   #13
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Re: Anecdotes on bookings & waiting lists for cars / bikes

In the days of the Ambassador..my dad would take delivery of the new car and on the same day book for a new car.

The new car would be available in 3-4 years.

As he would use the car for long distances and drive himself he would keep the car in top condition and would say that the Ambassador is best changed around the 3/4 year mark.
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