Angry Customer Tries To Torch Defective Safari

vinod_nookala · 24th March 2009, 14:20

Guys,
Trying to torch the vehicle worth a million is all a stunt!! I have worked with M&M and i have seen numerous customers saying he will either leave the vehicle at dealership forever or will torch it and forget about it, or even gift it to Anand Mahindra!

There is no second thought that the dealership must assess the tempermant of the customer before hand and must nip the frustration in the bud. This is an art!

But having owned a TATA and a Mahindra i can say that when ever i go to a TATA dealership i get the feeling that iam in a ocean and no one is ready to even hear out my problems. They have many like me there, so no big deal. Where as in Mahindra people are ready to resolve the issue and dont let the matter escalate to torching levels!!

Indian manufacturers must elevate the service and manufacturing quality levels drastically. We dont hear torching scenes with Honda, toyota or even Suzuki. When TATA can surprise the world by its NANO as an engineering marvel, i dont understand why is it taking so much time to sort out its Safari!

Eddy · 24th March 2009, 14:21

Is this a crime ? Burning your own car ?

Edit: I guess it is, since it may be dangerous to the surroundings.

Buy yes, it is a clear case of frustration with a manufacturer that has QC only on paper.

SS-Traveller · 24th March 2009, 14:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by amitoj

Man, i read the title of the thread and wondered if it was Tsk!!

Naah... Tanveer would have quietly dropped his Safari off the nearest cliff in HP! We might just have impending changes in our motor insurance laws! Safaris won't be covered for damage/loss due to fire or fall from cliffs!

h@r$h@l · 24th March 2009, 14:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinod_nookala

Guys,
Trying to torch the vehicle worth a million is all a stunt!! I have worked with M&M and i have seen numerous customers saying he will either leave the vehicle at dealership forever or will torch it and forget about it, or even gift it to Anand Mahindra!

There is no second thought that the dealership must assess the tempermant of the customer before hand and must nip the frustration in the bud. This is an art!

But having owned a TATA and a Mahindra i can say that when ever i go to a TATA dealership i get the feeling that iam in a ocean and no one is ready to even hear out my problems. They have many like me there, so no big deal. Where as in Mahindra people are ready to resolve the issue and dont let the matter escalate to torching levels!!

Indian manufacturers must elevate the service and manufacturing quality levels drastically. We dont hear torching scenes with Honda, toyota or even Suzuki. When TATA can surprise the world by its NANO as an engineering marvel, i dont understand why is it taking so much time to sort out its Safari!

But out those many who threatened to torch their vehicle, how many actually walked into the dealership with e petrol can? This guy did. I mean what if the dealership guys took this guy lightly and he actually lit it up?

Such an act can prove dangerous. I am sure there will be more update on this in coming days, will keep an eye and keep updating.

Steeroid · 24th March 2009, 14:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinod_nookala

Guys,
Trying to torch the vehicle worth a million is all a stunt!! I have worked with M&M and i have seen numerous customers saying he will either leave the vehicle at dealership forever or will torch it and forget about it, or even gift it to Anand Mahindra!

It is a stunt when it is still a verbal threat.

This is a guy who has come prepared with petrol and is ready to set fire to his 12-lakh plus purchase.

C'mon dont write it off as a stunt - one can only imagine his level of frustration, regardless of how trivial the issue is.

AirWind · 24th March 2009, 14:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinod_nookala

We dont hear torching scenes with Honda, toyota or even Suzuki.

A couple of years back in Thailand, I read in papers, that a Honda CRV was beaten to death

at the dealership by a lady owner who was frusturaed of the lemon!

Jaggu · 24th March 2009, 15:04

Good one may their tribe grow and knock some sense to these dealers/manufacturers. I wish there was some coverage in the vehicle insurance to cover lemons!

thedreamcatcher · 24th March 2009, 15:05

Wow. This is sad. What would happen if he torches it. He would have to bear the loss himself.

But I understand his frustration.

I will share an article with you guys later, (pretty long one) on how me and my wife went through mental trauma when a GM Dealer in Gurgaon (Apex Auto) failed to delievr my car on 4 occasions.

Will post all the details soon

greenhorn · 24th March 2009, 15:06

but the fact that the press was already there suggest that it might have been planned anyway

Steeroid · 24th March 2009, 15:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenhorn

but the fact that the press was already there suggest that it might have been planned anyway

THose dont look like 'press' quality photographs - probably one of the customer's relatives or friends or even one of the dealer staff with their camera phones?

aerohit · 24th March 2009, 15:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddy

Is this a crime ? Burning your own car ?

Edit: I guess it is, since it may be dangerous to the surroundings.

Buy yes, it is a clear case of frustration with a manufacturer that has QC only on paper.

CRIME, Yes

Toxic fumes and pollution in the atmosphere for no productive reason.

One way or another, you are going to breathe the same air after all.

harishsegar · 24th March 2009, 15:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by h@r$h@l

It is a very interesting topic. What level would you go to if your new car has a problem and you dont receive any positive or helpful response from the dealership or the company?

Advertise & collect all defective vehicles and park them in front of the Tata factory in Pune & leave them locked there with a big sticker saying defective. That would definitely attract attention and loads of negative publicity.

Maverick1977 · 24th March 2009, 15:14

I guess showrooms will have to start parking a Fire Engine permanently now. There will be many owners who would love to set their vehicle on fire, be it Maruti or a Tata.
I feel this is just a gimmick and/or a publicity stunt. What was a press photographer doing at the showroom when this stunt was taking place? The photographs seem to suggest that the guy was just threatening to set it on fire & might have actually not done so if he were just told to go ahead & do the same. Also why has this been reported on a day when all newspapers carried stories of the Nano & the threat that this car poses to all other manufacturers. Media industry is no more to be trusted.
This whole incident looks too good to be true.

siddartha · 24th March 2009, 15:17

atleast the guy wasnt trying to self immolate , then it would have been
" reclaim WITH your life."

PAVAN KADAM · 24th March 2009, 15:21

Here we go again,

This man is protesting against the dealer, why does a safari or TATA's come into play.

He would have done it to a Endevour or Scorpio or even an Accord if he had the same issue.

This guys problem would have sorted out if he was on T-BHP.

24th March 2009, 14:20	#16
vinod_nookala Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,737 Thanked: 430 Times View My Garage	Guys, Trying to torch the vehicle worth a million is all a stunt!! I have worked with M&M and i have seen numerous customers saying he will either leave the vehicle at dealership forever or will torch it and forget about it, or even gift it to Anand Mahindra! There is no second thought that the dealership must assess the tempermant of the customer before hand and must nip the frustration in the bud. This is an art! But having owned a TATA and a Mahindra i can say that when ever i go to a TATA dealership i get the feeling that iam in a ocean and no one is ready to even hear out my problems. They have many like me there, so no big deal. Where as in Mahindra people are ready to resolve the issue and dont let the matter escalate to torching levels!! Indian manufacturers must elevate the service and manufacturing quality levels drastically. We dont hear torching scenes with Honda, toyota or even Suzuki. When TATA can surprise the world by its NANO as an engineering marvel, i dont understand why is it taking so much time to sort out its Safari! Last edited by vinod_nookala : 24th March 2009 at 14:23.
	() Thanks

24th March 2009, 14:21	#17
Eddy Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 9,388 Thanked: 13,303 Times	Is this a crime ? Burning your own car ? Edit: I guess it is, since it may be dangerous to the surroundings. Buy yes, it is a clear case of frustration with a manufacturer that has QC only on paper. Last edited by Eddy : 24th March 2009 at 14:23.
	() Thanks

24th March 2009, 15:04	#22
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,215 Thanked: 15,907 Times	Good one may their tribe grow and knock some sense to these dealers/manufacturers. I wish there was some coverage in the vehicle insurance to cover lemons!
	() Thanks

24th March 2009, 15:05	#23
thedreamcatcher Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Dubai Posts: 1,204 Thanked: 66 Times View My Garage	Wow. This is sad. What would happen if he torches it. He would have to bear the loss himself. But I understand his frustration. I will share an article with you guys later, (pretty long one) on how me and my wife went through mental trauma when a GM Dealer in Gurgaon (Apex Auto) failed to delievr my car on 4 occasions. Will post all the details soon
	() Thanks

24th March 2009, 15:06	#24
greenhorn Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: KL-01 Posts: 7,745 Thanked: 4,402 Times View My Garage	but the fact that the press was already there suggest that it might have been planned anyway
	() Thanks

24th March 2009, 15:14	#28
Maverick1977 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 997 Thanked: 906 Times View My Garage	I guess showrooms will have to start parking a Fire Engine permanently now. There will be many owners who would love to set their vehicle on fire, be it Maruti or a Tata. I feel this is just a gimmick and/or a publicity stunt. What was a press photographer doing at the showroom when this stunt was taking place? The photographs seem to suggest that the guy was just threatening to set it on fire & might have actually not done so if he were just told to go ahead & do the same. Also why has this been reported on a day when all newspapers carried stories of the Nano & the threat that this car poses to all other manufacturers. Media industry is no more to be trusted. This whole incident looks too good to be true.
	() Thanks

24th March 2009, 15:17	#29
siddartha BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: bangalore Posts: 671 Thanked: 24 Times	atleast the guy wasnt trying to self immolate , then it would have been " reclaim WITH your life."
	() Thanks

24th March 2009, 15:21	#30
PAVAN KADAM BANNED Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NAMMA BENGALURU Posts: 5,602 Thanked: 2,549 Times	Here we go again, This man is protesting against the dealer, why does a safari or TATA's come into play. He would have done it to a Endevour or Scorpio or even an Accord if he had the same issue. This guys problem would have sorted out if he was on T-BHP.
	() Thanks