Re: Skoda Rapid 1.0 TSI Petrol : Official Review I booked the Rapid TSI on September 1. The dealership experience till now has been horrible to say the least. I made the booking with JMD Skoda Andheri. The Sales RM initially informed me that the delivery would take atleast 2 months since they do not have the color in stock. I was okay with this.
Towards the end of September (around the 25th), I received a call from them saying that there is one car available but for that I need to make full payment of ₹10.80 lakhs before the end of September. I did everything I could to arrange the funds in such short notice and made the payment. They informed me that the car has arrived at their dealership on October 1. I visited their dealership on Oct 2 morning at 10 o clock to do the PDI so that they can proceed with the registration immediately thereafter. This is where the ordeal began.
The originally assigned Sales RM went on leave in September. Her manager, one Ms. Niyati Nerurkar was supposed to handle all her assignments. I was offered a corporate discount of ₹15000 on this deal for which I had to submit certain documents. These documents were basically my Official IDcard copy and latest payslip. Now my ID card has been in my office drawer since March this year so I let Ms. Niyati know about this well in advance and asked her which document can I submit in lieu of the ID card copy. She said she would check up internally and let me know. In a day or two, she called back and told me that I can submit my offer letter and payslip and redact the financial information with a whiteink if I feel the need to do so. I was more than happy to send them my offer letter and payslip after redacting my remuneration information. I did the same and had sent it to them way back in the month of September along with the cheque and other documents (Aadhar card, PAN card copies etc.) required for registration.
Cut to October 2nd - I have completed the PDI and am excited for delivery. I asked Ms. Niyati how long would it take for registration. She informed me that it generally takes 6-7 days. But considering there are hardly any vehicles being registered, mine should take lesser and that they would try and get it delivered to me ASAP. I take her word and leave the showroom. After 4 days on October 6, I get a call from Ms. Niyati who tells me that my Offer Letter copy will not work for the purpose of the corporate discount and that I need to submit a letter from my HR stating that I am currently in employment with the company. I tried explaining to her that if their concern is whether I am currently employed in the said company or not, then the latest payslip should give them comfort. But she was just not willing to listen and kept repeating the Skoda rulebook like a parrot. I told her I don't mind giving the letter but it would take time for me to go to my HR and get it arranged. She tells me - Sir, I am really sorry, but till the time you don't give us that letter, your car won't go for registration. And if you do want to go ahead with it, then you please pay us ₹15000. We can refund it to you once you get the letter.
That was the final nail in the coffin. I lost it and just kept the phone. I didn't have any issues in giving any documents to them. But they had one whole month to figure out what they need from me. It just felt like now when they have all the money transferred from my account to theirs, I am at their disposal and that they can make me dance to their tunes the way they want. The next day, she calls me up again to sell their extended warranty (which I did buy). During the conversation, she tells me - Sir aap woh letter arrange kara dijiye, main 1 din me registation karwa duungi.
On the 8th of this month, I sent her the letter that they required. Till this morning, no body bothered to call or check or let me know the status. This morning I receive a call from the original Sales RM who had gone on leave who tells me that the car has gone to the RTO only today for passing and that it would take another 4-5 days for delivery.
The whole joy of buying a new car is lost. I really never had any issues in giving any documents they wanted or the money when they wanted. But to call.up and say that the process of registration is stalled till the time you don't submit XYZ document is wrong. Just wring at many levels. They had a whole month to figure that out. It is not the customers mistake if the Sales team goofed up. To make the customer pay for their mistakes is atrocious.
Anyway, just as I am writing this, I have received an SMS from the RTO that they have received the registration amount of ₹113***. Atleast I know things are moving now.
Is there a way this can be escalated to someone senior? Honestly, even before the car is delivered, I am dreading about the after sales.
The issue I figured is that these guys work on an incentive model. Since the original Sales RM went on leave, her manager didn't give a damn to her clients (read - me) since she's not going to get any incentive even if she treats me well. Plus the fact that if she gives me the required level of engagement, my feedback on their survey would reflect on the original Sales RM who was on leave for all these weeks. So there is no incentive for Ms. Niyati to cater well to me. All this is absolutely absurd considering its the customer who suffers in all this. |