Hi all,
You must have read my earlier thread about my New Honda City. I will now be completing 6 months with this car. I have a funny incident which I would like to share with all Team BHP members.
Disclaimer: I am not doing this for any personal gain/to defame anyone/for any compensation. Just so that people are aware of Honda and its dealer’s realities in India.
I booked my car on the 28th of October I think, just a few days after its launch by paying 1 lac as advance. I was allotted the car in the first week of deliveries and I think got it on 30th November.
The full payment of the car was done 1 week before dispatch on information that the car was allotted to me. At time of payment I had also asked for accessories to be fitted in the car. I went for the elegance kit comprising of bumper protectors, side protectors, tail pipe finisher, those sexy blue door lights etc. I also booked the rear fog lamps set. Total bill for accessories was about 28000.
At time of delivery the rear fog lamps had not come so I agreed to wait for them. This too after booking 2 weeks in advance. Honda Logistics at work. Even the paint job on the protectors was shoddy, the raaste ka painting type. I brought this to the notice of the executive who agreed to rectify it when I got the car for the fog lamps.
One week later Linkway calls and says the parts have come. I drop the car off in the morning and in the evening I get information that the wiring diagram has not come with the kit, so we cannot fit it. Again Honda Logistics at work
One week later I get another call saying that the diagram has come, kindly get your car. Again same story repeats, however it is a combination switch which is missing. Again I take my car back in the evening. Again Honda Logistics at work
Now comes the fun part. Honda and the dealer bounce me around with excuses. I contact Honda one-2-one, Honda corporate office, etc just to be told there is no firm date of getting the part. Finally I decide to enjoy the new year and wait for Honda.
In January, I get a call from Honda saying that sir the part has come and we are extremely sorry for the inconvenience caused. Please coordinate with dealer to get it fitted. As a gesture from our side the rear lamps are free of cost.
I go to Linkway. It fits the part. Happily I ask for my refund amount thinking I will spend the money on some other accessory.
NOW COMES THE FUNNY PART.
HONDA GAVE ME JUST THE SWITCH FREE OF COST. AND SINCE IT WAS NOT LINKWAY'S FAULT CHARGED ME THE FULL LABOUR FOR THAT PART. SO I WAS LOOKING AT A REFUND OF Rs. 4008, I GOT ONLY Rs. 662. EXPLANATION BY HONDA WAS THAT SINCE ONLY THAT PART WAS DELAYED, WE WILL ONLY GIVE THAT FREE. LINKWAY SAYS, SINCE IT WAS NOT OUR FAULT WE WILL NOT WAIVE OFF LABOUR.
I DID NOT TAKE THAT CHEQUE AT THAT TIME AS I WAS NOT INTERESTED IN SUCH MISERLINESS. HOWEVER NOW I AM PLANNING TO SEND THIS CHEQUE ACROSS TO THE MD OF HONDA SIEL INDIA WITH A LETTER EXPLAINING THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AND REQUESTING HIM TO DONATE THAT AMOUNT TO HIS FAVOURITE CHARITY.
Honda makes one of the better cars in India in its segment. However such things make one laugh. A company that places an unreasonable premium on its technology, resorts to such tactics when confronted with its own mistake.
Hope this helps all of you people who are contemplating purchasing a Honda, and for others - Happy reading.
P.s. I have purposefully left out exhaustive details, names of executives from Linkway and Honda who were involved as I have no personal vendetta. The whole incident has been a joke for me. I had escalated this issue to quite a few levels in Linkway/Honda only to find the same non committal, vague, funny and lost responses. Still anyone who is curious and wants to know who to avoid in Linkway can message me for details.
Regards.
f50xj13
Link to my thread :
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-d...ome-today.html