Would you ask for compensation? I have.....

[Papa Deuce]

We bought a new Honda minivan on Wednesday night. Out current minivan has 85K miles and needs 4K in repairs. So we traded it in. The salesman knew about the 4K in repairs needed. We told him we wanted it for today ( Friday ), as we were going on many small trips this weekend, and our current minivan can not be driven over 40 MPH.

He says that it will be here by lunch on Friday. Well, today he calls us and says there will be a delay, but it will be here by Saturday at noon. We say "ok, no big deal".... but then Friday evening he calls and says that it will not be available until Monday, hopefully by lunch time.

So, I told him that I was not real happy right now, and I expect to get some compensation for the inconvenience. He started hemming and hawing about how we beat him down so much on price that he doesn't think he can do ANYTHING for us. Truth be told, IMO, we DID hammer him for a great deal. But why should buying a car be like this anyway?

So, the new van has an installed DVD player. It only works with Honda's wireless headsets or through the car stereo system. You can't plug in your own headsets. It comes with one set of headsets. We have twins.

I told him that for our inconvenience, I wanted a 2nd set thrown in for free. They cost $69 or $79 ( their cost, retail is much higher ), I believe. He said he can't do it. I said you will have to do it or lose the sale. He said he would get back to us tonight ( Friday ). Well, he never called.

I can't imagine in any world where a dealership would lose a sale of a new car over this.

I don't think I am out of line by asking for this. And I don't think they will lose a sale on this.....

Agree?

 

[barkley]

well having gone through my own ordeal (many years ago) with honda-i would'nt be surprised at anything they say or do.

in my situation i purchased a new car and kept hearing a clicking sound that i brought the car in for repeated times as well as reporting at every regular service. the service departments (at multiple honda dealerships) reported no problems or 'sound undertimable due to masking weather conditions'. within 100 mile of my initial warranty expiration my entire clutch and tranny blew and honda refused to address the issue. i took the position that neither the clutch nor transmission problems (which i payed honda and they diagnosed) were indicated for any type of inspection or maintainance until well after the intial warranty expired. honda challenged me-they said they would have an independant inspection done to determine what the cause of the damage was-if it was their fault they would pay for the inspection and all repairs-if not their fault i would eat the cost of the inspection (and of course it was a costly independant inspection). outcome-a less than $2 part which they had received numerous warnings and recalls about was installed upside down resulting in total destruction of the entire engine and tranny. honda still hedged-but because i had an agreement in writing (at their demand) that i threatened to go to the local media with they did all the repairs and extended the warranty on the entire car to match a new car package.


for that reason-i trust not honda-nor any of their employees.

i suggest you take the price you bargained for at honda to comparable non honda dealerships-and see what you can do (you may even be able to get the honda model you desire but have another brand dealership cover and back up the warranty).

 

[jfulcer]

I dunno that I'd drop the sale if they didn't give you the headsets. I'm assuming that you spent a good deal of time working them down to a price you found acceptable. Do you really want to do that with another dealership? Yeah, it sucks that they didn't have it in time but unless it was in your contract there's not much you can do.

Take your deal to another dealership and see if they will match it outright. If not, buy the van from the crappy dealership but make sure they know you will never ever bring the car in for service there for the life of the vehicle because of this. And don't just tell your salesman, he will blow it off. Send a letter to the GM or ask to speak with him.

 

[jfulcer]

You can also get other headsets that work for $25 or less:

http://www.odyclub.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=30412

 

[ndelaware]

Never has a company been more overated than Honda.

 

[Papa Deuce]

You can also get other headsets that work for $25 or less:

http://www.odyclub.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=30412

Hey, THANKS!!!!!

 

[Anewman]

When we purchased a new Dodge Durango(back in 04), the dealer tried to sell us extra headsets and claimed only theirs would work...

We purchased some aftermarket headsets for about a third of the price, kids say it actually works better than the OEM.

 

[kdibattista]

While I wouldn't expect or ask for any extra compensation (delays happen) it would be nice if they gave you a loaner car.

 

[poohandwendy]

No, I wouldn't. I would either buy the car or not, based on how good the deal was and how much I wanted the car. If I was dissatisfied, I would go elsewhere. If they offered something to sweeten the deal, that my sway me (depending on what it was). But no, I would not ask for or expect compensation.

 

[inaminute]

No, I wouldn't. I would either buy the car or not, based on how good the deal was and how much I wanted the car. If I was dissatisfied, I would go elsewhere. If they offered something to sweeten the deal, that my sway me (depending on what it was). But no, I would not ask for or expect compensation.

Ditto.

Now that you've made the threat, aren't you obligated to follow through?

 

[wdwmom2]

While I wouldn't expect or ask for any extra compensation (delays happen) it would be nice if they gave you a loaner car.

This is what I would have expected

 

[mickeyfan2]

So you will walk on the sale over a pair of headphones, but the minivan you have is almost useless. I think you are pushing it. Just get the Honda on Monday and ask if you could buy the headphones at their cost.

 

[kristen821]

Tell them you are going to call headquarters and watch how the will bend over backwards for you. I bought a civic a few years ago and they tried to change the price when I went back in to buy it. Anyway as soon as I mentioned headquarters they did everything possible to make me happy.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

If you got an incredible deal, which is sounds like you did, I would not walk. I would however write a letter to Honda corporation on how I was treated....documenting it step by step. Who knows, maybe it will initiate an investigation on this dealership and maybe you will get some free oil changes , but it would make you feel better about this treatment...

See, this is what makes me a bit crazy.. it is the old my time is more valuable than yours. It does not matter that you need the car......they cannot get to it as they have other matters more pressing. Sorry, that is wrong.. If they say they are going to deliver, then they should be able to deliver. If not, then give the buyer a loaner until you can deliver. It is just good business to handle yourself appropriately..

 

[tw1nsmom]

Is the exact delivery date in the contract? You might have a hard time backing out if all the papers are signed and the date isn't in there.

I would take the car, but also request the headsets again (at least at cost).

 

[WebmasterAlex]

The first question I would ask is "why is isn't it available"

 

[figment52]

Sounds like a call to the sales manager is in order. The salesman made promises he couldn't keep.

One delay is ok, more than that without out an honest explanation, well, it does not set well with me. Just be glad you were not planning on going out of town and it keeps being delayed. I don't think you are asking too much.

I get so tired of the "you beat me up pretty good on the price already" line. Price that car and quit the haggling.

 

[cardaway]

The first question I would ask is "why is isn't it available"

Why sweat the details when there is an opportunity to demand more?

 

[Poohnatic]

Gee, I wrote a check for my VW Beetle and drove it off the lot. SIL wrote a check for her Honda Odyssey and drove it off the lot. The difference? Both vehicles were purchased in Florida. We both did some online research regarding price and did the 'pick your vehicle' options on the websites to find out which dealers had what we wanted. The Honda dealer she ended up purchasing from had already been recommended by several people AND they had what she wanted in stock.

What modifications did they have to make to your vehicle that it could not be ready for you by Thursday lunchtime? My experience has been adding the upgraded stereo and detailing a car meant it was ready the next day. This has been with cars that you can't 'order'.

Suzanne

 

[disneyfreakk]

I would have asked for a loaner car too. But If I told the salesman that he would lose the deal over the headset, then that is what would happen. I NEVER make threats unless I plan to follow through with them. This salesman sounds like he will call your bluff.