Random Irritations

[AmandaJR]

It's a main BMW dealer?
My 5-series is the best car I've ever owned but everything about my local dealership, where I bought the car, is dreadful.

Yes. My current car was also bought from a (different) main dealer who we just called into when passing one Sunday. I was in the market for a Golf but the VW garage were less than helpful. It was like night and day how we were treated and I bought a BMW having not even considered one. Sycamore Peterborough have continued to be excellent at customer care and after service. I was shocked at the whole feel at Group 1 Bedford - from a disinterested moody receptionist to the salesman and his (alleged) smarmy boss.

Much as I liked the car I don't think I can bear to give the jokers a single penny.

 

[GreiginFife]

Yes. My current car was also bought from a (different) main dealer who we just called into when passing one Sunday. I was in the market for a Golf but the VW garage were less than helpful. It was like night and day how we were treated and I bought a BMW having not even considered one. Sycamore Peterborough have continued to be excellent at customer care and after service. I was shocked at the whole feel at Group 1 Bedford - from a disinterested moody receptionist to the salesman and his (alleged) smarmy boss.

Much as I liked the car I don't think I can bear to give the jokers a single penny.

Is it a new or used car?

 

[PJ87]

Yes. My current car was also bought from a (different) main dealer who we just called into when passing one Sunday. I was in the market for a Golf but the VW garage were less than helpful. It was like night and day how we were treated and I bought a BMW having not even considered one. Sycamore Peterborough have continued to be excellent at customer care and after service. I was shocked at the whole feel at Group 1 Bedford - from a disinterested moody receptionist to the salesman and his (alleged) smarmy boss.

Much as I liked the car I don't think I can bear to give the jokers a single penny.

I admit I try and avoid dealer where possible. I get my information from YouTube , then carwow for a deal and only go into a dealer for signing the forms.

Very rarely have to deal with them

 

[AmandaJR]

I admit I try and avoid dealer where possible. I get my information from YouTube , then carwow for a deal and only go into a dealer for signing the forms.

Very rarely have to deal with them

I've always done the opposite but maybe it's time to consider Cinch/Cazoo etc.

 

[Hobbit]

Yes. My current car was also bought from a (different) main dealer who we just called into when passing one Sunday. I was in the market for a Golf but the VW garage were less than helpful. It was like night and day how we were treated and I bought a BMW having not even considered one. Sycamore Peterborough have continued to be excellent at customer care and after service. I was shocked at the whole feel at Group 1 Bedford - from a disinterested moody receptionist to the salesman and his (alleged) smarmy boss.

Much as I liked the car I don't think I can bear to give the jokers a single penny.

I’ve gone elsewhere in the past because of the salesman not doing something I asked for. We went into a main dealer. After a test drive we said yes we wanted the car but I explained that if he went into upselling on finance, Scotchguard, extended service pack, Crystal whatever it was to protect the paintwork etc we’d walk away.

We went to his desk to sort the paperwork. His boss came over and asked him if he’d offered x,y,z. I explained that I said if they start the upselling we walk. “But sir you could be missing out on…” I repeated, “please don’t upsell.” He carried on, we walked.

We went to another main dealer for the same manufacturer. Explained we’d seen a car at xx, and asked them if they could get it at xx price. I also explained why we walked. Sale went through without a hiccup.

 

[AmandaJR]

I’ve gone elsewhere in the past because of the salesman not doing something I asked for. We went into a main dealer. After a test drive we said yes we wanted the car but I explained that if he went into upselling on finance, Scotchguard, extended service pack, Crystal whatever it was to protect the paintwork etc we’d walk away.

We went to his desk to sort the paperwork. His boss came over and asked him if he’d offered x,y,z. I explained that I said if they start the upselling we walk. “But sir you could be missing out on…” I repeated, “please don’t upsell.” He carried on, we walked.

We went to another main dealer for the same manufacturer. Explained we’d seen a car at xx, and asked them if they could get it at xx price. I also explained why we walked. Sale went through without a hiccup.

I keep getting madder the more I remember. He went off to talk with his manager, came back and put the quote in front of me. Didn't say a word. P/ex price hadn't changed and suddenly the amount to pay had gone up a couple of grand. I then saw he had included every bloody extra - gap insurance, car clean crap, tyre protection insurance, body protection insurance...what a complete idiot of a man.

 

[PJ87]

I keep getting madder the more I remember. He went off to talk with his manager, came back and put the quote in front of me. Didn't say a word. P/ex price hadn't changed and suddenly the amount to pay had gone up a couple of grand. I then saw he had included every bloody extra - gap insurance, car clean crap, tyre protection insurance, body protection insurance...what a complete idiot of a man.

See I did all mine on carwow. They said this is the best price and dealer was local so went in. I was offered gap, and protection of the paint .. I said I'll look elsewhere first . (Gap I found for £250 instead of 450 they offered, I always get gap) paint I left

But I really didn't have much to do with the salesman, I just paid the deposit, waited for the car then went to get it.

 

[GreiginFife]

I keep getting madder the more I remember. He went off to talk with his manager, came back and put the quote in front of me. Didn't say a word. P/ex price hadn't changed and suddenly the amount to pay had gone up a couple of grand. I then saw he had included every bloody extra - gap insurance, car clean crap, tyre protection insurance, body protection insurance...what a complete idiot of a man.

As above, is it a new or used car?

 

[GB72]

It was explained to me first time in the States was that tipping was expected as basically the staff pay is so very poor, if anything at all in the smaller places. So basically the tips are what the staff earn. No tips, No income. On that basis I decided I could put up with less than perfect service if that happened…though it’s rare as the staff depend on the tips.

Some places in the States, I have read, it can be worse than that as the person in the front of house is expected to tip the backroom staff at 20% and so if everyone tips below he expected 20% it can actually end up costing the waiting staff to work.

 

[AmandaJR]

As above, is it a new or used car?

Used. Ex demo.

 

[D-S]

It was explained to me first time in the States was that tipping was expected as basically the staff pay is so very poor, if anything at all in the smaller places. So basically the tips are what the staff earn. No tips, No income. On that basis I decided I could put up with less than perfect service if that happened…though it’s rare as the staff depend on the tips.

If for the past few nights we had paid the upper end of the suggested tip amount we would have paid about $50 for each meal as a tip. These were normal restaurants on the Main Street in Naples. we shared a starter each time (portion sizes are huge) and had a main course and 2 glasses of wine each. which ever way you cut it and however they distribute it, £40 seems a bit excessive doesn’t it?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

If for the past few nights we had paid the upper end of the suggested tip amount we would have paid about $50 for each meal as a tip. These were normal restaurants on the Main Street in Naples. we shared a starter each time (portion sizes are huge) and had a main course and 2 glasses of wine each. which ever way you cut it and however they distribute it, £40 seems a bit excessive doesn’t it?

We don’t pay service in a restaurant according to what or how much we eat, though we do always start at 15% of bill. If we haven’t spent that much and service was attentive we will top it up.

 

[GreiginFife]

Used. Ex demo.

Ah, might still work if it's not used/used, but when I was looking for the M340 a few years ago, I saw the one I wanted (luckily in stock with a dealer but not registered yet) but the guy was a total bell end. So I went to another dealer and told him what I was after (very specifically, colour, spec etc) and asked if he could order one. He said "let me check the network first... oh, we have one at xxxx dealership so I can see if I can get that". He basically traded one of their cars from stock with the bell end's dealership and I got the car I wanted but without having to give that *** the sale. Apparently they can't do it with used cars though.

 

[williamalex1]

We don’t pay service in a restaurant according to what or how much we eat, though we do always start at 15% of bill. If we haven’t spent that much and service was attentive we will top it up.

I vary the tip 10-15% depending on the service, but don't count in the bottle or bottles wine.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I vary the tip 10-15% depending on the service, but don't count in the bottle or bottles wine.

We include drinks, but my wife always ask what happens to our tip, so whether or not our main server gets it or if it goes into a pot. If we find ourselves having to pay the service charge as part of the bill we will sometimes also give our main server something in their hand, and tell them it’s theirs.

 

[D-S]

We don’t pay service in a restaurant according to what or how much we eat, though we do always start at 15% of bill. If we haven’t spent that much and service was attentive we will top it up.

Your starting point is less than the lowest ‘suggested’ amount out here (last night it was 20%, 25% and 30% = $31,39 or 46), which is my random irritation.

 

[williamalex1]

We include drinks.

Because you don't drink

 

[GB72]

I may be seen as tight but in the UK I pretty much always tip £10-£20 and that is it. I just feel that those amounts represent a decent thank you for a job well done.

As for excluding the wine, not something I have thought of particularly but the mark up on wine is scary (long ago made the mistake of liking a bottle of wine and so looked it up online to see if it was widely available)

The real irritation for me is that apparently places with no direct service are starting to ask for tips.

 

[Neilds]

What really annoys me about tips/service charge is many (most?) places just add a service charge on top of the bill - why don't they do away this this and add £1-2 on each item? This way we could actually work out if we could afford to eat there instead of playing a bit of bill roulette

 

[Deleted member 29109]

What really annoys me about tips/service charge is many (most?) places just add a service charge on top of the bill - why don't they do away this this and add £1-2 on each item? This way we could actually work out if we could afford to eat there instead of playing a bit of bill roulette

That’s easy. Just ask for the service charge removing from the bill.