Jul 01, 2009 06:29 PM
3712 Views
I was looking to exchange my old Esteem(which still drives at 100kmph in 2nd gear and touching 130kmph with ease) for a new civic. As per the advt in the Times of India, I called the sales office. Some one picked the phone and said that they will connect me to the corporate sales person as I was trying to buy under the corporate scheme.
They connected me to a sales consultant and he said that he will connect me with Autoterrace for evaluating the price of my old car. The autoterrace fellow just calls me and offers me a blanket price for my maruti car which is less than at least 20% than the Maruti True value. I told him, I agree with the blanket price for the model, but I would like you to see the car and then quote me your price. He agreed and he said he will come in the same day afternoon. This is on top of the fact that Honda does not offer any exchange bonus.
I didnt get any call back and when I tried to call him back he never picked up the phone. On saturday, I called the sales consultant and said that I will (myself ) bring the car for their evaluation and check on a test drive. I reach the Dakshin Showroom on Hosur road and I find that there is no person to attend me. The autoterrace fellow evaluates my car and gives 5K more than the price that he offered on the phone. His argument remains the same that the price of the car is based on the model and not depending on the car condition, whether it has a MP3 CD player or excellent tyres or any other condition. He even said that he bought a similar model with 5K less than my car last week.
Once I challenged saying that you give me that car and I was ready to buy that he changed his stance asking for a 10K profit on the car. So I was sure that my car atleast 10-15K more valued in the market than the agent on the minimum side.
Next step was to take a test drive. Now the receptionist hands over a paper for me to sign with my name, phone no, license no and other details as an agreement that any thing that happens during the test drive will be owned by me (including any damages that happens to the car or to my self ) and the company is not liable for anything. I told them that I have never felt or heard similar with other companies and showrooms. They said its our company policy and I said I cannot agree with it. I asked what are the reasons and they gave some vague reasons. I asked doesnt any of your test drive cars have a valid comprehensive insurance. It looks to me that they wanted to offer me a car without an insurance or without a brake (may to clear off a bad car they have).
I also asked the autoterrace agent, I should have signed a paper similar from the test drive person on my car and got some damages claimed from him. I walked out of the showroom and also said that I will share with the rest of the world with this crazy policy that I have not seen in the last 15 years with any automobile showroom .
