Opel Corsa Sail Dealer in Surat. Review on Empire Motors - Surat

This is what I wrote.

And waiting for a reaction

10 Oct 04 Puneet Chowdhry National After Sales Manager 6th Fl Tower 'A' Global Business Park Mehrauli - Gurgaon Road Gurgoan 122002

HOW STUPID DEALERS MAR THE OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE OF AN EXCELLENT PRODUCT

On 04 Aug 04 my one year old Sail 1.4 was inundated up to the headrests in a flood.

The nearest GM dealer was Empire Motors, Surat Dumas Road, Surat, Gujarat which is about 50 km from where I live. They sent a Qualis, tied a rope to the Sail and towed?nay?dragged it away. And then the nightmare began. The Service Manager simply avoided giving me an estimate of the damage, for over 6 weeks. The excuse was that the Insurance surveyor had not provided him with one.

On 14 Sep, after about 20 phone calls, I was informed that the car is ready. But still no figure. I then took a days leave from work, arrived at the dealership, waited for about 30 minutes for the Service Manager to find time for me, and immediately took off for a meaningless test drive. Still no estimate. Not even a look at the job card. And the ?gentleman? had no clue of what repairs had been carried out.

The next day a final inspection was carried out by the Insurance surveyor and a bill for Rs 91000 arrived by mail (24 hours in the water and German Engineering just shows up). On 16 Sep 04, I couriered a Delhi cheque for the amount and was told I can touch the car only after the money was safely in the Dealership?s pocket. That?s understandable; after all it could turnout to be a dud cheque. For the next 20 days, there?s no news from Empire Motors. Persistent calls to the Service Manager only irritate the chappie. The accounts department says the amount has still not been credited.

Finally I get my bank statement from Delhi, to find that the amount has been debited on 23 Sep 04, ie within 6 days of date of issue. A call to the Service Manager, a certain Mr Bawa, serves no purpose. He demands I produce/fax him the proof that my account has been debited. And he?s still not ready to let me repossess my car. I call Empire Motor and ask for the owner.

Obviously he?s not in the office. Then later in the evening The Mr Bawa calls me and condescendingly permits me take the car, even though they have not got the money yet (?We have decided that you can take the car?). It is now 08 Oct 04, which is 65 days after the damage and 16 days after my account has been debited. When I arrive to collect the car on 09 Oct 04, the interior still smells of the flood.

The windows are dirty, the spare tire is wet and sweating, the window rubber gaskets are out of tack as also the cable rubber covers on the doorsills. The AC vent controls have the flood mud on them. The dashboard and steering wheel is greasy with polish. Door panel screws are missing. There are extra scratches on the body. There are towrope scars on the front bumper. The hazard reflective triangle box is wet and dirty. The wiper fluid container is empty.

The door undersides are dirty. The car underbody is dirty. Tube nozzle caps are missing (?We don?t do punctures!?). The replaced parts are refused. The engine has mud streaks all over the place. And the Service Manager try?s to sell me a music system. Or teach me how to make an Insurance claim, rather condescendingly, at that. And I still have to inspect the car minutely.

I suggest this Dealership be retrained (I had to give my telephone number every single time I called them). And that clown (sorry, I just lost my patience) be taught to address clients as Sir or by their name, not ?Boss?. And at least apologise, or make appropriate noises that seem like an apology, for the delay (An apology for the inconvenience would be like asking for consumer service? or the moon). It?s basic courtesy.

And to think I waited 8 weeks after booking the car, even though I was told the delivery period was 14 days. Hoping I don?t need to visit that atrocious dealership again in my life, Yours sincerely etc, Distt Bharuch Gujarat 394120