Forum

[john1944]

Had a bit of a shock just now. I put in the name of the dealer that supplied my Rav, and the top option that came out the search was a reference to this Forum. What is more it featured an entry I had made that criticised this garage for being not up to scratch, and detailed my preference for another dealer in Mid Wales.

Perhaps members of this forum ought to be careful not to make entries that could in this era of ' compensation claims' end them up in court !!!!

[Boro Sera]

not quite sure what you're saying here.

If someone has a legitimate 'less than acceptable' encounter with a dealer then surely they are allowed to debate this. Similarly, if they have a good experience they should tell others here too. Dealers trawl this forum as well as the members - and if there is an issue arising from someones experience then the dealer can strive to rectify this and prevent further similarities happening in the future. It's in everyone's best interest to get/give good service.

There was a thread a few years back about a problem with a dealer that got quite heated. The manager of the dealership joined the forum and put his side across, with possible improvements and solutions to the issues raised. He did this objectively and rationally - and gained a lot of credibility and respect for doing so.

Negative customer feedback isn't what people set out to achieve in the business world, but you can't please everyone all of the time. It could just be one member of staff that inadvertantly creates a problem with one customer, but the whole dealership suffers because of it. Staff come and go, dealerships endure - a bad experience one month may be a good one the next. Reducing the 'pot luck' coefficient is the key !

[abraxas]

While I agree with John that one should be careful what they say, I also believe that it is also dangerous to imply that people should say nothing. (I am sure that is not what John meant, just that his post may have left it to possible interpretation that way)

Now, I am in no way an expert on the matter, but as they say: “Ignorantia juris neminem excusat”... :)

“Libel” as a form of Defamation is defined as “An untruthful statement about a person, published in writing or through broadcast media, that injures the person's reputation or standing in the community” [wording borrowed from the first random Google definition result http://www.nolo.com/]

The highlight being the word “untruthful”. So, as far as I know, if you are expressing your opinion, and the statements are true, you can pretty much say what you like. "Freedom of speech" and all that.. :) (Obvious exceptions apply like obscenity, inciting hatred etc.)

I believe that in today’s world the advertising bods can say pretty much what they like unchallenged (obvious exaggeration on my part, yes I know there is ASA). I mean silly meaningless statements that imply stuff rather than saying it outright like: “Second to none... Unrivalled... Best... Quality guaranteed ... blah, blah”. By the way, has anyone seen that makeup advert (some gunk for eyelashes) that bombards with implications and then in tiny reading on the bottom of the screen says something to the effect: "filmed with fake lashes" ?! Duuude! :)

So it is important to be able to do research and make your mind up based on people’s opinions. Balanced view being achieved by being able to also read negative stories to contrast the advertising “flood”.

Hopefully someone with better legal knowledge will correct me if I am wrong.

[That being a good thing as that way we all learn and no one needs an excuse for ignorance... :) ]

[EDIT] post somewhat redundant, took me a while to type it all up, and Boro Sera summarised the same point a lot more quickly and succinctly.

[bothwell_buyer]

John - send me £100 and I won't tell them!"

[+Steve]

no one will sue anyone with at least given the option of removing it.. if they dont do that then they are more stupid.

we get solicitors letters every now and then

[Boro Sera]

[EDIT] post somewhat redundant, took me a while to type it all up, and Boro Sera summarised the same point a lot more quickly and succinctly.

Sorry !

Good point about Truth though.

Genuine grievances happen, and when publicised on forums etc. the truth can hurt - but without this sort of feedback they will keep happening to people.

There are many, many people who have good experiences with dealers, yet never post about this.

( This does suggest we're a nation who prefer to whine, but I'd never say that as a fact, as it would probably be construed as libelous - only by the whiners though! )

[three5]

[EDIT] post somewhat redundant, took me a while to type it all up, and Boro Sera summarised the same point a lot more quickly and succinctly.

Sorry !

Good point about Truth though.

Genuine grievances happen, and when publicised on forums etc. the truth can hurt - but without this sort of feedback they will keep happening to people.

There are many, many people who have good experiences with dealers, yet never post about this.

( This does suggest we're a nation who prefer to whine, but I'd never say that as a fact, as it would probably be construed as libelous - only by the whiners though! )

If we are paying somewhere between £60 and £100 and hour for "service", it should be good. A cheerfull "thankyou" when you collect the motor should be acknowledgement enough under normal circumstances. I think it was member SYWY(?) who told a tale recently of a dealer going the extra mile to help him. That does seem to get acknowledged on the forum, so why not the less than helpfull as well? From reading a lot of the posts on here RFT's seem to generate more dealer comments - good and bad - than anything else.

[anchorman]

I tend to call a spade a spade. If somebody does a good job I credit them but equally I have no reservations about discrediting an organisation who is less than reasonable with an individual. If I come out with utter b*!!!*ks somebody will put me right but I not too proud to admit an error. If somebody is in the business of selling and repairing cars they have to accept critism and deserve a pat on the back when they get it right.

[abraxas]

There are many, many people who have good experiences with dealers, yet never post about this.

Guilty as charged m'lud :) Actually I have been trying to talk myself into writing up about a recent negative experience with a car but a rather positive experience with the dealer who sorted the mentioned car for me. I’ll get around to it soon, I hope.

[bothwell_buyer]

I bought 2 pairs of Clarks Gore-tex shoes today in a sale at the Clarks shop in Argyle St, Glasgow - Sinead could not have been more helpful. I almost always make a point of emailing the head office of a company when I get good service from a shop or service outlet. Costs nothing to say thanks.

Equally, its important to draw the attention of the companys HQ to poor service - its only fair to give them a chance to sort it.