Do Dealers actually want to sell vehicles

[Richard Hurst]

Last week I decided it's time to start looking for my first camper van, and decided after looking at various conversion options the California Ocean was the way to go.

So phoned and emailed 3 dealers last week, two on Thursday and one of Friday. Told them I'd be looking at part exchange, PCP agreement etc, have cash for settling my vehicle and a lump deposit. Have I had any quotes or figures from any of them?? NO. Coming from a service industry I'm amazed at the lack of response.

 

[sapto]

Last week I decided it's time to start looking for my first camper van, and decided after looking at various conversion options the California Ocean was the way to go.

So phoned and emailed 3 dealers last week, two on Thursday and one of Friday. Told them I'd be looking at part exchange, PCP agreement etc, have cash for settling my vehicle and a lump deposit. Have I had any quotes or figures from any of them?? NO. Coming from a service industry I'm amazed at the lack of response.

Sorry to hear. Are these 3 Dealers known here and maybe you get a direct phone number from one of them?

 

[Richard Hurst]

I'm not going to name and shame them on here as that isn't my thing but I have emailed the dealer principle/general manager of each saying I think its pretty poor show ignoring a potential customer.

 

[sapto]

I'm not going to name and shame them on here as that isn't my thing but I have emailed the dealer principle/general manager of each saying I think its pretty poor show ignoring a potential customer.

Sorry I might wrote it the wrong way: It wasn‘t about name and shame more there might be some members here who could give you the „best“ mam/woman to deal with.
I hope you get an answer otherwise as you said not a nice first impression.

 

[WelshGas]

Last week I decided it's time to start looking for my first camper van, and decided after looking at various conversion options the California Ocean was the way to go.

So phoned and emailed 3 dealers last week, two on Thursday and one of Friday. Told them I'd be looking at part exchange, PCP agreement etc, have cash for settling my vehicle and a lump deposit. Have I had any quotes or figures from any of them?? NO. Coming from a service industry I'm amazed at the lack of response.

Might be worth checking here for a Dealership near you -
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/forums/dealer-reviews.18/

Although sold via the VW Commercial network only a few really specialise/know the California range.

 

[Richard Hurst]

Sorry I might wrote it the wrong way: It wasn‘t about name and shame more there might be some members here who could give you the „best“ mam/woman to deal with.
I hope you get an answer otherwise as you said not a nice first impression.

No I didn’t read it like that don’t worry.

 

[ArunAlec]

I think the trouble is due to the California being sold though the commercial dealerships. I bet the salesman has to put a lot of time and energy into dealing with a prospective California buyer compared to selling a fleet of Transporters.
At the end of the day it's going to be the commission that fires them up!

 

[Brian’s Dad]

Last week I decided it's time to start looking for my first camper van, and decided after looking at various conversion options the California Ocean was the way to go.

So phoned and emailed 3 dealers last week, two on Thursday and one of Friday. Told them I'd be looking at part exchange, PCP agreement etc, have cash for settling my vehicle and a lump deposit. Have I had any quotes or figures from any of them?? NO. Coming from a service industry I'm amazed at the lack of response.

You might get a better deal separating the transactions, sell your old vehicle privately for the best price then haggle for your new Cali.

Try Ian Flood
Lancaster Volkswagen Loughton Van Centre
Telephone: 0208 532 5555

He's v helpful and I got a good price.

 

[VWDrooper]

I found a phone call got better results

 

[Verity]

Last week I decided it's time to start looking for my first camper van, and decided after looking at various conversion options the California Ocean was the way to go.

So phoned and emailed 3 dealers last week, two on Thursday and one of Friday. Told them I'd be looking at part exchange, PCP agreement etc, have cash for settling my vehicle and a lump deposit. Have I had any quotes or figures from any of them?? NO. Coming from a service industry I'm amazed at the lack of response.

Yes we had to work pretty hard to find a good dealer - we got ignored and dismissed by a couple before we found Northampton to be excellent. To be fair, they didn't have a hard sell, we'd already decided we wanted to buy one! Easy money for the sales boys!

 

[Moakesy]

Hi Richard.....sorry to hear that you've got off to a bad start in the process.

I know when I walked into one dealership, all suited and booted from work, they came over immediately. When I mentioned I was looking for a California, it was like a switch had been flicked and they couldn't be less bothered. Considering the price of one well-spec'd Cali is worth more than a couple of Transporter vans, you'd think they'd be keen.

I can only guess the commission structure means otherwise though...presumable 2 x van sale is greater than 1 x Cali sale, regardless of the actual gross value.

 

[Richard Hurst]

Hi Richard.....sorry to hear that you've got off to a bad start in the process.

I know when I walked into one dealership, all suited and booted from work, they came over immediately. When I mentioned I was looking for a California, it was like a switch had been flicked and they couldn't be less bothered. Considering the price of one well-spec'd Cali is worth more than a couple of Transporter vans, you'd think they'd be keen.

I can only guess the commission structure means otherwise though...presumable 2 x van sale is greater than 1 x Cali sale, regardless of the actual gross value.

Yes more than likely. I will keep pushing though and make it happen.

 

[GrannyJen]

Last week I decided it's time to start looking for my first camper van, and decided after looking at various conversion options the California Ocean was the way to go.

So phoned and emailed 3 dealers last week, two on Thursday and one of Friday. Told them I'd be looking at part exchange, PCP agreement etc, have cash for settling g my vehicle and a lump deposit. Have I had any quotes or figures from any of them?? NO. Coming from a service industry I'm amazed at the lack of response.

The answer is..... sadly most dealers can't be arsed. Why should they?

They can sell 100 transporters in the time it takes to sell a Cali, the customers half the time are no where as near demanding as an individual pouring their life savings into a once-off purchase and a transporter is nowhere near as complicated as a California.

Fortunately amidst the dross there are a few bright stars. Guy in Preston, Laine in Tunbridge, mixed feelings about Listers who I bought Alfie off, South Hereford or south something near Hereford, Carrs ... it really is a case of finding the one most interested in taking your money off you.

I've looked at conversions often, about every six weeks on average, stick with the Cali, it really is a most amazing vehicle, but be hard on the dealers. Most are crap, some are brilliant. You are investing in a lifetime of brilliant lifestyle, don't hurry it.

 

[GrannyJen]

Last week I decided it's time to start looking for my first camper van, and decided after looking at various conversion options the California Ocean was the way to go.

So phoned and emailed 3 dealers last week, two on Thursday and one of Friday. Told them I'd be looking at part exchange, PCP agreement etc, have cash for settling my vehicle and a lump deposit. Have I had any quotes or figures from any of them?? NO. Coming from a service industry I'm amazed at the lack of response.

Oh, and whilst I am still waxing lyrical....

Take my advice. Go to a dealer a couple of hundred miles away. Take with you the forum check list. Spend the best part of two hours taking delivery and going through the check list then spend at least two days driving the thing home. It will be the most memorable two days of your motoring life ever.

Welcome by the way, I'm Jen, office drama queen

 

[Calisand]

Hi Richard, we live in your area and after similar experience locally bought our Cali Ocean from Bury St. Edmunds - 50 miles away. We dealt with a chap called John Clarke who was excellent throughout the whole process.

 

[Wongo]

The answer is..... sadly most dealers can't be arsed. Why should they?

They can sell 100 transporters in the time it takes to sell a Cali, the customers half the time are no where as near demanding as an individual pouring their life savings into a once-off purchase and a transporter is nowhere near as complicated as a California.

Fortunately amidst the dross there are a few bright stars. Guy in Preston, Laine in Tunbridge, mixed feelings about Listers who I bought Alfie off, South Hereford or south something near Hereford, Carrs ... it really is a case of finding the one most interested in taking your money off you.

I've looked at conversions often, about every six weeks on average, stick with the Cali, it really is a most amazing vehicle, but be hard on the dealers. Most are crap, some are brilliant. You are investing in a lifetime of brilliant lifestyle, don't hurry it.

Yep stick with the Cali, I wasted too much to count on another conversion, I was told but didn’t listen.
I think VW should only sell Cali’s through specialists trained in them.

 

[Elmo3]

Speak to Liverpool. They are the largest Cali dealer in the U.K. (same dealer group as Preston, who are also held in high regard on here) and the biggest VW commercial vehicles dealer in Europe. They will sort you out. I’ve had nothing but excellent service from them. The lifestyle vehicles dept is headed by Chris Evans (search for California Chris on YouTube). Good luck!

 

[Verity]

Speak to Liverpool. They are the largest Cali dealer in the U.K. (same dealer group as Preston, who are also held in high regard on here) and the biggest VW commercial vehicles dealer in Europe. They will sort you out. I’ve had nothing but excellent service from them. The lifestyle vehicles dept is headed by Chris Evans (search for California Chris on YouTube). Good luck!

I've been thinking for a while now that it would be better if there were, say, 2 or 3 large 'California only' dealerships in the UK. It is apparent from this forum that people will travel hundreds of miles to avoid a bad dealer/service dept and find good support. Just reading the recent thread about the water tank/soaked floor pan illustrates that the VW mechanics, while being excellent mechanics no doubt, are not campervan/motorhome specialists and are at times incapable of fixing things. Likewise, a lot of VW commercial sales people, also from experience related on this forum, are not bothered about learning about the Cali and are unable to demonstrate effectively or to answer post sales questions. This forum is invaluable for those questions, but wouldn't it be nice if there were a proper Cali specialist where we all knew we could get a decent level of sales and warranty/service support?

 

[GrannyJen]

I think the trouble is due to the California being sold though the commercial dealerships. I bet the salesman has to put a lot of time and energy into dealing with a prospective California buyer compared to selling a fleet of Transporters.
At the end of the day it's going to be the commission that fires them up!

It was my sincere hope that when the MP arrived, sold through MB car centres, it would give a kick up the proverbial to VW but it does not appear to be the case. Most MB car dealerships appear to be just as ignorant and disinterested in selling the MP and in doing their best to offer the" VW commercial" experience

 

[Nolan]

I was disappointed in the Birmingham van centre, I saw a Caravelle on the Das Welt site, spoke to them, arranged to go up there which was a couple of hours drive after I spoke to them on the phone and was assured it was immaculate.
I must have spent about 10 minutes with the salesman after having to wait around for over an hour. Wouldn't budge on price and the vehicle wasn't really as described with lots of small paint damage. Walked away as they wouldn't even do a deal on getting parking sensors fitted. Even mentioned that maybe a new vehicle would be on the cards and no interest.

I guess they did me a favour as while I was there I had a rummage around a camper and realised a Beach was probably a much better fit for us, if more expensive, and I ended up ordering a new Beach from a much more helpful dealer (Carrs).

Chap in Birmingham said they would sell the Caravelle tomorrow so had no reason to deal but that was the beginning of May and it's still for sale now. I bet they never fixed the paint like they said they would have to either.
https://used.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/...-20tdi-150ps-swb-eu6-bmt-nav/details-t4busjb6

 

[Richard Hurst]

Speak to Liverpool. They are the largest Cali dealer in the U.K. (same dealer group as Preston, who are also held in high regard on here) and the biggest VW commercial vehicles dealer in Europe. They will sort you out. I’ve had nothing but excellent service from them. The lifestyle vehicles dept is headed by Chris Evans (search for California Chris on YouTube). Good luck!

Yes I now spoken with both eLiverpool and Preston and am waiting on some quotes.

 

[Richard Hurst]

I was disappointed in the Birmingham van centre, I saw a Caravelle on the Das Welt site, spoke to them, arranged to go up there which was a couple of hours drive after I spoke to them on the phone and was assured it was immaculate.
I must have spent about 10 minutes with the salesman after having to wait around for over an hour. Wouldn't budge on price and the vehicle wasn't really as described with lots of small paint damage. Walked away as they wouldn't even do a deal on getting parking sensors fitted. Even mentioned that maybe a new vehicle would be on the cards and no interest.

I guess they did me a favour as while I was there I had a rummage around a camper and realised a Beach was probably a much better fit for us, if more expensive, and I ended up ordering a new Beach from a much more helpful dealer (Carrs).

Chap in Birmingham said they would sell the Caravelle tomorrow so had no reason to deal but that was the beginning of May and it's still for sale now. I bet they never fixed the paint like they said they would have to either.
https://used.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/...-20tdi-150ps-swb-eu6-bmt-nav/details-t4busjb6

Good for you. I hope you drive past them and give them a wave in your new beach, It's been a real eye opener to me how unhelpful some have been whilst others really professional and responsive. It just seems that if there isn't decent profit in it for them they don't want to know, which is very short sighted when keeping repeat business.

 

[frenchie]

I went to Birmingham van centre once. They had a 4x4 ocean there, not that I wanted a 4x4 but liked the colour. The sales chap when he could be asked to move told me it had been around the dealer network ( ie sold between dealers ) but never owner privately. It was a bit of a state, stains all over the seats and carpets but I did ask for a test drive. The chap then said, well you need to state you are going to buy it now first before the test drive. There was know movement on price.so I just walked. But only last week my partner purchased a golf and I got talking to the sales chap about Vans etc and their high prices and how can people afford them.he just came out with it, many people can’t but they buy on PCP plans then skip services and run it on a shoe string. They don’t move much on the price due to talking people into pcp gives them more commission. F

 

[larrylamb]

Yes I now spoken with both eLiverpool and Preston and am waiting on some quotes.

Can recommend Guy at Preston. Straight up genuine bloke who knows his product, has used Californias himself and sells them all day every day. HIs discounts are up there with the best on new Cali's.

 

[KaiserT6]

Another thumbs up for Guy in Preston, that's where I got mine from.
One of the best vehicle buying experiences I've had. Enthusiastic, honest, no dealer bullsh*t and a good price.
I contacted another four VW commercial centres and nobody was interested in selling me one!

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