|
Posts: 366
Since: 3/7/2009
Status: offline
|
Parisien it goes without saying than there should in addition be a section where we can post all the positives in words of those dealers who have scored highly. This would be a two edge sword - dealers would be bending over backwards to make sure they were included in this elite section and those members seeking a recommended dealer in their area could proceed with a degree of confidence.
There will always be a conflict of opinions, one person finding their dealings with a particular dealer being favourable, and another person finding the same dealer a nightmare. All that though will even itself out in the wider picture of things and reflect in the average scores. This could be taken even further with an annual winner for an average over all catagories ( sales, customer satisfaction, aftercare, servicing). Dealers could actually benefit from such a scheme. Those (and they know who they are) who mistreat customers, sell dodgy cars, offer dodgy servicing etc will ultimately either improve their service or fall into decline.
I have no idea how many Maserati owners in the UK actually are members here but I would bet it is a fair proportion. I would bet that most Maserati owners though have at least visited the site even if they have never joined it. Perhaps the greater proportion do not own brand new Maseratis but lets face it the indies rely on the older Maseratis rather than the newer ones which tend to remain under main dealer umbrella at least for the duration of the warranty.
As far as the main dealers are concerned they will not want to lose sales and servicing to the indies. This is already apparent where a few of the main dealers are offering price matching with the indies when it comes to servicing. The used Maserati market is also important and I'm sure very profitable to the main dealers. They are always anxious to try and keep all of the marque under their control. What is truly amazing is the lack of consistency in the main dealer network. There are some who are quite good and others I wouldn't buy a dead dog from. We need a scheme to clearly point out the good from the bad.
As Loz quite rightly pointed out this site is for us and not the dealers. From a personal point of view and some of my experiences in buying my Maserati and the care of it thereafter I have found it a rocky journey. Yes now that I am a member of the forum and have got to know many of the regulars I have learned an awful lot by asking around. I only wish that I had this information before I decided to buy a Maserati. It would have made the experience a lot easier and certainly more pleasureable. It is not a five minute job to learn what the older members have learned and I just think that if this new area was started and put in a prominent position on the forum newbies and visitors would have better guidance in who to go to rather than what is happening coming here after the horse has bolted from the stable. Many people do not have time to ask the relevent questions and to come back several times before getting an answer. This proposed section could give them immediate answers.
We could all spend more time talking about the positives of Maserati ownership rather than trying to help those who have blindly bought themselves a pup from an unscrupulous dealer.
Needless to say there should obviously be a disclaimer stating this is the view of various members from their experiences and experiences may differ. The ultimate responsibility lies with the individual to make their own decision and that it is recommended to have the car independently checked regardless of who it is being bought from.
COME ON BIRDCAGE PLEASE LETS GO FOR IT
< Message edited by UrbanMaser -- 3/9/2009 11:02:22 >
_____________________________
Past Masters:- Alfa Romeo GT 3.2 V6, Alfa Romeo 156 2.5 V6, Alfa Romeo Montreal, Ferrari 308GT4, Mercedes 500SL, Mercedes 380SL, Mercedes 28SE Coupe, Mercedes 450SLC, Alfa Romeo Spider S2, MGC, Marcos 3 litre, Now driving 2007 Gransport LE
|
