AndyC85
Guest
Over the past few weeks I have been in the process of buying an Ibiza Cupra TDi. I visited my local dealership; Arnold Clark Seat in Linwood, Paisley to see what they could offer me. I spoke to the sales woman, went for a test drive and was very impressed. We then agreed a part exchange price, finance payments etc so I decided to order the car, this involved a £100 deposit. Total cost of the car was £15500. Delivery time was about 4 weeks.
A few weeks later, out of curiosity and a bit of research, I checked around some other garages convinced that I could get a cheaper deal. It turns out I was right! I found a pre-registered Ibiza Cupra TDi for £13500 and promptly snapped it up.
Upon returning to the Seat garage in Linwood to cancel my original order, which I'm perfectly entitled to do, I was told that not only would I not get my £100 deposit back but that I would have to pay an additional £120 "stocking fee."
The girl who I had dealt with previously was off so I spoke to some ****** called 'Ronnie' who, as it turns out, is the manager of the dealership. He said that because I had cancelled so late, the factory had already built the car and therefore weren’t willing to offer a refund. In order for me to cancel the car, the dealership would have to buy the car into their own stock at a cost of £220. So they were going to keep my deposit and charge me the difference, which is £120.
I argued with the guy until I was blue in the face, telling him that when I ordered the car I wasn’t told of any “stocking fee” in the event of a late cancellation, but he refused to budge. He told me that he had spoke to the girl that sold me the car and that she had confirmed telling me about this “stocking fee.” He then said that he would phone the factory in the morning to confirm the cancellation and that I should come back in the next day with the £120. Thinking that I didn’t have a fighting chance I finally admitted defeat and came back in the next night to pay the fee.
When I got there, ‘Ronnie’ was nowhere to be seen but I managed to speak to the sales manager and he took me into the office to deal with the cancellation. Two seconds on the computer and it was done. Order cancelled but no “stocking fee” to pay. I thought he had perhaps not realised there was such a fee but I wasn’t going to say anything.
I got my receipt and headed for the door as quick as I could in case he suddenly realised his mistake and called me back!
As I got to the door I bumped into the girl who sold me the car and told her of my cancellation. She said she already knew as ‘Ronnie’ had spoken to her about it earlier. It turns out however, that there is no such thing as a “Stocking fee” for cancelled orders! The girl said that Ronnie had made this fee up as a way to ‘charge’ me for cancelling the order so late! Apparently he’s a total wank (excuse the French) and everyone in the dealership hates working for him including the sales manager; which is why he never asked me to pay the “stocking fee.” Lucky for me that Ronnie wasn’t in that night or I would have ended up having to pay £120 for no reason!
Just thought I’d come on here and vent my anger at the situation and let people know that if they ever get hit with a “stocking fee” whilst trying to cancel an order then don’t pay it because it’s a load of ****!
Anyways, on a happier note, there is now a brand spanking new black TDi Cupra sitting ready at Arnold Clark Seat in Linwood if anyone fancies it. I’d imagine they will be keen to get rid of it so you may get a good deal on it, plus you wont have to wait a month to get your hands on it.
Andy
A few weeks later, out of curiosity and a bit of research, I checked around some other garages convinced that I could get a cheaper deal. It turns out I was right! I found a pre-registered Ibiza Cupra TDi for £13500 and promptly snapped it up.
Upon returning to the Seat garage in Linwood to cancel my original order, which I'm perfectly entitled to do, I was told that not only would I not get my £100 deposit back but that I would have to pay an additional £120 "stocking fee."
The girl who I had dealt with previously was off so I spoke to some ****** called 'Ronnie' who, as it turns out, is the manager of the dealership. He said that because I had cancelled so late, the factory had already built the car and therefore weren’t willing to offer a refund. In order for me to cancel the car, the dealership would have to buy the car into their own stock at a cost of £220. So they were going to keep my deposit and charge me the difference, which is £120.
I argued with the guy until I was blue in the face, telling him that when I ordered the car I wasn’t told of any “stocking fee” in the event of a late cancellation, but he refused to budge. He told me that he had spoke to the girl that sold me the car and that she had confirmed telling me about this “stocking fee.” He then said that he would phone the factory in the morning to confirm the cancellation and that I should come back in the next day with the £120. Thinking that I didn’t have a fighting chance I finally admitted defeat and came back in the next night to pay the fee.
When I got there, ‘Ronnie’ was nowhere to be seen but I managed to speak to the sales manager and he took me into the office to deal with the cancellation. Two seconds on the computer and it was done. Order cancelled but no “stocking fee” to pay. I thought he had perhaps not realised there was such a fee but I wasn’t going to say anything.
I got my receipt and headed for the door as quick as I could in case he suddenly realised his mistake and called me back!
As I got to the door I bumped into the girl who sold me the car and told her of my cancellation. She said she already knew as ‘Ronnie’ had spoken to her about it earlier. It turns out however, that there is no such thing as a “Stocking fee” for cancelled orders! The girl said that Ronnie had made this fee up as a way to ‘charge’ me for cancelling the order so late! Apparently he’s a total wank (excuse the French) and everyone in the dealership hates working for him including the sales manager; which is why he never asked me to pay the “stocking fee.” Lucky for me that Ronnie wasn’t in that night or I would have ended up having to pay £120 for no reason!
Just thought I’d come on here and vent my anger at the situation and let people know that if they ever get hit with a “stocking fee” whilst trying to cancel an order then don’t pay it because it’s a load of ****!
Anyways, on a happier note, there is now a brand spanking new black TDi Cupra sitting ready at Arnold Clark Seat in Linwood if anyone fancies it. I’d imagine they will be keen to get rid of it so you may get a good deal on it, plus you wont have to wait a month to get your hands on it.
Andy