Kings SEAT, Portsmouth. How refreshing.

[Steve Flatley]

The LCR was in need of a service just after I got it so last week I phoned up the local Seat garage......

It's always a worrying thing phoning a dealer but much to my suprise after a couple of rings the phone was answered by a very pleasent young lady.

"Can you put me through to servicing please?"
"Certainly Sir"
Steve sits on phone but doesn't have to listen to the shite that you used to get at Inchcape trying to sell you crap and saying that you're a 'valued customer'.
"I'm sorry, our servicing guys are all tied up with customers at the moment....."
Steve thinking "Here we go"
"....But can I take your phone number so someone can call you back?"

Is this normal practice? Seems far too customer focused for my liking.... hmm, maybe they'll never call? Anyway, a few minutes later I get a call back! JESUS!

They gave me a couple of dates when I could book in but I had to check my diary and call them back. When I called back I got through almost straight away to be greeted politely again. The woman took my details cos I'm a new customer and booked me in.

I took the car in today, hardly had to queue to drop it off and again I was greeted with helpfullness and a smile. Very worrying.

Picking up the car was much the same, helpful, simple and straight forward. They'd picked up a couple of things that need to be done under waranty so it's going back in soon. Hell, the even CLEANED the car!

I'm never going back to Vauxhall... nice cars but damn my local dealer is nothing in comparison to Kings SEAT in Portsmouth (part of the Snows Group).

(and if you've bothered to read all that then you really should go and find something better to do )

 

[Pabs]

lol nicely done Steve - woman behind desk (Nadine) is very friendly, and Mark is too actually.
Parts guys (both Matt) are awesome chaps. I go in regularly to get bits n pieces, and they do nothing but help

 

[Deleted member 7729]

lol nicely done Steve - woman behind desk (Nadine) is very friendly, and Mark is too actually.
Parts guys (both Matt) are awesome chaps. I go in regularly to get bits n pieces, and they do nothing but help

2nd that. Nadine has been a gem in sorting things out for me etc.

 

[Ant FR]

how much commison you on then

you know what i have taken my car to Hidsons in maidstone 4 times for a sevice, and every time they have fobbed me off with some reason why they have never cleaned the car. shoul di be expecting this to be done, i'm gonna try someone else on the new car, maybe canterbury,

 

[Steve Flatley]

2nd that. Nadine has been a gem in sorting things out for me etc.

Gotta love Nadine, she phoned me last Thursday asking why I didnt turn up for warranty work. I thought it was for tomorrow so hadn't showed! She's so friendly. Other chap is nice too although I haven't had much dealings with him.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a joy too... I'm sure it will be.

 

[Pabs]

she's great LOL

 

[Steve Flatley]

Yep, more great service today... sooo impressed. Might have to write to them.

 

[PawnStar]

My thoughts on Kings Portsmouth

So here we go.

I live in Camberley, so portsmouth was a mission of a drive for me to get to. However, they had a car I wanted to test drive (a 2005 1.4 Leon). I got there, and test drove the car, but heard a nasty exhaust rattle. All the time I was thinking "Oh god, this is some dodgy garage, I shouldn't be buying from them".

Got back after the test drive, and the salesman (Brian Bracher) apologised, and said "I'm so sorry for that car, I'm so embarassed you drive it with that rattle. I'll book it in on monday to have that fixed." I was impressed that he actually seemed to care about the state of the car. Brian and I got to chatting, and I mentioned that I was really looking for a 1.6 Leon, but the one I'd driver earlier that day (at another garage) was great, but the people were very unfriendly, and had flatly refused me finance. Brian made some calls, and searched on his PC, and we found one. A Red Leon, 2800 miles, 55Reg, stunning. I was interested. One problem: It was at Kings in Southampton.

"Not a problem" said Brian, and he drove my girlfriend and I off to Southampton for a test drive. After we drove back (it ws getting late now) I signed an OTP right there. Brian impressed me, and genuinely seemed to care about me as a customer, and he went very far above and beyond the call of duty IMHO.

However, I then met Dan, The Finance Manager. Who left me feeling very cold. All of the good feeling was gone. Dan only seemed to care about money, and how he could get it from me. He tried to explain some of the ins and outs of vehicle finance options, but never seemed to take into consideration my needs. The cherry on the top came, however, when a delivery date was arranged, and confirmed with Linda, the Sales Manager. I called the thursday before (friday was pickup) only to be told by Dan "Oh no, I was supposed to call you, there's been a problem with your finance, so you can't pick it up tomorrow". Now initially, I didn't know what to do as the finance had been cleared (Kudos to Dan, he managed to get someone with only 9 months history in the UK car finance) but the issue was that it hadn't been paid out yet. I was irritated by this, as I'm the one without a car because of an issue between SEAT and my Finance company. I was told by Linda "Oh well, if you'd gotten finance through SEAT finance, this wouldn't have been a problem" like it was MY fault SEAT wouldn't give me finance. (The mysteries of Car Finance do elude me at the best of times, so there were probably a few finer points I wasn't told and wouldn't have understood anyways)

I was annoyed that I had taken a day off work in preparation to go down to Portsmouth by train and pick up my car, but yet couldn't. But more than that, I felt that Kings Portsmouth should have told me immediately as they were aware of this problem, as I feel it shouldn't be up to me to call them to confirm if I can pick up my car. They should make me aware of a problem as soon as it arises.

Anyways, eventually I am told I can go and fetch it. I mission through to HIlsea station, step off the train, and there's nobody there. Bad thoughts brew inside me, as I think they've changed their story, and the dealership will be closed (it was nearing 7pm at night). However, I called them, and Brian Bracher (what a man!) answers, and comes through to fetch me. We go through the paperwork, and do the handover (it was 8:30pm when I left there) and Brian was still happy and smiling.

Overall, I am very impressed with Kings SEAT in Portsmouth. Understandably, i was pissed off when I couldnt' get my car when they had initially said I could, but they did still find me a car I wanted, at a good price, were mostly friendly and courteous (Linda and I had a heated discussion on the phone on one occaision) they managed to get me finance, and they did get me in my car. If it wasn't so far away from me, I'd take my car there to be serviced, as I really left there, in my new car, with an overall good feeling.

(Now if they could only sort out my rear lights....)

 

[Pabs]

good to hear some more input from others on Kings.
If you need parts, talk to the Matt's (two of them) and mention SCN and other peeps on here (me, for example) and they'll look after you as best as they can.

The team there are good - admittedly there was a finance person I didnt really get on with (dont think name was dan tho) but everyone else helped as much as possible. Peter, another salesman, is really friendly and helpful too - says hi to me, shakes my hand and talks to me about my car and the new leon, etc etc....

Vauxhall dealers need to learn from this - and the same can be said for Honda. Both of which blank me every time i walk in.

 

[johnyellowcupra]

Have to agree the service dept at Kings Portsmouth were ace ! very helpful and rebooked the car in after a service to fix a couple of issues before the warranty run out . ( car did come out of sevice covered in oily fingerprints etc though).

Had switched to Portsmouth from the Southampton branch , after becoming unhappy with the sales and service there , gone downhill

 

[Darth Bear]

Is the Southampton branch at North Baddesley?

Either Pompey or S'ton is easy for me.

 

[johnyellowcupra]

Is the Southampton branch at North Baddesley?

Either Pompey or S'ton is easy for me.

Yes the Southampton one is North Baddersley , I'm mid way between the two

but had always used the Soton one , until now ! the Pompey one is much better IMHO.

 

[Darth Bear]

hmmm must toddle down there then

I have de-locking kit, and set of mudflaps on my shopping list.


Not hard to spot their location when boogie-ing down the Eastern Rd

 

[Kings SEAT Port]

Thanks for the kind words guys. We have a new Trade parts direct line which you guys can also use. 02392 657836 or 02392 657863 and ask for Matt (there are 2 of us)

Thanks
Matt

 

[Mike Green]

Because of the good word on Kings in Pompey I will go there for my next service under warranty. If they are good, I will stick with them but I have been given another garage that is praided by SCN peeps.