Seat cant supply parts

[paully]

Hi All

I have the misfortune to own a 2003 seat Cordoba TDI that was hit by a truck whilst parked at the side of the road, weeks ago. It requires a rear nearside wing panel to repair. Not much a problem you would think.......Oh yes it is.... The dont keep many body panels in the UK apparantly and none at all of the sort I need.....so they have had to send to the factory in Barcelona for it.Only the factory dont have any in stock either ( you couldnt make this up could you) and have had to order it from their suppliers who being spanish are on holiday for the month of August!!!!!

It is looking like the end of September before repairs can be done, although I`m now pleading with the Insurance co to use a spurious part instead just so I can get it back to normal and then sell it on asap
And guess what I WONT be buying in its place

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but if you have a prang in a Seat be prepared for a long and frustrating wait.......its run by clowns...

cheers
Paully

 

[Icecavern]

The only time I've ever had problems sourcing parts was when SEAT moved thier main distribution center and it caused chaos at the time. Otherwise they're no worse than any other manufacturer IMO.

I think you've been unlucky, remember the Cordoba was never a popular car over here so it's probably not surprising Seat UK don't keep huge numbers of panels in for them.

Shame you had to come on here on your first post with bad experience though.

 

[Tom B]

I work for a dealer and I have 4 cars stuck at work, 2 are awaiting door locks with 8 weeks ETA, one awaiting a sunroof with a 12 week ETA and one stuck on the ramp awaiting some gearbox parts that are arriving in November!

Manufacturers don't have a crystal ball that can predict what happens to sold cars, so parts are stocked on a demand level. Quarter panels are rarely bought by repairers as they prefer filling them so demand is very low. The Cordoba is so rare (it was discontinued as it was such a flop) that I find it very normal for SEAT not to stock anything for it.

 

[paully]

I do appreciate the Cordoba problems in the UK and was aware of that when I bought the car, but I assumed that the cordoba being very popular in Spain, Seat would hold parts for it there and provide a reasonable onward service. The fact they havent got any parts in their own factory in SPAIN could be the sign of a deeper malaise..Either way time to get rid.Shame as its the 1.9tdi with the six speed box and goes like a rocket without costing a fortune...

 

[Icecavern]

Are you saying that you're selling the car because of one problem obtaining a part? Every manufacturer will have supply problems from time to time, especially on rarely asked for parts.

 

[m0rk]

I think he's selling it because he wants not to drive around in a micra all day, so is getting a lash up panel made (and won't want to drive it with a poor repair on it?)

I'd just enjoy putting the miles on someone elses car (and riding the clutch a lot)

 

[Fl@pper]

its cheap though i'll give it that

does anyone wanna tell him what state of damage it will be in when it does arrive ?

chin up dude sounds like a handy car that

 

[Tom B]

The cars stuck at my work are all current models, with no stock in the UK, Belgium or Korea.

When I worked for another manufacturer, a customer wanted a new seat cloth as it had split. The back order was 4 months due to no stock anywhere. We found out the seat covers were made in England, shipped to Japan, then distributed to the European depot, then back to the UK.

It happens I'm afraid, but you can't blame them for being reluctant to keep unshiftable parts in stock!

 

[Cupra Kid]

You think SEAT are bad?! I work for Peugeot Rental I currently have 5 vehicles on loan to other Peugeot dealerships in the midlands because they have cars parked up waiting for parts.

I'll give you an example, a customer returned their Boxer van to Matthewmans for repairs in December last year........ they still have my rental van Think they have run up around £6000 in rental fee's now. This isnt the worst example either

 

[paully]

Tell you why I`m getting rid of it.....Although damaged its still driveable, if it gets damaged again and next time its off the road and one has this pantomime to contend with..well some of you might think its worth the wait but I dont.....I also think its incumbent on the manufacturer to have a ready supply of ALL parts, after all, fairs fair..they are delighted to take your money when you buy them they cant just walk away when it gets a bit expensive for them....

Some of you obviously think a lot of these cars and thats fair enough and your right but to me its just a lump of metal that gets me from A to B...Ford or vauxhall do exactly the same job...Was just trying to warn people for your benefit.

Wont post again......cheers

 

[Icecavern]

I think what we're saying paully is that no manufacturer is perfect when it comes to parts supply. What ever car you buy to replace it could have the same problem if you ever need a panel etc if you don't go for a popular model. If you'd bought an Ibiza or a Leon things would probably have been different. Consequently if you buy a Focus saloon you'll probably have parts problems as they're not a big selling model.

What you're describing is very possible with any of the manufacturers.

 

[STi]

It's a current trend to keep the amount of parts in any distribution center at the minimum. Nobody wants to keep extra / rare parts dusting in the warehouse until they're maybe sold. Every month their value will decrease and after a while they’re maybe scrapped because they costs more to keep them in the inventory than what they're worth. And then that's cash wasted. So you see it's the way business runs these days. It's unfortunate that part isn't available ASAP but it happens sometimes to every manufacturer. In my 7 years of Seat ownership I haven't had a situation that I haven't been able to cope.

 

[FRIbiza2007]

I had the misfortune of a shattered rear winscreen back in winter - it eventually got replaced by autowindscreen although it took 8 weeks of driving around with bin liner and duct tape for protection instead of a window. autowindscreens said they had been snowed under with all the Seats (mainly leons and ibizas) whos windows had shattered in the cold weather and they had to wait for parts from spain, Seat Huddersfield confirmed this but argued that it was not a fault with their windows and that they would not admit liability because even though a vast amount of peoples windows had shattered (around 70 in the space of a week) nobody can prove why they shattered! tossers! my 1.9 tdi FR ibiza has just ran out of warranty and to top it off the Engine Diagnostic Light has come on. I can say that i am looking for a new car at the moment and it will definately not be a seat!!! rant over..

 

[paully]

Seems like Seat havent learnt lessons..Dont post here `cos I bought a Renault which has given me 2 plus years of trouble free motoring...just as a bye the bye the few parts i have needed including an air conditioner pump, under warranty, were supplied within 24hrs...oh yes and the Renault I have is, would you beleive, made in Spain

Good luck