Well, a new City version had come and I had my sights on it for a long time. Pronto, I went to Sundaram Honda(being in the heart of the City, its always the 1st choice).
*Trip 1:
10 days after launch they said that the car is not even on display, apparently Honda had launched it prematurely.
Trip 2:
30 days after launch, car is on display;however only one for cannot do a test drive*
*Trip3:
40 days after launch, car on display and many outside the showroom - cannot do the test drive since registration has not been done
Trip4:
47 days after launch, one sales RM calls (after my multiple visits and visiting card handouts) saying that car is ready for test drive. I go for test drive, only to find out that I can only drive around the dealership (about a one km run!) - no reason given (may be saving fuel)
Trip5:
55 days after launch wanted to test drive an automatic as well before I zero in, hence asked for an automatic test drive vehicle, sales man said no vehicle - hence I asked him for may be a civic (never driven a auto before); he said fine come next day morning at 10.30 AM
Trip6:
56th day after launch, I call him at 10 AM , sales man doesnt pick up mobile - I change route and head to office. Fellow has the gall to call me at noon and check as to why I didnt land up - I told him that he didnt pick up the phone - he states, sorry sir - It was on ’silent’ mode ! I say fine, let me come same day evening
Trip7:
56th day, as agreed I land up at 7.30 PM to try the civic, after making me wait for 30 mins , he says that there is no civic available, hence I need to come the next day.
Trip8:
I give up, I ask him for proforma invoice with the pricing, he makes me wait for 30 mins and hands me one, with some errors, I ask him to change and send it to my office. He states thats not possible - I need to come and collect it.
Now, move over to Capital Honda
Day 1 - I call capital honda, by calling to a number available on Google, some sales head picks up the phone and states that he will depute me a sales RM.
Day 2: Sales RM calls me, takes my details - I ask for a test drive, he agrees and we decide to meet at 11.30 next day.
Day 3: Sales RM calls me at 11 AM and confirms the test drive.
Day 3: lands up sharp at 11.30, I have a test drive (10 kms long) sales RM doesnt utter a word of dissent. He hands a neat cover with details of pricing, a brochure and a copy of the latest autocar - which carries a special segment on Honda City (probably paid for for Honda folks !)
Day4: Sales RM calls me again, I ask him for a automatic test drive, he says he has none - but he can arrange for a test drive if I come to the showroom (near the airport hence a long drive)
Day4: I land up at the showroom, I get coffee (In my 10 Sundaram visits, I was offered none!) small thing, but makes a difference. I take the test drive and I ask for the sales RM’s honest opinion whether I should take the auto or manual, he states manual. I ask him for a car in Dec, he recommends Jan stating that I will get a better resale value (honesty!); Sundaram guy wanted me to take delivery in the last week of Dec itself.
Day 5: I ask for all colours available, he states that black is not not available in showrooms and he will call me if he has one.
Day 7: He calls me that black is available and I can take a look.
Day 8 : I book the car and I am writing the review.
The service levels between the 2 dealerships are not comparable. Right from the way the sales RM looks, cleanliness of showroom, timeliness to the total experience, Capital was way better...For a decision I had to visit Sundaram Honda almost 10 times, it took me one visit to Capital Honda to book the car through them (another visit was to see a new colour!)