We bought our first car from Acer Motors, Trimulghery, Secunderabad, in April 2008.
The moment we entered into the showroom for enquiry purpose, we were attended by a sales person and offered seats at the discussion room. He was very cordial in giving us all information about the model we were enquiring and also about the other models.
We had paid several visits to the showroom and dealt with the same sales-person always. Every time with the same spirit we were greeted and our repeated queries on several issues were answered without any frustration. But, this friendly approach is nothing new, because, almost all the places, customers shall be treated very well before the purchase! They offered us test-drives at the show-room, as well as, they were ready to send the demo car to my residence at our convenience. We were offered good discounts with the post-budget rates.
At last, I booked the car and they had given us a time of 10 days for the colour we had chosen. Having a good relationship with the HDFC bank, we got a competitive loan-interest-rate from the bankers, but the Acer fellow offered us a special rate from Citi-Maruti Finance which was again less than what we were offered from our bank. Basically, what my advice to the readers here that one should always approach dealers for car bookings in the month ends, when they are in dire-need of meeting their targets and can grab good discounts!
At our surprise, we got a call from the showroom just after a week of our booking that our car has arrived! It was fitted with all the accessories what all we asked. Teflon-coating done only in front of us and I admire that they waited for us so that the same can be done up to our satisfaction. We had literally supervised the Teflon job and the workers did obey our instructions inch-by-inch! The demo was satisfactory and the paper-work was very fast. We were given all the papers which were necessary. They promised us that the Registration work will be done within a month and they, themselves, would get it done without giving head-ache to us. Keeping the promise, they had sent their driver for pick-up and the registration was done within a month’s time. RC and Number Plates were received after a week. Basically, everything was done on stipulated time and we never required to follow them up for anything.
All of a sudden, out of blue, we got a news that Citi Finance stopped giving all loans for some period and we were put in a troublesome situation for a few moments. We thought, the dealer would advise us to take the car some other day. They then debated each other and, in the end, to our surprise, they took a decision in our favour to give the delivery the same day with the down payment and given us a week time to apply for a bank loan!
Now something different – to our dismay, we did not find the bills for the accessories we had opted along with the vehicle. Though I called the dealer for separate bills for at least the Batteries and the music system, the answer what we got is all the guarantee papers and manuals are there in the pouch! Upon our pressure, he told that they can at the most give a list of the extra accessories purchased on their letter-head, not the bills for each and every item. I think, as far as transparency is concerned, we need to be very careful at the beginning itself and there is no use once the car is reached our garage.
Now something about the after-sales-service!
The first service was due just after a month, but due to some unavoidable circumstances, neither I could take the vehicle to the service station, nor were we in a position to advice the dealer for pick-up arrangement. In such case, our request for an extension for a month was acceded by them!
When their driver came for the pickup, some important materials like cover, tools, first-aid kit, stereo-mouth, remote, etc. were given to us to keep them in our custody. They informed us on their own, when the car’s post service delivery will be and this act really helped us in scheduling our office work accordingly as both me and my wife go to office. These might not be something remarkable but, I heard from my friends, the problems they faced in the post-purchase period from other dealers.
Now, something really important – the car met with an accident after two months! Back lights, side panel, doors – all got damaged. The dents and bends on one side really put as in a panic and stressful situation. But, just one phone call to the same sales person gave us the much wanted relief. He himself inspected the car at the showroom and took us to the insurance and repair division and told us that it will be taken care of and our car will once again become as good as new. The insurance formalities were done in half of an hour’s time and I got a call from them in two days time that the required insurance amount is sanctioned and repair work had started. Though I insisted them to change the broken and dented parts, they told us that that it is not required and changing the parts will hamper the original-look of the vehicle. Never was it required to follow them up here as well, though I had made two-three calls out of concern.
I took the delivery again just after 4 days and to my surprise, I could not identify any kind of repair work done on the vehicle – it was that perfectly done! When the worker was taking the car from the repair station after the job done the Service Executive stopped and inspected the vehicle and instructed again to do the wiping job once more in front of me. Such things, one will witness very rarely and I really appreciate the Acer Dealer’s service. There was a faulty bulb, which was replaced after my advice instantly. After thorough checking by the Executive, the vehicle was handed over. I needed to spend only Rs. 787/- towards the rear lights damage as the insurance is not fully covered for plastic articles.
I thanked the executive and happily drove back my car home!
Pros:
They are very courteous pre-n-post purchase of vehicle.
They really take care of the cars even in the customers’ absense or otherwise.
They are very prompt and punctual in service, repairs and delivery timings
Follow ups are not at all required (at the least up till now!)
They listen to what the customers have to say patiently.
They do enlighten with all the information and the executives are having fair amount of knowledge on the products they sell.
Cons:
Transparency in Billing! Bills for the extra accessories (which were not under FREE offer) are not given. To some extent, it was our fault that we did not ask them on time, but it was their duty to also to give us. Moreover, the original invoice is still not given to us, but what they say is that the original they have given to the RTO at the time of Registration.
I know this review is quite long, but I wanted to share with you all the nitty-gritties of pre-n-post purchase of a car along with the credibility of the Dealer we dealt with. Please don’t forget to rate this review and leave your comments!!!!!!!!!!