First of all compliments to the founders & managers of this website. This website is a symbol & guardian of democracy & knowledge for the customers & consumers of India.
When I had to switch from Old Maruti Van to some new small car, only Alto was in the mind as an affordable alternative. But when I came across the advertisement about the 2.66 lac offer for Chevrolet Spark, I got attracted to it.
As getting a 1000 cc car for the price a little more than of an Alto was quite appealing. I read almost all the reviews on Spark in MS. I also browsed the websites like Carwale, Zigwheels, Carazoo, AutocarIndia and went through the expert & user reviews in them. All this led me to conclude my search and close in on the new small car looking like a promising baby in the car family of Indian market.
Thereafter I test drove the car at Pune & then at Ahmedabad. The comfort, silence, build & the utility features were quite sufficient to make the final decision to purchase the car. Even then I was quite apprehensive about the delivery promises of the dealers.
All of them very confidently or I should say very hypocratically said that the car shall be delivered in 10-20 days. The dealer in Ahmedabad where I booked the car, also wrote in the order form, 20 days. I deposited the initial nominal booking amount on 31st of August, 2008. I made a mistake of believing the delivery promise of the dealer and sold out my old vehicle.
Whenever I called the marketing person about the possible date of the deliver yduring these twenty days, he always used to promise to call back in a day or two and tell about the possible date, but never called back. I had to call him again just to know that still 20 days or month shall take to deliver the car. When I got him the contact no. of the manager of dealer at Ahmedabad and called him on his mobile, he didn’t even care to pick up the phone.
How callous, indifferent & insensitive people have been selected by GM to sell this new product. When the dealer is least bothered at the stage of booking and pending delivery to the customer, it is everyone’s guess that what would be the fate of the customers when they will be (if & when) finally delivered this beautiful baby named Spark which is born to arrogant, indifferent & insensitive parents!
One more aspect is worth discussing here. Although the GM is focusing on 2.66 lac price in the advertisements, but GM is not interested in selling the first model (base model) which is priced at 2.66 lac. After harassing the customers who have booked the first model, they pressurise them to go for other higher models if they need the car without further waiting.
Matiz was also was a baby and died an infant death. It got new parents & new name. But now this new-born baby Spark may also not shine as its name suggests. If it happens, it shall be only because of the wrong selection of dealers & wrong promises of delivery schedule of the GM India. It shall prove to be a very good product with a very very poor service support.
I shall appreciate other MS members if they share their experience about the time the GM took to deliver Spark after booking in the offer of 2.66 lac. I have finally cancelled my booking of Spark. I think I am saved from many years of hardship & stress that could have been caused because such an arrogant company which is very indifferent to customers’ needs & the commitments given to them. The dealers are also carefree and not very much concerned to the needs & situation of the consumers!
ashok.