I booked Chevrolet Spark on 18th May and it was delivered on 24th Jun 2009. My apologies onthe slight delay. I will write down the booking story till deliver sequentially, you decide if I have rated the dealer correctly.
10th May 2009: I make the initial phone queries regarding Chevrolet Spark LS model to both Duliachand & India Automobiles in Kolkata. Both the dealer come back to me with the same offer for the Chevrolet Spark LS(red) with Grey Interiors
Discount of Rs 45000.00
Exchange of Rs 10000.00(in lieu of the papers of my existing Maruti)
Corporate Discount Rs 4000.00
In addition normal accessories like floor mats, mud flaps, dickey mats. While this was the common offer, Mr Chandan Datta of Duliachand Motors offered me another 2 accessories i.e. real molded shelf and side door pads. My descision: Duliachand being near to my home and also giving a slightly better offer, I opt to go for this dealer.
18th May 2009: I pay the initial booking of Rs 5000.00 and the offers are again reiterated by the sales executive. Since I wanted to apply for car loan on my own, I did not go for the dealer offer for private bank.S0ome form are signed for the purpose of registation and booking.
19th MAy 2009. I apply for SBI car loan from the branch handling my salary account.
1st June: the cvar loan is sanctioned by SBI.
4th June 2009. I make payment for the down payment to Duliachand motors to the tuine of arounf 50, 000.00. Mr Debasish Roy(Mr Chandan Datta’s BOSS) then intimates me that the car is no longer available with Grey and I have to pay an additional amount of around Rs 2-3000 for the beige interiors. I also complete my documentation with SBI the following day. It takes another 1 week for the executve to intimate me the reciept of payment from the bank.
As 24th Jun was Rath yatra, I ask the executive to deliver me on that date. I ask for a pre registration inspection on 20th jun 2009 and then the sales executive tells me that he does not know the exact figure but the additional amount that I have to pay is around 8, 000.00.I immediately protest, but he still has no exact figures.
23rd Jun 2009 5 PM: The executive calls me up to mention that I have to pay another amount of Rs 7, 300 for the beige interiors by cash on the next day of delivery. I immediately protest and also write to GM.I am asked to come at 3:00 pm on 24th Jun for delivery.
24th Jun 2009: My other car was taken by my brother for a tour and this car was required for the movement of the elderly parents. I went ahead for the delivery and reached the showroom at around 2:30 PM. Here the sales man gives me his final offer.
1.Car cost increase by 7, 300
- No accessories as he had promised.
This with the ultimatum of take it or leave it.Telleing me that I ahve signed the papers and must have gone through it in detail.The option for cancellation was a charge of Rs 5000.00. Plus the bank loan refund hassles.
Since I required the car urgently and wanted to take delivery on Rath Yatra day, after much protest a discount of Rs 1500 was given on the additional amount to be paid.
Ultimately I paid Rs 5800 in cash(they charge 2% service charge for payment by credit card) and took delivery of my vehicle.
This in brief is my story of my experience of purchasing a car from Dulichand Motors. I was involved with 4 more car purchases, but this has been the worst experience.
I now request any buyer from India Automobile to post his story so that buyers are forewarned when they deal with them.
First Update:
- Went to the service centre for the 1 month check up...although everything there was ok but chaotic , the service centre is situated about 2 kms away from the road. the 2kms is a potholes kuccha road. So what ever cleaning by them was gone by the time I reached the main road.I am surprised that a brand like GM has built its workshop in a place that does not have a basic proper road.