READ HERE WHAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY
After having so many problems with the servicing of our Fiat, and no joy even
from Alasdair Craig (the so-called customer service manager for the Arnold Clark
group), we decided never to buy anything from Arnold again. When we replaced
the Fiat with a brand new Peugeot 206, we made sure to give Arnold and all his
salesmen in several of his garages a good runaround before telling them we would
be buying elsewhere out of principle. It gave me great pleasure to spend
several thousands of pounds in the knowledge that Arnold was getting none of it.
Might be worthwhile pointing out to your readers that Machargs in Glasgow is
also part of the Arnold Clark group..
Arnold Clark Peugeot in Tollcross Edinburgh but continued to go there as
it's the only city centre Peugeot dealership. The last time, they lost the
key to the car while it was being serviced, refused to provide a courtesy
car for the 24 hours it took them to find it and suggested that if it
remained lost, I would have to pay for a replacement key. Turns out they
gave it to another customer who thankfully returned it.
On other occasions they have charged for servicing work that has not been
performed and generally ripped me off. They have booked the car in and then
claimed no knowledge of the booking. Never use them if you can possibly
avoid it.23.4.2003
Promises Delivered!!!!!
Have any other AC customers been victims of Gorgie Road, Edinburgh (Fiat) branch? My car (2001 Bravo - one previous owner, Mr Avis Car Rental, bought from ACs, Dundee) had gearbox/clutch problems (among others) within 3 weeks of purchase which ACs took 4 attempts to 'repair' under the 30 day warranty. Now, several months on, my clutch has burned out at 24k miles. Isn't it strange the amount of repair required when the car leaves its 30 day warranty period? Another thing, £65 to fit new break pads?? Forget it, Arnold. You'll never lay another hand on my car again.
The full highly amusing story to be posted soon...23.4.2003
I WENT TO ARNOLD CLARK IN DUNDEE TO LOOK AT A NEW PUNTO I HAVE A PUNTO FROM NEW
1996 WITH 36000 ON THE CLOCK THEY
OFFERED ME ONLY £900 AS A TRADE IN THE CAR IS IN FIRST CLASS CONDITION AS WELL
I HAVE CHECK OUT WHAT CAR SITE AND THE TRADE IN PRICE IS £1,700 YOU ARE RIGHT
ARNOLD CLARK SUCKS 23.4.2003
is finally catching on. I am a ex employee of one of his large garages in
Edinburgh, and i have experienced first hand his sales tactics. but i see
that a lot of responsibility is placed upon the mechanics, Now i think this
is wrong as the mechanics are the only ones really under pressure, the only
ones who have to account for every second of there time. Also the apprentices
are given the most minimal training to enable them to carry out quick
services. The blame therefore should be placed, entirely on the power hungry
management systems in place, i assume that they don't differ much form where
i used to work, but i can only from my own experiences, maybe it was the bad
one of the bunch. Well, keep it up, my views may be a bit biased, but as i
can see there shared.
I will never give Arnold Clark the privilege of having any of my money if i
can avoid it and i urge people to do likewise 24.4.2003
marvelous experience that i received when visiting my 'friendly' local
Arnold Clarks in Leyland, Lancashire. Basically I was foolish enough to
show interest in a car that they claimed to have at an alternative branch
(Liverpool) i was told to sign a form which would authorize the transfer of
the vehicle to Leyland. They only required a £100 deposit to secure the car
long enough for me to test drive it. If i was not interested in the car,
they would return my deposit - i thought 'I'm not stupid' so i checked
several times that i was not tied to the car in anyway, again it was
re-iterated that my monies would be returned if it was not the car i wanted.
( I'm obviously not very bright)
When the car arrived i went to test drive it, not overly impressed i briefly
spoke to the salesman who was not remotely interested in selling the car to
me. He even suggested i try for finance at Tesco. The next day i called to
say that i wasn't interested and wanted my deposit back, i was told the
manager would be 'very unhappy'.
A week later the salesman repeatedly called me on my mobile to tell me that
the car was ready for collection, i had apparently signed a legally binding
order. If they did not receive payment for the car within 14 days then i
would be taken to court, which he added, i would not be able to afford so i
would be better off settling up front.
I was so taken aback and upset i virtually hung up. After composing myself,
i called to speak to the manager, who was equally threatening and claimed
that i had arrange delivery of the car.
These boys are quite obviously cowboys. I'm only surprised that they have
not had their arse's kicked by watchdog. As someone that works with the
press on a regular basis i would gladly love the opportunity to get my own
back. And judging by some of the emails on this site, I am relatively well
off.
I have attached a copy of the letter I sent to the Franchise manager, also
copied into Mr Arnold Clark and his MD. Unsurprisingly I have had no
response, it seems i can kiss my £100 goodbye. What an expensive lunch hour
that was ...
<<Arnoldclark3.doc>>
Keep the site going .. it certainly brightened up my day !! 24.4.2003
THE ALARM KEPT GOING OFF FOR NO REASON , THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT
TO STOP WAS TO REPEATEDLY SLAM THE BACK DOOR SHUT .
I TOOK THE CAR IN , THE SERVICE MANAGER ASSURED ME THAT IT WAS
NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BACK DOOR BUT AGREED TO GET THE ALARM SYSTEM CHECKED
OUT , I REMOVED THE REAR DOOR PANEL READY FOR
THE INSPECTION AND SURE ENOUGH THE FAULT WAS A FAULTY CONNECTOR ON THE BACK
DOOR , NO APOLOGY FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO
SEE THE BLEEDING OBVIOUS , I HAVE SINCE PURCHASED MY CARS AT STRACHAN'S OF
AYR WHO SELL TOP QUALITY CARS , GREAT PRICES AND
AFTER SALE CARE . WHEN I CAME TO SELL THE ESCORT I WAS INFORMED THAT IT HAD
BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT , I WAS NOT TOLD THIS WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. 25.4.2003
A salesman approached me and askied if I needed any help.
I asked for a test drive and was told;
"We only give test drives to people who are buying a car"
I was not a happy teddy! I told the salesman how can I buy a car if I can't test drive it first? With that I went to the Rival garage next door and had a test drive within 5mins and I didn't even have to show my license.
Cheers Arnold, never mind cars falling apart after you buy it, you gotta get that far first 25.4.2003
