Well, I'm enjoying driving the Volvo and feel quite safe and secure in it. I've had the top down once and it was pleasant, but different. It has quite a bit of pep on the high end but is not what I've been accustomed to with the S on the low end. It drives great, is very comfortable and OMG I love the way the seats just totally wrap around my body like a soft caress. Its a nice car. HOWEVER, I'm totally ticked with the dealership. I've been waiting and waiting for my license plates and I've called twice about them. I want to take the car in because I'm getting a message on the dash telling me I need to schedule maintenance and my washer fluid needs to be filled. Wouldn't you think they would have filled the fluid before I brought the car home? AND, wouldn't you think my plates would be in after 2 weeks? I wonder if I'm just a picky person but quite frankly when you drop that kind of investment in a car I'd think you'd get better customer service. Since the dealer is a 25 minute drive from me I wanted to combine getting the plates AND getting the dash messages done at the same time. I'm getting just a wee bit cranky. The Volvo Company has been great and sent me a very nice packet containing the (apparently) coveted brochure that the dealer didn't have. The dealer gave me absolutely nothing -- not even a key chain. I'm feeling quite put-upon. Volvo has a questionnaire for completion about dealership service. I'm considering being quite frank!

 

Val, not sure about South Carolina, but plates here in Delaware take about a month to get when the dealer is handling the transaction. They often wait until they have a week or more worth and then take all the applications to the DMV office. Then, the paperwork can take a while. Bureaucracy in action! I routinely see temporary tags that are for 60 days on new cars.

However, it does seem like your dealer's customer service leaves a lot to be desired.

Edit: The dealer can't mail the plates to you? That's how it's done here.

 

Fill out that review, Val!

We don't have temporary plates in MA. Vehicles don't leave the dealership without either a new or transferred registration. MA is kind of picky.

 

All about the almighty buck...Val...Fill out the questionair, honestly...the way you feel about the entire treatment...The stealership got their money, and that, my friend is "ALL" it is about...Hope you enjoy your new ride.

 

Slam them.
I'd be on the phone with the general manager or the owner of the dealership.
I believe in clear direct communication " I'm annoyed, I want resolution and I want it now "

 

with the others. Be honest and tell them exactly how you feel about the way you are being treated. I have a question? Have you received a card / E-mail from the sales person that you did the transaction with or at least a follow up call?

I for one am very dismayed at the lack of customer service in most organizations today. Before I got axed from my job, I was constantly amazed how many people thanked me for returning their call. As time goes on, I now realize why. It is becoming rare these days to get a timely response.

That is one of the reasons that I REFUSE to use self service checkout's at stores that have them. The next thing we know, they will have us stocking their shelves, then unloading the trucks. Where will it stop? I.E. just think how much it cost YOU to download and print an owners manual these days (with the cost per page of most ink jet printers) because the manufacturer no longer supplies one.

Maybe I should sign off now and go and watch the movie Network. It will give me a chance to shout "I'm mad as Hell and I am NOT going to take this anymore".

 

Val, you probably already know this but dealerships are totally independent. Manufacturers have very little say in how things get done. While you may think otherwise they do not control them. When buying a new car the first critical thing to decide is what car and the second is where. Not all dealerships are the same! Does not matter if it's a Toyota, Honda, Lexus, or Volvo. Push the buttons you think will work best. And, by all means tell it like is.

 

Give them hell, Val.

 

Mercedes does exercise a high degree of corporate control as they utilize the satisfaction surveys heavily.
If you don't give above a certain grade on the survey, the dealer doesn't get their hold back money.
So now your talking a language the sales guy understands.

 

Thanks, guys. My thinking is that honesty is always the best policy and I intend to complete the survey with complete candor and honesty. I KNOW that in SC the dealer COULD have had a runner take the paperwork straight to the DMV the next day and walked out with my plates. Furthermore, I think it is ridiculous that the service dept did not get my car completely ready to go before I drove it home. I asked them to let me pick up the plates when I discovered the service messages on the indash computer so I could get it all done at one time. I'm more than just a little concerned since this is the only Volvo dealer within 65 miles and I'll need to take it back there for the 5 years of free service.