MBUK/Dealer Comments

[clive williams]

Hi All,

Have you ever wondered that whereas this is (one of) the best MB forum why we never get any response from MBUK or for that matter DC? I can't think that they don't read it or maybe they are so arogant that they don't recognise damaging criticism when they read it. Come on MBUK if you're reading this get out of your fortress and face the public!

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[jberks]

I think with the odd exception of independant folk such as dc_insider, they don't look. They probably rely on market research groups. Given the number I have attended over the years that bear no relation to my life "£40 for an hour, just remember to say that you are 32 and a regular reader of Wood whittling weekly" I dare say that the feedback they get is pretty meaningless.
I did once attend an MB group. Oddly enough, when we came to leave, of the 10 cars in the car park, only 2 were Mercs. The S class belonging to the chap who went on about how good the local indie was and mine!

 

[mercmonkey]

unfortunately we just little fish and as a percentage of the MB ownerbase we are insignificant, therefore can be brushed aside

 

[television]

Hi All,

Have you ever wondered that whereas this is (one of) the best MB forum why we never get any response from MBUK or for that matter DC? I can't think that they don't read it or maybe they are so arogant that they don't recognise damaging criticism when they read it. Come on MBUK if you're reading this get out of your fortress and face the public!

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

You have a good point here Clive. Some do know of us, when I had my 2 week long running problem and said it was here, it was resolved the next day and they were so nice.

malcolm

 

[Dr Claire]

Yes I agree, I think they do know of this site and the poor results obtained in last years JD Power. Maybe they think we are a very small minority of moaners. They will admit, when pushed, that there have been reliability issues and some customers are hacked off. What anoys me is they make out I am the only one that's complaining - everybody else is entirely happy - it's only you, you grumpy old sod. After a career spent in marketing that a very dangerous attitude. All the suits look down their noses when I go in with my kids and jeans.

 

[Myros]

With a basilisk-like stare, I pinned one of their "suits"

to the wall in the parts dept at my dealers yesterday.
"Aren't you worried about the JDPower survey?" quoth I, jauntily.
"No Sir. It's my experience the kind of people who moan to JDPower are the kind who buy the car so the badge will impress their friends, and are upset when their friends aren't impressed. They aren't the kind of people who buy the car to enjoy it" ( or words to that effect).

That could well explain it all really. I hope your friends are impressed with that.

 

[Rory]

If you think we moan a lot then you should read some of the American forums!

Sweeping generalisations follow:

They're just devastated that MB discontinued *free* servicing a year or so ago, and they now complain bitterly about A services that cost $150!! Some dealers have responded by doing oil changes for free - can you imagine that here? Many of them seem totally anal - some of them send their oil off for analysis after an oil change (and they're not happy unless the oil's changed every 5000 miles).

They hate the dealers, and the way they're treated (especially by service departments and MB Corporate), much more than we do.

What makes it especially galling for me is that the cars seem so cheap over there. The age range seems younger too - especially blinged up C Class's are very popular with kids, as much as 3 Series is here, except in the US they're generally driving new cars, rather than the 10yr old 3 Series they'd have here.

 

[SLinKyjoe]

i can ssure you they are aware of this site.

they would not log on unless under an assumed name, as they will be very aware of the effect of that.

ie. it would become a place to vent! so it would turn out to be counter productive! the problem is with MercedesUK and Dailmerchrysler. they are 2 different companies. one makes cars, the other sell those car in the UK!

when the realise thats what they do, then we may start to get some input as we buy the fruits of their loins.

at the Mo, one is making cars and want to sell loads. the other needs to sell cars as thats its core business. it couldn't care less if it was selling camels as long as you buy them!

 

[television]

it could care less if it was selling camels as long as you buy them![/QUOTE]

I have this here camel,I filled it up with the best fuel, but I am only getting 18 MPG and it starts going slow on the third day, any idea's

Malcolm

 

[Seeker_UK]

I have this here camel,I filled it up with the best fuel, but I am only getting 18 MPG and it starts going slow on the third day, any idea's

Malcolm

Nurse! Double the medication for bed 8.

 

[SL Boy]

Quite frankly IMHO MBUK dont have a clue how to manage their dealers or relate to joe public. They dont have any presence in the "official" MB Club either. Considering the downturn in UK sales at present on some models (notably the W211) and the serious reliability issues on R230 and R171 models one would think they would at least make some effort to try establish a rapport with loyal customers like us. But no, they prefer to leave it to their dealer chain.