walton on thames dealer

[abz]

drove over to the 'largest aston dealer in the UK' in Walton on Saturday. Went to look at a couple of V8's they have in stock. Very poor experience, the salesman was very patronising, it became embarrasing and my girlfriend and I ended up walking out. I come from a Lotus / TVR background and my experience in the past has been the exact opposite - always time for you, offer a cup of tea, ask questions, open to chat, etc, etc...

I think the guy must have decided straight away I was not a genuine customer. The irony is he wasn't even busy when we walked in and there were no other customers in the showroom. I'd have thought that now expecially they'd be doing all they could to get any new customers and sell any new cars, obviously not!

It hasn't put me off the aston experience but I don't think I'll be giving these guys my custom in future

[okgo]

Cannot believe its the largest in the UK seemed tiny to me..

Still, cannot believe how people are like this to customers..

[Camel]

Very sorry to hear about your bad experience there, mine was nothing short of excellent when I bought my Vanquish S.

No problem with a test drive, fascinating tour of the workshops and what was being done to the cars in there, plenty of coffees and a splendid induction into the Aston Martin way.

They have a lot of history with the marque and some long term employees so I don't know what went wrong for you.

[Triple7]

Think you hit the nail on the head. He thought little of you when you walked in the door. I received the same 'courtesy' from them when the wife wanted a DB9, decided against the whole thing after my experience.

I have to say best way to go look at a car is to phone before hand and make an appointment, they'll be more interested in you that way.

Good luck with the search for a V8....

[Murph7355]

I've had exemplary experience from them.

I guess it depends on the individual (who you are seeing).

[Ian67]

They've always been excellent with me. Your description of the Lotus/TVR dealership is how I found Walton: time for my questions, open to a friendly chat, cup of tea etc. And servicing has been the same: friendly, professional and efficient.

I guess they just had an off day (morale must be a bit low at the moment). I doubt it's because of how you looked: if I were an AM salesman and saw me coming through the door then I certainly wouldn't be expecting a sale!

I know how you feel though because I had even worse experiences at a different dealership in Berkshire, with whom I had a deposit on a V8 for almost three years. They were incompetent, arrogant and in the end downright dishonest. The guys in Walton have been the complete opposite in every way.

[sadlerj]

I have also found them pretty poor. I have been a few times and every time they are disinterested, unfriendly and not very accommodating. I did get the impression that cos I was just a V8 Driver and not oozing money then they did not really care. Now they have their fancy new showroom they are even worse. Drive down to Chichester and go to Harwoods, and speak to Geoff or Andy, they are much more friendly and accommodating.

I have the same experience from the Egham Fezza dealerships compared to the one in Lyndhurst, I just blame it on the 'London' effect.

[stats007]

They can be a little condascending, however the parts department at HWM is excellent.

[Soul Reaver]

I bought mine from Audi in Worcester. I was part exing my M3 and had driven down to bath for the night and then realized I had forgotten my log book.

The showroom manager sent his salesman to Peterborough early in the morning to pick up my log book and take it back to the showroom so I could pick up my car as planned later that same day.

Excellent service I must say and I bought the manager a bottle of fine gin to show my thanks at his service quality.

[Baxter 69]

sadlerj said:

I have also found them pretty poor. I have been a few times and every time they are disinterested, unfriendly and not very accommodating. I did get the impression that cos I was just a V8 Driver and not oozing money then they did not really care. Now they have their fancy new showroom they are even worse. Drive down to Chichester and go to Harwoods, and speak to Geoff or Andy, they are much more friendly and accommodating.

I have the same experience from the Egham Fezza dealerships compared to the one in Lyndhurst, I just blame it on the 'London' effect.

Yeh, Harwoods (Aston and Bentley) are brilliant! Really good.

Every time I go up there I end up in the dealership for atleast 30 minutes! Just chatting with the staff and people I'm with.

[stats007]

A shame Harwoods servicing is piss poor. Just had to replace the inlet manifold to intercooler seal as it was fitted incorrectly by them. Also appears they can't read a torque wrench properly as every bolt has been tightened to within an inch of it's life!

[dafydd2008]

Could not agree with you guys anoth!
Exactly the same happened to me!
Went in there to look at some vantages I had seen on the Sunday when they were shut.
Walked in and approached straight away by the salesman. Explained I was looking for one and maybe looking to part ex my 911.
He almost looked at me up and down and said heres the used list have a look and let me know if there in your price range.
Walked straight out and now looking on good old auto trader.

[rickdms]

you would think as times are getting hard, that any inquiry would be met with interest its a shame, anyone who walks through our doors is met with the up most respect, we get a lot of people who just want to look at the cars we are working on and ask questions, most of these people will never spend money with us but myself and staff still make time to be polite and courteous and show that we take great pride in what we do, thats what seems to be lacking and one member of couldn't care less staff can spoil a reputation of a any good company, it does seem though that a lot of dealers do attract some of these individuals, Aston Martin is an amazing icon which sums up pride elegance and fantastic cars, anyone dealing with these cars in my opinion should be proud to be part of it, sorry just my opinion rant over.

[Murph7355]

I dealt with Bryan up there. He was excellent - loves the cars, knows his stuff on them, clear on the pros/cons etc and despite me looking like the Northern oik I am, never treated me anything other than brilliantly. Definitely came across as privileged to have the job he does.

Next time I'm up there I might suggest they check this thread out as it's a shame experiences seem so polarised.

[JRM]

Triple7 said:

I have to say best way to go look at a car is to phone before hand and make an appointment, they'll be more interested in you that way.

Not always, I'd arranged a DB7 drive a few years ago and they were terrible. Apart from anything else he couldn't even get the car to start!
Then rather than just saying teh battery must have died we'll jump it so that we could go out, he just said there was nothing he could do! Strangely I've never been back and never will

[rev-erend]

abz said:

drove over to the 'largest aston dealer in the UK' in Walton on Saturday. Went to look at a couple of V8's they have in stock. Very poor experience, the salesman was very patronising, it became embarrasing and my girlfriend and I ended up walking out. I come from a Lotus / TVR background and my experience in the past has been the exact opposite - always time for you, offer a cup of tea, ask questions, open to chat, etc, etc...

I think the guy must have decided straight away I was not a genuine customer. The irony is he wasn't even busy when we walked in and there were no other customers in the showroom. I'd have thought that now expecially they'd be doing all they could to get any new customers and sell any new cars, obviously not!

It hasn't put me off the aston experience but I don't think I'll be giving these guys my custom in future

Did you call first or just walk in off the street..

Most dealers TVR included seem to have a lot more interest that way.

[AMD1]

How our experiences differ with the same AM dealers.

I walked into the Chichester dealership one morning (jeans and tee-shirt) and was treated like a timewaster, so I drove to the Berkshire dealership in the afternoon and was treated like a valued customer and so bought my Aston there and then.

I'm reluctant to use first names but my experience at the AM dealer in Chichester was appalling and their servicing department has been rude and expensive.

My AM dealer in Berkshire has been excellent and their service department first class.

It's a shame we don't ALL share good experiences from All the dealers.

[russ]

so funny i found it exactly the opposite Harwoods were fantastic spent nearly a who;le day test driving db9s and v8s ( myself and the girlfriend ) but the gits in Reading were total thieving untrudtworthy so and so's ( bet this gets the chop soon ) but agrea with previous posts if your seriously looking for a supercar allways ring in advance and make an appointement rather than just turning up as you do get taken much more seriously .

[bikeracer1098]

russ said:

so funny i found it exactly the opposite Harwoods were fantastic spent nearly a who;le day test driving db9s and v8s ( myself and the girlfriend ) but the gits in Reading were total thieving untrudtworthy so and so's ( bet this gets the chop soon ) but agrea with previous posts if your seriously looking for a supercar allways ring in advance and make an appointement rather than just turning up as you do get taken much more seriously .

Russ
Surprised by your comments.
Found the staff at Lancaster Reading to be very helpful and courteous, however they are expensive for servicing.
They also facilitated test drives for me in both V8V's and DB9's.
I suppose with all car dealers, it comes down to whether they think you a genuine potential customer or merely a time waster!

Edited by bikeracer1098 on Saturday 20th December 19:02

[russ]

hmmmm having parted with over £100k for a DB9 i would have thought they would have sussed i was a serious customer but after they way i was treated by a certain ex bentley salesman i would rather have my testicles ripped off by a mad dentist than set foot in their showroom ever again.Maybe i 'm biassed but i know im not the only one who think Berkshire is a very bad place to buy a car and having owned several TVRs Ferraris Merc's this was the most disapointing dealership i have ever dealt with. On the other hand the Norfolk dealership and the chichseter dealerships have been fantastic.