2017 Volvo XC40

[roughrider]

It is a case of sincerity rather than technical ownership... many times I see when a display unit is purchased, the AD will put a paper stating "sold" on the dashboard and also lock up the car to prevent any more "dirtying" of the interior. That is the right thing to do even though they could potentially still let others get in and out as usage for display unit.

 

But I am surprised at this type of story because usually only PI will need to have such pattern because they have limited resource.

 

BTW I think the poster has related the same story a few times in MCF (I recall I read it before) - so probably anger not appeased yet.

 

Volvos in SG esp their SUV line, have scary profit margins of 60-80k.

 

Buying XC40 will be if you super love the car design and buy into their safety message.

I have related my experience one other time. 

[Newbie26]

Agree with the point. 

 

Whether used cars on display or new display cars in showroom, once a customer puts in a deposit, a "sold" sign is usually put up and the car is locked up, cant touch and cant test drive anymore. Have encountered these situations especially from used car dealers. The agent will open up again if the deal does not cross the line subsequently.

 

Legally, these cars still belong to the agents and they can do anything with them.

 

But from customer service viewpoint, agents will take all precautions/measures to ensure the cars are delivered in the same condition as the customers have viewed them, so that there will be no contentious arguments

 

In this case, without knowing the full details and statements from the agent, one can only guess that it is likely an unfortunate incident where the test car was the only car left for other customers to test drive. This could have been amicably sorted out by both parties.

 

 

 

It is a case of sincerity rather than technical ownership... many times I see when a display unit is purchased, the AD will put a paper stating "sold" on the dashboard and also lock up the car to prevent any more "dirtying" of the interior. That is the right thing to do even though they could potentially still let others get in and out as usage for display unit.

 

But I am surprised at this type of story because usually only PI will need to have such pattern because they have limited resource.

 

BTW I think the poster has related the same story a few times in MCF (I recall I read it before) - so probably anger not appeased yet.

 

 

 

[DACH]

They are downright sleazy. Below is a letter I wrote to Wearnes Volvo GM, which is also in another thread:

 

Dear Ms Sng,

Your dishonesty mars the Volvo brand name

 

My wife bought a Volvo S60 from Wearnes Automotive in the month of July 2017.  Allow me recount to you our buying experience.

 

On Friday 7 July 2017, I called Wearnes Auto with regard to a promotional advertisement. I spoke to your sales person, Richard Chua Keng Yak. I specifically asked if the Volvo S60 on offer was used for test drives. He said it wasn’t. He said it was a showroom unit and it was the sole unit left on offer. That same evening, my wife and I came over to your showroom at Alexandra Road. We only found out later that it was, in fact, used for test drives. Because the mileage was low, we did not make a fuss about it. One thing led to another, and my wife placed a deposit for the car. After we got home, I sent an SMS to Richard Chua to remind him to put our car away and to not use it for test drives any longer. Sensing that he was non-committal, I then spoke with him over the phone. He told me (I have a recording of  our conversation) that he needed to speak with his manager for permission not to use our car for test drives, and that he could only talk to his manager the following week. When Wearnes Auto accepted a deposit from my wife and agreed to sell her the car, the car in question belonged to her. Wearnes Auto had absolutely no right to keep using it as it saw fit without expressed permission from my wife. But Richard Chua disagreed with me, and said that the company will keep using the car for test drives.

 

The next morning, Saturday 8 July, we went to your showroom at Alexandra Road to confront Richard. He had plenty to say. That likely came from three decades of lying and and making up things as a Volvo car sales person. My wife ended up getting a new Volvo S60 instead of the test drive car. Over the course of the following week, we found out that the OCBC bank was only charging an interest rate of 2.75% for car loans. My wife called OCBC and was told that OCBC was not lending directly to individual car buyers, but depending on the duration of the loan and the car distributor, it usually was lower than 2.75%. My wife asked Richard why she was made to pay 2.8% for her car loan when other car distributors were charging not more that 2.50%, with Komoco being the lowest, at only 1.98%. Richard threatened to deny her the maintenance and warranty for the car if she wanted a lower interest for the loan. She then tried to speak to Edi Teo, the sales manager at Volvo, whose business card we asked from the receptionist during one of the visits. The mobile number on his card was NOT even in use, and the direct line to his office was perpetually put on voice recording.  

 

In your stable of car brands, Wearnes Auto provides Renault cars with 5 yrs warranty and 3 years of complimentary scheduled maintenance; Jaguar 5 years warranty and 5 years complimentary scheduled maintenance; and Range Rover 3 years warranty and 5 years complimentary scheduled maintenance. These are listed on your websites. For Volvo cars, warranty is for just 3 years. The complimentary scheduled maintenance is only given with many terms and conditions, some of which are only told when asked. Unsuspecting customers who made the mistake of putting down a deposit for a car, are then held hostage to those conditions.

 

The last straw was with the Euro VI certification. As with the test drive car and the new car, one of the first things we asked Richard Chua was if they met Euro VI specifications. Richard’s answer was, without hesitation, affirmative for both. Yesterday, my wife received a notification of registration for her car from the Land Transport Authority. On it was stated that the Volvo S60 was Euro V, and not Euro VI as Richard had lied about. Euro VI certification was important for us. My wife would not have bought this car had Richard Chua not been dishonest. She probably would have waited for an S60 with Euro VI certification. We will raise this issue with the relevant authorities. The car-buying public too, deserves to know your shameful business conduct so that they will not be fleeced.  

 

Buying a car from Wearnes Auto is akin to buying from used car dealers. It’s sleazy and underhanded right from the beginning. You cheat, insult, and lie to the very people who might have been proud owners of  Volvo cars, and treat them shabbily and with such disrespect. You levy extortionate interest rate for the compulsory car loan. Your staff hand out business cards of your sales manager whose mobile number was not in use. Your telephone number, 64731488, is never answered, except for the extension for new car sale enquiry. All these are very telling of your business practises and ethics. They leave a very sour taste in the mouth. -

 

When honesty will always carry the day, something is very wrong when Volvo has to resort to cheating and lying to sell their cars. It tarnishes the brand name in ways that you cannot immediately quantify. -

Thanks for sharing.

Sorry to hear about your plight.

So are you going to walk away from the deal and get the refund of the deposit?

[Spidey10]

You paid 10% share of the price of the item and ask people who own 90% of the share to listen to you and it's to be aware is test drive car that comes with discount. Sorry no logic on this, if you not agree with them walk away which you did decided for new car. Why complaint for something you know you can't agree? 

 

look at the othe POV - If they continue with letting the public view and test drive the "sold" car and touch wood, somehow met with an accident - so they gonna ask the 10% to fork out the cost of  repairing the car as well?

No logic in this of continuing with allowing the car to be used as a test drive car and let pple molest the car once a deposit have been accepted by seller.

Same case as house, seller accepted deposit to of the hosue and still continued to advertise for rent?

[roughrider]

Did Volvo said they did not want to honor the commitment of selling to you?

Your issue seems to be that you cannot accept the fact ‘your car’ will be touched by other people after you had expressed commitment to buy it as used inventory. If that is the case, you should have opted for new, which comes with additional premium.

 

I see that the commitment from Volvo is to give you a used inventory when you have fully paid (loan approval, downpayment), they have the prerogative to fulfill it with a used inventory or even a new one if they like, to meet any black and white written in sales contract (model, color, specs). Sorry that’s how I see it.

Your 'logic' goes like this: all used or display cars are exactly similar. The one you placed a deposit for, with a certain chassis number, and color, mileage etc. do not matter. The car dealer can rightfully give you any display car; if the car dealer chose to give you a new car instead (which we all know isn't likely to happen), it wouldn't have mattered if your opinion was not sought. 

 

You see, you have absolutely no freaking understanding of what fair play is. You have absolutely no notion of why people sign agreements. It is obvious that you are dim. But you don't have to shout it out loud; there's no need to rub that in. We already know. 

[roughrider]

Thanks for sharing.

Sorry to hear about your plight.

So are you going to walk away from the deal and get the refund of the deposit?

My wife has taken possession of the car since late July last year. As what was stated in my letter, we tried not to be difficult despite the lies and deceit from the sales person right from the beginning. My wife wanted to be happy with the car. After all, it would be with her for several years. The last straw was when we received the ownership cert from the LTA and saw that, instead of a Euro VI certified, she was given a Euro V car.    

[Fat_slayer]

They are downright sleazy. Below is a letter I wrote to Wearnes Volvo GM, which is also in another thread:

 

Dear Ms Sng,

Your dishonesty mars the Volvo brand name

 

My wife bought a Volvo S60 from Wearnes Automotive in the month of July 2017.  Allow me recount to you our buying experience.

 

On Friday 7 July 2017, I called Wearnes Auto with regard to a promotional advertisement. I spoke to your sales person, Richard Chua Keng Yak. I specifically asked if the Volvo S60 on offer was used for test drives. He said it wasn’t. He said it was a showroom unit and it was the sole unit left on offer. That same evening, my wife and I came over to your showroom at Alexandra Road. We only found out later that it was, in fact, used for test drives. Because the mileage was low, we did not make a fuss about it. One thing led to another, and my wife placed a deposit for the car. After we got home, I sent an SMS to Richard Chua to remind him to put our car away and to not use it for test drives any longer. Sensing that he was non-committal, I then spoke with him over the phone. He told me (I have a recording of  our conversation) that he needed to speak with his manager for permission not to use our car for test drives, and that he could only talk to his manager the following week. When Wearnes Auto accepted a deposit from my wife and agreed to sell her the car, the car in question belonged to her. Wearnes Auto had absolutely no right to keep using it as it saw fit without expressed permission from my wife. But Richard Chua disagreed with me, and said that the company will keep using the car for test drives.

 

The next morning, Saturday 8 July, we went to your showroom at Alexandra Road to confront Richard. He had plenty to say. That likely came from three decades of lying and and making up things as a Volvo car sales person. My wife ended up getting a new Volvo S60 instead of the test drive car. Over the course of the following week, we found out that the OCBC bank was only charging an interest rate of 2.75% for car loans. My wife called OCBC and was told that OCBC was not lending directly to individual car buyers, but depending on the duration of the loan and the car distributor, it usually was lower than 2.75%. My wife asked Richard why she was made to pay 2.8% for her car loan when other car distributors were charging not more that 2.50%, with Komoco being the lowest, at only 1.98%. Richard threatened to deny her the maintenance and warranty for the car if she wanted a lower interest for the loan. She then tried to speak to Edi Teo, the sales manager at Volvo, whose business card we asked from the receptionist during one of the visits. The mobile number on his card was NOT even in use, and the direct line to his office was perpetually put on voice recording.  

 

In your stable of car brands, Wearnes Auto provides Renault cars with 5 yrs warranty and 3 years of complimentary scheduled maintenance; Jaguar 5 years warranty and 5 years complimentary scheduled maintenance; and Range Rover 3 years warranty and 5 years complimentary scheduled maintenance. These are listed on your websites. For Volvo cars, warranty is for just 3 years. The complimentary scheduled maintenance is only given with many terms and conditions, some of which are only told when asked. Unsuspecting customers who made the mistake of putting down a deposit for a car, are then held hostage to those conditions.

 

The last straw was with the Euro VI certification. As with the test drive car and the new car, one of the first things we asked Richard Chua was if they met Euro VI specifications. Richard’s answer was, without hesitation, affirmative for both. Yesterday, my wife received a notification of registration for her car from the Land Transport Authority. On it was stated that the Volvo S60 was Euro V, and not Euro VI as Richard had lied about. Euro VI certification was important for us. My wife would not have bought this car had Richard Chua not been dishonest. She probably would have waited for an S60 with Euro VI certification. We will raise this issue with the relevant authorities. The car-buying public too, deserves to know your shameful business conduct so that they will not be fleeced.  

 

Buying a car from Wearnes Auto is akin to buying from used car dealers. It’s sleazy and underhanded right from the beginning. You cheat, insult, and lie to the very people who might have been proud owners of  Volvo cars, and treat them shabbily and with such disrespect. You levy extortionate interest rate for the compulsory car loan. Your staff hand out business cards of your sales manager whose mobile number was not in use. Your telephone number, 64731488, is never answered, except for the extension for new car sale enquiry. All these are very telling of your business practises and ethics. They leave a very sour taste in the mouth. -

 

When honesty will always carry the day, something is very wrong when Volvo has to resort to cheating and lying to sell their cars. It tarnishes the brand name in ways that you cannot immediately quantify. -

 

Hi, sorry to hear of your experience.  I am just curious of what is their response to you.

 

I also bought the S60 T4 from them in 2012 and it was quite a pleasant experience from sales right to handover and post delivery (servicing).  They even sent a cheque on the COE rebates which was not written in the sales PO.

[roughrider]

You paid 10% share of the price of the item and ask people who own 90% of the share to listen to you and it's to be aware is test drive car that comes with discount. Sorry no logic on this, if you not agree with them walk away which you did decided for new car. Why complaint for something you know you can't agree? 

Your logic goes like this: 1. You have no rights, and are not entitled to dividend and profit sharing because you are a minority share holder. 2. The other guy is always right because he is much bigger, shouts louder and has bigger fists than you. 

 

I dread to think how you were brought up. Your perverted and self-defeating outlook is scary. Simple concepts about what makes the world go round is beyond you. If consumers in this country are so denied of rights, it is thanks to dimwits like you and jjanddy. I hope that most of my countrymen are not like you.   

[roughrider]

Hi, sorry to hear of your experience.  I am just curious of what is their response to you.

 

I also bought the S60 T4 from them in 2012 and it was quite a pleasant experience from sales right to handover and post delivery (servicing).  They even sent a cheque on the COE rebates which was not written in the sales PO.

I am very happy for you. 

 

No one should have to go through what we went through. We were very unlucky. I've always felt that the root cause of it all was the sales person. He wasn't honest. And we know it was because of the commission. The company might have felt duty bound to back him. We were offered two free maintenance services to make up for our loss. I told them to go to hell.  

[Soho]

My wife has taken possession of the car since late July last year. As what was stated in my letter, we tried not to be difficult despite the lies and deceit from the sales person right from the beginning. My wife wanted to be happy with the car. After all, it would be with her for several years. The last straw was when we received the ownership cert from the LTA and saw that, instead of a Euro VI certified, she was given a Euro V car.

so, just wanna know. why does your wife insist on wanting a Euro VI engine? fuel efficient? gas emission? or am i missing out anything?

 

in addition, after the complaint, what do u all wanna achieve? volvo buy back your car or change a new car for you? or compensate you with $?

[jjandyy]

Your 'logic' goes like this: all used or display cars are exactly similar. The one you placed a deposit for, with a certain chassis number, and color, mileage etc. do not matter. The car dealer can rightfully give you any display car; if the car dealer chose to give you a new car instead (which we all know isn't likely to happen), it wouldn't have mattered if your opinion was not sought. 

 

You see, you have absolutely no freaking understanding of what fair play is. You have absolutely no notion of why people sign agreements. It is obvious that you are dim. But you don't have to shout it out loud; there's no need to rub that in. We already know. 

 

 

I do not know how else to put it forward, the fact that most of things we buy are commodities (or commoditized). Less things like properties because different house numbers that makes each one 'unique'. Or when cars are being sold to-order basis, like how people in Europe buy their cars for example. Or you indent the vehicle with extra features. We can think that a car costs >$100K in Singapore, but most cars are commodities whether you like it or not. 

 

The fact is that, the red S60 in the showroom or test drive lot has exactly the same features and builds as the red S60 in Wearnes warehouse in the same timeframe. I also know some showroom or test-drive cars have extra features, so it is a bonus. Of course chassis number is different, but why should buyers care? If Wearnes decided to give you a new car instead, why should you care too, if the car type is the same one specified in the S&P agreement? Of course, only if the test-drive car chassis number was specified on your S&P agreement, which you did not mention in your post, then I can understand your standpoint and your unhappiness.

 

Also, realistically, the only difference between a test drive car and new car from warehouse is the mileage, besides the fact that more people has 'touched' the test-drive car, revved that engine a little bit more. Let's say a test drive route is 3km each time, and there are 10 test-drives conducted for the period before it was handed to you, it is only 30km more on the odo. OK, let's make it 50km. That's why you paid lesser for the car to begin with.

 

I can understand your frustration because you did not get what you want, but by calling people names and started to talk about people's up-bringing, I am also guessing the type of customer you are in the showroom. Just stereo-typing like what you did. Cheers!

Edited January 22, 2018 by jjandyy

[Knighthunter]

Your logic goes like this: 1. You have no rights, and are not entitled to dividend and profit sharing because you are a minority share holder. 2. The other guy is always right because he is much bigger, shouts louder and has bigger fists than you.

 

I dread to think how you were brought up. Your perverted and self-defeating outlook is scary. Simple concepts about what makes the world go round is beyond you. If consumers in this country are so denied of rights, it is thanks to dimwits like you and jjanddy. I hope that most of my countrymen are not like you.

I think I believe Wearness also know they got *sshole buyer based on the way you are arguing. Phui!

[east41st]

I am very happy for you. 

 

No one should have to go through what we went through. We were very unlucky. I've always felt that the root cause of it all was the sales person. He wasn't honest. And we know it was because of the commission. The company might have felt duty bound to back him. We were offered two free maintenance services to make up for our loss. I told them to go to hell.  

 

From what you posted earlier: "After we got home, I sent an SMS to Richard Chua to remind him to put our car away and to not use it for test drives any longer. Sensing that he was non-committal, I then spoke with him over the phone. He told me (I have a recording of  our conversation) that he needed to speak with his manager for permission not to use our car for test drives, and that he could only talk to his manager the following week."

 

It is likely the salesman was wary of losing the deal and hence was vague and trying to buy time. Anyway you opted to go for a new car instead of the show unit, so this point is moot. Still, it must have soured the buying experience. The loan rate issue not much of a case because different ADs have different relationships with the financing companies. Decision making in buying a car, from choosing the model to colour and salesperson service etc, carries a large emotional weight and logic a lesser one. Next time just change the salesperson if you do not feel good with the one serving you. Don't let the salesperson sour your experience with the AD or product.

[Treestar]

Anyone bought xc40 so far? Shipment delivery coming in may. Any xc40 owners group so far?

[Newbie26]

Just launched, will take a while, you may wish to check out the volvosgclub 

 

XC40 sports looks great at motorshow, solid and fantastic specs, 180Kplus nett  

 

Share with us in due time if u have bought one

 

https://www.volvocars.com/sg/cars/new-models/xc40

 

Anyone bought xc40 so far? Shipment delivery coming in may. Any xc40 owners group so far?

 

[Treestar]

Thks. Yes jus placed order fr R design XC40. Read online comments not so active? Anyone knows of volvo chat grp?

Edited February 4, 2018 by Treestar

[Latio99]

Thks. Yes jus placed order fr R design XC40. Read online comments not so active? Anyone knows of volvo chat grp?

U can request to join a closed Volvo fb group and from there join the chat group.

XCluSiVe Volvo Singapore.

[Treestar]

U can request to join a closed Volvo fb group and from there join the chat group.

XCluSiVe Volvo Singapore.

Thanks! Jus requested