Having got inside information from our sources in TATA Motors, we got to know that the much awaited Fiat Linea had reached the dealerships. So we gave the Tata-Fiat dealership a call, inquired about having a look and we were told to come down anytime. Not wasting mush time, the staff at Motorbeam went to Tata-Fiat to have a look at the Fiat Linea. What happened ahead is totally unexpected and shocking from a company of TATA’S repute.
Our photographer started to click pictures of the Fiat Linea and he was stopped from doing so. After informing the dealership that we were from Motorbeam, we were spoken to rudely and denied permission to click any pictures. However, we continued to do our job, so that the readers of Motorbeam can check out the pictures asap.
One salesman comes up saying – “This is my premise, you can’t take pictures. This is my car, you can’t take pictures”
Such arrogance and poor behaviour is not expected from a dealership, which is supposedly the best and only dealership in Navi Mumbai, and is selling products of a company as big as the TATA’S. If the best dealer behaves this way, we can only imagine what the others will be like.
Reasons for pictures not to be taken – Fiat has not launched the car yet. So you cant take pictures.
Our question to Fiat – If you have not launched the car just yet, then why do you deck it all up and park it in the showroom. Why does the salesman ask us to come down to check the car out when you are so hide hide about the car?
Our advice to Fiat – If this is the attitude of your dealerships then trust us, not many would want to buy your car. Whats wrong with taking pictures? If we were the owners of Fiat, we would write there “Take as many pictures as you want”. Reason is simple. Someone is taking pictures of my car, and spreading the word for free. What else does a company want. But its sad that Fiat India’s management has remained stale since the days of the Sienna and will continue to be so. As for me, i wont buy a Fiat car. Don’t get me wrong, i love Fiat cars, they are extremely value for money, but they lack two things which is very very important. One is resale and the other is after sales service.
Our advice to all of you – If your buying a Fiat car, think twice, maybe thrice but make sure you get service. Because a product without good service is like a car without fuel. You can’t drive it, you can just admire it.
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January 10th, 2009 at 4:11 am
One guy didn’t let you take photos of a car and you’re telling people to reconsider Fiats? I think you’re over reacting just a tad bit.
The dealership invited you to look at the car but the staff had orders not to let people take photographs. His reason for not letting you take photos – and frankly I’m surprised you dont understand – makes perfect sense: HQ embargoed the news of cars at dealers but your “inside” source leaked it to you. The general public was not supposed to know about the car being at dealers. If he let you take photos the general public would know.
You should understand the salesperson, as rude as you think he may have been, was merely doing his job. You’re doing your job. He’s doing his. Dont take it to heart.
January 10th, 2009 at 4:37 am
What a prick for him to do that!! What does he think it is the newest unreleased pagani zonda or something!? Its just a stupid Fiat!!!
The nerve of some people – I woulda said those exact words to him – Disgraceful to say the least
January 10th, 2009 at 4:41 am
As a side note – YOU’RE EXACTLY RIGHT!! What a bunch of morons for parking the car in a dealership before it’s even released and then expect nothing will happen!!!
They’re doing it ass backwards!!
January 10th, 2009 at 9:53 am
So you do finally realise how bad the tata and fiat persons are
Welcome to the group. Well Fiat has been behaving badly since the days of theyr palio launch. And now its the turn of tatas also it seems
January 10th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
it sucks…but do have respect for another man’s (dealer’s) rights. the dealership is within its rights to deny service or stop someone from clicking pictures. But your whole point about thinking so much about buying a fiat just because a nosy journalist couldn’t take pictures doesn’t hold any water. you depend on them for a livelihood as much as they do to get their product out.
January 10th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Japan Car Blog – It was not one guy, it was the whole dealership and i had a word with the manager as well. The issue is that the guys first said you can take pics and then later on they were like you can’t. If you notice the previous posts, the car was standing outside and not in the showroom. Read the previous post, i have not said that the Fiat Linea is a bad car, its a fantastic car, but a superb product with bad backing is not what you would want, right? The car being in the dealership before launch is all over auto sites, simply because Fiat declared they want to show case the car to others before launch.
Dipu – Would you buy any product where you don’t get backing? I would not, and its not just me, everyone knows that Fiat makes excellent cars but hesitate to buy one due to poor service. I have no issues with Fiat nor with their dealership but I have been to various dealerships from Mercedes to BMW and no one has spoken this way about clicking pictures. Infact before the launch of the A-Star, the Maruti guys were kind enough to show me the A-Star in their workshop.
January 10th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
I agree, bad service will keep away customers. Still, one bad apple doesn’t make the whole basket. There is more to your post than and it is wrong! calling all gearheads for carsumerist action against this dealer!
January 10th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Dipu if you notice I have not mentioned the dealers name as i have nothing against them.
January 11th, 2009 at 4:54 am
i guesss fas ur just “over-reacting” its just a fault of the staaf members not of the whole fiat brand…ur just losing ur cool and blaming the whole fiat company for no justified reason…
if a product is not launched officially why would one allows a person to take its pics for his blog and even that in free….this is a disasterous example of leaking a content….which any dealer do not wants….and secondly the car you r talking about was owed by that customer…so why any one should allow any tom,dick or harry to take his cars pictures without his permission…i guesss that the dealership staff’s and the customer’s behaviour was justified….
January 11th, 2009 at 7:26 am
fas….
I meant to say that there is more to your post then you said and that what happened to you is wrong if they did invite you to take pictures. my bad. they are def within their rights to say no to pics but then as you said, they led you on before. thats wrong period.
February 11th, 2009 at 4:37 am
Hi,
I had a sickening experience with the FIAT sales people in Bangalore(Sarjapur Road). I went to enquire and take the Quote for the Paleo Stile and none of the sales people assisted me for more than 15 Mins. After I have explored the cars and asked for some assistance, even after that nobody tourned-up. Whin I said that I have to go, someone came up to me and asked “what do you want”. When I expressed my interest in buying the Paleo Stile, he just slipped me the price list. When I asked about the feature differences between various varients. He said that “I am the finance person and I will not be able to help you”. When I changed my Tone, one fat useless fat sales person with a lazy Tummy came and said that; he is busy running the Promation of Lenia and asked me to come later.
Actually I have a New Corola ALTIS, and was looking to purchase a small car for the city use. Now I have changed my mind and will never go or suggest anybody for FIAT vehicles. In real it sucks and its a disaster.
February 11th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
That is sad to hear Joe. Firstly the Palio is not exactly a hot selling car and top of that if thats the attitude of the salesman then who would buy the car? Anyways which car did you buy eventually? Have a look at the i20, it will be good choice to complement the Corolla.
February 20th, 2009 at 10:25 am
been reading this blog and all about bad dealerships and no backing on after sales.
i think the verdict is universal, FIAT’s after sales is appalling. Had a similar bad experience at Sanya Motors in Delhi. a Tata dealership, when i went to see Linea. There was a staff of 5 busy gossiping. i saw and inspected the car myself and when i was leaving, they handed ,me a brochure and a price list as if this was a roadside pamphlet distribution ceremony. I even wrote to the CEO and the top dogs at fiat pune. Got nothing except a rhetorical reply and we always believe in customer service and this is just a one off case. and then even the dealer got into the act saying we believe in customer service and keep all our customers happy. BULLL….i say….somebody i know got his palio for service at their center and ended up with a f***** up vehicle and poorer by 50k.
I have an adventure myself, made the biggest mistake of my life. great product……..backed by an absolute rubbish service.
Spread the word guys………dont buy a fiat product……
April 6th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
It is not Ethical to take pictures inside the showrooms…It goes against the rules of all automakers..So you guys need prior permission if you need those pictures..
PS-This is present on most of the posters present in service centres and showrooms of Maruti Suzuki and Tata…The only problem is that they are not kept in any prominent location
April 21st, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Hi Guys,
I had the same experiance in Pune recently.
Tata guys are not interested in selling fiat palio.
Instade they were insisting me to buy indica vista.
Also, i went to two different (leading) dealers in Pune.
Anyone was not having a vehical for testdrive.
I dont think fiat will survive with this kind of stupid dealer service.
Someone here please convey this to Fiat.