ianb

I've noticed that a few people on this board have ordered their S2000 through VirginCars. I would recommend keeping on top of them at all stages of the order as they seem prone to letting things slide if you do not. Take my sorry story as a warning...

Feb 3rd: Ordered car and opted for part exchange option
Feb 27th: Recieved confirmation order has been placed with supplier. At this time I asked to change the colour I had ordered. Was told they would contact supplier and let me know if this was possible.
Mar 6th: AA man inspected my current car and classed it as excellent. Virign web page indicated this would be worth around

Tonky

Ian:

Thoroughly disgraceful!!
Do you feel the saving you have made is worth the hassle? (As opposed to buying via a U.K. dealership?)

awinskill

Ian:

If they've admitted that they haven't paid for the car from the supplier then I would think you have a case to ask them for the return on interest on your payment.

Assuming you've paid them

UKjasonm

I've said this a million times (sorry ian you probably dont want to hear this) buy if your going to import the car do it yourself direct with the main dealer in the EU. My import was super smooth, dealer was excellent and the car arrived in the exact week I was qouted and prbably upto 2K cheaper than these so called import specialists. The only issue I had was that Honda couldn't deliver a hard top on time and I would have had to wait and extra 6 weeks but this was a problem in Japan and not at the EU dealer.

mrsoften

I am importing (not Virgin) and am in touch constantly, double checking everything. They may get fed up with me phoning but I'll do anything to avoid the problems u have had.


Do Virgin not allow you to speak directly to the Dealer or does it not work like that? I have found the dealer to be very helpful and knowledgable not only about the car in general but also about my own car order.

Hope u get the car very soon. I have heard its worth the wait


Often.

ianb

Cedric:
Definitely not worth it as in the end I have saved only a few hundred pounds and waited an extra 4 or 5 months and got major grief.

Andy:
They have told me they will pay me interest of 4% on my money. Big deal, the money was quite happy sitting in my own account. I have already written to the CEO of VirginCars, interesting to see if I get a reply.

MrsO:
You cannot speak to the supplier, you have to go through them. Getting past their front line call center is a task all by itself.

I know others who have imported through Virgin without any difficulties but the problem seems to be when things do go wrong, they seem incapable or uninterested in fixing things.

Ah well, you live and learn.

mikerich

ianb - thank you for posting - that is a lesson I will take to heart

Turtle

Small comfort, but rest assured the S2000's worth waiting for. Even if it doesn't get here till the winter I'm sure you'll get a couple of top down days.

Thanks for posting this anyway. I just bought from a UK dealer, and in the end I'm very happy. I hope importing works out for those goign that route. With a bit of luck information like you've posted will seriously help people!

-Brian.

joecro

Ian,

...slightly off topic i know but as a writer i think your story was very funny in its delivery/execution!

Try sending it to an interested what car/top gear type publication. As proponents of the 'government beating tax-dodging'import game it is quite an insight.

Thanks

Joe

Kobe

I'm not surprised you have had so many problems with Virgin.

If you read between the lines of Branson's autobiography - the business model is based on low overheads - limited downside - staff paid on enthusiasm - cash flow issues - constant complaining to government about other companies and never produce any individual accounts of each business - so as pointed out - it works on the good days - but they just don't have the resources to resolve problems on the bad days - which will on average always occur for the 20% of time. 80:20 principle.

Branson should know a lot about import and export - that's how he started, illegally importing records from Belgium - and he got himself nicked for it.

I admire him a lot for just getting up and doing it - but after endless hours of delays and cancelled flights with Virgin Express - the brand name is wearing a bit thin with me.