Mangoletsi

Whatever else they are, Mangoletsi do seem to have a habit of not being too good in the communication department.

have to agree..i have emailed on several occasions without a reply

So you two don't think I'm in the wrong by appearing a bit uncertain about what I want/need? Hey, I can just mention to the Accountant that I need a new Accord/320d/whatevr in August and it'll appear on my drive - as would a 48hr test drive for an Accord if a colleague's experience is anything to go by.

And I'm not being unreasonable in expecting a bit more of a response?

Jim I can see your point and everyone who has dealt with Mango's about the communication thing.

You may not know that Mango's are the ONLY dealership we have in the NW and the guys are working 14,15,16 hrs a a day just to keep up with sales and orders, This is no excuse for delivering poor communication to true Alfista

However ARUK are aware of the situation as they maybe loosing potential business because Mango's are having trouble coping with the volume.

There are at least two more dealerships being planned for the NW but Craig couldn't tell me any more than that.

Like I've said before I like Mango's but vaild points like communication should be raised in here as that's what we need to hear to help them improve.

I know Craig looks in here from time to time lets hope he reads this one

Jim I know its no consolation but I'd still make the effort to get the GT

I'm sure if you made an appointment directly with Craig or Mark they'd give you their Full attention

I had my car serviced at Mango's in early Feb-they said I needed a new handbrake cable-and they would ring me when it was in stock to arrange fitting under the warranty,I'm still waiting.......

Phone em Pete ask for Paul he's the Service manager and he's normally pretty good.

The flip side of that is they are so busy they don't feel the need to bother too much as there are plenty of other fish in their pond.

Despite the known down-sides of Alfa ownership I'm still pretty keen to get one of my two modern cars switched but why do I feel like I might be putting them out? It might not be deliberate but it's how I feel.

That's how you feel Jim let it out

What we want constructive stuff like this not

I'm not bigging up Mangos I know they have faults and so do they

The last time anybody tried to post on here From mango's they got mauled
and it wasn't very nice

I'm trying to get Mango's to see AO isn't just a big chat room and I'm hoping we can build a relationship with them that will bring mutal benefits but it's early days yet

Originally Posted by 73GTVJim

The flip side of that is they are so busy they don't feel the need to bother too much as there are plenty of other fish in their pond.

Despite the known down-sides of Alfa ownership I'm still pretty keen to get one of my two modern cars switched but why do I feel like I might be putting them out? It might not be deliberate but it's how I feel.

might be an idea to try ES Jones (i think that's what they're called) in wrexham. i think dpat got his 159 from them and i seem to remember he was pretty pleased with them

Wrexham is a fair old trip for a dealer, Al. 40 miles or so from ours to Mangos is far enough IMO to buy/service a new car.

I can go 3 miles down the road to Williams BMW or Gordons Honda and they probably won't break down or have sticky windows or some other annoying gremlins either - though it saddens me to admit it.

TBH, I wouldn't even have to deal with the dealer if I chose one of them.

I'm not sure I want the hassle now. That said, I've had a hard week and I am feeling a bit weary and tetchy so I'll sleep on it.

I think another couple of dealerships in the NW won't do any harm, hopefully Mango's will learn to sharpen their pencils.

Their used prices for Brera's are certainly on the high side in comparison to other dealerships.

They lost a sale with me, I bought the Brera from a dealer that wanted to do a deal, not try to flog satnav etc and then ask me to pay to transfer the warranty into my name.

I expected better after having bought 2 cars off them in the past, to say they got my back up is an understatement.

Tony Mango's have survived because they have listened and learned

I hope they're doing that now

Like I've said my hope is that if your a part of AO you can post constructive comments toward what ever dealers we have in the NW

A few years ago they had a salesman James Porter, he was straight talking and if you wanted a 'cost to change' thats what you got, not the bullsh*t they are doing now adding satnav, paint protection etc.

When looking for a Brera I got a 'cost to change' off Mango's and they added £1K of extras that were not asked for or even discussed, you don't want to know what I told the salesman he could do with his extras.

I walked out, couple of weeks later drove up to Carlise and bought a newer Brera for less money and the dealer put 2 new tyres on it, full service, 1 years tax etc, they couldn't do enough for me, whatever I wanted I got.

Do you really think that if I went to any other dealer that they would charge me to put the remaining 2 years warranty in my name?

I don't have a lot of time for salesman that try to sc*ew me or pull a fast one, I know to a certain extent its their job but so is trying to build up a long term relationship with the customer, if James was still there I'm quite sure I would have got a car off him.

As for Mango's learning, well how long is it going to take?, I've known them for over 12 years and to me after the Brera fiasco they are not learning. I'm straight talking and I prefer salesmen like that, a salesman that can make a decision instead of having to go and see his manager.

On another note the Brera I was considering buying from Mango's turned out to be the one ragged by the Stig on Top Gear.

Tony I do hope you can prove that your Brera was thrashed by the Stig and that it was supplied by Mangoletsi.

If you can't prove that I will delete you post

I've bought 2 cars from Mangos and they've been great and have also helped me out big style when I took the sump off my 156 veloce a while back - sorted a loan car at short notice etc.
However..................on a general note -and this may not be the right forum - why do we continue to use dealers who charge exhorbitant prices and rely on their monoply for their income. Having bought 2 new cars from Mangos I haven't had them serviced there as: 1. It's too damn far away and 2. it's too damn expensive. Never had any trouble with warranty work [which inevitably was needed!!] but saved myself a fortune in servicing costs. Too many people are slaves to the idea that a full dealership service history means something. It doesn't - it just means you've paid a shed load of your hard earned money on something you can get for half the price round the corner at most local garages. We all need to wise up and give dealers [of all marques] a reminder that they dont have a god given right to our business.

can't agree more with you delph..very helpful whenever i have had problems,which i am at the moment..but my next service is due soon and not sure if i will be using them or not..not sure of any others around

Originally Posted by happy man

Tony I do hope you can prove that your Brera was thrashed by the Stig and that it was supplied by Mangoletsi.

If you can't prove that I will delete you post

HM, I don't like what you are implying .

1. The silver Brera I was looking to buy had the same registration number as the one on the front cover of an April 06 edition of Autocar.
2. The same registration is on the silver Brera tested by the Stig on Top Gear.
3. The car did feel very good that is why I got into negotiations about buying it. (I only found out about its history later)
4. The only fault with the car was dissimilar tyres on the rear axle, when I asked the salesman to change these to be the same he wouldn't.
5. I posted on here about a 'press car' around last September, see link below.
6. I mentioned the history of the car to a salesman a week later and it wasn't denied.

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-...ar-merged.html (Would you buy an ex press car? MERGED)


HM you seem to be very protective of Mango's, I have purchased 25+ cars over the years and Mango's are the most penny pinching dealer I have ever dealt with.

They might have a new showroom that is much improved and close to the standard of BMW and Audi but they must change their attitude.

Next time I'm in the market for an Alfa I will give Mango's another crack at selling me a car.

I would like to hear other peoples opinions about the warrenty transfer fiasco?

there was no issue whatsoever on transferring the warranty when i bought my car from them. i seem to remember that there was also some kind of voluntary thing you could also transfer for a fee of £25 or so but that was nothing to do with the warranty. some kind of european-wide car tracking system or other, can't quite remember but didn't go for it (incidentally that charge was levied by the organisation who ran the scheme, not by mango's).

Tony I'm not being protective of Mango's I'm protecting AO
The Volvo Forum was shut down because a member posted an unfounded allegation against a dealer and legal action was taken

I'm happy that you can Prove your Brera was indeed the car driven by the Stig on Top Gear and Mangoletsi have confirmed this

On the Issue of Servicing Yes all Top Marque Dealers charge a premium and I doubt that any Forum will change that.

Personally I don't mind paying the extra for the peace of mind it gives but that's a personal opinion

Like I've said I'm trying to build a relationship with Mangoletsi and what ever dealers we get in the future in the NW

They can only improve if there is a vehicle to communicate what we, as customers, not only want, but expect these days.

I think it s slightly unfair to have a go at Mango's servicing costs being "premium" since it is common to all franchised dealers and I have always paid it myself for peace of mind.

The thread I read yesterday about the damage and problems an AOer has had using a back-street mechanic and the costs it will doubtless cost him is a salutory lesson. I'm not saying there aren't good independents, far from it, but you have to be careful.

Originally Posted by tony44

I'm straight talking and I prefer salesmen like that, a salesman that can make a decision instead of having to go and see his manager.

This is a common car-selling tactic designed to put pressure back on the customer.

Citroen tried this with me when we were negotiating for Lisa's Picasso.
I stopped him in his tracks by asking "am I dealing with the wrong person?"

"I'm sorry?" salesman asks.

"Have I wasted half an hour discussing a deal with someone unauthorised to make a deal?"

"No"

"Well, let's agree or not."

"But I have to speak to my manager"

"Why? Can you do a deal or not?"

"It is so good he has to approve it".

"No it isn't. Tell you what. He can come out here and we can talk about it or I'm off".

Boss comes out and I get another concession. It helped that personally I didn't really want the car!