Millenium auto group in NJ says go to hell? - Page 13 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DarkOneSK · #**181** 04-08-2007, 08:33 PM

Your opinion has been noted. Thanks for the heads up. This is not a thread about who's a lawyer, who wants to be a lawyer, or legal debate. If you don't want to be party to standing up to the dealership, that's fine with me.
back on topic please.
What do you want me to say to get you to stop? your right? OK, your right. now knock it off.
Back to the task at hand.
Back on topic please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

450slcguy · #**182** 04-09-2007, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkOneSK

Back to the task at hand.
Back on topic please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Any feedback from MB USA? Has anyone from the dealer management or MB Corp. even acknowledged the complaints? It wouldn't surprise me if the whole incident is ignored.

DarkOneSK · #**183** 04-09-2007, 09:19 PM

MBUSA called me and said they are working on it and that the message is deplorable and they do not wish me to think mercedes responsible for it in any way. That's all they said. I'm sure they won't tell me much else. it will be handled behind closed doors I'm sure.

450slcguy · #**184** 04-09-2007, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkOneSK

MBUSA called me and said they are working on it and that the message is deplorable and they do not wish me to think mercedes responsible for it in any way. That's all they said. I'm sure they won't tell me much else. it will be handled behind closed doors I'm sure.

You would think in the least they would have offered to support the GTG as a gesture of good intent.

DarkOneSK · #**185** 04-10-2007, 12:05 AM

one would think. especially since he's VERY local to the event.

ILUVMILS · #**186** 04-11-2007, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkOneSK

MBUSA called me and said they are working on it and that the message is deplorable and they do not wish me to think mercedes responsible for it in any way. That's all they said. I'm sure they won't tell me much else. it will be handled behind closed doors I'm sure.

The fact is, there's not much more MBUSA can do, other than ask you to accept their apology on behalf of the dealer. Millenium is privately owned, as are the overwhelming majority of MB dealers. They aren't MBUSA employees, so MBUSA can't actually do anything to them, other than tell them to behave and play nice.

Jim B. · #**187** 04-11-2007, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILUVMILS

The fact is, there's not much more MBUSA can do, other than ask you to accept their apology on behalf of the dealer. Millenium is privately owned, as are the overwhelming majority of MB dealers. They aren't MBUSA employees, so MBUSA can't actually do anything to them, other than tell them to behave and play nice.

That's a VERY naive statement. MBUSA can do a LOT to pressure or punish dealers that are out of line. At the worst they could simply cancel or fail to renew their dealer franchise and put them out of business. They could refuse to allocate them the number of cars they want to purchase, or load them up with slow selling "dogs", drag their feet in supplying parts, or in service information and training, the list goes on and on.

Anything that affects their bottom line will cause them eye the cause, and ponder remedial measures.

BENZ-LGB · #**188** 04-11-2007, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

That's a VERY naive statement. MBUSA can do a LOT to pressure or punish dealers that are out of line. At the worst they could simply cancel or fail to renew their dealer franchise and put them out of business. They could refuse to allocate them the number of cars they want to purchase, or load them up with slow selling "dogs", drag their feet in supplying parts, or in service information and training, the list goes on and on.

Yep!

John Doe · #**189** 04-11-2007, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

That's a VERY naive statement. MBUSA can do a LOT to pressure or punish dealers that are out of line. At the worst they could simply cancel or fail to renew their dealer franchise and put them out of business. They could refuse to allocate them the number of cars they want to purchase, or load them up with slow selling "dogs", drag their feet in supplying parts, or in service information and training, the list goes on and on.

Anything that affects their bottom line will cause them eye the cause, and ponder remedial measures.

It is naive to think that they would do anything like that in the context of this situation. I have some experience dealing with MBUSA legal headquarters in Richmond, and trust me, they have much greater things to worry about.

Jim B. · #**190** 04-11-2007, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Doe

It is naive to think that they would do anything like that in the context of this situation. I have some experience dealing with MBUSA legal headquarters in Richmond, and trust me, they have much greater things to worry about.

Really? Not saying I don't trust you, but what might some of those things be?

Also, I didn't say they WOULD do anything, but I said they (MBCA) CAN do something.

And whatever those legal HQ things might be, there is certainly also a financial and accounting arm of the MBUSA, that MUST be concerned with things that affect the bottom line financially with each dealer. This division's PRINCIPAL worry is the bottom line, and they WILL most assuredly be very concerned with things like this that could affect the bottom line.

An extremely poor attitude towards customers, of which this particular dealer appears very to be guilty of, (and well proven by egregious example) will result in lost sales, referrals, service work, and a lower bottom line for the company, not just the dealer.

I'm quite sure there must also be some kind of Dealer/public relations section of the company, (non revenue generating section of MBCA) and a proven situation like this would be like a five alarm fire
for them, even if it came as a gift wrapped invitation to justify their existence by giving them something to do

John Doe · #**191** 04-11-2007, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

Really? Not saying I don't trust you, but what might some of those things be?

I sued them on an airbag case a few years back. Turns out the general counsel for North America was the father of a fellow I went to undergrad with, so we switched some depositions tg Richmond so we could hang out.

I am not the cheerleader that a lot of you guys are for MB, but love the cars and intend on owning them for the forseeable future--but this thread is ridiculous. Someone calls up wanting coffee and donuts for a parking lot get together and the sales manager calls him a jerk. Big deal. The sales manager sounds like a jerk and shouldn't have done this, but he probably gets tired of tire kickers and people who will never in their lifetimes buy a new car (which is how Mb stays in business, btw) or get work done at a dealership BEFORE threatening to take his business elsewhere. Hollow extortion threats piss me off too.

I agree the guy was a jerk. I think it is silly that a bunch of adults are harrassing the dealership on the phone--let the owner know what happened and if the owner wants to fire him, so be it. This makes mercedesshop look worse than the dealership, in my opinion. As it has been said here before--the guy just doesn't speak for all of us.

The sales manager is a jerk, did I say that?

John Doe · #**192** 04-11-2007, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

An extremely poor attitude towards customers, of which this particular dealer appears very to be guilty of, (and well proven by egregious example)

Not proven well or otherwise--is the guy a customer? And I don't mean has he ever bought some valve stem caps at the parts counter, either.

DarkOneSK · #**193** 04-11-2007, 02:13 PM

Just got this in the mail.

Mr. -----,

Thank you for your recent correspondence to the Mercedes-Benz Customer
Assistance Center.

We regret your concern over the level of service provided by Millennium
Automotive Group and apologize for any inconvenience caused. However,
lacking direct involvement in the events described, it is impossible to
comment on this matter specifically.

As you may be aware, authorized Mercedes-Benz dealerships are independently
owned and operated businesses, whose management is solely responsible for
their daily business affairs. Nevertheless, candid and honest feedback
such as yours is important in our ongoing efforts to provide service which
meets or exceeds our customer’s expectations. As such, we have forwarded
your letter to the management team at Millennium Automotive Group for
whatever action they deem appropriate. In addition, your comments will be
utilized in our assessment of customer satisfaction at the dealer level.

The opportunity to correspond is appreciated.

James D.
Mercedes-Benz USA

John Doe · #**194** 04-11-2007, 02:17 PM

Talk about timing, eh Jim

Jim B. · #**195** 04-11-2007, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkOneSK

Just got this in the mail.

Mr. -----,

Thank you for your recent correspondence to the Mercedes-Benz Customer
Assistance Center.

We regret your concern over the level of service provided by Millennium
Automotive Group and apologize for any inconvenience caused. However,
lacking direct involvement in the events described, it is impossible to
comment on this matter specifically.

As you may be aware, authorized Mercedes-Benz dealerships are independently
owned and operated businesses, whose management is solely responsible for
their daily business affairs. Nevertheless, candid and honest feedback
such as yours is important in our ongoing efforts to provide service which
meets or exceeds our customer’s expectations. As such, we have forwarded
your letter to the management team at Millennium Automotive Group for
whatever action they deem appropriate. In addition, your comments will be
utilized in our assessment of customer satisfaction at the dealer level.

The opportunity to correspond is appreciated.

James D.
Mercedes-Benz USA

Well, DarkOne, what now? Looks like the OFFICIAL, canned MBUSA response is that you get blown off, and you won't be getting this dealer to sponsor the gtg. Kind of a lose/lose situation all around. Would have been a waste of tinme to request MBCA to ask the dealer to sponsor the gtg, they would have given you the same canned response.

But wait, right at the end he says........."your comments will be utilized in our assessment of customer satisfaction at the dealer level".....

Looks like Millenium isn't likely to be in the top ten on the MBUSA dealer hit parade. The dealer gets enough more rotten feedback like that, the owner of the dealerwill for sure be held to account.

Unless Mr. Lire goes on a permanent vacation from the dealer, you 'll never know whether any meaningful action was taken by MBUSA or the dealer.

But there could be a lot of subtext here. Who knows what discussions are going on privately between MBCA and the dealer over this.

But you did right, make no mistake. Imagine if you let this slide, it sends the message loud and clear that spouting that kind of language is perfectly acceptable.