Was browsing the internet and then came across this very interesting site: http://www.notgoodenough.org
Here is one on our beloved cars.
So if you are not being looked after, after spending $40k+ for a car...you know where to go )
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Car Whinges Hit the Web
By Gavin McGrath
Herald Sun
1 August 2003
UNHAPPY car owners are whining on the web. They are whingeing about some of the biggest brands in Australia, including Holden, Ford, Subaru and BMW.
NotGoodEnough.org was set up 18 months ago as a forum for people to complain about consumer issues.
Since then, car companies have become a favourite target and compare unfavourably with mobile phone companies and even banks, according to website founder Fiona Stewart.
"They are among the most-complained-about categories," she says. "What we're finding is they're not always particularly keen to talk to unhappy customers.
"Car company gripes are complex because often they're design faults, so they don't want to go into much detail about it, obviously."
Most complaints are about poor service and warranty issues, and not necessarily about faults in specific cars, according to Stewart. Holden tops the list of most-griped-about car companies, followed by Ford and Toyota.
Stewart admits this is possibly because of the popularity of these brands. "In some ways, no news is bad news," she says. "The fact that people talk about these cars shows they're interested in them.
"With Holdens, it's probably about market share and that Holden owners are passionate about their cars, and that can work both ways.
"Holden haven't contacted us about our website, although Ford engaged with us a few times. I suppose Ford hasn't had the luxury of not listening to its customers." Holden spokesman Jason Laird denies the company is complacent.
"We take issues of customer service very seriously. It's the cornerstone of our business," he says. "Obviously one concerned customer is too many, but by the same token, we sold more cars last year than any Australian carmaker in history. There has to be some perspective.
"We have a dedicated customer assistance centre and we are firmly of the view a customer's concern is best resolved by the retailer (dealer), not through an anonymous website." Subaru was the fourth-most-complained-about brand on the list, with the WRX being the main offender. But Stewart says some of the complainants have got themselves into trouble.
"A lot of young men come on after they've modified their cars and are now arguing with Subaru about whether the modification has damaged the engine." Nevertheless, Subaru spokesman David Rowley was disappointed that the company was named on the NotGoodEnough.org list.
"Our handbook quite clearly states non-factory modifications have the potential to void the warranty. "To the best of our knowledge there have been only two complaints about us.
"One we responded to through the website but on the second they told us we had to pay a fee to respond and they chose not to provide us with the complainant's details. I'll take it (the website) seriously if we don't have to pay for comment."
Here is one on our beloved cars.
So if you are not being looked after, after spending $40k+ for a car...you know where to go )
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Car Whinges Hit the Web
By Gavin McGrath
Herald Sun
1 August 2003
UNHAPPY car owners are whining on the web. They are whingeing about some of the biggest brands in Australia, including Holden, Ford, Subaru and BMW.
NotGoodEnough.org was set up 18 months ago as a forum for people to complain about consumer issues.
Since then, car companies have become a favourite target and compare unfavourably with mobile phone companies and even banks, according to website founder Fiona Stewart.
"They are among the most-complained-about categories," she says. "What we're finding is they're not always particularly keen to talk to unhappy customers.
"Car company gripes are complex because often they're design faults, so they don't want to go into much detail about it, obviously."
Most complaints are about poor service and warranty issues, and not necessarily about faults in specific cars, according to Stewart. Holden tops the list of most-griped-about car companies, followed by Ford and Toyota.
Stewart admits this is possibly because of the popularity of these brands. "In some ways, no news is bad news," she says. "The fact that people talk about these cars shows they're interested in them.
"With Holdens, it's probably about market share and that Holden owners are passionate about their cars, and that can work both ways.
"Holden haven't contacted us about our website, although Ford engaged with us a few times. I suppose Ford hasn't had the luxury of not listening to its customers." Holden spokesman Jason Laird denies the company is complacent.
"We take issues of customer service very seriously. It's the cornerstone of our business," he says. "Obviously one concerned customer is too many, but by the same token, we sold more cars last year than any Australian carmaker in history. There has to be some perspective.
"We have a dedicated customer assistance centre and we are firmly of the view a customer's concern is best resolved by the retailer (dealer), not through an anonymous website." Subaru was the fourth-most-complained-about brand on the list, with the WRX being the main offender. But Stewart says some of the complainants have got themselves into trouble.
"A lot of young men come on after they've modified their cars and are now arguing with Subaru about whether the modification has damaged the engine." Nevertheless, Subaru spokesman David Rowley was disappointed that the company was named on the NotGoodEnough.org list.
"Our handbook quite clearly states non-factory modifications have the potential to void the warranty. "To the best of our knowledge there have been only two complaints about us.
"One we responded to through the website but on the second they told us we had to pay a fee to respond and they chose not to provide us with the complainant's details. I'll take it (the website) seriously if we don't have to pay for comment."