written by on 14/09/2016
Referring only to experiences with Ridgeway Select. Overall, avoid this lot - the whole environment is smarmy with sales people only concerned with their %. Quite a pressured environment too - everything I thought had gone from the good car people. Poor knowledge of product (in case of my vehicle). Promises made are not kept - eg return calls to chase radio code. The warranty is not all your told it is from the warranty booklet either - looks like there's a bias to using Ridgeway for service/repairs - hope not to find out!! It was not a fantastic experience.
written by zj513 on 07/07/2016
Purchased a £23k vehicle from Ridgeway Select Southampton. Car had multiple issues, brakes were completely worn, and warning lights came on the very next day after purchase. Was informed "ALL" their used cars come with a 3 month warranty. Complete liars, they will not honour this, I never received any 3 month warranty. Rather then resolve the issues, Ridgeway will just simply ignore your emails. Once they have your money, THEY DO NOT CARE. Please be aware when buying from this group, ensure you bring in your own mechanic or the RAC to fully check the vehicle if you HAVE to buy from them. Personally I would avoid and use another dealership. Do not be fooled by their website and the lies they publish on it to fool customers into trusting them.
written by Aryank291 on 29/04/2016
I was offered a service plan for the first 3 services of my new Golf and told the car itself would remind me when one was due. What I was not told was the model had 18000 mile long service interval so only needed to be service every 18 month or so but the 3 services under the plan all had to be completed under 30000 miles. Totally inconsistent and has resulted in me paying for services I will never need. Made worse by the fact that they called me recently saying a service was theoretically due I said it was over 30000 miles they said it was OK as it was still under 3 years... duly went to the garage having taken time out of work only to site there for 1.5 hours before they said the service had been rejected due to mileage. The inclusive services were very poorly explained, inconsistent with the cars service plan and therefore miss-sold. Service management thereafter incompetent.
written by Helen234 on 08/04/2016
what a waste of time.... review... why bother
written by Xrobc on 21/03/2016
I recently purchased a nearly new 120d from Ridgeway BMW in Salisbury. While I am pleased with my new car I am more than a little disappointed with the standard of customer service that I have received. I made an enquiry for a pre registered 1 series last September. The quote included £95 for fuel and £55 for road tax. 12 months road tax on a 120d in only £30 (and free for the first year) and £95 for fuel is close to £2 per litre. Anyway, following a test drive I sucessfully asked for a figure of the screen price. I didn't realise after I paid my deposit that the salesman rounded the cost of change to the nearest £100 in their favour. During the test drive, when asked how I planned to fund the purchase, having indicated I wished to pay cash. Upon returning from the test drive I was presented with a finance illustration, including all those added extras like gap insurance. Sorry, but I wanted to buy a car and not a insurance package. Having agreed a deal I was asked when I would like to collect the car. I said that I would like to collect the same time next week. The reply to this was that they have a new car sales event on next weekend and this may not be possible. My opinion is that if I am spending a large amount of money on a car then I'll collect the car when I want and that an appointment would be kept open for me or at least I might be contacted mid week to discuss. Having had no reply to my Wednesday evening email, I contacted the salesman to confirm at collection time and I was a little bit annoyed to be told that the salesman had no appointments available. When I asked if someone else would be available the salesman found a slot for me! When I arrived to collect my car I was met by the salesman and did the necessary paperwork. Unfortunately when I went to pay by debit card I managed to get my pin wrong and lock my card (not helped by trying to rush because the salesman was sat right next to me when I entered my pin). The one good thing that they did was take me to a cash machine to unlock the card. Writing this just over a week after collecting my car I have received no follow up courtesy call to ask how I was getting on with the car. I don't really need a call but I am expecting a certain level of service, which I don't believe that I have received. It seems that once Ridgeway BMW have you money, they lose interest. I recall receiving a much better standard of service from Baron BMW of Farnborough when I purchased my previous car. Not sure that I can recommend them, my main reasons for buying from them because they had the car I wanted. Let's hope that another dealership has the car I want next time.
written by Rihanna418 on 15/07/2015
i bought a used evoque from Ridgeway Land Rover and part exchanged my BMW. I love it!! The sales team were fantastic and even delivered the car to my house. I had bought cars from this dealership previously when it was Hartwell and it felt like a completely different place. They even knew how i took my coffee from a previous visit.
written by SAMPFW on 22/06/2015
DONT DO IT, Worst experience I have ever had, Mercedes in Winchester mislead their Customers with false pricing on their cars, the 30 day exchange scheme is a joke, Work promised to be completed just wasn't done, they tried to get out of servicing my car before it was sold to me and one entire side of my 2012 car was re-sprayed 4 times because they tried to botch up a 8 inch scratch Following the test drive I was assured this scratch would be repaired, However when I came to collect the car the repair had been botched using what looked like a paint pen, The car was returned to the main dealer who had assured me the scratch was going to be repaired by a professional, my car was returned to me some 4 weeks later after 4 attempts at repairing the scratch and two and a half complete re-sprays. It appears trying to save a few quid comes before quality at Ridgeway Mercedes Running alongside this debacle is a catalogue of poor after sales service, dodgy sales practices and a string of broken promises 1. When I test drove the car I was told it was going to be cleaned, it was muddy and had a musty smell, when I collected the car it hadn’t been cleaned and I had to do it myself, I have subsequently rejected the car under the Mercedes 30 day returns policy but now the dealership are trying to rip me off. The car was supposed to be cleaned when it went back to be re-sprayed, I left chalk marks in the car and they were still there when the car was returned to me, 2 I had to chase the insurance certificate for the loan car on every occasion, and on one occasion I was actually driving it uninsured. The communication between the dealership and your customer has been awful and I have had to chase them on every occasion, this is unacceptable. 3 When I bought the car I was told it didn’t need a Service until July and that I would have to pay for it, when I collected the car it was actually within 90 days which means it should have been serviced before it was sold to a customer 4 The dealership is mis-leading its customers, selling a red Mercedes coupe that I had been following as a potential replacement car, The Red Coupe was previously being advertised at £17,295 down from £17,900, it’ was then advertised at £18,400 with the Ridgeway Mercedes claiming it was previously priced at £18,999 and not £17,295 down from £17,900, Apparently Mercedes approve of this practice.
written by SAMPFW on 22/06/2015
DONT DO IT, Worst experience I have ever had, Mercedes in Winchester mislead their Customers with false pricing on their cars, the 30 day exchange scheme is a joke, Work promised to be completed just wasn't done, they tried to get out of servicing my car before it was sold to me and one entire side of my 2012 car was re-sprayed 4 times because they tried to botch up a 8 inch scratch Following the test drive I was assured this scratch would be repaired, However when I came to collect the car the repair had been botched using what looked like a paint pen, The car was returned to the main dealer who had assured me the scratch was going to be repaired by a professional, my car was returned to me some 4 weeks later after 4 attempts at repairing the scratch and two and a half complete re-sprays. It appears trying to save a few quid comes before quality at Ridgeway Mercedes Running alongside this debacle is a catalogue of poor after sales service, dodgy sales practices and a string of broken promises 1. When I test drove the car I was told it was going to be cleaned, it was muddy and had a musty smell, when I collected the car it hadn’t been cleaned and I had to do it myself, I have subsequently rejected the car under the Mercedes 30 day returns policy but now the dealership are trying to rip me off. The car was supposed to be cleaned when it went back to be re-sprayed, I left chalk marks in the car and they were still there when the car was returned to me, 2 I had to chase the insurance certificate for the loan car on every occasion, and on one occasion I was actually driving it uninsured. The communication between the dealership and your customer has been awful and I have had to chase them on every occasion, this is unacceptable. 3 When I bought the car I was told it didn’t need a Service until July and that I would have to pay for it, when I collected the car it was actually within 90 days which means it should have been serviced before it was sold to a customer 4 The dealership is mis-leading its customers, selling a red Mercedes coupe that I had been following as a potential replacement car, The Red Coupe was previously being advertised at £17,295 down from £17,900, it’ was then advertised at £18,400 with the Ridgeway Mercedes claiming it was previously priced at £18,999 and not £17,295 down from £17,900, Apparently Mercedes approve of this practice.
written by Rizzarizoo on 30/04/2015
I was looking for a new CLS Shootingbrake and was put in contact with WH at Winchester Mercedes. He couldn't have been more patient or helpful - I has so many questions he looked a bit stunned by the end, but was still answering gamely! They worked really hard to get the deal and couldn't have been more professional or friendly. Highly recommended.
written by Eriks274 on 11/12/2014
Not impressed. I phoned around nationally to get the best price on an Octavia tour de France estate. Reading skoda (Ridgeway) were not the cheapest but were easy to get to and importantly confirmed that they physically had all the extras supplied with this model. 3 months after collecting the car I am still waiting for these extras as when I turned up to collect the car after a 2 hour journey I was told that in fact they didn't have them. I am really happy with the car but think Ridgeway skoda will say anything to secure a sale. Fortunately I will not be using them in the future and if down to me I wouldn't pay their sales staff in washers. I would like to quote sales staff names but unfortunately this site is a bit timid about doing so.
Written on: 22/12/2014
Morning. We are sorry to read about your recent experience at Ridgeway SKODA in Reading. Could you please send me your details to us so we can investigate and make contact. Thank you. Philip
Written on: 28/04/2016
Hope you resolved your issue with Ridgeway in Reading, we also received unbelievably poor customer service from this franchise and have an outstanding complaint with them. Currently with the Motorcodes Association that despite VW UK wanting them to resolve to our satisfaction, it was out of their hands as the franchise business refused to acknowledge any issues.
written by on 23/10/2014
Tried booking my MB in for replacement of broken rear-light at Ridgeway, Chichester. I explained that glass was broken following my bike falling against it. It was acknowledged that entire light unit requires replacing. Non the less Ridgeway still require one visit to inspect and make sure it is broken (earliest is 10-days time) and then unless they have part (which they could not confirm)will require another to fit new unit. I have to work for a living and this would require me taking two half days off work which is not acceptable. Aftersales bureaucracy is a nightmare and certainly not customer friendly - phone lines go into some call-centre in Southampton I think. I shall go to someone that can fix my car when it is convenient for me, not convenient to Ridgeway.
Written on: 27/10/2014
Thank you for your comments. We are sorry to read about your experience at Mercedes-Benz of Chichester and that it did not live up to your expectations.
I have copied your comments and sent them to the Service Manager at Mercedes-Benz of Chichester for investigate and review.
Can we call you to discuss? Please can you email your details to us.
Thank you.
Philip
Ridgeway
written by Caelu1952 on 23/07/2014
We have had 4 MBs in last 5 years (SL, ML and SLK) and I must say I found Ridgeway pretty good at the start (when in Sales Mode) but recent events have shaken my confidence in them and the MB brand. Servicing at £132/hour is not cheap but you console yourself with a free coffee, wifi and newspapers while you watch them fix your car. Trouble is when you get home and find issues, they promise to resolve or get back and nothing happens. Sadly MB UK were exactly the same when I complained - initial contact great - no follow-up or conclusion one month on.
written by Murphy402 on 28/05/2014
Customer service non existant! You purchase a car promised the world. Get the car home to find that everything said was misled. They offer you a product package at a so called special deal! Don't be fooled. When needing it it's not worth the paper it's written on. Except the gap insurance. Though you can buy this for half the price on the internet. Your pushed into this sold the earth, only reason I can think of is the sales people are promised bonus if they sell so many. Bad environment, terrible managers! They are cheats and liars! Do not buy from this group. Oh and even the staff tell you how bad a dealer group it is to work for.
written by Ozziemog52 on 01/03/2014
Phoned to confirm that they still had the car I wanted for sale and booked a test drive. Travelled over 20 miles to get there and on arrival they took someone else out in front of us who had just turned up. They should have some way of marking the cars so that when you get there for a booked test you get priority. As it was we decided that it needed new alloys, had high milage for year and lots of scratches on bodywork. However, this does not alter the fact that if an appointment is booked it should get priority and the other people should have been asked to wait see if we wanted it. Will not be going back!
written by AndrewHP on 22/02/2014
I would not buy a car from this dealer again, the preparation of the vehicles is poor despite the promise that it will be prepared by Mercedes mechanics to the same standard. They promise to include things in the price that need to be done, but when you collect, it is either done very cheaply or not done at all. When you question this, they say "sorry there was not enough money in the car to use better parts". Sorry but if you agree a price and a list of things to be done, then you can't complain afterwards, especially when the price is close to that of a franchised dealer.
written by on 20/08/2013
Paid a deposit on a vehicle I had only seen on the internet at ridgeway as was under the impression that if I did not decide to buy the car they would refund it. They refused to refund and say that is their policy. The salesmen won't tell you this when they want your deposit infact they will lead you to beleive the opposite. I WOULD NOT RECCOMEND GIVING ANY MONEY TO RIDGEWAY DEALERS AS A DEPOSIT EVEN IF THEY TELL YOU TOU CAN HAVE IT BACK!. When it comes to a refund you will have a fight on your hands!!!
written by on 11/08/2011
This company sold me a car advertised for £36000 thousand pounds with assurances it had been fully checked with their specialists, only to find on return home to find it has been in a serious front end crash, YOUR BETTER OFF BUYING YOUR CAR FROM A MAN OFF THE STREET - DO NOT BE FOOLED THINKING YOU HAVE COMFORT AND SECURITY BUYING YOUR CAR HERE !
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As rated by our community of reviewers
Ridgewaygroup's Response to SAMPFW's Review
Written on: 14/07/2015
Good afternoon. Thank you for your review - which we've just been made aware of. I would be most grateful if you could email me your details to us - where I will ensure that your feedback and comments are relayed to the Division's Brand Director. Thank you. Philip