Craig Smith in response to Be Aware and dont get mugged

It's a disgrace and unfortunately he will get away with it, the only way is to advise and prevent people from buying from him. Had to sell mine at a list of over £2k within 4 months as I had radio issues, wiring harness problems and mega smoke belching out he back so thought I would take the hit and learn from it

Steve Walsh from SW Automotive in response to Be Aware and dont get mugged

I think it is very sad that the same person keeps writing different reviews. I can take criticism. You make your review. I respond, and people make up their own minds. If they see me at fault, I would welcome the feedback. However I feel the reason the same people need to carry on doing more and more reviews is only because their previous comments are a lot of rubbish. If any potential customer has any doubts after reading any review. Please pick up the phone. Within 5 minutes you will see how silly these people are. Regards. Steve Walsh, Owner/Director.

Thomas foster in response to Be Aware and dont get mugged

Hi there I was just wondering if you would be willing to give me some help as I to have experienced what you have with this particular dealer and looking for any information and help in bringing a successful suit against this dealership..after months of issues my breaks failed with my kids in the car and after being taught how to suck eggs by the owner on how to use window wipers etc my confidence in this dealership and the mot garage they use is in question so have raised a claim with local agencies and contacted the papers also,so would be great ful, if you could help,even with a little statement or allow me to use your review as proof that he has done this before

Steve Walsh from SW Automotive in response to Utterly disgusted

Hi, I am Steve Walsh, the owner of SW Automotive. This review makes me wonder why I do what I do. Every review you read will tell you I sell cars like no other. I go above and beyond to get someone in one of my cars and my after sales service is cons to none! This gentleman called up about a 13 year old X5. Yes 13 years old. I told him how I work. I show you all the cars as they came in. I do not tart up junk, so you can see how the previous owner kept the car. Then we go around it together and any faults we find, mechanical or bodywork, I will fix. Within reason of course. A 13 year old X5 with 100,000 miles is going to have age related wear and tear, stone chips etc. But all of my cars are made 99% perfect. I told him because of this, my prices are set. As I have a limited margin with the amount I spend making the car to exactly how you want it. This customer haggled and haggled and haggled until we parted ways and I said i would rather not sell him the car. He called back again and made another offer, knowing my cars were set pricing. Because he was so keen I accepted the offer. I told him to come and view the car and see what he thought. He was desperate to take the car the same day. I was not keen. I like to take my time. Go over the car with the customer. Make sure all is good and the car is right. He pushed and pushed to get the car same day. The car was actually sold A few weeks previous so had been mot'd, serviced and inspected. With all advisories repaired including 4 brand new tyres. Because of this I agreed if he liked it, he could take it that day. I will admit fault in the fact I should not have let him do this. I never do, but someone so pushy just phased my judgement. He came over and was delighted with the car. It started and drove great. Even though I told him again I did not like working this way, he insisted it was all good. He saw the car, checked the car, started the car. I even pointed out any age related marks, and he was happy with that. 20 minutes later, on my way home, I had a missed call from him. It was around 8pm and I had stayed back 3 hours to meet him. I text saying I was driving with no hands free and would call him back asap. I called him back 5 mins later and he told me there was a message on the screen saying "self levelling suspension inactive". I told him not to worry. It's a very common fault and an easy fix, it's a little broken sensor under the car. It does not effect anything unless you are loading 1 tonne in the boot. I said I would have it repaired at no cost to him at his leisure. This was not good enough. The next morning, and again this is partially my fault, the car battery was dead. We charged it and our tester said it was all good before he collected, but clearly it wasn't. Again, I should have never let it go. However it's not what problems arose with a car, it's how you deal with the problems. Within 1 hour of him calling me, I had a recovery truck at his house 40 miles away and collected the car for a new battery and the sensor repaired. Once again, no cost to him. He then clearly thought I was a pushover and complained that the wheels had corrosion on them. It is a 13 year old X5 with 100,000 miles on the clock and 1 tenth of the price of a new one. But rather than saying that, I said I would check. Please bear in mind this gentleman haggled and haggled when I told him my prices were set so I had the margin to do things like this. As a goodwill gesture, I asked him what Color he would like his wheels, and had them professionally refurbished to brand new in the Color of his choice at a cost of £400! At no cost to him. This was also not good enough. We thought the stereo needed the code as it was working when we had it, however the battery had died and now it wasn't working. I called bmw and they were looking into it. As the customer urgently needed the car back. After telling me it was a third car. I gave him it back and told him I would send him the code as soon as it came in. This was also not good enough. It turned out the code was it the issue but the faulty battery had fried the amplifier. Once again, no cost or time spared. I told him I would get it sorted at his leisure. He waited 6 weeks to bring it back! Not us. Him. So time was not our fault. He dropped it off and it was repaired fully and returned to him within his strict timescales. Oh and I also dropped the car back of to his home pulling staff out etc as he refused to collect it! However this customer is still not happy. It looks like I cannot win. Jump through hoops, throw in £400 goodwill gestures. Bend over backwards. And still receive a bad review. I give up. I will continue to work how I work and will not be phased by this ridiculous review. No1 can touch my customer service. However over 2000 happy customers that wouldn't buy a car off anyone else bar me. Against a couple of nightmare customers. I can live with that. Lesson learned. Never sell to a serial haggler, and stick to my guns with not allowing the car to leave until I am happy with it. I will continue to jump through hoops for people and do all I can as goodwill to make people happy again. As I'm praised so much for it. I hope other car dealers read this review and avoid selling a car to this gentleman. He will cause serial baldness and lack of sleep. Please be a realist and don't expect a 13 year old car with 100,000 miles on it to be like new and run forever with no hiccups. Hiccups happen. It's how someone puts them right that counts. If I am wrong with my view on this situation I would appreciate the feedback. However im sure 99% will see the truth. Take care. Steve Walsh. Owner/Director.

Craig Smith in response to Utterly disgusted

Haha absolutely brilliant reply... I haggled and haggled that's funny I spoke to you once and then text once to say sorry that's my budget and you replied ok lets do it... ( I still have the texts ). It took me 6 weeks to get the car up, more lies at first you wanted me to take it to skids in falkirk who could not fit it in for 2 weeks, then to fife autocentre which George was on holiday and was another 2 weeks and also it was not fried it was dampness in the boot. I will leave it at that!

Craig Smith in response to Utterly disgusted

Hi I just spoke to you on the phone regarding X5. I could go to £6750 if it's of interest to you if not I wish you all the best. Craig That's the only text I sent with a offer, god I seem like a real pushy pushy haggler. And this is my demanding text to pick the car up the same day: I'm happy to go with it and collect today? Can you send me bank details and I will get the good lady to send the money across. I could screen shot every text as they have been all saved and with regards to sellers staying away from me that's a belter.. I've probably purchased 30 + cars in my life and never had problems like this from any garage I've used before.

Steve Walsh from SW Automotive in response to Utterly disgusted

I will not get in an argument back and forward. You have put your opinion. I respect that. I have put my opinion. I am 100% sure any potential customer will read this and see I did all I could and more to fix any issues you had. And more. Above and beyond. When you eventually buy a car from a used car dealer and have issues, you will see the difference. As they will not go to the levels I did for you. You seem to have been lucky so far that you have purchased so many used cars and not had any issues. As I'm sure you would have a much higher opinion of the way I work if you had. As I tell everyone. With used cars. Especially 13 year old bmw's. You will get issues. No1 can predict what, and when. But it's how you deal with the issue. Not the issue itself. I wish you all the luck in the future and hope you don't have the same dealings with another used car. I don't think it will go as well as it did with me. Regards, Steve.

Craig Smith in response to Utterly disgusted

Car back only two weeks after getting the amplifier system or whatever was wrong with it fixed and the sound is now going up and down itself. Text Steve to get it looked at again under warranty but he's refusing to do it due to leaving a bad review.. says it all and the car purchase has been a disaster. Don't buy from here folks as you may get stung.

Steve Walsh from SW Automotive in response to Utterly disgusted

As my first reply stated, I bent over backwards for this customer. Fixed every niggle he had, collected and dropped the car off asap. Even professionally refurbished his wheels at the cost of £400 as a good will gesture. He very tactically waited until all this was done, collected his car that was perfect. Then put this ridiculous review, slandering me and my service. He then texts to say about the stereo. And will I help. I told him that the stereo is not covered under warranty. I would have paid for this out of my own pocket in any other circumstance. However after this, why would I help? Used car warranties cover only major problems. I cover everything out my own pocket as goodwill to customers that work with me. Not against me. This disgusting and slandering review is completely unjustified and I will not pay out my own pocket to help someone who is trying to damage my good name.

Craig Smith in response to Utterly disgusted

So the car comes with the stereo system not working, takes 6 weeks to look at, another week off the road and when it's returned it's still not working properly.. And I'm the one being a awkward customer lol. The wheels were not done out of goodwill they were done because they were a mess and not in the condition described.