Yet another Suzuki car owner has written to warn others after experiencing problems with Suzuki's service.
South Australian motorist Barry Illert wrote to me with HIS story!
Here's Barry's e-mail...
I WONDER HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BOUGHT A NEW SUZUKI CAR
AND ARE NOW SUFFERING FROM A LACK OF AFTER SALES SERVICE?
I have had Suzukis since the mid 70s when they were on Anzac highway in Adelaide as Suzuki Cornell. I have had my vehicles serviced by the same people who worked there in the 70s through the 80s and 90s ,although they moved their workshop to different addresses. The service was impeccable and economical thanks to Mark Fenwick and his skilled team.
All this changed a few years ago when some new dude from New Spot Motors bought into Suzuki in the city. I always left one of my suzukis in there and it was serviced and ready to go and I used to drop off the one I was using when it needed work and just pick up the other.
The new dude bulldozed the workshop walls and had his people tell me to get my van out as there was little room for vehicles to be serviced anymore. All he was interested in was Sales.
Although some staff were on the bonus system, he saw fit to tell the staff that he needed more money and that it was 250 dollars to just lift the bonnet. He also abolished the bonus system.
One person nearly died from stress and was advised by his doctor to leave or die. Most of the good mechanics soon left, and I sampled this new variety of service once. My vehicle came out running worse than ever. I took it to New spot for another go, and they failed completely.
I had the vehicle checked by the RAA and all the work done was faulty in the extreme. Since that time I have not been able to find any Suzuki Service in Adelaide and my vehicles are run into the ground and barely functional.
What a shame because the vehicles were very well made, and now the reputation is in shreds due to New Age Marketing and lack of ethical business practice.
This is a great forum and if enough people write in it will no doubt have an effect on Suzuki Sales. You would have to be crazy to consider buying one in todays Service Market. For those who have I recommend RAA reports on work done and contacting Consumer Affairs re Harsh and unconscionable conduct and deceptive and misleading conduct.
Frequent airing of complaints and following up vigorously is the way to deal with the Wild West mentality of Suzuki in the twenty first century. Also blasting through to their bosses in Japan and letting them know how we feel about the poor representation given to their products in Australia is a must.
Personally I intend to put a sign on my vehicle complaining about service and urging people not to buy Suzuki.
And all that from a Suzuki enthusiast.
Barry Illert
If anyone else has a story to share please e-mail me at the address below and I'll gladly add it to this site. If we get enough maybe SOMEONE in the Suzuki Motor Company might take notice and improve their appalling customer service procedures.
Michael @ mysuzukicar dot com