Comments on: Relief and Determination http://inside.saab.com/relief-and-determination/ Lorum Ipsum tagline Tue, 27 Dec 2011 02:03:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Timothy Sinclair http://inside.saab.com/relief-and-determination/#comment-427 Timothy Sinclair Tue, 03 May 2011 08:50:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=466#comment-427 The uncertainty of the last few weeks has been compounded for me by the closing of the Leamington Spa, England SAAB franchise and the movement of all personnel to Coventry. This happened overnight just before Easter. The Leamington dealer had been operating on that site for nearly 40 years prior to the lease ending. As it happened, I needed some rather major work done on my Classic 900 as this was happening (replacement of the steering wheel assembly). Amazingly, this was done on the Wednesday following Easter at the new location with total dedication and competence by Ben Lane and his team. It is this sort of approach in very trying circumstances that make me a loyal customer and make me feel great about sticking with SAAB (and the dealer, Concept SAAB) through thick and thin. The uncertainty of the last few weeks has been compounded for me by the closing of the Leamington Spa, England SAAB franchise and the movement of all personnel to Coventry. This happened overnight just before Easter. The Leamington dealer had been operating on that site for nearly 40 years prior to the lease ending.

As it happened, I needed some rather major work done on my Classic 900 as this was happening (replacement of the steering wheel assembly). Amazingly, this was done on the Wednesday following Easter at the new location with total dedication and competence by Ben Lane and his team. It is this sort of approach in very trying circumstances that make me a loyal customer and make me feel great about sticking with SAAB (and the dealer, Concept SAAB) through thick and thin.

]]> By: Anonymous http://inside.saab.com/relief-and-determination/#comment-421 Anonymous Mon, 02 May 2011 22:45:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=466#comment-421 Swade great news. I am in the north east US, as you know he US is Saab's biggest market and the northeast is the prime area for Saab sales. Saab desperately need to get financing fixed up, previously with Saab Financial customers were treated exceptionally well, then GMAC (GM's finance unit) customers were treated just as well, which is now Ally (and GM have sold nearly all their equity) and let me tell you Ally is terrible, and given leasing is such a large component of the US business it is critical they get it right. This really needs to be acted on or Saab USA will suffer with Ally, they will lose customers. I personally have just gone through a horror story with Ally, they accepted four payments for four one month extensions on a TX, then claimed notwithstanding that they accepted and banked the money that they didn't extend for two of the months and attempted to collect on a daily rate of $65 for those two months. It's very straight forward from a legal perspective when they accepted the payments and is very extensively documented and I have no concern legally. I have never been charged a cent for excessive wear ever over five leases, and they through a few grand into that too. I got a bill for circa 6K. The dealer, the largest in the north east told me they had a lot of very negative feedback about Ally, charging ridiculous amounts for excessive wear etc. I really hope for the company's sake, customer loyalty and retention that they replace Ally and do it as soon as possible. I've driven Saabs for twenty five years, and I am not currently, and will not until they fix leasing up and hopefully replace Ally. Swade

great news. I am in the north east US, as you know he US is Saab’s biggest market and the northeast is the prime area for Saab sales.

Saab desperately need to get financing fixed up, previously with Saab Financial customers were treated exceptionally well, then GMAC (GM’s finance unit) customers were treated just as well, which is now Ally (and GM have sold nearly all their equity) and let me tell you Ally is terrible, and given leasing is such a large component of the US business it is critical they get it right. This really needs to be acted on or Saab USA will suffer with Ally, they will lose customers.

I personally have just gone through a horror story with Ally, they accepted four payments for four one month extensions on a TX, then claimed notwithstanding that they accepted and banked the money that they didn’t extend for two of the months and attempted to collect on a daily rate of $65 for those two months. It’s very straight forward from a legal perspective when they accepted the payments and is very extensively documented and I have no concern legally. I have never been charged a cent for excessive wear ever over five leases, and they through a few grand into that too. I got a bill for circa 6K. The dealer, the largest in the north east told me they had a lot of very negative feedback about Ally, charging ridiculous amounts for excessive wear etc.

I really hope for the company’s sake, customer loyalty and retention that they replace Ally and do it as soon as possible. I’ve driven Saabs for twenty five years, and I am not currently, and will not until they fix leasing up and hopefully replace Ally.

]]> By: Asher Schlusselberg http://inside.saab.com/relief-and-determination/#comment-420 Asher Schlusselberg Mon, 02 May 2011 22:13:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=466#comment-420 Good Luck SAAB! I spent the day yesterday in my Mom's new 9-5 Aero, and it is truly a fantastic automobile. Thank you Trollhattan, we are rooting for you! Asher Good Luck SAAB!

I spent the day yesterday in my Mom’s new 9-5 Aero, and it is truly a fantastic automobile. Thank you Trollhattan, we are rooting for you!

Asher

]]> By: James McGuire http://inside.saab.com/relief-and-determination/#comment-419 James McGuire Mon, 02 May 2011 22:00:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=466#comment-419 I'm trying to do my little part, just spent $600 at the dealership for new brakes along with some cleaners and accessories for our Combi. I’m trying to do my little part, just spent $600 at the dealership for new brakes along with some cleaners and accessories for our Combi.

]]> By: Anonymous http://inside.saab.com/relief-and-determination/#comment-418 Anonymous Mon, 02 May 2011 21:08:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=466#comment-418 Don't forget to promote in smaller markets to. SAAB needs all customers it can get. Don’t forget to promote in smaller markets to. SAAB needs all customers it can get.

]]> By: Andreas Perchinig http://inside.saab.com/relief-and-determination/#comment-417 Andreas Perchinig Mon, 02 May 2011 21:00:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=466#comment-417 Well written Swade thumbs up for our trolls Well written Swade thumbs up for our trolls

]]> By: Anonymous http://inside.saab.com/relief-and-determination/#comment-415 Anonymous Mon, 02 May 2011 20:57:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=466#comment-415 I'm so happy rigth now! Saab on its feet again and I feel I have done my share by ordering a new 95SC Vector TTiD. Can't wait to hear what the pressconference brings tomorrow. Swade, I really hope you enjoy Sweden and that everybody has made you feel welcome. I’m so happy rigth now! Saab on its feet again and I feel I have done my share by ordering a new 95SC Vector TTiD.
Can’t wait to hear what the pressconference brings tomorrow.

Swade, I really hope you enjoy Sweden and that everybody has made you feel welcome.

]]> By: Just Saab http://inside.saab.com/relief-and-determination/#comment-416 Just Saab Mon, 02 May 2011 20:57:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=466#comment-416 Hi Steven, It's good getting your perspective from inside the Saab walls. Any chance of you coming to the North America Dealer Meeting (tentatively in June)? Hope all is well, AJ Hi Steven,
It’s good getting your perspective from inside the Saab walls.
Any chance of you coming to the North America Dealer Meeting (tentatively in June)?
Hope all is well,
AJ

]]> By: Alexander L J Mogren http://inside.saab.com/relief-and-determination/#comment-414 Alexander L J Mogren Mon, 02 May 2011 20:14:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=466#comment-414 FINALLY!! FINALLY!!

]]> By: Arild http://inside.saab.com/relief-and-determination/#comment-413 Arild Mon, 02 May 2011 19:56:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=466#comment-413 Now I am very happy. This means that I can replace my Saab 9-5 with a Saab 9-3 1.6t eXWD! Now I am very happy. This means that I can replace my Saab 9-5 with a Saab 9-3 1.6t eXWD!

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