Off The Hoox

Why does getting anything done properly have to be so difficult?

All I want is a car with a bit of a sound system delivered as planned. Difficult? Absolutely!

Firstly after loads of running around and looking from place to place I finally decided on the vehicle I wanted to purchase. On Saturday I agreed and paid the deposit and walked away with promises of it being ready in 3 days.

I then drove to HiFi Corporation to look for a semi decent car sound system for a limited budget. I chose what I wanted and told the guy to put it all to one side and that I would be back on Tuesday to pick it all up and pay for it since I had nowhere to put it right there and then. He agreed and I walked away with confidence.

All going too well? Yes!

I called the dealer on Monday to find out what’s happening only to be told that the car that I had seen at the dealership was the wrong car and a younger model therefore going to be more expensive. They took it upon themselves to change it for another 2006 model and get it fixed up as promised just like the other one. I was ok with that as long as it was still in great shape.

Yesterday was the agreed pickup day. I called then in the morning and they said all is good to go for the afternoon. They just had a few things to complete. I was happy with that as I had heaps of other things to get sorted too. I went to HiFi Corporation and they had sold half the stuff I asked them to put aside. The only reasoning I got when I asked why he sold it after he agreed that Tuesday was ok was, “I didn’t know it would sell that fast”. I hit the roof and told them to go to hell when a barrage of new promises were made.

To add salt to the wound we found out how South African banks screw you as the consumer. No matter what was said and done (I cant go into details), First National Bank refused to release the money to the dealership before 7 working days! This could have been a showstopper but the sales guys kindly agreed to take the chance and let me have the car before clearance.

After a really nice catchup lunch with an old friend, I went to the dealership to have a final look at what I was getting. What I saw was NOT what I was expecting. They had installed some cheap shit crap looking electric window buttons and apart from more scuff marks and scratches, the car was overpowered with a pungent smell of air-freshener trying to mask old smoke smells. I was pissed to say the least. While waiting for some other things I found another car in the lot that was in perfect nik and exactly what I wanted. They agreed to let me have that one but I had to wait a few more days for the extras to be sorted out. Just as well I wasn’t leaving Johannesburg anytime soon. I was also recommended that I go and see Craighall Car Radio (which just by the way is nowhere near Craighall anymore) to speak to them about a reliable sound system. I’m very glad I did. They shook their heads when I said I had quotes from HiFi Corp and then matched and bettered all HiFi Corp prices and will do the installation themselves! They are professionals and I would highly recommend them!

I am in a much better mood now and hopefully by Friday afternoon everything will be done. I hope. It’s been a hectic to say the least.

Now I wait. Again.