I’ve had to remove names here to protect a marriage but the message is loud and clear.
Women are surely more fussier shoppers than many men when it comes to perceived fairness and customer service…
In this particular instance we received an email from a woman driver about a female friendly garage entry at the FOXY Choice website. She felt that this had been misleading and she clearly felt she hadn’t been treated with enough respect when she took her car in for some bodywork attention.
This is what she told us…
“Although xxx shows on your web site as carrying out bodywork repairs this is not correct. This type of repair is done by xxx a firm approved by Renault but not on your list. I think it wrong for xxx to list body repairs but not to carry out the work. Also I was not very impressed by their approach; I object to be kept waiting while staff have a chit chat.”
FOXY replied to say that we would pass on that feedback but that we’d appreciate her confirming the precise dealership location as we had more than one from the group in question listed on our network.
Time passed before we heard from her again. This time she said…
“Thanks for your email – I have been away. I have spoken to my husband who was sitting in my car and who was unaware that I had contacted you. He thinks I over-reacted and the delay in dealing with me was not long enough to warrant a formal complaint. On reflection I think he is right, but I was annoyed that although your/their web site said they carried out body repairs, in fact they do not. I still think they should make it clear that they use another company… Sorry to have caused so much trouble.”
Which caused us to reply thus…
“It is your decision as always but it was the bit about the staff ignoring you that we felt needed our attention. And what you said was how YOU felt at the time (and nothing to do with your husband really).
This is why FOXY exists; because women (like you) expect more from the motor industry than many men (like your husband) and we are prepared to complain when we don’t get it. Whereas he doesn’t want to make a fuss…
No big fuss either way and I wouldn’t call us a formal complaint anyway – we’re just here to help women (like you and I) get fairer treatment.”
We ended by suggesting she show her husband what the Telegraph said about us last week to explain what we’re all about…
We have yet to receive a reply…
We think she was right to tell us how she felt, he clearly thinks she shouldn’t have but what do you think?
FOXY Steph