| Re: What is your experience with AckoDrive for buying new cars?
Hi All, this will be my first post on TBHP. Happy to be part of Peteolheads!
I was on a hunt to buy my first car in 2nd week of Dec-23. Though have a swift dzire, my brother drives it mostly in my native. This would be a first of my own. I have been informed by a friend about ackodrive while discussing about how dealerships try to profit on the insurance front. So I thought checking it out. As soon as I requested for a quote, got a call from them. Sales team expained most of details and obviously tried to get me complete the booking immediately. However I haven't zero'ed on my car by then. So kept them on hold. Eventually, i decided to go with Nexon. The benefits were about 27k in insurance and 10k worth additional discount for year end sale for a Nexon Creative AMT compared to dealership. Accessories, AMC, and extended warannties were not part of ackodrive quote. Sales manager at Tata looked at me as if i asked for a kidney when i brought up discount and said she won't match their price and asked go with website itselfif i wanted to in a deafeated tone. Then I paid the booking amount on Ackodrive.
Acko sales team didn't the names of dealership they have tie up with and said they won't be able tell me such info before I pay booking amount. After the payment, I did specifically mentioned the dealership nearby. They did send it up to them but never confirmed
When I approached Tata Key Motors, kanakapura road branch, they acknowledged and said it would still take 3 to 4 weeks to deliver while Acko assured me 1 week max. Unfortunately on the same day, I had to travel outstation on medical emergency for 2 weeks. This new situation ate away a big chunk of savings. So, I have to hold off car purchase for a while.
I called up Ackodrive and asked to cancel my booking. They asked me to send an email which I did. The communication seem to be very relaxed from that point. The customer care number we are provided is mainly sales. They say cancelations and refunds are done some other team. Thi particular team can't be reached, but they will call us if requested. Those calls weren't coming quickly as well. After 2 days, they called to confirm a 3rd time before starting to process the refund. It's been more than a week now, I am still waiting for it.
Overall, i would say it's not completely a bad experience. They are mostly okay. A lot of push for the booking with repeated calls and tedious process of refunds are to be expected. Whenever I need to talk, I messaged them on ackodrive whatsapp and they called me back in an hour or so. Since my purchase didn't get through, I am not sure how dealership would've behaved with it, though I was willing to risk it. | 
24th March 2021, 13:49
(1)
Thanks
