Sprint - Comments from Mr Oxley
Discussion
I have to say I found Oxleys letter to be hugely patronising.
He tells us that by protesting we're missing the point. And that owners and enthusiasts "need to demonstarate their passion for TVR by buying and supporting the new models".
I think Mr Oxley has missed the point. On a day when yet another TVR dealer goes to the wall because they cannot get product to sell because of decisions made by the TVR management he is telling us to support the brand?
In the last few months we have been told that; TVR is staying at Bristol Ave, TVR is moving to purpose built new premises in Blackpool, TVR is moving to temporary premises, TVR are laying off workers, TVR are taking workers back on, TVR are moving abroad, TVR are having a 90 day consultation period over redundancies, TVR are ignoring the consultation and laying off the workers.... Now it seems existing models are possibly to be sold to a 3rd party.
The single reason that TVR sales have dropped so alarmingly (apart from the fact that if you stop production you cant sell cars) is that the consumer has no confidence in a management that is so muddled in its thinking and clearly lacks the ability to adopt a coherent strategy and communicate it successfully to the market place.
I have purchased two new TVRs in the past 3 years and have been a vocal (sometimes overly so) supporter of TVR. The shambles of the past year mean that I will never buy another one while the company is under the present management as I have no confidence in them whatsoever.
He tells us that by protesting we're missing the point. And that owners and enthusiasts "need to demonstarate their passion for TVR by buying and supporting the new models".
I think Mr Oxley has missed the point. On a day when yet another TVR dealer goes to the wall because they cannot get product to sell because of decisions made by the TVR management he is telling us to support the brand?
In the last few months we have been told that; TVR is staying at Bristol Ave, TVR is moving to purpose built new premises in Blackpool, TVR is moving to temporary premises, TVR are laying off workers, TVR are taking workers back on, TVR are moving abroad, TVR are having a 90 day consultation period over redundancies, TVR are ignoring the consultation and laying off the workers.... Now it seems existing models are possibly to be sold to a 3rd party.
The single reason that TVR sales have dropped so alarmingly (apart from the fact that if you stop production you cant sell cars) is that the consumer has no confidence in a management that is so muddled in its thinking and clearly lacks the ability to adopt a coherent strategy and communicate it successfully to the market place.
I have purchased two new TVRs in the past 3 years and have been a vocal (sometimes overly so) supporter of TVR. The shambles of the past year mean that I will never buy another one while the company is under the present management as I have no confidence in them whatsoever.
KirstM said:
So this article is to demonstrate to us mere mortals that the management knows what it is doing and its our fault the company is all messed up!
Oh I get it now
Oh I get it now
Edited by KirstM on Friday 8th December 15:05
Does seem a little off-key.
For example, I already own a TVR, I do not need another one. However, there are at least 2,000 car owners residing between myself and the next nearest TVR owner. It would make more business sense to sell cars to those people. Repeat business is good bread and butter but it's new clients that drive you forward.
Take a Sag, beet a couple of 911s in some races and then tell the world about it while dropping such horrificly tacky terms such as Orgasmic Living. When that appeared I think most of us realised something had gone badly wrong.
passengers - should I sell the family laguna 
and get a Cerbera instead? 
Quote." We spent along time searching for a way to modernise production,increase sales and to retain the skills of our staff in Blackpool.Unfortunately we could find no way to achieve all those aims ".End of quote. As I see it you can not modernise production of a hand built car thats what it is hand built, in other words no robots or machines employed.However you can increase sales by building a 30k entry model[remember money does not grow on trees]TVR needs to sell large numbers,customers could upgrade their entry model if they wished too.Three car model range whatever.[dont try to produce a new model every year,get some stability, yes]in retaining staff skills the dead wood has to be trimmed out management/workforce alike.Thats what I think anyway for what its worth.
hbeck said:
unrepentant said:
good stuff
The most patronising Oxley comment "The protests also miss the point that the [current models] are only to be assembled abroad."
1. That's not what was written in the announcement in October (to which the protest was a response)...
2. ...so, no, the protests didn't miss the point.
Well i am in the a market for a new car have been since June. TVR is still on my list however i can't wait forever for TVR management to sort out what they are doing. There is no way I would buy a new TVR (even if I could find one) until the company makes its direction very clear. Out sourcing to europe without being able to tell it's customers where and when as well as the moving not moving is all becoming a joke.
I will give it until Jan and if they still can't show some clear direction they will have lost another customer.
I will give it until Jan and if they still can't show some clear direction they will have lost another customer.
mattybrown said:
Well i am in the a market for a new car have been since June. TVR is still on my list however i can't wait forever for TVR management to sort out what they are doing. There is no way I would buy a new TVR (even if I could find one) until the company makes its direction very clear. Out sourcing to europe without being able to tell it's customers where and when as well as the moving not moving is all becoming a joke.
I will give it until Jan and if they still can't show some clear direction they will have lost another customer.
There are a few new cars around the dealers at the moment, all at good prices. Now is the time to buy new. Spares are no real problem.I will give it until Jan and if they still can't show some clear direction they will have lost another customer.
Derek Smith said:
mattybrown said:
Well i am in the a market for a new car have been since June. TVR is still on my list however i can't wait forever for TVR management to sort out what they are doing. There is no way I would buy a new TVR (even if I could find one) until the company makes its direction very clear. Out sourcing to europe without being able to tell it's customers where and when as well as the moving not moving is all becoming a joke.
I will give it until Jan and if they still can't show some clear direction they will have lost another customer.
There are a few new cars around the dealers at the moment, all at good prices. Now is the time to buy new. Spares are no real problem.I will give it until Jan and if they still can't show some clear direction they will have lost another customer.
Spares do not worry me but what happens if they can't honour warranties any longer? Also if the dealer goes bust?
TVR Power have taken over the warranty so I see no problems there with an up and coming business but I take the point about dealers going bust. I have recommended the TVR Centre and fairly recently, seeing them as one of the stalwarts. I have heard nothing but good reports of them. However, my understanding is that they are still honouring warranty claims and doing the work themselves. 'Nothing has changed for customers' has been quoted to me. I have also been told that Gatwick took great pains to ensure that none of their customers have been left high and dry but are supported elsewhere.
Dealers closing is a fact of life that we have to cope with at the moment. Gatwick and the Centre, not to mention Silverstone, were enthusiasts for the marque and will be missed. When your realise how much the owners and managers have invested in their businesses, and I'm not only talking money here, you have to feel sorry for them.
Things look very positive for the Centre to go on but not as a dealer as such.
One of the joys of owning a TVR is the dealers. There are so many who put service first. It's such a shame to be losing them.
Dealers closing is a fact of life that we have to cope with at the moment. Gatwick and the Centre, not to mention Silverstone, were enthusiasts for the marque and will be missed. When your realise how much the owners and managers have invested in their businesses, and I'm not only talking money here, you have to feel sorry for them.
Things look very positive for the Centre to go on but not as a dealer as such.
One of the joys of owning a TVR is the dealers. There are so many who put service first. It's such a shame to be losing them.
The trouble with the TVR warranty is that it's not underwritten by an insurance company....I asked repeatedly when I bought my car...only to get blank looks from Natasha (in Sales) ...hence if TVR go to the wall ...so does the warranty. I was told a Double Glazing 10 year warranty isn't worth the paper it's written on,unless insurance backed...the firm fold and there goes your warranty. Hopefully TVR are a different concern than a Double Glazing company...but they can still cease to trade.
Derek..from our exchange on the TVRCC website...I understood Power had only undertaken to do the engine work on behalf of TVR Engineering...I assume Power will only continue to do the work whilst TVR Engineering are paying them...as with any other warranty work ..dealers will only do it whilst their paid...Once payment stops I'm sure the dealers will not do the work.
When I purchase a secondhand TVR from Gorners two years ago...the 12 month warranty was actually an RAC one...and I think most dealers will use a Third party....which is insurance backed.
Derek..from our exchange on the TVRCC website...I understood Power had only undertaken to do the engine work on behalf of TVR Engineering...I assume Power will only continue to do the work whilst TVR Engineering are paying them...as with any other warranty work ..dealers will only do it whilst their paid...Once payment stops I'm sure the dealers will not do the work.
When I purchase a secondhand TVR from Gorners two years ago...the 12 month warranty was actually an RAC one...and I think most dealers will use a Third party....which is insurance backed.
Edited by mellow yellow on Sunday 10th December 12:54
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