Car Dealers - Closed on a Sunday
Discussion
Mrs H was car hunting yesterday so we called in at Western Alfa in Perth for a look. Parked up, strolled around looking at the stock; I did wonder why no-one was coming out to see us. Went to go inside the showroom - funny, door's locked, maybe it's this door - no, that's locked too. Finally saw opening hours displayed on window "Closed Sunday". Yes, makes sense to close your business on one of the two days in the week that you can reasonably expect the general public to be out and about looking to buy a car.
It would also to be reasonable to assume that a higher amount of tyre kickers pass through on a Sunday too. They don't have to be open on a Sunday, and if a buyer was serious, they would come back on one of the other 6 days or ring first to arrange an appointment.
Two of the main dealer chains i have bought from in the past still do not open on a Sunday, i dont think i would expect them all to be open either.
Two of the main dealer chains i have bought from in the past still do not open on a Sunday, i dont think i would expect them all to be open either.
I guess it was more important to open on a Sunday in the past when everyone was working Monday - Friday but these days with flexible working hours, the internet, telephones and email much of what needs dealing with can be done remotely.
We do not open on Sundays either but that has a lot to do with the fact that we are not on a trading estate and the owners decided to give the neighbours some peace!
As a previous poster siad - how dare anyone give these scumbags a day with their families?
We do not open on Sundays either but that has a lot to do with the fact that we are not on a trading estate and the owners decided to give the neighbours some peace!
As a previous poster siad - how dare anyone give these scumbags a day with their families?
I suppose that the OP's point is that the dealer potentially lost a sale. I'm just a punter. So, what do I know? But, I would imagine that Sunday would be a good time for a family to look to buy their new car. What with all their other commitments. Such as work, school, Tescos, court appearances, etc etc.
Actually I prefer it this way. I usually wade through autotrader and PH classifieds and identify a few possible cars at dealers. Its nice to spend a sunday visiting a few places and having a really good look at a car without being bothered and also knowing that I have several others to look at before making a short list/final choice. Once I've seen them all I would go back during the week when they are quiet for a proper look at the best one.
Few people seemingly missing the point of the OP.
I'd say he's simply making the point that Sunday is a day whereby the majority of people are not at work and have the free time to go looking for cars. To the OP and I would hazard a guess to many others, it would seem strange that a dealership would be closed on a day whereby they would usually get many more potential customers looking round than through the rest of the week (bar Saturday of course).
But if this particular dealership has made a business decision to not be open, then I guess they are making enough profit from other business hours to compensate.
I have to say that whenever I go looking for cars it is always on a Sunday.
I'd say he's simply making the point that Sunday is a day whereby the majority of people are not at work and have the free time to go looking for cars. To the OP and I would hazard a guess to many others, it would seem strange that a dealership would be closed on a day whereby they would usually get many more potential customers looking round than through the rest of the week (bar Saturday of course).
But if this particular dealership has made a business decision to not be open, then I guess they are making enough profit from other business hours to compensate.
I have to say that whenever I go looking for cars it is always on a Sunday.
I does seem odd. I only have time to look at cars at the weekend and I'm sure the majority of people that can afford cars are the same so it seems a strange decision to not work one of the two most important days of the week. If I was a one man dealer I would take two days off in the week rather than the weekend and for dealerships with staff it makes no sense at all.
Many many years ago, when Sunday opening had recently been legalised, we used to find that Saturday was for buyers, Sunday was for browsers (not car sales but I'm just sharing the experience).
Saturday buyers seemed (very generally) to be buying based on a compelling event or timeline. Sunday buyers were making a day experience of the buying process and it was part of a "day out"
Saturday buyers seemed (very generally) to be buying based on a compelling event or timeline. Sunday buyers were making a day experience of the buying process and it was part of a "day out"
AA999 said:
Few people seemingly missing the point of the OP.
I'd say he's simply making the point that Sunday is a day whereby the majority of people are not at work and have the free time to go looking for cars. To the OP and I would hazard a guess to many others, it would seem strange that a dealership would be closed on a day whereby they would usually get many more potential customers looking round than through the rest of the week (bar Saturday of course).
No, people are not missing the point; it's just that like the 'all FWD cars are £$%^' topics it comes round quite frequently. The dealers all post the same - when car dealers open on a Sunday the trade that it generates does not justify the cost of opening and they also like a day off. Off course there will be exceptions but that's the general rule.I'd say he's simply making the point that Sunday is a day whereby the majority of people are not at work and have the free time to go looking for cars. To the OP and I would hazard a guess to many others, it would seem strange that a dealership would be closed on a day whereby they would usually get many more potential customers looking round than through the rest of the week (bar Saturday of course).
It makes more sense than you might think. When I set up my business, I made the decision to close on weekends and bank holidays when my competition opened. The calibre of sales people I was able to attract because of this, has easily offset the theoretically lost business, as we are much more effective during the week than we otherwise would have been.
Halmyre said:
Believe it or not, I'm not in a foaming rage, demanding that the dealer in question be chained to his desk and forced to work 24/7 for a handful of gravel. I'm more baffled, particularly since the other two dealers in the group are open on Sunday afternoon.
Yep - Says so on their website.http://www.westernperthalfaromeo.co.uk/
http://www.westernedinburghalfaromeo.co.uk/
Possibly down to the local market variations?
I am sure that Peter Vardy close on a Sunday - They have their own reasons though.
Blib said:
I'm just a punter. So, what do I know? But, I would imagine
Nothing personal Blib but that succinctly sums up the problem with PH, people assume they know better than those of us who actually do it for a living.We close Sundays over winter. Has business dropped since we started it a couple of years ago? Absolutely not. Does it condense 7 days business into 6? Yes. Does it save you spending time with people just killing time? Yes. Is it nice to have time the same day off as my girlfriend from time to time? Absolutely.
Vaud said:
.... we used to find that Saturday was for buyers, Sunday was for browsers (not car sales but I'm just sharing the experience).
Saturday buyers seemed (very generally) to be buying based on a compelling event or timeline. Sunday buyers were making a day experience of the buying process and it was part of a "day out"
I can understand that, i'm in that mindframe myself. Saturday to get things done, Sunday for relaxing. Buying cars is not relaxing.Saturday buyers seemed (very generally) to be buying based on a compelling event or timeline. Sunday buyers were making a day experience of the buying process and it was part of a "day out"
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