Ask a car salesman anything...anything at all.
Discussion
Countdown said:
Do manufacturers want there to be more competition between their own Franchises? Surely they would be competing for the same profit?
Yes, manufacturers will be be quite happy, as will the large dealer chains who may operate all the remaining franchises in your area. Consolidation as jamoor describes and as Ford are doing, is inevitable but is that a good thing for customers? Wooda80 said:
Countdown said:
Do manufacturers want there to be more competition between their own Franchises? Surely they would be competing for the same profit?
Yes, manufacturers will be be quite happy, as will the large dealer chains who may operate all the remaining franchises in your area. Consolidation as jamoor describes and as Ford are doing, is inevitable but is that a good thing for customers? This isn't food shopping where the poor find they can't affordably get to a shop with a good range of food because the small local ones closed. These are relatively high value goods, and services offered to people owning them.
Wooda80 said:
This ^^^
In the 70s Ford had around 2000 dealers. It's a long term trend to move to fewer but larger dealers and it's mirrored across every kind of retail trade.
Jamoor's tone suggests that he's quite pleased about it, but will having fewer but larger dealers increase or decrease competition? Will service become more personal or more impersonal?
No it’s the dealerships business mode that will be broken in the near future. Consolidating them into fewer dealers will increase the work level for those dealerships but they will never see any EVs for regular servicing which is their bread and butter business.In the 70s Ford had around 2000 dealers. It's a long term trend to move to fewer but larger dealers and it's mirrored across every kind of retail trade.
Jamoor's tone suggests that he's quite pleased about it, but will having fewer but larger dealers increase or decrease competition? Will service become more personal or more impersonal?
The dealership adds 0 value to the consumer when they purchase their car yet it increases the price of the car for them.
I along with hundreds of people on here will be glad to see the dealers to as they’ve been rinsing the consumer for decades and their time is fast running out.
RicksAlfas said:
It's crackers. My local MB glass palace offers a free collection and delivery service so I never see their new chairs/fish tank/coffee machine/receptionist anyway!
Are you sure it's free? It's built in to the cost of ServiceCare plans. If you're paying yourself, then normally selecting the 'drop and go' option will knock £50 off the service price.My local dealer never used to charge for courtesy cars, but then they started refusing to discuss price and referring me to the the online booking system, MyService. Then you see the charges if you look at all the options. I use an indie now.
jamoor said:
No it’s the dealerships business mode that will be broken in the near future. Consolidating them into fewer dealers will increase the work level for those dealerships but they will never see any EVs for regular servicing which is their bread and butter business.
The dealership adds 0 value to the consumer when they purchase their car yet it increases the price of the car for them.
I along with hundreds of people on here will be glad to see the dealers to as they’ve been rinsing the consumer for decades and their time is fast running out.
What are you on about?The dealership adds 0 value to the consumer when they purchase their car yet it increases the price of the car for them.
I along with hundreds of people on here will be glad to see the dealers to as they’ve been rinsing the consumer for decades and their time is fast running out.
Dealer adds 0 value?.. Really?
Rinsing people for decades?
Would love to hear an explanation of the above.
Mexman said:
What are you on about?
Dealer adds 0 value?.. Really?
Rinsing people for decades?
Would love to hear an explanation of the above.
Yes what value does the dealer add to the vehicle exactly? It comes fully assembled and manufactured from the factory, they register it and stick the plates on and add a margin which isn't consistent with the cost of registering and sticking some plates on.Dealer adds 0 value?.. Really?
Rinsing people for decades?
Would love to hear an explanation of the above.
Rinsing people for decades- just look around the forum and its full of people complaining about rip off dealers I don't need to name any examples as there's hundreds on this forum alone.
Fast Bug said:
To be honest supermarkets have been rinsing people for years. They do f
k all to Heinz baked beans other than stick them on a shelf and charge a mark up the robbing bds 
The supermarket adds value as they can sell multiple products in one place, e.g. someone will buy beans, bread and milk in one location adding value to the transaction,k all to Heinz baked beans other than stick them on a shelf and charge a mark up the robbing bds The car dealer however... I'm struggling to see their value proposition on a big ticket item such as a car.
stevemcs said:
Fast Bug said:
By rinsing you mean making a profit?
You do realise that us that work in the motor trade are not allowed to make a profit as we are ripping people off. Its a bloody good job plumbers charge £7.50 per hour and sell all the materials out at cost.So are you suggesting that everyone buys used cars privately then? As a dealer preparing a vehicle for sale, fixing faults, offering a warranty and the customer having legal rights doesn't add value? Or having a selection of new and used cars on site from various manufacturers? Or having demos on site so you can try before you buy? Or buying your used car from you so you don't have to sell it yourself?
And as for threads on here complaining, yup seen those. But if you have a good experience buying a car you don't start a thread and say "hey I bought a new car, I'm happy with it in case anyone was wondering".
And as for threads on here complaining, yup seen those. But if you have a good experience buying a car you don't start a thread and say "hey I bought a new car, I'm happy with it in case anyone was wondering".
jamoor said:
Yes what value does the dealer add to the vehicle exactly? It comes fully assembled and manufactured from the factory, they register it and stick the plates on and add a margin which isn't consistent with the cost of registering and sticking some plates on.
Rinsing people for decades- just look around the forum and its full of people complaining about rip off dealers I don't need to name any examples as there's hundreds on this forum alone.
fRinsing people for decades- just look around the forum and its full of people complaining about rip off dealers I don't need to name any examples as there's hundreds on this forum alone.
king idiot.Fast Bug said:
So are you suggesting that everyone buys used cars privately then? As a dealer preparing a vehicle for sale, fixing faults, offering a warranty and the customer having legal rights doesn't add value? Or having a selection of new and used cars on site from various manufacturers? Or having demos on site so you can try before you buy? Or buying your used car from you so you don't have to sell it yourself?
And as for threads on here complaining, yup seen those. But if you have a good experience buying a car you don't start a thread and say "hey I bought a new car, I'm happy with it in case anyone was wondering".
Oh sorry I’m talking exclusively about new cars and franchised dealers only. (I thought that would be obvious)And as for threads on here complaining, yup seen those. But if you have a good experience buying a car you don't start a thread and say "hey I bought a new car, I'm happy with it in case anyone was wondering".
The Sunbury one is down the road from me, dread to think what it costs!
https://www.sytner.co.uk/news/sytner-group-propert...
https://www.sytner.co.uk/news/sytner-group-propert...
Eyersey1234 said:
With regards to Ford cutting the dealer network over the next few years, it sounds to me as though quite a few of the smaller garages will stop selling new cars but have the option of staying approved repairers
probably a smart move, given the margins on new car sales are wafer thin and the money is in servicingGassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff