Ask a car salesman anything...anything at all (Vol. 2).
Discussion
When dealers do re-open, what will be the test drive situation? Last time I asked, one of you mentioned looking into the insurance implications of unaccompanied test drives. Any progress on this? It would be a bit of a PITA for dealers to have to sanitise a car after a test drive, but I'd expect many buyers (PH'ers especially!) would still prefer to take a test drive rather than just commit to a pretty big spend without having even had a try before you buy.
Toyoda said:
When dealers do re-open, what will be the test drive situation? Last time I asked, one of you mentioned looking into the insurance implications of unaccompanied test drives. Any progress on this? It would be a bit of a PITA for dealers to have to sanitise a car after a test drive, but I'd expect many buyers (PH'ers especially!) would still prefer to take a test drive rather than just commit to a pretty big spend without having even had a try before you buy.
We were looking into insurance implications, unnacompanied for us is out, the insurance excess is far too high. After every movement, or test drive, all touched areas need to be cleaned, it's going to be a ballache but that's the way it is.
Initially communication was accompanied test drives with 2 people only in the car at any one time, one in the drivers seat, the other in the N/S/R seat, with masks and gloves if we and/or the customer want to, I popped in to work yesterday to swap over a car (I'm still furloughed but there are staff in now) and was told that the guidance has changed to still only 2 in a car but both front seats can be occupied, it is because generally both occupants will be facing forwards so there is less chance of passing anything on as and droplets, vapour etc will likely go towards the front if the person, not to the side.
loskie said:
not car sales but due to covid and the surge in online shopping have the guys doing fleet vans seen a brisk trade?
I've sold 50 odd this week with quite a few opportunities for next week as well. Finding the right stock is going to be the biggest issue as the factories have been shut for a few months, so there's going to be a lack of stock shortly.AudiMan9000 said:
Have stock cars been properly looked after during lockdown or will they have degraded?
Sitting on hard standing, covered in wax and paint so they’re hardly going to rust over a couple of months are they ?Might have some bird s
t to clean off as well by the time they go to the dealership.Apart from that the answer is no.
Toyoda said:
When dealers do re-open, what will be the test drive situation? Last time I asked, one of you mentioned looking into the insurance implications of unaccompanied test drives. Any progress on this? It would be a bit of a PITA for dealers to have to sanitise a car after a test drive, but I'd expect many buyers (PH'ers especially!) would still prefer to take a test drive rather than just commit to a pretty big spend without having even had a try before you buy.
A dealer local to me are doing unaccompanied test drives at the moment, they sent an email last week about it, and this is whats on there website: said:
And finally, it has been confirmed by the DVLA that our customers will be allowed to take unaccompanied test drives using our trade plates. Those of us dealers who hold official trade plates – and are properly insured – will be allowed to let you, potential buyers out in our cars without having to send a salesman or dealer representative with you.
It also mentions they're willing to bring the car to you but mentions never regarding sanitising between drives etcHTP99 said:
AudiMan9000 said:
Have stock cars been properly looked after during lockdown or will they have degraded?
How will they "degrade", its only been 7 weeks? thole) and never had an issue on return. Blakewater said:
In consideration of Grant Schapps briefing today about encouraging cycling and walking, is there any evidence yet that people's fear of commuting by public transport is driving them towards buying cars?
There’s an article in the FT today suggesting a sharp increase in demand in US and China for exactly that reason...https://www.ft.com/content/488d5886-c6af-4e80-a479...
AudiMan9000 said:
Have stock cars been properly looked after during lockdown or will they have degraded?
Left in compounds for three months with batteries unchecked etc? All business as usual. Jump it when you need to pull it out. PDI tech removes the foliage that has grown through the lower suspension...
New cars can sit in compounds for a year or more. Which is why it's important to ask both the model year and build date to give you an idea.
https://www.engadget.com/volkswagen-will-only-sell...
Gosh I love being right.
Manufacturers are removing the autonomy of dealerships, I wonder when dealerships will cotton onto the fact that they aren't needed
Gosh I love being right.
Manufacturers are removing the autonomy of dealerships, I wonder when dealerships will cotton onto the fact that they aren't needed
jamoor said:
So, you’ll still visit the dealer for the test drive, they’ll get the order, then you’ll collect it from there (or have it delivered by them)I suppose you were right. But it seems a win win for dealers and will filter out the small minority who just want to order online with no contact at all and will get them a nice quick order and registration. Nice.
And as for your edit, the dealership is needed, apart from a small number of people who won’t want a test drive etc. Your utopia is a long way off yet matey!
Butter Face said:
jamoor said:
So, you’ll still visit the dealer for the test drive, they’ll get the order, then you’ll collect it from there (or have it delivered by them)I suppose you were right. But it seems a win win for dealers and will filter out the small minority who just want to order online with no contact at all and will get them a nice quick order and registration. Nice.
And zero discount, win, win and an.... errr (I think) win!
Sounds overall fantastic for the dealer, I hope this works!
HTP99 said:
Butter Face said:
jamoor said:
So, you’ll still visit the dealer for the test drive, they’ll get the order, then you’ll collect it from there (or have it delivered by them)I suppose you were right. But it seems a win win for dealers and will filter out the small minority who just want to order online with no contact at all and will get them a nice quick order and registration. Nice.
And zero discount, win, win and an.... errr win!
Butter Face said:
jamoor said:
So, you’ll still visit the dealer for the test drive, they’ll get the order, then you’ll collect it from there (or have it delivered by them)I suppose you were right. But it seems a win win for dealers and will filter out the small minority who just want to order online with no contact at all and will get them a nice quick order and registration. Nice.
And as for your edit, the dealership is needed, apart from a small number of people who won’t want a test drive etc. Your utopia is a long way off yet matey!
Or will they just take over them and operate them themselves?
I think it's a massive lose for the dealers. They get paid £XXX per sale and that's it.
I wonder if they will get bonuses for selling extra cars, upsells etc how will that all work.
Thats before we get to servicing, which I assume on an ID3 is basically none and which is where the dealership makes the most money.
‘ Under the new model, dealers assume the role of agent for selling cars to private customers and small commercial enterprises. They look after acquisition, sales consultation, organizing test drives, transaction processing and vehicle handover in coordination with Volkswagen. The preferred dealer chosen by the customer at the beginning of the sales process receives the same commission and bonus as in showroom business, even if the vehicle is purchased online direct from Volkswagen. Volkswagen decides on the vehicle price, thus dispensing with complicated price negotiations. Dealers can therefore count on calculable compensation regardless of whether the customer buys their vehicle online or in the showroom.’
So the customer can still buy in a showroom and if they don’t the dealer loses absolutely nothing.
Those oesky dealers are doooommmeed
So the customer can still buy in a showroom and if they don’t the dealer loses absolutely nothing.
Those oesky dealers are doooommmeed
jamoor said:
Butter Face said:
jamoor said:
So, you’ll still visit the dealer for the test drive, they’ll get the order, then you’ll collect it from there (or have it delivered by them)I suppose you were right. But it seems a win win for dealers and will filter out the small minority who just want to order online with no contact at all and will get them a nice quick order and registration. Nice.
And as for your edit, the dealership is needed, apart from a small number of people who won’t want a test drive etc. Your utopia is a long way off yet matey!
Or will they just take over them and operate them themselves?
I think it's a massive lose for the dealers. They get paid £XXX per sale and that's it.
I wonder if they will get bonuses for selling extra cars, upsells etc how will that all work.
Thats before we get to servicing, which I assume on an ID3 is basically none and which is where the dealership makes the most money.
They get exactly the same money they do if someone buys in showroom or online, that’s a great shout.
I would suspect that VW will have servicing schedules for all of their cars, and as they will have tech that no aftermarket garages can touch, all work will have to go back to dealers. Most EV (apart from Tesla) have servicing requirements for warranties etc.
Next!
Butter Face said:
Yes they will because VW themselves won’t want to own and operate hundreds of test drive centres with thousands of cars around the country, that’s why a franchise model works.
They get exactly the same money they do if someone buys in showroom or online, that’s a great shout.
I would suspect that VW will have servicing schedules for all of their cars, and as they will have tech that no aftermarket garages can touch, all work will have to go back to dealers. Most EV (apart from Tesla) have servicing requirements for warranties etc.
Next!
/Have you looked at the servicing requirements for most evs? I'd suspect when they become more commonplace the servicing element will be removed(much like Tesla did) and make it into a selling point. They get exactly the same money they do if someone buys in showroom or online, that’s a great shout.
I would suspect that VW will have servicing schedules for all of their cars, and as they will have tech that no aftermarket garages can touch, all work will have to go back to dealers. Most EV (apart from Tesla) have servicing requirements for warranties etc.
Next!
According to the article you can't buy the car in a showroom, thats a big deal.
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