McLaren receives £300m.......
Discussion
Desert Dragon said:
they need to buy back all their distribution network and control this part of their model religiously - it cost money to do this way but whats the point of having company values and strong brand that non of your franchise dealers support on a consistent basis. some good some bad not good enough at £300k sale level. No way.
Agree, but I don’t think MCL are looking closely at the market or understanding who walks into their showrooms (or more importantly why they walk out again) so I doubt that’ll change. In fact I find their marketing approach really quite odd. One friend, not in a position to buy, gets regularly contacted by his local dealer for events. Another got invited to something (alongside another event) when McL were targeting a certain group last year but has so little interest in cars that he went for a run instead.. yet the McL arm of a dealer group that I bought two cars from in 2019 couldn’t be bothered to source what I was looking for, and wouldn’t arrange a test drive (they had no demonstrators and didn’t seem at all interested OMG getting one from McL), and has done no follow up at all.
It’s not good enough at any price point. Absolute dealbreaker in my case as I was actively ignoring other friends horror stories about McL ownership (Where friend of a friend’s cousin’s dog had wished they’d never bought one) and hoping that dealer could instil confidence.
Compare and contrast to another newish brand that I’ve *never* any expressed interest in. They dropped by my office a couple of times to see if I could spare five mins to look at a car, maybe go for a drive if I could spare more time. I was busy both times but they did a couple of runs out with my guys out instead (who were then telling me how great the car was and that I really should go and look).
Desert Dragon said:
LooneyTunes said:
TB993tt said:
ralphrj said:
the cars aren't good enough to persuade people to buy them for the price being asked. Supply exceeds demand which leads to 2 things - discounting and early replacement of the model. What you think is the cause of the problem is actually just a symptom of another problem - that the product just isn't good enough.
Think you'll find most pundits think the cars are "good enough", it's simple enough, over supply, there just aren't enough people who can play at these price levels so depreciation kicks in getting prices down to levels where there are plenty of punters.That’s how they control the dealers ! Makes total sense becaue if you’re a manufacturer it’s that dealer who is dealing with your customer on a day to day basis and they can make or break your brand. Wonder what McLaren do ?
Cheib said:
Most manufacturers control their franchise dealers through retention of bonuses based on customer satisfaction. That’s why when you buy say a Porsche or BMW you get an e-mail after buying saying “you’ll soon be contacted by Porsche GB with a customer satisfaction survey Is there anything you won’t rate us 10/10 for....if so please speak to the DP”. Those surveys have a meaningful impact on their quarterly bonus they get from the manufacturer. Some also do it for servicing.
That’s how they control the dealers ! Makes total sense becaue if you’re a manufacturer it’s that dealer who is dealing with your customer on a day to day basis and they can make or break your brand. Wonder what McLaren do ?
McLaren do exactly that? When i took delivery of my LT last year, i was sent an email with a Survey on my experience with the dealer... i then messaged my sales guy and he said part of their VBM for the quarter is reliant on a high response rates, and high scores.That’s how they control the dealers ! Makes total sense becaue if you’re a manufacturer it’s that dealer who is dealing with your customer on a day to day basis and they can make or break your brand. Wonder what McLaren do ?
mcl570 said:
Cheib said:
Most manufacturers control their franchise dealers through retention of bonuses based on customer satisfaction. That’s why when you buy say a Porsche or BMW you get an e-mail after buying saying “you’ll soon be contacted by Porsche GB with a customer satisfaction survey Is there anything you won’t rate us 10/10 for....if so please speak to the DP”. Those surveys have a meaningful impact on their quarterly bonus they get from the manufacturer. Some also do it for servicing.
That’s how they control the dealers ! Makes total sense becaue if you’re a manufacturer it’s that dealer who is dealing with your customer on a day to day basis and they can make or break your brand. Wonder what McLaren do ?
McLaren do exactly that? When i took delivery of my LT last year, i was sent an email with a Survey on my experience with the dealer... i then messaged my sales guy and he said part of their VBM for the quarter is reliant on a high response rates, and high scores.That’s how they control the dealers ! Makes total sense becaue if you’re a manufacturer it’s that dealer who is dealing with your customer on a day to day basis and they can make or break your brand. Wonder what McLaren do ?
A much more sophisticated and useful model when you’re new to a market, especially a small one, would be to explore inquiry:conversion rates and then seek to understand why people didn’t buy.
mcl570 said:
Cheib said:
Most manufacturers control their franchise dealers through retention of bonuses based on customer satisfaction. That’s why when you buy say a Porsche or BMW you get an e-mail after buying saying “you’ll soon be contacted by Porsche GB with a customer satisfaction survey Is there anything you won’t rate us 10/10 for....if so please speak to the DP”. Those surveys have a meaningful impact on their quarterly bonus they get from the manufacturer. Some also do it for servicing.
That’s how they control the dealers ! Makes total sense becaue if you’re a manufacturer it’s that dealer who is dealing with your customer on a day to day basis and they can make or break your brand. Wonder what McLaren do ?
McLaren do exactly that? When i took delivery of my LT last year, i was sent an email with a Survey on my experience with the dealer... i then messaged my sales guy and he said part of their VBM for the quarter is reliant on a high response rates, and high scores.That’s how they control the dealers ! Makes total sense becaue if you’re a manufacturer it’s that dealer who is dealing with your customer on a day to day basis and they can make or break your brand. Wonder what McLaren do ?
A year or so, several members here were starting direct comms with McLaren executives to lay out the issues. What ever happen, did anyone get any joy?
McLaren’s issues have been well documented, certainly as far back as my ownership (5 years ago) but it sounds like the company has been getting even more grief from its shareholders/backers than its customers.
McLaren’s issues have been well documented, certainly as far back as my ownership (5 years ago) but it sounds like the company has been getting even more grief from its shareholders/backers than its customers.
LooneyTunes said:
Desert Dragon said:
they need to buy back all their distribution network and control this part of their model religiously - it cost money to do this way but whats the point of having company values and strong brand that non of your franchise dealers support on a consistent basis. some good some bad not good enough at £300k sale level. No way.
Agree, but I don’t think MCL are looking closely at the market or understanding who walks into their showrooms (or more importantly why they walk out again) so I doubt that’ll change. In fact I find their marketing approach really quite odd. One friend, not in a position to buy, gets regularly contacted by his local dealer for events. Another got invited to something (alongside another event) when McL were targeting a certain group last year but has so little interest in cars that he went for a run instead.. yet the McL arm of a dealer group that I bought two cars from in 2019 couldn’t be bothered to source what I was looking for, and wouldn’t arrange a test drive (they had no demonstrators and didn’t seem at all interested OMG getting one from McL), and has done no follow up at all.
It’s not good enough at any price point. Absolute dealbreaker in my case as I was actively ignoring other friends horror stories about McL ownership (Where friend of a friend’s cousin’s dog had wished they’d never bought one) and hoping that dealer could instil confidence.
Compare and contrast to another newish brand that I’ve *never* any expressed interest in. They dropped by my office a couple of times to see if I could spare five mins to look at a car, maybe go for a drive if I could spare more time. I was busy both times but they did a couple of runs out with my guys out instead (who were then telling me how great the car was and that I really should go and look).
Desert Dragon said:
How many potential customers have they put off is the issue when it comes to their investment case. I never even test drove the 720s when offered a test drive I said I needed to borrow the demo for 2-3 days drive to say Scotland and back to see if my back gets on with the car. These are the sorts of drives it would be used for. Very expensive mistake to go MSO then find out your back can't get on with the car. Never got a call back and TBH don't really care. This was Hatfield who I've stayed in touch with myself but I've also been to Knightsbridge too. Just found Knightsbridg stuck up ie you have to make an appointment approach very aloof as they were all sitting in the showroom twiddling thumbs trying to look busy but had sod all to do. I pointed at a red 720s and politely said, "are you telling me I cant buy that car now?" The whole attitude changed but it was too late. I'd just been in the Ferrari atelier across the road and for lunch with Ferrari dealer. What a different experience and zero snootiness very friendly to my kids too rather than seeing them as an annoyance.
Ask Porsche/Ferrari/Lambo for a 48/72 hour test drive that covers more than 250 miles... you will get a NO from all of them.mcl570 said:
Desert Dragon said:
How many potential customers have they put off is the issue when it comes to their investment case. I never even test drove the 720s when offered a test drive I said I needed to borrow the demo for 2-3 days drive to say Scotland and back to see if my back gets on with the car. These are the sorts of drives it would be used for. Very expensive mistake to go MSO then find out your back can't get on with the car. Never got a call back and TBH don't really care. This was Hatfield who I've stayed in touch with myself but I've also been to Knightsbridge too. Just found Knightsbridg stuck up ie you have to make an appointment approach very aloof as they were all sitting in the showroom twiddling thumbs trying to look busy but had sod all to do. I pointed at a red 720s and politely said, "are you telling me I cant buy that car now?" The whole attitude changed but it was too late. I'd just been in the Ferrari atelier across the road and for lunch with Ferrari dealer. What a different experience and zero snootiness very friendly to my kids too rather than seeing them as an annoyance.
Ask Porsche/Ferrari/Lambo for a 48/72 hour test drive that covers more than 250 miles... you will get a NO from all of them.To be fair to Hatfield Mcl they said they don't do this but would check if they can.
mcl570 said:
Desert Dragon said:
How many potential customers have they put off is the issue when it comes to their investment case. I never even test drove the 720s when offered a test drive I said I needed to borrow the demo for 2-3 days drive to say Scotland and back to see if my back gets on with the car. These are the sorts of drives it would be used for. Very expensive mistake to go MSO then find out your back can't get on with the car. Never got a call back and TBH don't really care. This was Hatfield who I've stayed in touch with myself but I've also been to Knightsbridge too. Just found Knightsbridg stuck up ie you have to make an appointment approach very aloof as they were all sitting in the showroom twiddling thumbs trying to look busy but had sod all to do. I pointed at a red 720s and politely said, "are you telling me I cant buy that car now?" The whole attitude changed but it was too late. I'd just been in the Ferrari atelier across the road and for lunch with Ferrari dealer. What a different experience and zero snootiness very friendly to my kids too rather than seeing them as an annoyance.
Ask Porsche/Ferrari/Lambo for a 48/72 hour test drive that covers more than 250 miles... you will get a NO from all of them.andrew said:
mcl570 said:
Desert Dragon said:
How many potential customers have they put off is the issue when it comes to their investment case. I never even test drove the 720s when offered a test drive I said I needed to borrow the demo for 2-3 days drive to say Scotland and back to see if my back gets on with the car. These are the sorts of drives it would be used for. Very expensive mistake to go MSO then find out your back can't get on with the car. Never got a call back and TBH don't really care. This was Hatfield who I've stayed in touch with myself but I've also been to Knightsbridge too. Just found Knightsbridg stuck up ie you have to make an appointment approach very aloof as they were all sitting in the showroom twiddling thumbs trying to look busy but had sod all to do. I pointed at a red 720s and politely said, "are you telling me I cant buy that car now?" The whole attitude changed but it was too late. I'd just been in the Ferrari atelier across the road and for lunch with Ferrari dealer. What a different experience and zero snootiness very friendly to my kids too rather than seeing them as an annoyance.
Ask Porsche/Ferrari/Lambo for a 48/72 hour test drive that covers more than 250 miles... you will get a NO from all of them.andrew said:
porsche have lent me a car for the weekend before now
Turbo S? I wouldn't even expect to have a McLaren for 48/72 hours as a test drive. In my opinion, you know if you LIKE/DISLIKE a car in 30 minutes, it takes hours to know if you LOVE it. If McLaren were giving out cars for 48/72 test drives, every tom dick and harry would be asking, and i am confident there would be people on here saying 'McLaren must be desperate, giving out cars for weekends'. Can't please everyone i guess.. mcl570 said:
andrew said:
porsche have lent me a car for the weekend before now
Turbo S? I wouldn't even expect to have a McLaren for 48/72 hours as a test drive. In my opinion, you know if you LIKE/DISLIKE a car in 30 minutes, it takes hours to know if you LOVE it. If McLaren were giving out cars for 48/72 test drives, every tom dick and harry would be asking, and i am confident there would be people on here saying 'McLaren must be desperate, giving out cars for weekends'. Can't please everyone i guess.. mcl570 said:
andrew said:
porsche have lent me a car for the weekend before now
Turbo S? I wouldn't even expect to have a McLaren for 48/72 hours as a test drive. In my opinion, you know if you LIKE/DISLIKE a car in 30 minutes, it takes hours to know if you LOVE it. If McLaren were giving out cars for 48/72 test drives, every tom dick and harry would be asking, and i am confident there would be people on here saying 'McLaren must be desperate, giving out cars for weekends'. Can't please everyone i guess.. Desert Dragon said:
I've been lent a few brand new turbo s without any fuss. I can understand why Mcl may not want to lend a £300k car. I'd not go mad speccing one though till I know I'm keeping for long term. Maybe experience days like Porsche do?
Experience days are a good idea.. my dealer has had only a couple of 'Prospect Track Days', i do agree more of those may bring one or two new customers, however, the cost in comparison to conversion rate would be ludacris. Also, track days aren't going to give prospects the idea of how comfortable the car is.. mcl570 said:
Ask Porsche/Ferrari/Lambo for a 48/72 hour test drive that covers more than 250 miles... you will get a NO from all of them.
Disagree. Have had week long loaners from Porsche and Ferrari dealers in the past - in the case of the latter I took it to France and did 1000 miles with their consent. Have never tried asking for Lambo or McLaren, but hard to believe it wouldn't be possible. Its surely all about the relationship that you have with a dealer and that they (if they're being commercial) want to build with clients. Desert Dragon said:
andrew said:
mcl570 said:
Desert Dragon said:
How many potential customers have they put off is the issue when it comes to their investment case. I never even test drove the 720s when offered a test drive I said I needed to borrow the demo for 2-3 days drive to say Scotland and back to see if my back gets on with the car. These are the sorts of drives it would be used for. Very expensive mistake to go MSO then find out your back can't get on with the car. Never got a call back and TBH don't really care. This was Hatfield who I've stayed in touch with myself but I've also been to Knightsbridge too. Just found Knightsbridg stuck up ie you have to make an appointment approach very aloof as they were all sitting in the showroom twiddling thumbs trying to look busy but had sod all to do. I pointed at a red 720s and politely said, "are you telling me I cant buy that car now?" The whole attitude changed but it was too late. I'd just been in the Ferrari atelier across the road and for lunch with Ferrari dealer. What a different experience and zero snootiness very friendly to my kids too rather than seeing them as an annoyance.
Ask Porsche/Ferrari/Lambo for a 48/72 hour test drive that covers more than 250 miles... you will get a NO from all of them.MDL111 said:
Was also offered a GTC4 Lusso for a weekend, only reason I didn’t take it was as I needed to go to Austria and you can’t cross borders under their insurance (understandable) (not from the UK I might add)
Can only imagine this was a Fleet/Press car rather than a dealer demo.. no way would any dealer offer their demo's out for long test drives, with the risk of people piling the miles on to them. Especially Ferrari, seeing as though they seem to be so sensitive to mileage etc when it comes to resale.mcl570 said:
MDL111 said:
Was also offered a GTC4 Lusso for a weekend, only reason I didn’t take it was as I needed to go to Austria and you can’t cross borders under their insurance (understandable) (not from the UK I might add)
Can only imagine this was a Fleet/Press car rather than a dealer demo.. no way would any dealer offer their demo's out for long test drives, with the risk of people piling the miles on to them. Especially Ferrari, seeing as though they seem to be so sensitive to mileage etc when it comes to resale.Edit: just to reiterate this was not in the UK but in Germany
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