LR dealer - major culture change
Discussion
Anyone else's local LR dealer gone through radical transformation of late?
The indie owner sold out to a.n. other group who run Audi dealerships. First I knew of and change of regime was that phone lines rang out when trying to book a sevice - this never happened before - then I find out the place has been through a 'night of the long knives' style overhaul and most of the long-standing staff have gone.
Then I got offered a service contract. My local dealer need to eat to live, but equally they've always know never to try an punt any 'extra' - finance, leasing, service plans, gap insuarance etc. - at us.
Not really sure it all bodes well...
The indie owner sold out to a.n. other group who run Audi dealerships. First I knew of and change of regime was that phone lines rang out when trying to book a sevice - this never happened before - then I find out the place has been through a 'night of the long knives' style overhaul and most of the long-standing staff have gone.
Then I got offered a service contract. My local dealer need to eat to live, but equally they've always know never to try an punt any 'extra' - finance, leasing, service plans, gap insuarance etc. - at us.
Not really sure it all bodes well...
I've recently become the owner of a Land Rover for the first time and the experience couldn't have been better, but strangely for the reason you've suggested yours is going downhill.
I bought from Shields in Glasgow, a once large dealer group who sold out many showrooms retaining LR as their only dealership, in effect almost making them an indie. I was told this is because the owner wanted out but has a personal fondness for the brand so wanted to retain the single franchise - more likely he knows they are profitable with lots of demand for new products!
I got the impression they are very busy, so don't need to make pressure sales or huge profit on each unit. I got time to look, treated well, a great part-ex value, good discount on list and ridiculously low rate finance. I wanted a service plan and RTI gap but had to ask for details! I was told paint/tyre protection weren't good value so not to bother!
I'd suggest finding a new dealer, they're still out there!
I bought from Shields in Glasgow, a once large dealer group who sold out many showrooms retaining LR as their only dealership, in effect almost making them an indie. I was told this is because the owner wanted out but has a personal fondness for the brand so wanted to retain the single franchise - more likely he knows they are profitable with lots of demand for new products!
I got the impression they are very busy, so don't need to make pressure sales or huge profit on each unit. I got time to look, treated well, a great part-ex value, good discount on list and ridiculously low rate finance. I wanted a service plan and RTI gap but had to ask for details! I was told paint/tyre protection weren't good value so not to bother!
I'd suggest finding a new dealer, they're still out there!
alanm_3 said:
You must be lucky! Any time I've been in Shields for any issues with my RR, I feel invisible!
Not once has a salesman EVER approached me for ANY reason!
No, I wasn't approached either, which is fine with me! I don't want to be followed around when I'm looking, making small talk about "what do you currently drive", "what's your budget", as the salesman sizes me up as worth spending time on or not. Not once has a salesman EVER approached me for ANY reason!
I'm happy to be left alone to look, as long as when I do want help I know there's someone on hand who's friendly and knows their stuff - which was my experience there.
yellowbentines said:
No, I wasn't approached either, which is fine with me! I don't want to be followed around when I'm looking, making small talk about "what do you currently drive", "what's your budget", as the salesman sizes me up as worth spending time on or not.
You seem a typical LR purchaser - in terms of wealth and profession they come from all walks, but most of the long term (i.e. not silly-finance Range Rover) customers are pretty no-nonsense.Now, the ethos is volume and new business and the customer relationships have, effectivly (by getting rid of long-standing staff and not communicating with extant buyers) been binned.
We started buying from this dealership in 1996 and, in that time, have dealt with precisely two sales managers. I know a lot of other LR customers and I can't see many of them really 'getting' what is going on.
Our local one (Chester) used to be James Edwards but has been rebranded Hunters and they're part of Inchcape.
I've never heard anyone have a good word to say about them, and anything Inchcape related (they also own the local Audi, VW and Mercedes dealerships) is usually bad news with the sales focus being very much on the finance and GAP etc side of things. The vehicle itself seems to be regarded as a necessary evil.
I've never heard anyone have a good word to say about them, and anything Inchcape related (they also own the local Audi, VW and Mercedes dealerships) is usually bad news with the sales focus being very much on the finance and GAP etc side of things. The vehicle itself seems to be regarded as a necessary evil.
I guess DIGGA is talking about Stafford Land Rover, what a great garage they were. It was always worth driving 150 miles to get there and have a deal that no other LR dealer could get anywhere near. I knew it would end as soon as there was mention of a group taking over, similar to what happened with Mercedes dealers a few years ago, it does not benefit the customer at all.
orbtar said:
I guess DIGGA is talking about Stafford Land Rover, what a great garage they were. It was always worth driving 150 miles to get there and have a deal that no other LR dealer could get anywhere near. I knew it would end as soon as there was mention of a group taking over, similar to what happened with Mercedes dealers a few years ago, it does not benefit the customer at all.
We'll have no naming and shaming here! 
Yes, there were really good. Rumour has it - and this amazed me - that they sold more Ranger Rovers one year than any other single dealership location in the UK. As you say, I think the thin end of the wedge might now be here.
Blue62 said:
I noticed the change when I took my D4 in after xmas...
Sales and service customers will notice it even more - apparently a lot of the key people have only recently left.I don't want to kick them, because thus far I cannot say they've done a lot 'wonrg' other than adopt the more annoying/greedy tactics of every other car dealer out there - plus having dealt with the place since 1996 I hope it continues to be useful to us - but at the same time, so much change with so little 'contact' with repeat customers seems high-handed at the very least.
te for years so I've always gone to hillendale near Burnley but for the past few years they have been shut on Sunday, traditionally my car shopping day so not been for a while.Blue62 said:
Yes, Stafford is my local dealer and I noticed the change when I took my D4 in after xmas. To be fair they were ok, probably good enough to stay with them as I don't like Hunters in Derby, but they did try to flog me the service plan, which I refused.
Update to give benefit of experience.Ordered another LR from the dealership. To be fair to them, people in place seem to be keen to do the right thing for the dealership and brand. I have to say, given the changes in the model range - which themsleves reflect the switch of LR's core market from the UK, to the BRICs - things have had to move on and, to be fair, I glad to have a fully functioning dealer on the doorstep.
hilly10 said:
I am new to the brand having purchased a new Evoque from Colliers in Erdington Birmingham. I have brought a few new cars mainly Audi Merc ,but I have to say it was a great expirence handover day was quite special . Lets see how they measure up in the after sales.
IME Colliers are pretty danmed good. The only thing against them, for me, is the geographic distance, although TBF I'm sure as far as servicing goes, they'd still probably collect/deliver from our offices.Digga snr has been buying Jags (mostly used - they get some nice ex-factory fleet cars) from Colliers for about 20 years and has not once had an issue with them.
Digga said:
IME Colliers are pretty danmed good. The only thing against them, for me, is the geographic distance, although TBF I'm sure as far as servicing goes, they'd still probably collect/deliver from our offices.
Digga snr has been buying Jags (mostly used - they get some nice ex-factory fleet cars) from Colliers for about 20 years and has not once had an issue with them.
I don't know weather they are still a family concern or owned by a group.Digga snr has been buying Jags (mostly used - they get some nice ex-factory fleet cars) from Colliers for about 20 years and has not once had an issue with them.
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