Invitation to BMW M Power weekend South East 12th/13th Sept

[TRL]

I have deleted my initial message from this topic.

I have been asked by my Management to remove all of my comments immedietly.
I apologise if my good intentions have upset any PHers.
Sorry,

Edited by TRL on Friday 11th September 13:54

[fwaggie]

TRL said:

We will even let the kids draw all over a brand new car in the showroom (using our pens please!).

Bwaaahahahahahaa!

That is *so* going to end in tears :-)

I bet some kid will draw on the car with a stick or match or a key or something, anything they can find that looks vaguely "pen" shaped or pointy.

I hope this car is wrapped!

Sounds like a cool day out, enjoy.

[SittingBull]

TRL said:

Fellow BMW and M Drivers - firstly, may I say that whilst I hold a position with the following firm,
this is a genuine invite to all BMW enthuisiasts - and not a plug for the business - I promise.
All BMW dealers in the UK are holding a Joy Weekend on the 12th and 13th of September.

We wish to invite a group of you down to the brand new £9M showroom at Cooper Croydon.
This event is NOT about selling you a car (although of course, we will if you ask).

We are holding a family open weekend for you all to enjoy - completely free and with no
strings attached. The full range of cars are on display and demo drives are available all
weekend.
There will be a showcase display by our friends at Munich Legends, including the first M car,
the BMW M1. There will also be a Z1 and for the older folk, that Touring Car Legend, the BMW
3.0CSL. It is worth a visit just to see an M1 in the flesh!
We have our very own 'Stig-a-like' hosting the event and have arranged for a BMW F1 Simulator, a giant 8 Lane
Scaletrix, and an outdoor BBQ and guest DJ. We will even let the kids draw all over a brand new car in
the showroom (using our pens please!).
The Italian F1 GP will be shown on the large plasma screens throughout the dealership.
With free food and drinks served all weekend it is essential that we get a feel for the numbers
coming. Mini are also holding a launch weekend on the same site.
There is plenty of parking on site and in the surrounding roads, so please google Cooper Croydon
for more details. Remember to register your interest or it could go horribly wrong for us!
Cheers Tony,

I wonder why the Cooper Dealership has failed to email their loyal customers about this "stupendous" event? I purchased a Z4MR from Coopers Chelmsford on 9/01/2009 yet I see that Coopers don't want my business anymore.

My local Coopers dealer is Norwich - & they are peculiar as well. The Service Manager is a fat B*****D who sits all day long in his office gobbling sandwiches whilst watching the customers wait in lines to book their cars in!

I would avoid Coopers like the plague. They opened a Porsche dealership next door to their Norwich BMW Dealership early this year. They could not get the website to work for months. When they did get it working they would not advertise the prices on their used cars. The dealership closed down overnight last month. Hilarious!

[mmm-five]

£9m showroom!!!

Have you been paying BMW dealer rates or something

How about doing a £1m showroom and reducing the labour rates to £50/hour instead of over £100/hour?

[flimper]

Disappointed in Barons of Farnborough's response. Rang up enquiring about a test drive in an M3, and got the third degree about whether I intended buying said car. Needless to say I ended the call sharpish and won't be visiting for their tasty hog roast....

[ian in lancs]

flimper said:

Disappointed in Barons of Farnborough's response. Rang up enquiring about a test drive in an M3, and got the third degree about whether I intended buying said car. Needless to say I ended the call sharpish and won't be visiting for their tasty hog roast....

I've had three emails from different dealers all doing 'joy' weekends and two phone calls offering a drive in an M3. Change your dealer! Incidentally I went into the Preston BMW MD a week ago in my scruffs and in my wife's new Focus ST asking whether they had any E46 M3's. I had to initiate a conversation that wasn't at all satisfactory and felt they didn't want my business. I went back in tonight in my Z4M and my business suit. This time the team were in a huddle gossiping, one checking wheteher the window cleaner had done a good job and all ignored me! I'd sack them personally! At least the receptionist was polite and said hello. Out of interest I popped into the Audi dealership. One salesman said hello, the receptionist came over asked what I wanted and went and got another salesman to discuss the S4 and S5. Chalk and cheese! Audi was much busier...

BMW, spend less on your showrooms, more on sorting your staff out and improve service and I might be bothered to buy another Beemer in March! Do you need a Business Improvement Director?!

[flimper]

All they are interested in is selling a car NOW. If they were a bit more polite to punters that didn't want to buy a car NOW, then they might sell a few more a bit further down the line. I am now thinking of giving BMW Hindhead a visit on Sunday and giving Barons a swerve...

[Gids]

ian in lancs said:

flimper said:

Disappointed in Barons of Farnborough's response. Rang up enquiring about a test drive in an M3, and got the third degree about whether I intended buying said car. Needless to say I ended the call sharpish and won't be visiting for their tasty hog roast....

I've had three emails from different dealers all doing 'joy' weekends and two phone calls offering a drive in an M3. Change your dealer! Incidentally I went into the Preston BMW MD a week ago in my scruffs and in my wife's new Focus ST asking whether they had any E46 M3's. I had to initiate a conversation that wasn't at all satisfactory and felt they didn't want my business. I went back in tonight in my Z4M and my business suit. This time the team were in a huddle gossiping, one checking wheteher the window cleaner had done a good job and all ignored me! I'd sack them personally! At least the receptionist was polite and said hello. Out of interest I popped into the Audi dealership. One salesman said hello, the receptionist came over asked what I wanted and went and got another salesman to discuss the S4 and S5. Chalk and cheese! Audi was much busier...

BMW, spend less on your showrooms, more on sorting your staff out and improve service and I might be bothered to buy another Beemer in March! Do you need a Business Improvement Director?!

Z4M drivers must be outcasts, I enquired about a test drive in an M3 coupe at Sytner Solihull, to be told they won't have one available this weekend and to keep an eye on the website to see if one comes in!

[Cheburator mk2]

I have been a BMW man thru and thru since 2001, but my Z4MC is the last car I will buy from them... Shocking customer service across the board and smug dealers in the SE make the experience pretty bad.

[SittingBull]

BMW have had good UK business for many years. Their mistake has been insisting that every franchise spends several million pounds on the "airy" corporate look. Whilst I applaud their showrooms (the best in the business IMHO), the customer pays in the end - through £100+/hour labour charges. What does the grease monkey get - less than £10/hr.

Private UK BMW new car sales have dried up. Who wants to pay/finance a £30K 320 Coupe when you can buy a far superior Japanese car for £19K new - or £12K as a 6 month old demonstrator.....

The only people buying Brand New BMW's this year are businesses. And the bean counters are behind the times. 2 years ago a BMW would have shown little depreciation on the balance sheet. This month it will be a disaster! Just ask your "friendly" BMW Dealer for a trade in price on your low mileage 2009 £40K purchase. I'll bet you would have lost at least £15K....

Watch the BMW/Porsche/Audi dealers go bust like flies this Autumn/Winter. And good riddance & welcome China with the improved £13,995 MG 500 TF - with a 5 year warranty and all the other Far East dealers who offer long warranties, non rusting cars & want you business.

We live in a country (ruled by c***s?) that has a maximum National Speed limit of 70mph, allows copious amounts of alcohol & cigarretes to be sold & advertises (at YOUR cost, as a taxpayer) against all that rakes in the revenue!! Why, if the maximum speed limit is 70mph, does Mr "Winky" Brown allow 220mph cars to be sold? Bloody Hypocrites one & all with their Government Pool 18mpg Jaguars.

Edited by SittingBull on Wednesday 9th September 17:29

[ian in lancs]

SittingBull said:

BMW have had good UK business for many years. Their mistake has been insisting that every franchise spends several million pounds on the "airy" corporate look. Whilst I applaud their showrooms (the best in the business IMHO), the customer pays in the end - through £100+/hour labour charges. What does the grease monkey get - less than £10/hr.

Private UK BMW new car sales have dried up. Who wants to pay/finance a £30K 320 Coupe when you can buy a far superior Japanese car for £19K new - or £12K as a 6 month old demonstrator.....

The only people buying Brand New BMW's this year are businesses. And the bean counters are behind the times. 2 years ago a BMW would have shown little depreciation on the balance sheet. This month it will be a disaster! Just ask your "friendly" BMW Dealer for a trade in price on your low mileage 2009 £40K purchase. I'll bet you would have lost at least £15K....

Watch the BMW/Porsche/Audi dealers go bust like flies this Autumn/Winter. And good riddance & welcome China with the improved £13,995 MG 500 TF - with a 5 year warranty and all the other Far East dealers who offer long warranties, non rusting cars & want you business.

yep! Then get your Beemer serviced!

[SittingBull]

ian in lancs said:

SittingBull said:

BMW have had good UK business for many years. Their mistake has been insisting that every franchise spends several million pounds on the "airy" corporate look. Whilst I applaud their showrooms (the best in the business IMHO), the customer pays in the end - through £100+/hour labour charges. What does the grease monkey get - less than £10/hr.

Private UK BMW new car sales have dried up. Who wants to pay/finance a £30K 320 Coupe when you can buy a far superior Japanese car for £19K new - or £12K as a 6 month old demonstrator.....

The only people buying Brand New BMW's this year are businesses. And the bean counters are behind the times. 2 years ago a BMW would have shown little depreciation on the balance sheet. This month it will be a disaster! Just ask your "friendly" BMW Dealer for a trade in price on your low mileage 2009 £40K purchase. I'll bet you would have lost at least £15K....

Watch the BMW/Porsche/Audi dealers go bust like flies this Autumn/Winter. And good riddance & welcome China with the improved £13,995 MG 500 TF - with a 5 year warranty and all the other Far East dealers who offer long warranties, non rusting cars & want you business.

yep! Then get your Beemer serviced!

???? What are you saying?

[jontysafe]

Have just bought a Z4MC from Cooper`s in Cobham. To be honest I think the service has been exemplary, from the salesman (Jamie) to the business manager (James). No pressure at any point, and couldn`t do enough. To boot the car was very competitively priced, I got a good trade in (on an Audi)!
I don`t know if it was because my initial contact was on a Sunday when everyone seems to be a bit more chilled out? I have absolutely nothing to gain by recommending these guys but give them a go and let me know?

[ian in lancs]

SittingBull said:

ian in lancs said:

SittingBull said:

BMW have had good UK business for many years. Their mistake has been insisting that every franchise spends several million pounds on the "airy" corporate look. Whilst I applaud their showrooms (the best in the business IMHO), the customer pays in the end - through £100+/hour labour charges. What does the grease monkey get - less than £10/hr.

Private UK BMW new car sales have dried up. Who wants to pay/finance a £30K 320 Coupe when you can buy a far superior Japanese car for £19K new - or £12K as a 6 month old demonstrator.....

The only people buying Brand New BMW's this year are businesses. And the bean counters are behind the times. 2 years ago a BMW would have shown little depreciation on the balance sheet. This month it will be a disaster! Just ask your "friendly" BMW Dealer for a trade in price on your low mileage 2009 £40K purchase. I'll bet you would have lost at least £15K....

Watch the BMW/Porsche/Audi dealers go bust like flies this Autumn/Winter. And good riddance & welcome China with the improved £13,995 MG 500 TF - with a 5 year warranty and all the other Far East dealers who offer long warranties, non rusting cars & want you business.

yep! Then get your Beemer serviced!

???? What are you saying?

I meant less BMW MD's less competition so the prices go up! Although, I'd hope the technicians set up indies, price sensibly and capture the market.

[SittingBull]

TRL said:

SittingBull said:

Private UK BMW new car sales have dried up. Who wants to pay/finance a £30K 320 Coupe when you can buy a far superior Japanese car for £19K new - or £12K as a 6 month old demonstrator.....

The only people buying Brand New BMW's this year are businesses. And the bean counters are behind the times. 2 years ago a BMW would have shown little depreciation on the balance sheet. This month it will be a disaster! Just ask your "friendly" BMW Dealer for a trade in price on your low mileage 2009 £40K purchase. I'll bet you would have lost at least £15K....

Watch the BMW/Porsche/Audi dealers go bust like flies this Autumn/Winter.

Edited by SittingBull on Wednesday 9th September 17:29

Erm, that's not actually true SittingBull. Being associated with all the trade mags and running
a busy BMW sales dept, I can testify that Fleet is massively down as the companys have extended
their cycles or refinanced the current car. Retail is flying at BMW - there is very little stock,
lead times on X5 etc is 3 to 4 months. Personally I have sold 750 cars in 8 months which is 105
more than last year. Also I cannot recall any Audi, BMW or Porsche sites going bust. Some have been
sold off as going concerns...only Honda, Mitsubshi and Renault seem to be shutting sites down.
There was actually a closure of sorts at the Porsche site in Anglia (was not Coopers - it was Lind - part of the Daker family I believe), and
it was shut down by them. They never sold that part of the business to Inchcape. And it was more
of a consolidation as they still operate their Tonbridge site in Kent.

I know no one likes a smarty pants - so as a consolation I agree entirely with your sentiment. Lets all piss
off to the Isle of man...no speed limits, self governed and no chance of getting home sick!!!

I like the cut of your clothe TRL, and your advice. Yes, you are quite right that Graham Dacre sold what used to be the BMW Lind dealership to Coopers (Inchcape) for several million pounds (About £5M if I remember correctly). Dacre/Lind commissioned the extremely expensive Porsche site next door to Cooper BMW Norwich but failed to manage it properly. I would think that his time was taken by the Dacre/Lind need to look after their strange religious habits - very similar to Jehoavahs Witness's.... From the outset on their opening day their website did not work for over 4 months - despite being told by me in week one that the site simply would not get past the "home" page. When they eventually got it working 5 months later (!!! Despite their CEO knowing that their multi million pound investment had a non-working web-site for months!) they refused to put prices against their used vehicles. That puts me off, how about you as a salesman?

If you have a Porsche Dealership in Central London or the affluent Surrey Commuter Belt you can afford to take the attitude "If you need to ask the price, you can't afford it!" Not in Norfolk...

You are a brave salesman to post your honest comments here. Don't get caught out by your Croydon General Manager reading this site....

Edited by SittingBull on Friday 11th September 10:18