Main Dealers and Sunday Opening

[paddyhasneeds]

I intended to go looking at new cars today - thought better of it yesterday as I was doing other things.

So how come that out of six main dealers that I tried, four simply don't open on a Sunday?

Is Sunday traditionally tyre kickers day or have I missed something as to me it seems they're choosing to close for 50% of their peak buying days surely?

[Hitch78]

I would say cost, though they'd be better closing on a Wednesday in my opinion.

When I worked in the trade Sunday was the main viewing day (though Sat am was fairly busy too) and would bag you the most sales, with some Sunday viewers then converting to a sale during the week.

[paddyhasneeds]

Hitch78 said:

I would say cost, though they'd be better closing on a Wednesday in my opinion.

When I worked in the trade Sunday was the main viewing day (though Sat am was fairly busy too) and would bag you the most sales, with some Sunday viewers then converting to a sale during the week.

Honestly, to say I'm staggered is no exaggeration - these aren't small independents they're frickin' huge national dealer chains, I had a "route" planned out of dealers with specific vehicles of interest and it's shot to buggery as most of them are simply closed.

[Hitch78]

They've had a very tough time in recent years - I'm amazed most of them aren't now down to straight five day opening from Friday to Tuesday. I suppose the difficult bit is getting the service guys/admin/DPs to shift to weekend working.

[richcorsavxr]

i belive if you ring and let them know, some dealers will open on a sunday

[rallycross]

Most people dont go buying cars on sundays anymore, sundays are taken up with other commitments (family, sports etc) hence dealers not opening as not enough serious interest to justify it.... which is unfortunate if you happen to be a serious buyer on a sunday!

And, for the poor people who work in retail, they should be allowed one day off a week!

[markmullen]

Sundays are very hit and miss, some days can be very busy, some dead, a lot of it depending on the weather.

I know Peter Vardy said he would be closing his dealerships to give the sales guys some time off.

[LHD]

markmullen said:

Sundays are very hit and miss, some days can be very busy, some dead, a lot of it depending on the weather.

I know Peter Vardy said he would be closing his dealerships to give the sales guys some time off.

With Vardy it's as much to do with Sunday being the Holy day too.

[marcusRR]

paddyhasneeds said:

I intended to go looking at new cars today - thought better of it yesterday as I was doing other things.

So how come that out of six main dealers that I tried, four simply don't open on a Sunday?

Is Sunday traditionally tyre kickers day or have I missed something as to me it seems they're choosing to close for 50% of their peak buying days surely?

As you were out this sunday it suggests that your job/business doesnt operate on a sunday, there is probably a very good reason for this... so why make the automatic assumption that others would not have done the calculations and then taken the same decisions for their business?

In reality the majority of dealerships do open on a sunday as people expect it, however often it is not worth the time or effort or expense. Most dealerships cut staffing to the bone due to the recession so it could simply be the case that they do not have the staff to cover so have taken the option to close that day.

Edited by marcusRR on Sunday 16th May 12:55

[Denis O]

marcusRR said:

paddyhasneeds said:

I intended to go looking at new cars today - thought better of it yesterday as I was doing other things.

So how come that out of six main dealers that I tried, four simply don't open on a Sunday?

Is Sunday traditionally tyre kickers day or have I missed something as to me it seems they're choosing to close for 50% of their peak buying days surely?

As you were out this sunday it suggests that your job/business doesnt operate on a sunday, there is probably a very good reason for this... so why make the automatic assumption that others would not have done the calculations and then taken the same decisions for their business?

In reality the majority of dealerships do open on a sunday as people expect it, however often it is not worth the time or effort or expense. Most dealerships cut staffing to the bone due to the recession so it could simply be the case that they do not have the staff to cover so have taken the option to close that day.

Edited by marcusRR on Sunday 16th May 12:55

Because if you're selling to the public then you have to be open when the public are available. Simple really when you think about it.

[marcusRR]

Denis O said:

marcusRR said:

paddyhasneeds said:

I intended to go looking at new cars today - thought better of it yesterday as I was doing other things.

So how come that out of six main dealers that I tried, four simply don't open on a Sunday?

Is Sunday traditionally tyre kickers day or have I missed something as to me it seems they're choosing to close for 50% of their peak buying days surely?

As you were out this sunday it suggests that your job/business doesnt operate on a sunday, there is probably a very good reason for this... so why make the automatic assumption that others would not have done the calculations and then taken the same decisions for their business?

In reality the majority of dealerships do open on a sunday as people expect it, however often it is not worth the time or effort or expense. Most dealerships cut staffing to the bone due to the recession so it could simply be the case that they do not have the staff to cover so have taken the option to close that day.

Edited by marcusRR on Sunday 16th May 12:55

Because if you're selling to the public then you have to be open when the public are available. Simple really when you think about it.

Why do you think a business should open if its not financially worth their time? Its simple economics. Do you think the very large dealer groups the OP has outlined are stupid? The motor trade is very profit focused! They would have done the financial calculation that shows the profit lost by being shut on a Sunday is less than the cost of opening or that monitoring trading patterns shows that the people who would come on sunday simply arrange to come on another day and in reality they loose nothing at all...how did the world operate before the sunday trading laws were relaxed

P.S I am at work today (Sunday) because it is worth my time

Edited by marcusRR on Sunday 16th May 14:31

[markcjd]

markmullen said:

Sundays are very hit and miss, some days can be very busy, some dead, a lot of it depending on the weather.

I know Peter Vardy said he would be closing his dealerships to give the sales guys some time off.

Rest assured this was not done to benefit the sales staff. I believe they lost their weekly day off to close on Sunday.

I am at my desk today and we open every Sunday. Generally speaking the volume franchises will all be open Sunday whilst the hi end tend to close.

[paoloh]

Saw a couple of customers this morning that may turn into sales but have been watching TV all afternoon.

The host has made me so much tea, I'm about to burst...lol

[okgo]

There is one group that do not open any of their dealerships on sunday as the owners particular religion has something to do with it I believe

[markmullen]

Well I've dealt two today so it was worth me being in!

[whoami]

markcjd said:

markmullen said:

Sundays are very hit and miss, some days can be very busy, some dead, a lot of it depending on the weather.

I know Peter Vardy said he would be closing his dealerships to give the sales guys some time off.

Rest assured this was not done to benefit the sales staff. I believe they lost their weekly day off to close on Sunday.

I am at my desk today and we open every Sunday. Generally speaking the volume franchises will all be open Sunday whilst the hi end tend to close.

They all open round here

[markcjd]

paoloh said:

The host

Fecking Hell, I must be doing it wrong! A host, Tea, Sweet Jesus, I'm off to type the CV up.

[Acehood]

It's just like the banks only being open Mon-Fri 9-5 (and some on Saturday morning) - exactly the same time the majority of people who need to use them are working.

So stupid, I really don't understand the logic behind it. All this nonsense about Sunday being a "holy" day or whatever is so out of touch with the modern world.

[TIGA84]

[quote=Acehood]It's just like the banks only being open Mon-Fri 9-5 (and some on Saturday morning) - exactly the same time the majority of people who need to use them are working.

So stupid, I really don't understand the logic behind it. All this nonsense about Sunday being a "holy" day or whatever is so out of touch with the modern world.[quote]

By that rationale, they would have to be open on Easter/Christmas as well then, would you agree? Or is that out of touch with the modern world as well?

[Acehood]

TIGA84 said:

Acehood said:

It's just like the banks only being open Mon-Fri 9-5 (and some on Saturday morning) - exactly the same time the majority of people who need to use them are working.

So stupid, I really don't understand the logic behind it. All this nonsense about Sunday being a "holy" day or whatever is so out of touch with the modern world.

By that rationale, they would have to be open on Easter/Christmas as well then, would you agree? Or is that out of touch with the modern world as well?

Personally I don't care for Christmas, Easter, etc so I'd be happy for everything to stay open on those days. My family aren't religious in the slightest but we do celebrate christmas. I'd rather work Christmas day if I had the choice. I'd also prefer not to have to buy loads of presents for people.