NEWS

NATIONAL Complaints Day kicks off tomorrow, meaning you should anticipate a possible rise in grumbles. The well-publicised ‘Day’ is, fittingly, running on Friday 13th. Car Dealer Magazine is sure it will be picked up by the national press, which is why you should anticipate a potential complaints upturn – and be ready for it! National [...]

EURO Car Parts is now supplying aftermarket numberplates for all makes and models of cars, including flash supercars. The service is being rolled out in 20 branches initially, before full-scale adoption in 71 ECP outlets. Both trade and retail sales are available. Sounds easy, making up new number plates? Think again. Not only are there [...]

BMW car dealer Murketts of Huntingdon has launched a distinctive drive to improve its aftersales business. The ‘Think We’re Expensive’ campaign aims to challenge preconceptions that franchised dealers mean high repair costs. One of the firm’s oldest approved UK car dealers, Murketts is focusing on older, out-of-warranty models with the marketing drive for BMW’s older [...]

HAYNES is moving into the mobile digital age, with its first ever iPhone App giving car fix tips. The new App means iPhones are set for a new type of fingerprint – the oil-stained one. It’s all part of Haynes’ further expansion into new marketing channels. What’s more, it could even help support car dealer [...]

TOKYO may host all the new car debuts, but when it comes to used ones, they can drive you spare. Components prices can, sometimes, be on the pricey side for Japanese motors. This is because they are so reliable, they simply don’t need the bits in the first place! In steps Euro Car Parts. It [...]

MOTORISTS may experience 15 percent more crashes during October, due to not adjusting to autumn driving conditions. This could increase demand on car dealer bodyshops and repair centres, dealers are warned. Accident Exchange says that autumn rain, coupled with early leaf fall, is making roads greasy – and leading to the big rise in the [...]

VOLKSWAGEN has issued a mandate to customers, promising the highest levels of service and care. The Volkswagen Service Promise is, says the firm, much more than a gimmick; it’s a commitment. Covering all areas of VW ownership, the 10 promises have been devised following research with dealers, into what owners actually want. VW admits many [...]

CAR owners are simply not thinking about going to their local car dealer if their oil level runs low. This means dealers are missing out on a big source of aftersales income, says oil firm Chevron. Dealers are not helping themselves here. The firm says that, of 2500 motorists surveyed, only 14 percent were offered [...]

MERCEDES is the first premium maker to cap parts prices and fitting costs for all of its key cars. The new deal covers all its most popular motors, and has NO age limit – cars of any year can hook into it. The ‘Fixed Price Repairs’ service means there’ll be no nasty surprises for customers [...]

RAC Warranty says that used car shortages mean car dealers should be targeting yields to grow their profits. Serious stock shortages mean pure volume will not be able to grow revenues. The trick here, says the firm’s Ian Simpson, will be to increase upsale of products such as warranties and GAP insurance. ‘Dealers will almost [...]

CAR buyers who put off buying oil because they’re not sure of the right brand now have aid from an oil company. Chevron Global Lubricants has launched a trick new service for its Havoline oil brand. Owners simply text the word ‘oil’, and their registration number, to the number found in Texaco filling stations. By [...]

PROFIT margins from warranty product sales can now be calculated, thanks to free new tools from MB&G. The warranty firm have developed the kit of calculators to help dealers gee up staff and get them upselling. Simple to use, they’re real profit-boosters, says MB&G director Kevin Pearce. ‘In the current economic climate, it’s a tough [...]

WHICH? Car’s annual dealer satisfaction survey has rated Lexus top of the class for the 5th year running. The consumer body says Lexus dealers are virtually untouchable, both in sales and servicing. Indeed, one customer, it reports, said ‘even the coffee was great’. But equally praised was Daihatsu in second place; showing, said Which? Car, [...]

VOLVO’s innovative mobile service for London owners is certainly smart – but how does it work? To find out, Car Dealer Magazine spoke to the man behind it; Volvo London director Frank Fisher. Customer convenience was a big factor behind it, he admitted. ‘Central London is incredibly congested, so having a Volvo technician come to [...]

FRANCHISED car dealers are more expensive than independents, right? Wrong, says a Vauxhall study. The MasterFit brand conducted an investigation into competitor pricing. It discovered Vauxhall MasterFit dealers were ‘cheaper in almost all service areas than many local independent garages and service centres – including well-known household names.’ 88 percent of services are said to [...]

RAC Warranty reports a one-fifth increase in profitable car warranty sales, after introducing a new scheme. The ‘Critical Success Factors’ programme was launched last year. Since then, says the firm, car dealers have been able to maximise warranty sales. It’s proven so successful, says RAC Warranty’s Ian Simpson, because it’s easy to understand and implement. [...]

VAUXHALL has introduced a go-faster stripe styling kit for franchised dealers, to help drive aftersales. The 3dr Corsa VXR-style racing stripes stretch the entire central length of the car, and cost £150. That’s a fully-fitted price too, said a spokesman. So how are car dealers going to make any money from it? Thanks, they said, [...]

INSURANCE can be a stumbling block when trying to seal a deal. Customer loves the car, loves the price, loves you, everything. Right up until the thorny issue of getting it on the road comes up. Sorry, they’ll say. Just can’t afford the insurance premium. Must look at something else. Or, worse, must go elsewhere. [...]

SUZUKI is the latest car maker to drive aftersales with a dedicated area of its national customer site. The ‘My Suzuki’ area of Suzuki’s website is encouraging customers to ‘get interactive’, both with Suzuki aftersales and local Suzuki dealers. It’s similar to a scheme already launched by Vauxhall, and is being launched with a special [...]

VAUXHALL has launched an owner-specific website to boost aftersales and dealer network retention. The ‘Vauxhall Drivers Centre’ is offering a host of launch initiatives, including: •    Half price MOTs at MasterFit •    £50 free accessories when buying a 3-year service plan •    25 percent off a subscription to Jamie Oliver’s magazine •    A fifth off [...]