Roberto

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Posts posted by Roberto

  1. Posted · Edited by Roberto

    14 hours ago, BHM said:

    Dear me, some of you like to make life hard for yourselves. The supermarkets have done the spadework for us & just about EVERYONE expects to be instructed on what to do when shopping. 
     
    If your business is generated remotely surely every single one of us is capable of qualifying most customers - sorting the wheat from the chaff. Yes, a few will slip through the net but at the point you realise they’re tyre kickers you simply show them the door & tell them to return when they are buyers.

    If you’ve got an open pitch & your business is mainly generated by walk-ons then surely a half-hour trip to a supermarket will give you a bloody good idea how to operate. This isn’t rocket science, a couple of signs printed, a bit of bunting (remember that?) or chain and even some rubber gloves to placate those who want them.

    All this bollocks about showing some tyrekicker a car then having to leave it 3 days for the next tyrekicker you’ve let in is just that, bollocks. If you’re that bothered can’t you lads stretch to a £2 bottle of spray bleach & some kitchen roll? 

    Hmmmmm! Perhaps give them a drink of disinfectant as prescribed by Dettol Donny USA president:)In any case a quick spruce with some sort of bleach/disinfectant should do the trick, or, just insist they have to wear gloves. Welcome to the new normal.

  5. Posted

    15 hours ago, BHM said:

    Let’s bring in some reality. Sorry but what’s all this nonsense about sanitising a full house before viewing? Utter rubbish. I certainly don’t see sanitisation squads following customers around supermarkets. 

    Back to estate agents - their offices are hardly going to be thronging with people & as for viewings they aren’t responsible for the vendors’ properties. 

    Quite right! Car showrooms are larger than your average house, and, I don't think you'll get big queues like supermarkets. If everybody applies social distancing and wear gloves in the showrooms there should'nt be a problem. As for test drives, just let the customer do it as long as you have their proof of address.

    • Like 1

  6. Posted

    9 hours ago, Contracts said:

    Nothing will need changing, many new cars sit for months at a time, we still have access to some new and unused BMW’s registered June 2019.

    Before you ask the warranty starts from registration date but do check the service countdown is reset if it’s had an early PDI.

    Some larger fleet dealers are delivering cars but most smaller retail outlets have furloughed staff and would need individual people to do the following to make it happen, PDI, Valet, Invoice, Register / RFL, Hans over.

    In most cases main dealers are just taking holding deposits on used cars rather than delivering them.

    Excellent advice. Thank you.

    • Like 1

  7. Posted

    42 minutes ago, Nick. said:

    I too have a vehicle waiting for me in a showroom, evans halshaw, they are delivering used cars but not new ones?? And showrooms are closed to the public, no one is saying they cant operate behind closed doors.

    Not very helpful are you?

    Dealers showing their true colours. They wouldn't be this salty if we were in THEIR showroom. 

    • Like 1

  8. Posted

    23 hours ago, metcars said:

    Heart problems and high blood pressure are part of the job? How on earth did you end up on a car dealer forum?

    As far as I'm aware this is still a free country, and, I have a vested interest as my new car is sat in the showroom, and, I thought this would be a good place to get information as to when dealers would open again. If me being here upsets your sensibility then this will be my last post.

  9. Posted

    46 minutes ago, metcars said:

    I’m 58 with heart failure and hypertension. I’m one of those people being ‘shielded’ at home. If I catch it I will die. I’m not going anywhere near a hospital for as long as possible!

    I don't blame you! I'm 62 and as a key worker I  am at risk everyday. I can't self isolate as I won't get paid. I hope you are still getting the treatment you deserve and have not been 'forgotten' by the NHS.

  10. Posted

    9 hours ago, have a word with the wife said:

    i alright :rolleyes:

    it is not the decision of "boris" by the way, let me put it simple, if the 5  conditions are not met, and the hospitals cannot cope, and  YOU cut your hand bad, then you will simply bleed to death, or, heart attack, for example.

    Mmmm is that why doctors and nurses are on social media platforms dancing? My missus has Asthma, diabetes and other health issues and has appointments cancelled because of this. It seems everybody elses health issues can go spit. Johnson is "guided by the science" and this is the science that advised the government to make 50 to 69 year olds self isolate like over 70's. Even the WHO recommended that this be the case as that was where most deaths were occurring. Don't tell me it's not his decision.

  11. Posted

    If we don't  get rolling there won't be an economy. UK will be a nation of neurotics. Things can progress if proper safety is in place such as masks in public, and, yes I have lost friends to this too but we can't go on being afraid of our own shadow just in case it's infected. 

  13. Posted

    On 4/29/2020 at 9:58 PM, A & S said:

    What's your prediction? when the lockdown is going to be lifted and we can start selling cars and vans again without the  restrictions.

    I'm not a dealer, but, I love this forum. Everybody is so civil and of course I love talking about cars. I do have a vested interest in joining though  because my new car is sitting in the showroom and bloody Johnson shut it down 3 days before I was due to collect. So I have been reading CDM articles to get an inkling of when dealers would open again.

  14. Posted

    3 hours ago, Paul C said:

    Along with everyone else, I have no idea what's going to happen. I am wondering if they canvassed all areas of business with the question "if there was a partial lift of the lockdown, how would you adapt your business to minimise the negative effects of the crisis" or something along those lines. I can see it happening very very gradually so don't assume we'll be first (or second...) but there's obviously some sectors with really big problems - for example pubs with live gigs, squished into a small venue, there's no real prospect of social distancing in something like that. Or cinemas, theatres, etc

    For car dealers, there is a wide variety of settings. The big posh dealers with 20 ft high ceilings and spacey indoors showrooms can demonstrate SD fine; so can the yards which are basically outdoors (just do the paperwork away from customer then leave it near the door of the small office/portacabin for them to look at and sign, or something similar). But there's a few in between I'd not fancy having to work out a viable plan. And test drives.....hmmmmmmm. So, fingers crossed some common sense and thoughtful planning rather than the "emergency" rushed nature of the imposition of the lockdown and throwing money/loans/grants at the problem is shown.

    Similar for auctions, there's not too great an alteration to their normal working methods to get things going and compliant with SD.

    Once trading in a near-normal level starts, the fun begins. We will have a better idea of supply and demand; hopefully any supply chain issues are worked out once the auctions start flowing again (new cars excepted) so prices should become more predictable. I personally think demand will be up for <£3k, flat for £3-6k and down for everything else. New cars - I don't think the supply issue is as bad as feared; but the demand will be so poor that supply won't be an issue, and many manufacturers will be struggling in 6-12 months. Along with this, some of the (posh) franchise dealers will suffer badly too. 

    Yes! Test drives could be a problem, although in my experience, I've been on many test drives ( particularly used cars) where I've had the keys given and left to my own devices which gives you a better "feel" for the car rather than someone breathing down your neck as it were. Maybe in the case of new cars the customer could leave something of value at the dealership, house keys, smartphone a small returnable deposit perhaps. In any case if both parties are PPE'd up there should'nt be a problem.

  15. Posted · Edited by Roberto

    As a customer. I think ALL dealerships WILL open on 11 May. The answer to it is very simple. ALL customers must wear facial covering of some sort and wear disposable or cloth gloves, because as you know, car buying is a very tactile business.Protective screens fitted to service desks and handwash should be made available. Social distancing rules should also apply and a limit of customers in the showroom at any time. You are not going to see miles of customers queuing outside like supermarkets so this should'nt be a problem. So, if these rules are applied I see no reason not to open on 11 May.

    • Like 1