Maxwell Motors will not renew BMW franchise

DonJose

38 people are to lose their jobs as Maxwell Motors in Blackrock Co Dublin has decided not to renew its BMW franchise.

Maxwell Motors managing director Charlie Day said the decision was made in the light of the conditions set down by BMW for such a renewal.

The franchise deal with BMW was for new BMW marque and new Mini marque cars. Maxwell Motors will continue to sell these second-hand.

Though the development means the company is making half its staff redundant, the company will continue to trade and will sell a wider variety of cars in future.

Mr Day said the decisions were difficult. He said the board's view of the economy over the next few years was pessimistic.

'The hardest decision of all has been the making redundant of over half our current staff. Some of this team have 30 years and more service with the company and it is naturally with great sadness that the board made its decision,' he said.

http://www.rte.ie/business/2008/0729/cars.html

R.O.R

Rumours abound that they aren't the only Dublin BMW dealership who may no longer be trading in the near future.......

Gandalf23

Apparently there has been alot of infighting between senior management at Maxwells which involved solicitors and was getting very nasty and out of control.

From the Herald Wednesday July 09 2008 ...


BMW dealer in bullying claim settles out of court

By Kevin Doyle

A FORMER managing director of a BMW dealership who accused his employers of bullying him before he was fired has made a financial settlement out of court.

James Hennessy alleged that he was "bullied and harassed" when he worked at Maxwell Motors in Blackrock.

He had been an employee at the company for more than 30 years when an independent report recommended his dismissal in November last year.

HEARING

However, on the second day of a hearing before the Employment Appeals Tribunal, the two parties agreed to a settlement.

The exact terms of the settlement will remain confidential, but it was confirmed that the agreement was reached on "amicable" terms.

As part of the arrangement, Mr Hennessy is also to drop proceedings he had taken against the company in the High Court.

The settlement was reached after sales director Patrick Sweeney was being cross examined by Michael Howard, counsel for Mr Hennessy.

Earlier, under questioning from counsel for Maxwell Motors, Mr Sweeney had said he did not believe the former MD was being bullied at board meetings but rather was unable or unwilling to answer questions about his running of the company.

He said that he found Mr Hennessy's inability to answer certain questions as "cringe-making".

"I wouldn't refer to it as bullying at all. Perhaps it was different to the way things were asked under Charles Day Snr (the pervious managing director).

"Perhaps it was a more robust style," Mr Sweeney told the tribunal.

Mr Hennessy, who had worked with Maxwell Motors since 1974, had claimed he was unfairly dismissed from his position in November 2007.

It was claimed that the dismissal followed recommendations contained in an independent report into management practices at the company.

The company denied that any bullying or harassment had taken place.

Gandalf23

R.O.R wrote: »

Rumours abound that they aren't the only Dublin BMW dealership who may no longer be trading in the near future.......

do tell ...

Fozzie Bear

Barry Motors in Galway have also given up/lost their BMW & Mini dealership. Tom Hogan motors have taken it on now for Galway city.

lynchie

R.O.R wrote: »

Rumours abound that they aren't the only Dublin BMW dealership who may no longer be trading in the near future.......

hmmm.. I've heard rumours too about another quite popular Dublin based BMW dealer that is in a lot of trouble.. I've had two people mention that to me now.. Wonder how true it really is...

R.O.R

lynchie wrote: »

hmmm.. I've heard rumours too about another quite popular Dublin based BMW dealer that is in a lot of trouble.. I've had two people mention that to me now.. Wonder how true it really is...

Not sure where it started. My reliable source in BMW is trying to play it down so until something more concrete comes through the grapevine I'm not posting any more details.

Seth Brundle

Gandalf23 wrote: »

do tell ...

The rumourmill is suggesting that Joe Duffys are getting axed. There is absolutely nothing to back the allegation up though!

pburns

What the deal?

You'd think a BMW dealership aboove all would be a licence to print money I mean they were at no. 3 in the manufacturers list of cars sold in the first week of July... They have a range of low-CO2 cars that are perfectly suitable to our new tax system. I would expect Mercedes dealers to be in choppy waters right now but Bimmer dealers?

Has this something to do with BMW taking over as distributers and weeding out the chaff? What am I missing?

On a related subject - I heard today that a certain high profile VW/Audi/Merc dealer is also in trouble.

alpina

What's the main gripe behind all these garages walking away or being pushed?
Independant garage for BMW & another for Mini?
Unacceptable management, targets, idiotic business plans?

At a time when the marquee is flying high as a result of 'being on the ball' with Co2 emissions etc, this negative publicity is really ill timed...
Those who have lost employment as a result that's the real shame when BMW are possibly about to have some of their best annual sales figures as a result of the Irish Co2 system....

TomMc

The thing about say Duffy's & McKeons for example which might suggest something like this may possibly happen in the future, is that in more recent times they have added other marques to their portfolios, when in the past they had little or no interest beyond BMW.

Management can change and so general direction of a company. Then in todays marketplace it is probably best to have a slice of many pies as well, prestige and mainstream market. So we will have to wait and see. The one thing in all this is that many dealers can no longer take things for granted and get complacent, now with car manufacturers themselves taking a more progressive role in the sales market. A welcome change from poverty spec cars, cartels, price fixing and all that.

agent_smith

My well placed source (for what its worth) has told me that Joe Duffy's is definately going to be getting a lot smaller soon.
Duffys is in an unenviable position of having a huge amount of stock sitting on its forecourt.
Further rumor is that the motorrad division is moving from its current place in duffys.

TheDriver

TO add to this, there is widespread rumours here in Cork that one of the BMW dealerships is loosing the dealership from January and just one look at their showroom has it looking much different from the usual ones (older smaller bmw, old days) while other rumours state its because he wouldn't take on motorad.
Think BMW is copperfastening their network by ensuring all dealers are playing ball and now is the time they can insist on certain showroom conditions etc

ninty9er

Heard a similar story in Limerick, targets were the issue apparently. Can't see it being true though.

TheDriver

me neither as the dealership in Cork has always sold a fair share of beemers, people still driving out of the showroom with new stuff instead of going to the fancier looking dealership in the city!

CharlieCroker

TheDriver wrote: »

me neither as the dealership in Cork has always sold a fair share of beemers, people still driving out of the showroom with new stuff instead of going to the fancier looking dealership in the city!

A lot smaller percentage than whhats coming out of Keary's though. that was the final nail in the coffin

copacetic

wonder why this took so long to hit the news?

Everyone knew they were losing franchis for months and that they were letting staff go for the last couple of weeks:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055285448&highlight=maxwell+motors

E92

It's fairly common knowledge at this stage that Kevin O'Leary is losing the BMW/MINI franchise in Cork.

Considering the reputation Joe Duffys have I wouldn't be even slightly surprised if they are the other dealer to part company with BMW in Dublin. I have nothing to suggest that this is true though other than hearing it as a rumour several times.

Personally I'm disappointed that KO'L lost the BMW franchise if for no other reason than that I feel it is good for competition and the consumer to have competing dealerships near each other. I would hope that BMW will appoint a second dealer other than Kearys for Cork, for precisely those reasons.

All that said, I'd rather fewer good dealers than several mediocre/bad ones letting down BMW/MINI.

Could a mod please edit the incorrect title, as Maxwell did not lose the franchise, but rather chose to hand it back to BMW as well?

pburns wrote: »

You'd think a BMW dealership aboove all would be a licence to print money I mean they were at no. 3 in the manufacturers list of cars sold in the first week of July... They have a range of low-CO2 cars that are perfectly suitable to our new tax system. I would expect Mercedes dealers to be in choppy waters right now but Bimmer dealers?

They've also had to stock a LOAD of cars for 6 months that should have gone out in January, but went out in July as a result of the changes. Yes they're doing very well at the moment but they were down by 33% up to the end of June, and had all that excess stock because of people deferring their new BMWs to take advantage of the VRT changes. And the cheaper new ones means they'll have had to just knock off several thousand on some cars, just at the drop of a whim(though some are still in dreamland and still selling cars for ridiculously high prices).

pburns wrote: »

Has this something to do with BMW taking over as distributers and weeding out the chaff? What am I missing?

On a related subject - I heard today that a certain high profile VW/Audi/Merc dealer is also in trouble.

That would be Turners Cross motors in Cork I'm guessing, there have been ads locally about VAG looking for a new VW and Audi dealer(though I'm not aware of anything happening with Merc).

Dealers that are not up to scratch will lose the BMW franchise.

It is interesting to note that BMW have been giving the franchises to dealers that sell Toyota/Lexus. The 2 brands have a reputation for being amongst the best customer service, so hopefully that will transfer to BMW/MINI as well.

niceirishfella

I hear Capital Cars in Tullamore is losing/or handing their franchise back too.

Therefore, there is no main BMW dealer in the midlands.
The nearest would be Conlons in Rathangan.

oilsheik

There is a new BMWdealer for the Midlands Colm Quinn Blyry Retail Park, Athlone.

preilly79

kbannon wrote: »

The rumourmill is suggesting that Joe Duffys are getting axed. There is absolutely nothing to back the allegation up though!

My brother in the trade mentioned this also. Something to do with the amount tied up in second hand cars on the lot that they're unable to sell?

Seth Brundle

Most dealers have loads of used cars though - its down to the fact that we had a changeover in tax regeime. Also JDs or other dealers don't take in used cars without selling either another used car or more likely a new car.

copacetic

kbannon wrote: »

Most dealers have loads of used cars though - its down to the fact that we had a changeover in tax regeime. Also JDs or other dealers don't take in used cars without selling either another used car or more likely a new car.

most of joe duffys stock still seem about 5-10k overpriced. no way they can sell them at those prices. possibly their margins are so low they can't afford to reprice them properly to sell but they are just postponing the inevitable imo.

Seth Brundle

IMO there was a nice clique between BMW Irl and JDs which I was led to believe was quite strong so Im inclined to not believe the rumour.
However, IMO its no loss! I never found a member of staff in there that seemed happy to have a customer walk in the door.

agent_smith

The closure of all these dealerships will do more than hit the number of bmw's that are sold, it will likely impact the residual values of new and second hand BMW's.
BMW warranties are only held if regular scheduled servicing takes place with authorised parts by authorised mechanics. Like was mentioned earlier, what will happen to those that have purchased beemers in the midlands, when a trip to dublin or cork means a days holidays.... i know it would put me off buying a new or second hand bmw.

E92

agent_smith wrote: »

Like was mentioned earlier, what will happen to those that have purchased beemers in the midlands, when a trip to dublin or cork means a days holidays.... i know it would put me off buying a new or second hand bmw.

Colm Quinn has been appointed in Athlone replacing Capital Cars, they are already open for business, and BMW will be making further announcements about new dealers as the axe falls for others "in due course" to quote BMW. Athlone is 40 minutes or 23 miles away according to the AA's routeplanner.

R.O.R

agent_smith wrote: »

The closure of all these dealerships will do more than hit the number of bmw's that are sold, it will likely impact the residual values of new and second hand BMW's.
BMW warranties are only held if regular scheduled servicing takes place with authorised parts by authorised mechanics. Like was mentioned earlier, what will happen to those that have purchased beemers in the midlands, when a trip to dublin or cork means a days holidays.... i know it would put me off buying a new or second hand bmw.

I know for definite the Kevin O'Leary's are staying on as an official BMW service agent, whether the other dealers who have lost their franchises are I don't know. I'm not sure there will be enough people left in Maxwells to carry on servicing cars.

To add to the rumours, Maxwells may be going Italian.......

Hellrazer

From my source in Maxwells
Maxwells wont be doing servicing at all of any franchise.They`re not getting another marque and theyre becoming a used/new multi franchise dealer of "top end brands"
All service work will be outsourced hence most of the job losses are in aftersales.


From what Ive heard the reasons for them and other BMW dealers losing their franchises are due to huge demands from BMW regarding showrooms etc.(BMW wanted a couple of the dealers to spend millions of euro on new buildings etc)
Theres 9 dealers(I think--it may be 7) involved in an ongoing dispute with BMW who may be losing their BMW franchise in the next few weeks.

Regarding Joe Duffys--Rumours are the banks are running the place now.

As for the rest of the Job losses in the motortrade this year--In Airside there has been 60+ job losses so far and a few of the dealers are working week on/week off basis and/or 3 day weeks for their aftersales staff.Some of the dealers have given up some of their franchises.
A major Seat dealer on the southside let go 12 staff two weeks ago.And theres more on the way in other dealers around Dublin.

The motortrade is fooked this year and if something drastic doesnt happen in January theres going to be a lot of dealers going to the wall.

Zube

E92 wrote: »

Athlone is 40 minutes or 23 miles away [from Tullamore] according to the AA's routeplanner.

Since the M6 opened, 30-40 minutes.

Ice_Box

The exchange rate with sterling has hit them hard. No one in their right mind would buy a used car in the republic when you can save thousands by going up north or london.

RedorDead

Hellrazer wrote: »

From my source in Maxwells
Maxwells wont be doing servicing at all of any franchise.They`re not getting another marque and theyre becoming a used/new multi franchise dealer of "top end brands"

Probably not much money in that area either. Saw this on a website yesterday about Orwell Motors.

Luxury car dealer, Orwell Motors in Walkinstown, Dublin has been put into receivership. Bank of Scotland (Ireland) stepped in last week and appointed Grant Thornton as receiver in a bid to recoup in the region of €750,000 that it is owed.

It is understood that Orwell Motors got into trading difficulties when the luxury used car market collapsed in the first half of the year.

TheDriver

E92 wrote: »

It's fairly common knowledge at this stage that Kevin O'Leary is losing the BMW/MINI franchise in Cork.

Personally I'm disappointed that KO'L lost the BMW franchise if for no other reason than that I feel it is good for competition and the consumer to have competing dealerships near each other. I would hope that BMW will appoint a second dealer other than Kearys for Cork, for precisely those reasons.

.

Seems that this rumour has been doing the rounds for ages now, when exactly are they going to implement the loss? Kevin himself is still driving his 08 7 series around proud as punch!
On another note, i thought the ads in the Cork Examiner were just for Audi dealership, no sign of Volks?

Padraig Mor

TheDriver wrote: »

Seems that this rumour has been doing the rounds for ages now, when exactly are they going to implement the loss? Kevin himself is still driving his 08 7 series around proud as punch!
On another note, i thought the ads in the Cork Examiner were just for Audi dealership, no sign of Volks?

I believe that KOL have to be gone from BMW by October and that Keary's are opening a second BMW franchise in Little Island. That's from people within the organisations but who knows how accurate it is....

TheDriver

Isn't that great, 2 dealerships by the one crowd! Long live competition!

milltown

agent_smith wrote: »

BMW warranties are only held if regular scheduled servicing takes place with authorised parts by authorised mechanics.

Incorrect.

Block exemption legislation in Europe means that your independent mechanic doesn't even have to use BMW parts to maintain your warranty. In the event of a warranty claim the onus would be on BMW to prove that the parts used were the cause of the failure/claim.

For some reason, dealers and manufacturers don't seem to want to advertise these facts though.

Ice_Box

Car dealer furious at rumours of bankruptcy


ONE of the country's most successful car dealerships say they have set an all-time monthly record for sales in July, despite rumours of bankruptcy.

Management at Joe Duffy Motors have told the Herald that there is no foundation whatsoever in the rumours that the company is about to enter liquidation.

Despite the economic downturn and talk that the 36-year-old company was on the verge of collapse, Group Managing Director Gavin Hydes says it is "going from strength to strength in a difficult market".

Management at the company are refusing to speculate on who may have started the rumours, but a staff member told the Herald that there is considerable concern that the gossip may be scaring customers away.

One staff member said: "Customers are not coming because they hear these things," adding that it is "quite possible" that somebody or people are attempting to blacken the company's name.

Speculation

The company holds the number one position in Ireland for the BMW, Mini and Motorrad franchises but for months now, staff have been subjected to speculation of massive job losses and possibly liquidation of the dealership.

Among the claims that management admit having heard is that staff hadn't been paid and some had been arrested for taking matters into their own hands.

"We've even been told that we're not getting paid and that staff were arrested for leaving the office with computers in their bags. It's crazy stuff," a staff member said.

But Mr Hydes has now stepped in to reassure staff and customers by describing their July results as "unprecedented".

"They go against all the doom and gloom and show we're far from being in trouble. In fact it's the opposite in a difficult market," said the shareholder.

BMW was one of the car types that faired well from the emission-linked tax rates introduced on July 1 and Joe Duffy Motors have sold a record number.

A total of 138 BMW cars were sold nationwide during June, but Joe Duffy Motors alone sold some 246 during July.

"We sold a total 277 BMWs and Minis in July; surely that demonstrates the strength of our business," Mr Hydes said.

Biggest

The company operates from one of the biggest motor showrooms in the country, at Exit 5 from the M50 near Finglas in Dublin.

The building alone cost an estimated €15m to build and more than 100 people are employed there.

It has also invested in Opel and Mazda dealerships and Mr Hydes says that when these are taken into account, the company sold more than 400 new cars in July overall.

Auditors are currently updating the company's accounts and the financial results, which are expected to show a turnover of around €80m, will be made public in two to three weeks.

Once these results are in the public domain, management hope that the rumours will completely quashed.

In general, car sales have suffered this year as a result of the Government's changes to VRT rates and the impact of the credit crunch.

According to the research by the Society of the Irish Motoring Industry, the number of second-hand cars sold in the first half of the year was down nearly 19pc on last year -- 124,146 cars, compared to 152,938 in the first six months of 2007.

- Kevin Doyle


http://www.herald.ie/national-news/car-dealer-furious-at--rumours-of-bankruptcy-1448616.html

Darragh29

milltown wrote: »

Incorrect.

Block exemption legislation in Europe means that your independent mechanic doesn't even have to use BMW parts to maintain your warranty. In the event of a warranty claim the onus would be on BMW to prove that the parts used were the cause of the failure/claim.

For some reason, dealers and manufacturers don't seem to want to advertise these facts though.

Entirely correct, but your wasting your time making that point to people using this forum, BMW won that propaganda battle a long time ago. I know people who have bought BMW's from some of the dealerships mentioned in this thread and the feedback seems to consistently be that it is the aftersales customer service that is letting down these businesses. There is no excuse for this when your labour rate is almost certainly over 100 Euro if not closer to twice that amount. Unfortunately for people setting "prestige" cars, I keep hearing that their customer service delivery is worlds away from that. The one dealership I keep hearing this about is Joe Duffy. A mate of mine runs a company turning over 10 million approx per annum but has a funny way of getting stuck into the workplace and being all "hands on", which means he changes into scruffy jeans and usually ends up not looking like an MD maybe ought to look at the end of the day. Anyway, he jumps into his company jeep recently and goes up to Joe Duffy to look for a car for this wife, he is wearing jeans and runners. A sales rep tells him after speaking to him, "listen, you're in the wrong place mate..."!!! You couldn't make it up!!!

Imperator

Darragh29 wrote: »

. Anyway, he jumps into his company jeep recently and goes up to Joe Duffy to look for a car for this wife, he is wearing jeans and runners. A sales rep tells him after speaking to him, "listen, you're in the wrong place mate..."!!! You couldn't make it up!!!

I can actually second that. I've never left Joe Duffy with a good feeling. I purchased a car from the said garage, It was brand new and cost me a fair amount. It was supposed to be "made to order". when they produced the car for my collection it was missing half of what i orderd. The result was a shrug of the shoulders and a simple "oh we can put your order back on list" which i took to mean, "if you dont want it someone else will buy it". Being in the position of buying this car for someone dear to me, i was bitterly dissapointed and the excitment was taken out of it. I succumbed to their second suggestion about having what i ordered i.e "cream leather seats and xenons" put in by the garage. They agreed and i was able to pick it up the following saturday. What shocked me then was that i received a bill. I laughed at this suggestion that i should pay a bill for something i had already paid for. their respons was one of the best i've ever heard "well somebody is going to have to pay" and that they would have to be liase with their legal department if i was not willing to pay. I allowed them to liase away. I took the car and never heard of the issue again. Every service since then something i didnt ask for has been replaced and installed with out my prior permission and the car has comeback broken on 1 occassion. All in all i have found it a highly unsatisfactory expierence, Sorry for the length.

Darragh29

Imperator wrote: »

I can actually second that. I've never left Joe Duffy with a good feeling. I purchased a car from the said garage, It was brand new and cost me a fair amount. It was supposed to be "made to order". when they produced the car for my collection it was missing half of what i orderd. The result was a shrug of the shoulders and a simple "oh we can put your order back on list" which i took to mean, "if you dont want it someone else will buy it". Being in the position of buying this car for someone dear to me, i was bitterly dissapointed and the excitment was taken out of it. I succumbed to their second suggestion about having what i ordered i.e "cream leather seats and xenons" put in by the garage. They agreed and i was able to pick it up the following saturday. What shocked me then was that i received a bill. I laughed at this suggestion that i should pay a bill for something i had already paid for. their respons was one of the best i've ever heard "well somebody is going to have to pay" and that they would have to be liase with their legal department if i was not willing to pay. I allowed them to liase away. I took the car and never heard of the issue again. Every service since then something i didnt ask for has been replaced and installed with out my prior permission and the car has comeback broken on 1 occassion. All in all i have found it a highly unsatisfactory expierence, Sorry for the length.

Do you not feel angry and insulted by this kind of customer service??? I can't get my head around spending the kind of the figures involved in buying a BMW from places like Maxwell Motor's of Joe Duffy and not having a positive customer service experience. Maybe this is why Maxwell Motor's are outsourcing the servicing/aftersales end of the business??? I would have thought that a properly run BMW Service Dept would be a licence to print money??? As others will know from my posts here, I'm not a fan of BMW's or BMW drivers, I can't relate to them but I'm sure BMW ought to be capable of researching what their customers want when it comes to aftersales and delivering it on most occasions???

Imperator

Darragh29 wrote: »

I'm not a fan of BMW's or BMW drivers, I can't relate to them but I'm sure BMW ought to be capable of researching what their customers want when it comes to aftersales and delivering it on most occasions???

I am aware you are not fans of bmw's. I was very angry about it. It was my first real expierence with BMW and that car has now since passed. It is a learning curve that brought me to bring my cars to the uk, the north in particular to service my cars. IT has proved exceptionally cost effective to do so for me. As has the customer service and gernerally understanding among the service staff that you are giving them an inordinante amount of money and understand you could easily give it somewhere else. However Darragh, what you must understand it's not just BMW's its most high end car retailers in this country, most notably Mercedes who brought me to the point of utter dispair.

Imperator

How ever i don't think it is fair to hi jack this thread into a HOW BAD ARE BMW thread, its not about that, i think valid factual reasons for perhaps joe duffy being in financial trouble if it is true they are would be better. I dont really see the point of injecting too much emotion, although i understand your concern Darragh

Darragh29

Imperator wrote: »

I am aware you are not fans of bmw's. I was very angry about it. It was my first real expierence with BMW and that car has now since passed. It is a learning curve that brought me to bring my cars to the uk, the north in particular to service my cars. IT has proved exceptionally cost effective to do so for me. As has the customer service and gernerally understanding among the service staff that you are giving them an inordinante amount of money and understand you could easily give it somewhere else. However Darragh, what you must understand it's not just BMW's its most high end car retailers in this country, most notably Mercedes who brought me to the point of utter dispair.

I'm trying to challenge my own set of belief's on this particular subject. Does it not stand to reason that it is less likely that you would experience this from a seller of "marque or prestige" vehicles and more likely you would expeirence it from a seller like say Ford or Nissan, cars that are obviously less in value and not as highly sought after??? Maybe this is for a new thread, I don't want the BMTroubleU PC brigade down on me again for being off topic...

Imperator

I think a new thread would be a better idea, as would looking at it being high end Marques rather than just bmw. I'd debate that with you any day

ninty9er

Rumours about Pat Keogh's would seem to be unfounded accorfing to this week's Limerick Post.

Page 48 tells of expansion due at the site.

Quint

I had problems with JD when buying a bike, but a quick call to BMW Ireland to make a complaint about the guy involved I got a call back from the guy involved, he was very sorry, and everything would be sorted. After every service I get a call from BMW ireland to ask if everything was ok.

Darragh, Sorry but I find your story hard to believe. They turned someone away because of his clothes? I'm assuming he called managers down, made serious complaints and got heads to roll.

ninty9er

Quint wrote: »

After every service I get a call from BMW ireland to ask if everything was ok.

Toyota Ireland do this too....but it's a written form so that you can take your time to note things. I'm not sure whether they followed up with a phone call, it's my parents' car.

Darragh29

Quint wrote: »

I had problems with JD when buying a bike, but a quick call to BMW Ireland to make a complaint about the guy involved I got a call back from the guy involved, he was very sorry, and everything would be sorted. After every service I get a call from BMW ireland to ask if everything was ok.

Darragh, Sorry but I find your story hard to believe. They turned someone away because of his clothes? I'm assuming he called managers down, made serious complaints and got heads to roll.

Not at all, I told him he should have gone to Mc Keon's...

Zube

Quint wrote: »

Darragh, Sorry but I find your story hard to believe. They turned someone away because of his clothes?

I believe it compeletely. I've had worse from a Merc dealer while trying to test-drive a Merc, presumably because the salesmen didn't think I looked old/rich enough. I did not yell or complain, I just walked away, and won't be going back.

helimachoptor

Quint wrote: »

I had problems with JD when buying a bike, but a quick call to BMW Ireland to make a complaint about the guy involved I got a call back from the guy involved, he was very sorry, and everything would be sorted. After every service I get a call from BMW ireland to ask if everything was ok.

Darragh, Sorry but I find your story hard to believe. They turned someone away because of his clothes? I'm assuming he called managers down, made serious complaints and got heads to roll.

Sadly its quite true, My uncle has his own company and he'd been driving a 91 5 series (I think) he bought it brand new in 91, he's been doing very well for himself and 2 years ago went to buy a brand new 5 series. So I went with him to JD to pretty much have a nosey around. I was in jeans and a T shirt, my uncle was in the same as he's not a suit wearing man.

We were in the garage a good 15 minutes looking around before anyone approached us, and tbh he seemed to think we were window lickers and weren't actually going to buy any car!
My uncle asked him about the various specs and extras and I kid you not "a 00 3 series would be more in your price range don't you think" was the reply Q an angry response from my uncle and then one of the senior guys came over my uncle told him what happened his response was a shrug of the shoulders, off we went to a merc dealership and he bought one same day.

Stevie Dakota

helimachoptor wrote: »

off we went to a merc dealership and he bought one same day.

I went to the Spar the other day to buy a Banana, the sales guy was rude so I went to Centra and bought a Lemon....

Am I the only one who finds this stuff hard to believe? You go to look at a BMW and receive crap service, why go and buy a Merc, why not go to another dealer and get the car you wanted in the first place? After all, you are shopping for a certain car, aren't you?

Darragh29

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

I went to the Spar the other day to buy a Banana, the sales guy was rude so I went to Centra and bought a Lemon....

Am I the only one who finds this stuff hard to believe? You go to look at a BMW and receive crap service, why go and buy a Merc, why not go to another dealer and get the car you wanted in the first place? After all, you are shopping for a certain car, aren't you?

I know, I can't get my head around it. I wish I had a business where I could tell people to basically fu*k off and I'd still be busy... I'm surprised Joe Duffy hasn't gone down the MCD route with the remarks being made on his business on this thread...