Another big dealer goes kaput

Stephen

Didn't see any threads about this, couldn't find any by searching either. This is from the dealer's own website:

Lismard Autoworld, part of the Lismard Group

withdraws from motor industry


The Lismard Group has withdrawn from the motor business by closing its multi-franchise dealership in Portlaoise, Co. Laois. Its contracts with Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Peugeot, Citroen and Hyundai have been terminated.


Dealer principal Lisa Morrissey stressed that it was not a liquidation, and that all outstanding bills would be settled. “The board of the Lismard Group has taken a commercial decision to pull out of motor retailing,” she explained. “Nationally the 2008 new car sales were down 18% on 2007 figures and for the first four months of 2009, new car sales has suffered a further 65% reduction, now trading 83% of 2007 which the Lismard Group feel is no longer sustainable.

Full redundancy settlements will be processed for all 20 employees.

Customers are advised to contact their nearest franchise dealer for Sales and Aftersales enquiries.

The other businesses within the Lismard Group are unaffected by the decision and continue to trade as normal. Based in Tullow, Carlow and Portlaoise, they include the Mount Wolseley Hotel, Spa & Country Club, Portlaoise Retail Park, Lismard Business Park, Lismard Residential & Commercial Properties.

I only noticed this from looking at a keenly priced Alfa 159 on Carzone. Guess it was a firesale! It was €7k cheaper than other identical 159's.

godtabh

Stephen wrote: »

Didn't see any threads about this, couldn't find any by searching either. This is from the dealer's own website:



I only noticed this from looking at a keenly priced Alfa 159 on Carzone. Guess it was a firesale! It was €7k cheaper than other identical 159's.

Did he go bust or did he pull out before he went bust?

Stephen

The statement on their site looks to me like they're cutting their losses and getting out of the motor trade before it costs them any more money.

bauderline

A sound business decision for them, others will not be able to do the same.

I would say the hotel arm of the business is taking a hammering as well...

P.

R.O.R

kearnsr wrote: »

Did he go bust or did he pull out before he went bust?

The decision was taken to stop trading, but it's not a decision you make lightly. It was probably a case of jump before the bank pushes you.

My collegue was trying to make a service booking there on Friday and had a good long coversation with the service manager about how they'd decided to close rather than being closed down.

Didn't manage to get a Santa Fe booked in for service though

Hotwheels

That's sad, I found them sound folks to deal with..

LeoD

Wow, only after hearing about this now. Found their service great in the past. Need to service my 159 in the next few weeks, anyone got any recommendations? Am midlands based so Dublin is probably my only option as the Galway and Limerick service centres no longer seem to exist. Probably a stupid question but the car is 06 and out of warranty so is it necessary to go to an Alfa dealer?

EPM

It's never necessary to go to the main dealer for a service to be honest, even when under warranty. From reading here Alasta Auto's in Dublin get recommended a lot

robtri

kearnsr wrote: »

Did he go bust or did he pull out before he went bust?

sounds like a line from a bad xxx movie .

but seriously not good to hear...

LeoD

Cheers. Can't imagine a full dealer service history will be worth much to my Alfa in a few years time!

Guy:Incognito

EPM wrote: »

It's never necessary to go to the main dealer for a service to be honest, even when under warranty. From reading here Alasta Auto's in Dublin get recommended a lot

Alasta are a main dealer.