Tom Murphys Lose VW, McConnells lose Toyota

spankmemunkey

As the post says, Tom Murphys will soon be the main Toyota dealer for Waterford, I think McConnells are just closing, Rumoured that Bolands will now be the main VW dealer, Im not sure about Mercedes, I wonder will Bolands build a new VW garage?

azimuth17

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058350246/tom-murphys-lose-vw-mcconnells-lose-toyota

The title of the post might more accurately say that Tom Murphy gave up VW and is giving up Mercedes. Demands for huge investment when faced with the new agency type dealership is the likely reason. Sad to see McConnell's surrender the Toyota dealership. Remember Sheridan's gave up the Ford dealership after more than 100 years because of demands for massive investment in facilities.

I'm not sure that I'd invest in a new garage at this time. Would you?

spankmemunkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122097886#Comment_122097886

well i suppose unless youre in the know we really dont know if they lost it or gave it up, but besides the point, I can see a Bolands building a new garage because they are the money machine, In fairness i think when youre a main dealer for VW and youre also selling E-Scooters from the same show room it loses its razzle dazzle or more questions than answers, I dont know if they have lost Mercedes?? Sheridans are a bit of a disaster of a showroom anyway, I wonder why no one used the land opposite bmw, I know its bedrock but theres always ways around that, pilons etc

Jizique

Merc going direct, not 100% sure how it works but they are cutting out the dealer model

spankmemunkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122098090#Comment_122098090

wow, thats a strange one, i suppoe its the way the worlds going

azimuth17

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122098081#Comment_122098081

Sheridans have a really beautiful KIA showrooms, you should take a look before you condemn.

Murphys are surrendering the Mercedes dealership and will be selling Toyota and Lexus.

spankmemunkey

Id say its more their location in a very small tight space, rarely parking available, just my experience/opinion

goochy

I think they are losing Mercedes and vw giving too short a franchise agreement.

Bolands have a monopoly in South East

They seem to have really increased their bwm new and used bmw stock bit showrooms too small amd need a paint job

Kia going for standalone dealerships so would say Sheridan had to give up ford

Why haven't auto Boland opened fiat smd jeep showroom?

south

Mercedes wanted a new showroom for their electric cars, something Murphy's weren't willing to do after investing in the showrooms they already have.VW didn't want to share the showroom with another brand so that's why they are losing them.

spankmemunkey

Is there any confirmation yet as to whos taking VW? I know were all expecting it to be bolands

goochy

Mercedes should have insisted on standalone showrooms back in the 00s instead of let dealers like tom murphys spend millions on dual franchise dealerships

spankmemunkey

I wonder will there be a merry go round now of mechanics, McConnells lads to Tom Murphys Tom Murphy VW to the new VW garage?

dzilla

Trinity I've heard are taking VW

dzilla

Trinity I've heard are taking VW

azimuth17

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122101370#Comment_122101370

Need a new premises?

dzilla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122101408#Comment_122101408

Don't know the logistics.

goochy

Not many suitable sites

spankmemunkey

wat about the site at the roundabout? where the side entrance to homestore and more, its bedrock but nohing pilons wouldnt sort.

dzilla

I think Mercedes want to do a new selling model, more direct with centers of excellence and customer days.

Bolands Mercedes in Wexford ran an event in Faithlegg recently and I imagine that will be how it goes going forward, may not actually see a Mercedes showroom in Waterford in the future. Wexford may just become the South Eastern center of excellence.

goochy

Boland Wexford great dealership . Think kilkenny be a better location as sheehyd likely lose franchise too . Though kilkenny a bit close to wexford

spankmemunkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122102505#Comment_122102505

Kilkenny have a VW

goochy

I was talking about Mercedes . Bolands mercedes are unusual in being a decent Boland garage

spankmemunkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122103555#Comment_122103555

my bad

goochy

BMW alot more easy going about their dealerships . Bolands stock has improved alot but not a standalone dealership and showrooms need a paint and small

steinbock123

AFAIK Sheridans were given no choice in the matter, they just received a letter from Ford in the UK saying that’s it lads, thank you for your service, but we’re taking the franchise from you. They weren’t the only Ford dealer this happened to. Bolands can do the volumes the manufacturers demand these days, so they just hoover up the franchises, so if you want a new Ford, it’s over to Wexford with ya.

goochy

Bolands in new Ross only doing used cars

azimuth17

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122103827#Comment_122103827

Waterford City Ford next to McConnell's took over the Ford franchise. They sell new Fords. Its owned by a member of the Boland family.

goochy

Yet their premises are quite small and unimpressive

azimuth17

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122104617#Comment_122104617

Starting out. All beginnings are small. I honestly think, without meaning to offend, that you have no idea of the cost of fixed assets. You want to see expensive new showrooms, fair enough, but convincing any bank manager to loan for a new showroom in the present state of the market , with EVs etc, is an extremely difficult task. You don't just rock up with a new franchise and spend 10m euro on a new showroom, having just bought an existing one.

goochy

You expect better for ford.but they are no longer a leading brand

Gael23

There is a clause with Toyota that you cannot sell any other brand. That’s the reason why

spankmemunkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122104977#Comment_122104977

Ah he wont be able to sell his Scooters now in Tom Murphys???

goochy

Tom Murphys were a great dealer before the Cork road move , when Mercs. were only selling in small numbers here they were selling as far as Donegal .

when they made the big move - they became a very accountant like run garage .

Gilmores in Cavan show if you have the right stock and price cars well you can sell Nationwide.

Chip Whitley

So are McConnells leaving the game completely then?

spankmemunkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122107930#Comment_122107930

looks like it

goochy

the showrooms were very badly designed - looked very dated when built even

Gael23

Yes McConnels are ceasing trading. Not sure how public that news is though.
They weren’t given much choice on those showrooms. That’s why Martin Barrett lost Skoda, he refused to build one

dzilla

If McConnells are leaving the business their premises dated or not will be in demand by Ford or a potential VW suitor

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122131682#Comment_122131682

ah yea should be picked up by someone, prime property there alright

goochy

Martin Barrett doing well in used cars . Very badly designed but they can sort that ..waterford Ford seem to be extending their workshop. Extension at rear

Aquos76

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122131284#Comment_122131284

From the information that I heard, that's not actually the case, they have a separate contract for the servicing of Toyota vehicles which isn't up for a couple of years yet, similar to the set up with Sheridans and Ford. It is my understanding they will continue to trade in the used vehicle market and access the situation then, time will tell I guess.

spankmemunkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122156196#Comment_122156196

That seems a bit strange that an organisation can tell a dealer what cars they can or cannot service, or what cars they can or cannot sell???? So if I rock up in my Puegot they gonna say sorry we cant service that, we have a contractual agreement with Toyota????

Especially when that garage isn't exclusively selling one particular car brand or franchise anymore.

goochy

Dealers get short contracts these days and if you dont do what they askthey will take on another a dealer who will

a large dealer group beside a suburban shopping centrein Cork is selling x3 different brands under one roof despite x2 of the brands having very high dealer standards .

they are getting away with it because the dealer group are a big name while smaller dealers are being hounded .

dzilla

Is the site next to Sheridan's owned by Trinity?
I remember a Trinity sign there a long time ago, when it was Rover

goochy

It was never Trinity - it was Rover Waterford

azimuth17

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122241862#Comment_122241862

Itsa disgraceful tip whoever owns it.

goochy

would have to take over building beside it to build a VW dealership

spankmemunkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122241862#Comment_122241862

Was Eddie Garry not in there too at one point?

dzilla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122246289#Comment_122246289

There was a few things in there but i remember a trinity sign there after rover, might have been short lived.

dzilla

Ah ignore me, It was a thrifty car rental sign beside Sheridans, can't remember which side.

The Thrifty and Trinity signs are alike.

dzilla

If a new VW dealer was to enter the market I'm intrigued as to where they would go, the site size of Wexford VW or Laharts is substantial and I can't see VW allowing a situation where they would be crowbarred into a smaller showroom.

I passed the old Auto Boland showroom site across the river recently and was surprised how small it is now in comparison to newer dealerships, back in the 90s I used think that was massive.