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the owner of evans halshaw and stratstone has announced cuts today.
the mini dealer i got my car from is stratstones.
they quote more cars being bought online as one reason, but online isnt really useful for the disabled for who comfort is important and needs test drives etc.
they are not the first and i daresay not the last, we may need to travel further to get to a dealer.
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Oh that’s really sad news.
It just so happens that that Stratstone is where I got my X1 from. The North Wales dealership has just had huge investment injected in to it that has not long since been completed. Really good dealership and the dealer principal made a point of coming to speak to us when we were looking at the X1.
My heart sinks for all who will be affected, wherever that be. It certainly is a huge cut in jobsSadly, Mitch, I fear you are right about not being the last.
? I will be remembered for nothing but had great fun doing it ?
It is a sign of the times I think Mitch.
I think more companies will be closing dealerships and/or merging franchises into large ‘multi-franchise’ dealerships close to large towns/cities.
The smaller dealerships will go over time, as will the quality of service which small local dealerships often beat the ‘big boys’ at.
You make an exceptionally good point about internet car buying not being suitable for people with disabilities though.
If dealers do go down this route, perhaps Motability would need to look at holding more of their road-shows, where disabled people can at least have a chance to climb into/out of vehicles and take a (often limited) test drive. At least it gives disabled people the chance to rule in/rule out vehicles before probably having to drive many miles to the nearest dealership.
Also, when local dealerships do close down, it makes taking the car in for a service a chore – unless Motability can contractually insist that dealerships do collection/delivery. However, for example, my closest brand dealership is some 45 miles away from home so dealerships may not be too willing to do this.
All in all, it doesn’t bode well for the future, both for customers (including Motability customers) and the staff at dealerships who will be losing their jobs/livelihoods.
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