Greers of Antrim Volvo Closed Down

Mel

RMS Regular
Messages
10,844
Drives
S3
I didn't even realise Town Parks were no longer a Vauxhall dealers, when did that happen?
 

stevieturbo

RMS Regular
Messages
21,096
Location
Antrim
Drives
Old Ford
It’s not so much as they dropped the franchise, more that PSA were cutting the Vauxhall franchises down by a third after the buy out.

I used to buy a fair few parts from Townparks, but after PSA took over the prices of routine stuff shot up....and buying stopped.
 

Sportwag

RMS Regular
Messages
129
I’m told they dropped Vauxhall due to issues with having to do lots of warranty work and Vauxhall not paying the right amount for the work, dealer got fed up covering the cost. Could be wrong

Hhhm not sure about that - family member bought a Mokka with Vauxhall's infamous lifetime warranty and when something went wrong (and if often did) nothing according to Townparks was ever covered by the warranty. After 5-years scrapped it in for a Kia.
 

Mel

RMS Regular
Messages
10,844
Drives
S3
Hhhm not sure about that - family member bought a Mokka with Vauxhall's infamous lifetime warranty and when something went wrong (and if often did) nothing according to Townparks was ever covered by the warranty. After 5-years scrapped it in for a Kia.

If they had of taken the trouble to read the small print they would of read the warranty covered very little, sounded good on the ad and no doubt generated alot of sales.
 

Sportwag

RMS Regular
Messages
129
If they had of taken the trouble to read the small print they would of read the warranty covered very little, sounded good on the ad and no doubt generated alot of sales.
Not many people read the small print of a brand new car warranty. Secondhand warranty different matter.
 

svensktoppen

RMS Regular
Messages
32,751
Drives
FK2 CTR
[cynic warning]
So dumped some debt and now starting over again? :innocent:
[/cynic warning]
 

gary87

RMS Regular
Messages
5,681
Drives
E350
They maybe lost the franchise - similar thing happened to Curtis Peugeot in Newtownabbey - now they only service Peugeots and some occasionally some used cars.
 

SJM2016

RMS Regular
Messages
175
Location
Belfast
Drives
Green A-Class
Good news, Colin Greer posted on Facebook last night Greer's is to open as a specialist Volvo Service centre, great to see these guys haven't given up!

Its not related to what was the old Greers of Antrim at all, he's put a post on Facebook saying he will only service cars as long as they are out of warranty and not on a service plan. He's just using a workshop that was next to the old Greers showroom
 

stevieturbo

RMS Regular
Messages
21,096
Location
Antrim
Drives
Old Ford
I don't think you are on the right track in this case, Volvo wanted a huge step up in investment in a demo fleet, pre reg buy in and forward order that the dealership just couldn't afford.

Not saying it is. But when everything today is based around credit, it's no wonder so many things go tits up so often.

But when you see car dealerships and the amount they invest into the showrooms etc, and stock they need to carry, it's amazing so many of them can exist here with such a small population. There must be some serious profit per unit to stay in business.

It's a bit like a lot of flashy airport shops....how the hell do they exist ? They're nearly always empty lol.
 

Michael M

RMS Regular
Messages
3,343
Location
Co. Down
Drives
VW Golfs
Not saying it is. But when everything today is based around credit, it's no wonder so many things go tits up so often.

But when you see car dealerships and the amount they invest into the showrooms etc, and stock they need to carry, it's amazing so many of them can exist here with such a small population. There must be some serious profit per unit to stay in business.

It's a bit like a lot of flashy airport shops....how the hell do they exist ? They're nearly always empty lol.
.

After having a conversation with a friend who is an area manager over the summer about this, you’d be surprised how little it is.
 

variant

RMS Regular
Messages
1,646
Location
County Antrim
Drives
T5, Up Gti
Not saying it is. But when everything today is based around credit, it's no wonder so many things go tits up so often.

But when you see car dealerships and the amount they invest into the showrooms etc, and stock they need to carry, it's amazing so many of them can exist here with such a small population. There must be some serious profit per unit to stay in business.

It's a bit like a lot of flashy airport shops....how the hell do they exist ? They're nearly always empty lol.

I work in the trade and there's definitely an over abundance or certain brand dealers in NI. If you take a city like Glasgow or Edinburgh they have roughly the same population of here but there's no way they have 15 or 20 ford garages, 12 vauxhall, 6 or 7 Renault, 4 BMW mini, 6 honda, etc etc etc.

It just doesn't make sense when a brand will want a million quid sunk into a showroom revamp or a workshop refit, 200 grand compulsory tool and part purchases, 40 car demo fleets that lose 15% as soon as you park them out front, tie you into their finance, insurance, consumables programmes and then dump you if you have a bad quarter.

A whole lot of dealers are close to the edge after the year they've had.
.

After having a conversation with a friend who is an area manager over the summer about this, you’d be surprised how little it is.

Plenty of new cars sold at cost in the hope that the finance and insurance (and Mats and flaps) makes a profit
 

stevieturbo

RMS Regular
Messages
21,096
Location
Antrim
Drives
Old Ford
With the overheads they have...the profit must come from somewhere. And mat n flaps ain't covering it !

Servicing/workshop side probably rakes in a brave bit though with the rates they charge ? Although usually a ton of money invested into that side of the business too.
 

swansty

RMS Regular
Messages
5,321
Location
Banbridge
Drives
Disco and Saxo
With the overheads they have...the profit must come from somewhere. And mat n flaps ain't covering it !

Servicing/workshop side probably rakes in a brave bit though with the rates they charge ? Although usually a ton of money invested into that side of the business too.
You are confusing profit with turnover....a business doesn’t necessarily have to make profit to stay operating. Of course it’s not a great business model if there is no profit but nonetheless, it’s important to differentiate.
 

Coog

Admin
Messages
47,515
Drives
GTI
Product cost takes overheads into account. 'cost' is not the same as what the dealer paid for the car. Profit is after everything is taken off.

You don't need to be hugely profitable, or profitable at all to run a good business. Just takes good cashflow. Look at Amazon for example.
 

svensktoppen

RMS Regular
Messages
32,751
Drives
FK2 CTR
The money is in finance, insurance, and services. And that's on different company entities. So the showroom doesn't need to make any money at all. It can even be a loss leader and can be closed down and re-opened at will.

Sales is still about commission. It's just that the product isn't the actual car any more.
 
Top