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There's often reference in the Backroom to "main dealers". What's the difference between a "main" dealer and any other type of franchised dealer? In fact what other categories of franchised dealers are there?
Edited by L'escargot on 14/05/2008 at 08:15
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Main Dealer = A dealer with a Franchise ( BMW Ford etc )
Non Main Dealer = Deals in used cars only
Supermarket = Has 1000's of cars in stock from new imports to 3 year old.
Then you have the home trader which is a bloke who works from home and has about 5 cars at any one time (normally an ex Salesmanager from a main dealer background whos had enough od working at a main dealers)
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There are a few "Service Dealers" - probably lost the franchise because their premises were too small/not glitzy enough. Can do warranty work and sell 2nd hand
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Main dealers:
They have to follow manufacturers' guide lines and certain standards [other than trading standards]
If their service is not up to the mark, you can complaint to manufacturers [although manufacturers can't force main dealers to do anything they want]
They are generally expensive [especially for repair work, not so when buying a car from them as they often match internet price nowadays]
You get free coffee etc. when you visit them.
You usually get 3months to 1 yr warranty when you buy from them.
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Yes, Renault have quite a few 'Service Centres' who can handle warranty repairs and general servicing and repairs to Renault specifications with Renault trained techs, and the official Renault diagnostic equipment, but do not sell new Renaults. I guess other manufacturers have similar arrangements.
You would like to think that a dedicated service centre would look after customers well, as they rely on this as their sole source of income. I have no experience to say whether this is true or not, as we've lucked in on a very good main dealer (single premises, family owned, a dozen or so staff - there's a pattern here) who we will always use.
cheers
DP
Edited by DP on 14/05/2008 at 13:08
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Main Dealer = A dealer with a Franchise ( BMW Ford etc )
Our local Ford dealer (which has all the usual Ford signs etc) is family owned, and only has a total (including the family working members) of about 10 employees. Is this a "main" dealer?
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"Is this a "main" dealer?"
If he sells new Fords then yes.
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Is this a "main" dealer
If you find their address in Ford's website (find your nearest dealer so similar menu), then yes.
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I guess in future - if it's not already the case - the main dealer will be the only one with bang up-to-date make-specific diagnostic tools. Although not necessarily with the brains to interpret the results...
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To clarify with facts rather than thoughts.
There are main dealers and dealers of a brand. eg Ford, vauxhall etc.
A Main dealer is a major agent of the cars and can supply smaller non main dealers who still only deal with the 1 brand. To meet the volumes required to buy at the right prices the smaller dealers may well be encouraged to deal through the main dealers. Thus the main dealer achieves a bigger volume target, and the smaller trader achieves the price he n eeds but without the volume the factory demands.
There are not as many now as there was but they are still about, especially in smaller villages and rural areas.
Then there are independants who may or may not specialise in 1 brand, who may also be supplied by a main dealer (but generally with new 2nd hand not new). Then there are smaller independants who buy and sell used cars, all the way down to back street traders etc.
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Main dealer
friend wants a Fiat grande Punto Dynamic 1.2 of we go to the main dealer they wanted £1800 to change £1600 is my friends top amount.Next day telephone call we will do it at £1600 off we go down again ,we go through the figures £45 to change warranty ,£49 to do a hpi check and guesss what it was a mistake they still want £1800 plus the extras but as a sweetner they will give us free service what a waste of time.
Local trader has just the car we are looking for £1600 to change OK deal done ,come back in two hours and I will have it taxed and valeted.
Main dealers I have honestly yet to visit a good one in the UK they exist in Germany but not so many.
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There are main dealers and dealers of a brand. eg Ford vauxhall etc. A Main dealer is a major agent of the cars and can supply smaller non main dealers who still only deal with the 1 brand. To meet the volumes required to buy at the right prices the smaller dealers ..........
That's the sort of answer I was expecting. The question now is what positive word in front of "dealer" describes these smaller franchised dealers? Obviously not "main", but what? Calling them non-main is a bit of a negative description. As I siad originally the one I'm referring to has all the usual Ford signs etc.
Edited by L'escargot on 14/05/2008 at 13:40
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The smaller ones are usually known as "Retail Dealers" and are usually,but not exclusively,supplied with cars by "Main Dealers".
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