I have been recommending them to family for years and so when I wanted a tallish roomy auto with small van like capacity, a nippy engine, good mpg and easy for my wife to drive the list was: Berlingo, Roomster, Kangoo. The Roomster 1.2 tsi 105 dsg won easily. 

Is Beachview for real? I'm thinking that perhaps you're a marketing student or market researcher. I'll play along however: My reasons for buying Skoda is that they are good solid cars for the money -with regards to the restrained styling -I absolutely hate bits of purely decorative trim that are cheap tacky plastic (usually silver) glued on top of the regular components in order to make a car a more premium model that some manufacturers do. I have no aversion to making something look nice if it is functional Volvo's 'waterfall' centre console being an example of one of these.

Can I ask a question in response to your original post please?

Why on earth do you want to work in a Skoda dealership if you think the cars are so dull?

 

+1

Understated quality

I suppose it wouldn't look good at an interview to say "I'd love to work here, but the cars are so dull"

Hence trying to gather ideas for what the interviewers will want to hear - much easier to get from here than doing a bit of research

In all fairness Brimma -your cars are neither standard or dull. So perhaps the modification potential appeals to you 

In the age of ever increasing bling I like something that shows I don't really care, but is still well made, capable and my local dealer is good.

Fabia mk1 vrs

Unbeatable power / economy / insurance / buy price! No other car came close!

Don't think id own a newer skoda, prices are now no longer cheap as its went big and the cars are nowhere near as unique as the mk1 fabia and octavia vrs's

Can I ask a question in response to your original post please?

Why on earth do you want to work in a Skoda dealership if you think the cars are so dull?

 Course you can ask  

 

Well I've no job at the minute, though have worked in sales for a good few years. Its a trainee position that I've applied for. If I got the job, I might not stay there long term, and would probably move to another dealer with my experience. 

My car, a 2003 (53) Fabia 1.9 TDi still make me laugh when I get in it I currently have a 2012 Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 SE rental and it has nothing in it which my 9 years older Fabia hasn't got. It may look a little more stylish inside but mine, IMO, is more functional even if it looks a bit 'dull'. Outside, I prefer the look of mine over the Corsa.

 

Afterthought; If you don't have faith in the brand and believe in what you're selling, the custome will more than likely pick up on that and could be put off buying from you. A good salesperson has to believe in the product.

As for believing in the product, I wouldn't sell something I thought was rubbish, eg Chevrolet.

The wife sneared at my 1st. That was good enough reason to buy a second LOL.

Value for money. Pritty much unbeatable IMO to get anything else close to a Skoda in terms of quality for your money.

The quality is understated. Get to drive some and you'll see what I mean.

I think the vRS is a cracker. Brilliant mix of practicality, space and performance thats cheap to run too.

The dealership experience. If you're used to working in a multi frachise dealership that treats it's customers as faceless numbers some skoda dealership might be a bit of a culture shock. If you want to get to know your customers, build a relationship up with them so they come back again and again then it could be the place for you.

Skoda don't keep coming top of the which /JD Power customer surveys year on year by accident.

Oh and welcome!.

Ha ha your wife not liking it, that's as good a reason as any!

 

As its a trainee position I have no previous dealership experience, though I would have to say from a customer point of view I have always found my local Toyota dealers to be excellent, far better than any of the others I have ever been in. Worst experience by myself/other family members would probably have been at 2 Peugeot dealers, where they threw the sale away, Vauxhall - being treated like dirt generally and when the car needed repairs, and Citroen, good enough experience in one Ford dealer, but not in another. 

I suppose it wouldn't look good at an interview to say "I'd love to work here, but the cars are so dull"

Hence trying to gather ideas for what the interviewers will want to hear - much easier to get from here than doing a bit of research

I don't need to gather anything for what to say at the interview, I already know what to say anyway  

Its not about an easy way out instead of doing research as you said, I just wondered what attracted anyone to buy a Skoda, when the outside appearance has always put me off anyway, then when I looked at the interior view on the Skoda website, it was a bit of a shock to see something so dull and dated looking. (sorry I know you like yours)

Is Beachview for real? I'm thinking that perhaps you're a marketing student or market researcher. I'll play along however: My reasons for buying Skoda is that they are good solid cars for the money -with regards to the restrained styling -I absolutely hate bits of purely decorative trim that are cheap tacky plastic (usually silver) glued on top of the regular components in order to make a car a more premium model that some manufacturers do. I have no aversion to making something look nice if it is functional Volvo's 'waterfall' centre console being an example of one of these.

Yes I am for real, not a market researcher or student. Is it not the wrong time of year for students anyway? Sure they would be off on holidays. I wouldn't be keen on glued on plastic trims either.  

For a Sales Experience from a customers point of view is hard to beat going into an Audi Dealership.

 

Try walking in, busy time or not, maybe not particularly well dressed, just casually.

Then ask about ordering a particular Audi, any Audi.

Then when they show you one if they can be bothered, ask about the 'None Sport Suspension Option', & the not so big wheels etc.

(May be like a similar experience as if you stood on a dog turd before going into their shiny work place.)

 

That was not what i was doing today, 

But just been in to one to pick up brochures on a new Audi for my son who is looking to order new, in a couple of weeks when he gets home from the rigs.

 

One Audi Dealership in Perth has just lost out on a near £40,000 sale.

Arsenals.

 

george

Why Skoda...............

 

 

Skoda get most of the good technology from the VW-Audi Group.  I love the 7 speed DSG gerbox and the TSI engines and you get them at the best prices.

 

Interesting to compare the cost of getting this from the 4 different companies.  I seem to recall the DSG was something like £1400 from Audi, £1200 from VW, £1050 from SEAT and £900 from Skoda.  Same gearbox biult in the Kessler plant just do you want to be charged a premium or not?

 

Yes the Skoda looks are a bit goofy.  Deliberately I suspect but to me that adds to the charm.

 

The Czech people are lovely I have found, went over to the Czech Republic a couple of years ago and what a fantastic nation they are? 

 

I work in International Trade and to me it just looks like the cars made in the Euro area are very poor vale for money from a UK percepective.  The Audis and VW may have good residuals but if the Euro falls then those brands could tumble in residual value.

 

what I would say is the Skoda is now a mature brand and compare it too the Dacia (ie like Skoda was 20 years ago).  also the Chinese are coming too via Volvo and other brands and all car values could fall dramatically if we do not protect the EU market via Anti-Dumping Duty.

Have been a VAG man for some time now and have admired the Mk1 Octavia since my sister had one a few years ago. Found an average miler (they seem to go forever) with full service history, six months tax and MOT in exceptional condition for minimal money. Full of kit, goes well and returns 60mpg. Reliable, comfortable and incredibly cheap to run and acres of space in the boot for the dogs/ camping kit/ dump runs etc. 

 

 Winner if you ask me and the Mk1 especially is aging very well much like similar generation Audis. My next new car will be a Skoda too as quite frankly VW's prices are becoming incredibly unreasonable. 

Its not about an easy way out instead of doing research as you said, I just wondered what attracted anyone to buy a Skoda, when the outside appearance has always put me off anyway, then when I looked at the interior view on the Skoda website, it was a bit of a shock to see something so dull and dated looking. (sorry I know you like yours)

 

So you have no personal confidence in the product, which, as stated earlier, will probably come over in your sales pitch

 

It just comes over that because you think it's dull you won't have a clue how to BS your way to telling someone it's actually quite good, so are pooling views of others to pad out you portfolio

There are many manufacturers out there offering similar cars, Skoda are a safe option and to the buyer who have done their research they know that they are getting technology, standards of manufacturing, engineering and aftersales service that are to the standard beyond the badge that the car wears.

 

Also to the enthusiast they are getting a product from a company that has an unrivalled tradition for engineering that has been around alot longer than the company that owns it.

 

Drive a few of them and you'll see beyond the badge.

So you have no personal confidence in the product, which, as stated earlier, will probably come over in your sales pitch

 

It just comes over that because you think it's dull you won't have a clue how to BS your way to telling someone it's actually quite good, so are pooling views of others to pad out you portfolio

I'd like to nominate Brimma as a dragon on the next series of Dragons Den! :-)

I'd like to nominate Brimma as a dragon on the next series of Dragons Den! :-)

 

I'd like to only be a few quid behind Peter Jones  

It's a fair point you make though. You have to be passionate about the product you sell.

I watched Undercover Boss on Monday about Hyundai. Featured a salesperson who didn't have a clue about the cars or performance, kept having to ask other colleagues for help. In the end, the mystery shopper they hired walked out.

We've had Skoda's on and off for about 14 years now, they have always been good value, but I also liked owning something not quite mainstream. Pretty sure that most people just treat them the same as any other mainstream brand now though. Kia and Hyundai have taken the Skoda position in the market now. 

 

My old Octavia was bought from new, we had it in the family for 9 years and 140,00 miles. Almost nothing broke on it, it just kept going.

Popped into the Skoda dealers today for a look round, to see what I thought of the place and all. I wouldn't want to work there, the finish of the cars was poor, too much to list. One of the cars in the showroom had a problem with its boot. Looked full of cost cutting :( I noticed that the seat runners even had sharp bare metal edges, with no plastic over the ends. 

 

Wouldn't want to sell those to anybody. Wouldn't be seen in one myself either. Was so glad to be getting back into my Toyota.

 

Sorry (I know you all like yours, but just being honest) 

 

 

Beachview 

Edited 24 July, 201312 yr by Beachview

Dons tin helmet, cowers behind sand bags and waits for the explosion 

I did think the OP was a wind up.

 

I love Toyotas, & Toyota dealership coffee.

many owners get used to that feeling of picking them up from Dealerships.

After each recall mostly.

 

Beautifully built from a selection of dubious parts which you can never be sure if they will work when required.

Important ones being Steering, Brakes & Air bags on some of the models.

 

george