Shine Gone of Skoda UK Customer Service.

Sadly heard via a 3rd party that my local dealer and the one I purchased my Sept '14 Octavia from has for some reason (and they don't know) lost their Skoda Status.

Skoda did not think to tell owners even those with Skoda Finance.....the main gripe is I now have not an 8 mile round trip to the dealer but either a 40 or 50 mile round trip which Monday to Friday would mean due to traffic a circa 1 1/2 hours  drive, not something I need with the demands of a working week especially as the other dealers are a similar time frame  from my office.

I now have to get some warranty work revaluated at one of the alternative dealers before it can commence, it was due to be done on Wednesday 17th December....

Skoda UK did not come across as at all interested which was if not a pity then a shock...

I bought the car due to its quality and convenience of the dealer....oh well

 

Any other Owners found dealers being closed as I had heard a rumour that Skoda UK is looking at Lifestyle Brand Centres as part of its strategy aka similar to what Mercedes UK did oh some 15 years ago

Many original Estelle dealers round here went to the wall as they did not grow with the brand ( ie invest in a flashy showroom ) for me friendly affordable real service not SW anky showrooms is the way to go . Apart from warranty work keep using your original dealer , as long as you use genuine parts and use their schedule warranty is unaltered . Have you spoken to th dealer ?

I heard last year that if dealers are not prepared to carry out the alterations to the new standards they would loose the brand.mine is currently complying, and is having the work done now. I think as I understand it they will all look much the same. The workshop,stores, showroom etc all have to be in a set position to each other. Maybe the main entrance has to face Czechoslovakia or something. It'll be like going into a MacDonald's, same building different town.....

They are trying to push the brand upmarket a bit, which means s****y showrooms to show their cars off to best advantage. As always that comes at a price, the extra cost of upgrading showrooms has to be added to the price of the cars somewhere along the line as an added overhead.

Before I bought my car last year I visited two different local dealers. Dealer "A" had a fairly primitive showroom setup and very limited parking, Dealer "B" had a very upmarket modern showroom with pleasant staff, tea/ coffee machine and chairs in corner plus ample parking. I bought my car from the second dealer, I don't expect or need a BMW style showroom, just somewhere comfortable with knowledgable staff that I can get to and from fairly easily.

Regarding warranty work, once you know what needs to be done, I would have thought it worth asking if the nearest Skoda franchise to you can actually collect your car from you and bring it back once the work is finished. If they want your future business, it is the kind of service that a modern dealership has to offer customers. Last time my car was needing work done the garage came to my workplace collected the car and brought it back to later that same day; much easier than waiting for hours in the garage.

That's strange word covered in asterisks was written as s****y, or s w a n k y in case that happens again!

I just meant posh anyway, guess that other word is censored round these parts...

Took my car to local dealership Friday & they are being refurbished. Will take until middle of January & in the meantime there is nowhere to park, portakabins & portaloos. Staff can't understand why they have to rip out a perfectly good showroom only to rebuild with the same facilities just laid out differently.

I don't care if all showrooms look the same it's the service that I am interested in.

Trust skoda redditch are having a handover bay built for when i collect my car in march to comply with skoda branding rules. I see this as good news because if the car is in poor natural light and or wet i won't be signing for the car!

I hope they don't shut my local dealers down. As the nearest would be Chester or Telford from rural mid Wales

Sent from my Galaxy S5

Interesting comments -

Especially the Branding Part as my dealer had only just received the full Czech Face List.
There are lots of nice add ons we'd all like with regards to any product delivery but if the quality of service is not there then it all falls flat...

Will test the alternative dealers to see if they will collect my car (thanks for that tip) as I know what the warranty work is - Fingers crossed.
 

PS - I do hope Skoda does not end up being just another car brands as to be honest it has always (even as part of VAG) stood out a little - the demise of Saab comes to mind.
 

PPS - totally agree with the comment "just somewhere comfortable with knowledgable staff that I can get to and from fairly easily".
 

That's strange word covered in asterisks was written as s****y, or s w a n k y in case that happens again!

As you can see my post above yours I had the same problem! 

I too, hear stories of ever demanding Skoda criteria for showrooms/dealers.

TBH I don't care if all dealers look the same, my main criteria when I buy a car is availability to see and test drive the car I am interested in and the attitude of the staff.

I think Skoda are shooting themselves in the foot pushing this extra expense and demands on dealers, especially when the dealer is one that I am very satisfied with.

It's would be a shame if it was not a Skoda franchise the future, because there are only 2 others local, I wouldn't touch one with a bargepole, and the other I have yet to experience.

It could well mean my next car will be another marque, I take customer service and attitude over a blueprint showroom any day of the week.

Jewsons of Oxford are relocating to Oxford Audi's old dealership soon and guess it will be to new Skoda showroom standards. A little sad as their current site whilst not ideal as a stand-up for a relatively large and growing Skoda dealership, its one of the few remaining "family-run feel" showrooms I know of and despite the guys there being great anyway that was part of the pull of buying a car there.

New isnt always better but I'm happy to be proved wrong.

Hmmm, I'm quite lucky that I've got 3 separate dealerships and a service centre with 15 miles of home so, I'm pretty sure I won't be too inconvinced by this move but, I too don't feel it will help the brand or the buyers however, thats not what VAG are trying to achieve is it ?

UPDATE on situation

Skoda will by 2018 (this in an official letter) will have fully implemented its restructuring of its UK dealer network, closures as per my local one therefore to follow.

My dealer was rated for quality and service 6th out of the 130 in UK by Skoda.

One of the reasons I bought my 1st (and 2nd) Skoda was the excellent service I received from my local family owned Skoda dealer. If they and the others round me get the big heave ho I won't be buying another.

 

My dealer was rated for quality and service 6th out of the 130 in UK by Skoda.

Now thats shooting yourself in the foot.

Just heard my local dealer is going the same way. Can't say I'm impressed.