Shocking news but Forward Motors is about to cease trading because Skoda have pulled the plug.

Needless to say I am well pxxxed off by this news as they were bloody excellent as a dealership.

Why Skoda have taken this decision is incredible and misguided to say the least. Just goes to prove that people never listen.

All I can say is good luck to the staff who really looked after me and I will miss them all!!

I have now got to find a decent dealer in the Midlands. Any suggestions?

:liao:

Shocking news but Forward Motors is about to cease trading because Skoda have pulled the plug. Needless to say I am well pxxxed off by this news as they were bloody excellent as a dealership.

Forward Motors in Luton ???

What exactly was said by who to you ?!

I'm Interested as they are indeed a brilliant customer focussed dealer that is one of the biggest turnover (new and used) Skoda dealers in the country with a new showroom. So, WHY is the question...

Rob

p.s. Where has LadyLoki gone to

p.s. Where has LadyLoki gone to

Bigger and better things - she's been promoted. Did I not read that she still spends some time doing CS, though?

I got a letter confirming my local dealer is also having its plug pulled by Skoda... BUT, they also said they would continue to service skodas as they would continue to employ technicians proficient in servicing Skodas... also at

Unfortunately I fear we will see a lot more of this. Now that Skoda has thrown off the mantle of "skips" and is producing cars people want and are prepared to wait for, which means we have moved into the mainstream of dealers now with all the corporate glitz and wow.

No doubt the old ex-dealers will offer a good service, against the corporate big boys, that is until they are no-longer considered "qualified" by the suits at Skoda UK or VAG HQ.

Funkyjutel!.......Who's he? :wave:

Des

Shocking news but Forward Motors is about to cease trading because Skoda have pulled the plug.

Needless to say I am well pxxxed off by this news as they were bloody excellent as a dealership.

Why Skoda have taken this decision is incredible and misguided to say the least. Just goes to prove that people never listen.

All I can say is good luck to the staff who really looked after me and I will miss them all!!

I have now got to find a decent dealer in the Midlands. Any suggestions?

:liao:

take it from somebody that know's there may be more to this than your acusation sp? about pulling the plug!

I have now got to find a decent dealer in the Midlands. Any suggestions?

:liao:

i hear there is a new skoda place opening in bedford (not far from luton) early next year why don't you give them a try?

W J H Motors, by any chance, who have written to me recently to say that they are in the process of expanding with new premises opening in Bedford in January 2004?

If you consider Aylesbury to be in the Midlands (well, ITV does), then Merritts is an alternative. So far always been courteous and helpful.

Unfortunately I fear we will see a lot more of this. Now that Skoda has thrown off the mantle of "skips" and is producing cars people want and are prepared to wait for' date=' which means we have moved into the mainstream of dealers now with all the corporate glitz and wow.

No doubt the old ex-dealers will offer a good service, against the corporate big boys, that is until they are no-longer considered "qualified" by the suits at Skoda UK or VAG HQ.[/quote']

Thing is, I for one would much prefer to go to a "traditional" Skoda dealer; the (supposed) common sense I had in buying one is reflected in the fact I view thease beached gin palaces known as "dealerships" a bad and expensive joke. AI wonder if the MK suits are hearing this? Probly but choosing to ignore it, as usual... :ignore:

It's all about making money.

If it were your or my business then genuine rather than plastic customer service would be the priority. The basic idea about helping your customers out and going the extra mile to retain long term business and good word of mouth, even if it means losing some margin in the short term - this is totally lost on those that control the franchises.

There is a similar debate on Scoobynet, where many of the privately run (and larger independents are being dropped / choosing not to renew.

I'd like to know more facts on the Forward motors story before commenting, but they are exactly the kind of dealer that VAG GB wants to retain for its Skoda franchise - and several VW dealers could learn from them.

Everything they offered me in terms of the 'customer service interface' has been spot on, and I've been used to paying double the hourly labour rate at Audi, so my expectations are high. Something tells me that maybe they were too competitive, knowledgeable and customer-focussed ?

I spoke to John Thompsett the DP yesterday at Forward Motors, who I know and highly respect. He confirmed that they indeed have now ceased trading.

There is obviously to be no reprise. I felt more than a little gutted for John and his team, as not only was this a premier showroom in the new Skoda corporate guise but also, in my experience gave, unrivalled customer service.

I think that the thinking must be, if you are crap at service and maybe flog a few more cars, that you are fine to keep on as a dealer. Guess the last thing that anyone is thinking about, is us, the customer.

I think that perhaps that is much of the malaise that is creeping into our modern business ethic these days. Maybe they will be moving service to India to save on cost. Face it everyone seems to be.

It's all about cash, profits and shareholder returns. Folks, you and I as the customer are frankly meaningless. That I think is sad.

I think that these companies seem to forget that it is US that is keeping them in business and ultimately we will vote with our feet and go to those who DO give us service. :liao:

Sorry to harp on but I feel pretty strongly about this sort of thing, especially with the often couldn't give a toss attitudes that seem to prevail in the motor trade. :cussing:

A new dealer I shall have to seek.

PS. Des - A slap for U when I see U next m8!!

I am stunned. Forward motors is the main reason i buy skoda, im on my 3rd car from them. Excellent team there, customer service is unrivalled in my opinion. i cant belive it :confused:

Sorry to harp on but I feel pretty strongly about this sort of thing, especially with the often couldn't give a toss attitudes that seem to prevail in the motor trade.

You "harp" as much as you like M8! :cheers:

This sort of thing annoys me intensely as well and makes me want to do something about it! I for one will direct ANYONE who asks me about buying a Skoda towards a traditional dealership. It may not help much but if everybody on here promoted that idea then some of the more "unfashionable" dealerships may sell enough units to make Skoda UK sit up and take notice.

OK, a little idealistic perhaps but very easy to do and if it upsets some people, sorry but think of all the loyal dealers that are being summarily dumped recently.

I was going to open a thread asking what had happened to Forward Motors. My wife works just around the corner from them, and mentioned that all their cars had gone, and the place looked empty. It's a real shame -they supported and sold Skodas for many years from the old Dallow Road site, and spent a fortune on the new Sundon Park premises. It's sad to see a good dealer go.

Mind you, the new premises have a bit of a jinx on 'em as far as I'm concerned -Forward are about the third dealer to start up and shut down on that site.

Phil :confused:

I was going to open a thread asking what had happened to Forward Motors. My wife works just around the corner from them' date=' and mentioned that all their cars had gone, and the place looked empty. It's a real shame -they supported and sold Skodas for many years from the old Dallow Road site, and spent a fortune on the new Sundon Park premises. It's sad to see a good dealer go.

Mind you, the new premises have a bit of a jinx on 'em as far as I'm concerned -Forward are about the third dealer to start up and shut down on that site.

Phil :confused:[/quote']

Probably couldn't afford to keep trading - rent is probably too high, and that glitzy showroom costs money. A lot of 'traditional' dealers give up when the manufacturer demands

Marketing depts & accountants should do what they are supposed to do - advertise the product & tell the company how much/little money they are making.

But the whole company needs to be "reading from the same page". Therefore, they need a product that does the business at the right price, and the best people to decide this will be the marketing and accountant folks!

Wondered why Mercedes Benz are suddenly making unreliable' date=' poorly built cars?[/quote']

It thought it was do with with changes in legislation over car disposability. I was under the impression that cars are only supposed to have a certain lifespan, which is considerably less than most of the older Mercs have survived. Therefore, if they're not allowed to make cars which last, what's the point in trying? I might be talking nonsense though...

Rob.

Well, what more can I say? My Skoda was not purchased from Forward, but I did use them due to the abysmal service I received from my local dealer ( 5-6 weeks to book a service). 100 mile round trips were worth it to be served courteously and promptly. I'll tell you what I can say! F**k you VAG, when I come to change my car in 6 months time I will never buy one of your products AGAIN. And if I ever pick up anyone, and it comes up in conversation that they work for VAG, they will be very promptly dumped at the roadside wherever we happen to be (preferably the outside lane of the M25) [end of rant]

Probably couldn't afford to keep trading - rent is probably too high, and that glitzy showroom costs money.

Sorry to be contrary but I find it a bit hypocritical when everyone on here swaps notes about how to save a couple of hundred quid on a new car and compare the relevant merits of internet brokers (who don't have to pay for premises, demonstrators, coffee, workshop tooling etc etc) and then moan when their friendly local dealer goes bust - I'm sorry guys but if you want good service from a local dealer then you have to allow them to make some money so they can stay in business.

(I'm not saying this is necessarily the case with this particular dealership)

Gasman, I'm sorry I disagree with you.

You have a smallish established dealer, been there for years and has probably paid off any loan on his premises, or at least gone a good way toward doing so.

They are then asked top invest >

Yeah.

What he said!

Phil

Gasman - why do you have to buy a car from a dealership to expect decent customer service / servicing? I have had this problem with SEAT dealers in relation to my wife's car and it has led to me changing the dealer that she gets her car serviced at.

If I buy my car from another dealer / importer / motorhouse etc - yes it is a loss to my local dealer but im afraid thats tough **** if they can't match the best deal. I will still have to plough money into the local dealer to get the car serviced under warranty etc so why not act properly over the issue? To my mind where you buy your car from and where you get it serviced are not necessarily related and if the dealer can make money out of the servicing (don't know whether they can?) then I don't see what the problem is.

Other low-volume makes (Saab, Citroen, etc.) seem to have a healthy network of independend specialist servicing companies. I always used a local independent when I had Citroens; they did a good job, for less that the franchises, and seemed to be thriving (they were always busy when I took my car there).

Given Skoda's increase in market share over the past couple of years, there must be a steadily increasing number of cars over three years old.

Is there a place for independent Skoda service outfits, or does VAG put unreasonable barriers in their way (no access to ETKA, manuals, tools, etc.)?

Stu, that's the pointg I made in my post. Service income can be about 50% of their income.