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Yet another "Good Garage" scheme

Posted by Phil Dunmore on May 25, 2008, 10:02 am
Philip Dunmore

Aftermarket news link

"Over 5,500 garages have already said that they intend to subscribe to the code."

No mention of cost, wonder if the OFT actually know anything about this?

Re: Yet another "Good Garage" scheme

Posted by Peter Warman on May 25, 2008, 12:39 pm, in reply to "Yet another "Good Garage" scheme"
Peter Warman - Administrator

Hi Phil

"Over 5,500 garages have already said that they intend to subscribe to the code."

Some of these stories have more spin on them than the wheels on a Ferarri......has anyone been approached or surveyed?

The website "motorindustrycodes" was registered by SMMT Ltd and gives their London address of Forbes House, no mention of it on their website

So looks like its another "Motor Trade Association" getting in on the act

Peter

Re: Yet another "Good Garage" scheme

Posted by Dave Harney on May 25, 2008, 1:00 pm, in reply to "Re: Yet another "Good Garage" scheme"
Dave Harney

We had our local PMA rep in the other day with a Wynns Additives rep, who said they were setting up there own "good garage scheme" !!

Dave

Re: Yet another "Good Garage" scheme

Posted by Steve Nicholas on May 25, 2008, 1:12 pm, in reply to "Re: Yet another "Good Garage" scheme"
Stephen Nicholas

The more schemes that are added the more their effect is diluted.

Also, initiatives started by product manufacturers, however well intentioned, will be seen by many as marketing exercises.

Regards,

Steve

Re: Yet another "Good Garage" scheme

Posted by Keith Simpson on May 26, 2008, 11:47 am, in reply to "Re: Yet another "Good Garage" scheme"

Also, initiatives started by product manufacturers, however well intentioned, will be seen by many as marketing exercises.

This was exactly my point last year with Forte. I eventualy joined the GGS, when it was accepted that I would not sell a Flush and Fuel system cleaner at every service. I have to say I pulled out after a few months when I realised that they where many other schemes already out there doing the same thing. I can honestly say the GGS did not do anything for us in bringing in more work.

Keith

Re: Yet another "Good Garage" scheme

Posted by sean savage on May 26, 2008, 11:55 am, in reply to "Re: Yet another "Good Garage" scheme"
Sean Savage

i still think the good garage scheme is a well run and managed scheme to rival the rest. i joined it approx 4 months ago with the "if i dont like it i'm out" outlook on it. i must admit all my customers have commented on the extra confidence it gives them seeing the signs and the posters etc. i know i have gained "some" work from it but it does look more proffesional when handing over the wallets and service sheets after a service. the feedback is also very usefull if not just for my own interest of how customers see our garage. unless the government bring in a compulsary trading standards scheme then i believe the ggs is a start.
sean

Re: Yet another "Good Garage" scheme

Posted by Peter Warman on June 20, 2008, 6:14 pm, in reply to "Yet another "Good Garage" scheme"

Hi All

The new schemes website is now open for business

Will cost you £75:00 to register and a promised launch of August, by then we should be able to see the list of 5,500 garages who said they would sign up

You will be given a compliance visit within 24 months, that will cost you £175:00 and again for any subsequent visits

Peter

Link: http://service.motorindustrycodes.co.uk/

Re: Yet another "Good Garage" scheme

Posted by Keith Simpson on June 21, 2008, 9:25 am, in reply to "Re: Yet another "Good Garage" scheme"

Just another money making scheme that wants a slice of your profits. 5.500 garages already signed up I have my doubts.

Keith

Re: Yet another "Good Garage" scheme

Posted by Phil Dunmore on June 22, 2008, 11:16 am, in reply to "Re: Yet another "Good Garage" scheme"
Philip Dunmore

August isn't far away, think I will hang on and see how much advertising results from the £412k

Re: Yet another "Good Garage" scheme

Posted by Vince Mosley on June 28, 2008, 10:07 am, in reply to "Re: Yet another "Good Garage" scheme"
Vince Mosley

Just had the letter through the post this morninig.I must say i am sceptical. Dont think i will be paying up front till the scheme has been running for a while and see what the feed back is like. Certainly would begrudge paying £175 for them to visit me , and other visit they carry out. That seems a bit open ended and open to abuse to generate income for them. Seen this sort of thing before and usually nothing comes of it. Sceptical yes, too many scammers out there.

Re: Yet another "Good Garage" scheme

Posted by Peter Warman on August 29, 2008, 7:42 pm, in reply to "Yet another "Good Garage" scheme"

Hi Phil

Looks like your 5,500 garages have all signed up

Not sure if i am missing something here, but it looks more like a who's who of Dealerships in the UK

Have they all signed up??

So look as if a consumers can only trust main dealers as recommended by the OFT

Someone please explain

Peter

Link: http://service.motorindustrycodes.co.uk/consumers/garage-listings/page-1.html

Re: Yet another "Good Garage" scheme

Posted by Mark Carter on August 29, 2008, 10:46 pm, in reply to "Re: Yet another "Good Garage" scheme"

Hi, if you visit the site and carry out a search under "independent" and "all" you will find the total number of non franchised garages signed up.
I found 50?

I wonder if the franchised companies all paid the total joining fee? or a "group" discount(carrot)was offered?

If the public awareness campaign is as big as the hype then we will join just to prove that we are as honest and transparent in our dealings as the "big boys"

I run a BCS and therefore operate my business to a code that ALREADY has OFT stage 2 approval,which is more than this "code" has, but at the end of the day it's all about getting customers through the doors and keeping them happy, and if that means playing the same game as the big boys then so be it.
Regards Mark.

GMTV Forum - Send in your view

Posted by James Dillon on August 30, 2008, 7:40 pm, in reply to "Re: Yet another "Good Garage" scheme"

Dear All

How about you take this opportunity to have your voice heard?

Send in an appropriate, fact based response.

Don't let this be a one sided 'stone throwing' competition.

Why not talk about: extended service intervals, price of parts, complexity of the modern motor vehicle, investment required to be a technician/garage, vehicle manufacturers lack of information sharing etc...

Also, to put this into perspective (read the post in the link again), the survey is based on customer feelings and beliefs - there does not appear to be that many (or any at all?) hard facts presented by the survey.

By way of example: I believe that Sainos have too much power over Milk suppliers and have been involved in price fixing with other supermarkets (fact sustained by the competition commission leading to a combined fine of £112 million ) and they charge customers too much for Kopparberg Pear Cider (just a belief of mine); I believe that the quiz questions on GMTV are so simple that they are aimed at getting people to call in so that GMTV collect the £'ss from the premium rate phone number, and there may not actually be a real competiton running and GMTV actively set out to rip off their viewers (fact sustained by a £2 million fine levied by OfCom in September 2007).

Pot - Kettle etc, big grin!

Undoubtedly, joking aside, this survey shows that there is a perception issue with some of the motoring population (customers, insurance companies, TV companies etc.) when it comes to quality of service from garages and technicians. How about we all get behind the ATA scheme and become professionally accredited and empower the IMI to defend our joint reputations and that of our trade?

Kind regards

James.

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