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Garage Schemes have now become a farce - Motor Codes not happy #

Posted by Peter Warman on October 25, 2010, 12:38 pm
Message modified by board administrator October 25, 2010, 1:23 pm

The RMI are rolling out a new scheme over the next few weeks "Trust My Garage"

This should make the motoring public and garages even more confused (I am)

I hope you guys have got one hell of a frontage because you are going to need a lot of space to hang all these Garage Scheme Signs

From the Aftermarket magazine:

"GARAGE scheme Motor Codes has hit out at the decision by the Retail Motor Industry (RMI) to launch a rival garage organisation.

The RMI’s initiative is to be called Trust My Garage. Speaking at a gala dinner hosted by the RMI on the 21st October, Paul Williams, chairman of the organisation, said that there will inevitably be conflict with existing schemes: “The RMI is supportive of the Motor Codes initiative and give [Motor Codes director] Chris Mason and his people all the support we can.”

“However, we believe as a trade body, we need to do more and that is exactly what the RMI is doing with its new ‘consumer initiative’ which you will see very shortly” added Williams.

Motor Codes, established three years ago by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reacted angrily to the news. In a statement issued to Aftermarket Network the organisation said: “We are saddened by this very unexpected change of course by the RMI. We have been working in partnership with them, other associations and government since 2005 on the development, launch and operation of the motor industry code for service and repair. Over the last two years, the service and repair code has successfully set a minimum standard of customer service and consumer protection across franchised and independent garages, delivering peace of mind for motorists and a robust self-regulation for its 6,500 subscribers. This will not impact on the work of the Codes or Motor Codes.”

Trust my Garage will be rolled out ‘in the coming weeks’ according to the RMI."

Re: Garage Schemes have now become a farce - Motor Codes not happy #

Posted by Nigel Yardley on October 25, 2010, 5:26 pm, in reply to "Garage Schemes have now become a farce - Motor Codes not happy #"
Nigel Yardley

I had a phone call from the RMI last week wanting to come and visit to talk about this new scheme, we haven't been members for 10 years.

they are supposed to be ringing back this week, as I was too busy too see anyone, so I am compiling a list of questions for them....

how much will it cost?
how will it be enforced?
what will be the disciplinary procedures for non compliance?
any chance of OFT approval?
how will the public be made aware of it?

Please feel free to add to these, and I'll ask when they come round.

We currently do not subscribe to any trade organisations, and are not members of any code. I have done my ATA diagnostic technician qualification, and would ideally like all my staff to sit the ATA at some level when time permits.

Re: Garage Schemes have now become a farce - Motor Codes not happy #

Posted by Tom Williams on October 25, 2010, 8:41 pm, in reply to "Garage Schemes have now become a farce - Motor Codes not happy #"
Tom Williams

The problem is that all these 'Quality schemes' are set up with the express purpose of making money for the organisations which administer them.
They offer almost nothing tangible in return.

Not so long ago my next door neighbour cleared out all his old car magazines, some dating from the fifties and sixties.
Featured in a magazine from 1965 was a report lamenting the failure of one such 'scheme' organised by the Motor Agents Association, or as it is known today, the RMI.
I note with interest, as a Bosch Car Service garage, that the OFT is one of the quangos set for downsizing,merging and re-badging. New stationery anyone?

Re: Garage Schemes have now become a farce - Motor Codes not happy #

Posted by Peter Warman on October 26, 2010, 3:43 pm, in reply to "Re: Garage Schemes have now become a farce - Motor Codes not happy #"

Hi Nigel

Part of the criteria:

"Garages have to pass a series of tests, thought to include a practical element, a written self-assessment and mystery shops"

Questions that need to be asked are:

1) Will existing RMI members be automatically given "Trust My Garage" status (a way of making the figures look good)

2) Will it be a case of join NOW and take the test at a later date or take the test and THEN you can join (the later should be the correct way)

3) Motor Codes has 5,000 Franchise dealers and 1,500 Independents on their books. How will "Trust My Garage" go about tempting the remaining 22,000 Independents that do not want to join Motor Codes

4) How often will the criteria have to be carried out, once a year, every 2 or 3 years?

5) Who will be given the task to oversee the criteria

6) How will this be promoted to the motoring public? (no tacky Golden Garage promotions I hope, waisting members fees)

Oh......and this will probably never get FULL OFT approval, not in this current climate of cuts and department down sizing

They will have to come up with something pretty outstanding and original

Peter

Re: Garage Schemes have now become a farce - Motor Codes not happy #

Posted by Simon Dean on October 26, 2010, 10:01 pm, in reply to "Re: Garage Schemes have now become a farce - Motor Codes not happy #"
Simon Dean

Hi
Oh no more confusion for the confused or probably
un interested public to garage schemes.

We will have completed ATA tech qualifications by end of year for all tech staff.
Thats all we need for new customers and our current customers come to us as they want to come to us

.

Simon

TMG

Posted by Peter Warman on October 28, 2010, 3:00 pm, in reply to "Garage Schemes have now become a farce - Motor Codes not happy #"
Peter Warman - Administrator

I thought the name sounded familiar

Ran from December 2006 for about six months. RMI now own the domain names

Not convinced about the name

but I am sure the RMI would like the amount of members listed

Re: TMG

Posted by Tom Yates on October 29, 2010, 6:42 pm, in reply to "TMG"

Not this old chestnut again, I must have saved hundreds of pounds over the years by not joining these silly schemes, its only two years since I wrote This situation will go on for years maybe even tens of years, the garages around me have joined all manor of schemes and have had a multitude of coloured signs at the front of their premises, I just have my name above the door and that has worked for me for more than twenty odd years, each week I gain a new customer some times more, from the local traders repairing cars, and each day I turn people away with work i don't need to do because my book is full with the work i wont to do, so what would be the point of me and others like me joining any such scheme, whether introduced by the government or not, do you really think it would stop my customers coming to me, if i didn't put some silly little sign next to my name !!
I will post on this next in another eight years when we will still be in the same situation and a lot of garages will have paid thousends of pound to all kinds of such schemes, lets face it the government have even less funds now than they had two years ago, and in the next eight will have even less to play with, so i will say it again save your pennies for that new peace of test gear don't put it in the pockets of the dreamers.

all the best lads

Tom

Re: TMG

Posted by Pete Mutlow on October 29, 2010, 9:26 pm, in reply to "Re: TMG"
Peter Mutlow

Well put Tom Y. The way I see it is the vast majority of car owners already have "their garage". They are not going to change because the garage up the road has suddenly put a bright and shiny sign outside their premises denoting membership of some association or other. Most new car owners would obtain recommendations before entrusting their vehicle to a garage. As Tom suggests, money saved on not joining these associations can be put to better use...especially in this economic climate.

Regards

Pete M

Re: TMG

Posted by Peter Warman on November 16, 2010, 4:28 pm, in reply to "Re: TMG"
Peter Warman - Administrator

http://www.tmgmembers.org

You can now sign up

Re: TMG

Posted by Tom Williams on November 17, 2010, 10:29 am, in reply to "Re: TMG"
Tom Williams

Nice badge.

Re: TMG

Posted by Peter Mutlow on November 17, 2010, 12:13 pm, in reply to "Re: TMG"
Peter Mutlow

.....a cynical view from Tom! I look at the wider view. We have got these codes and associations springing up all over the place which not only confuse the customers but we in the trade have to pay for them. The question we have to ask is why is it all necessary? We are not alone in this. Plumbers, builders, electricians etc have all got their myriad of associations and codes. We are all aware of how generally our profession is viewed in the publics eyes and this was illustrated not long ago in a "Which" magazine report. We have probably seen programmes such as "Rogue Builders", "Rogue Traders" and Watchdog etc. So despite the plethora of schemes covering all trades, we still have problems in our respective trades. Coming back to my original question of why is it all necessary? The answer is simple. If trading standards was properly funded and given more powers I do not believe there would be a need for all this extra bureaucratic nonsense. Trading Standards is a Government Agency and is patently not up to its task.

Regards

Pete M

Re: Garage Schemes have now become a farce - Motor Codes not happy #

Posted by Steven Paterson on November 17, 2010, 12:29 pm, in reply to "Garage Schemes have now become a farce - Motor Codes not happy #"
Steven Paterson

Seems to me any organisation that can't tell the truth in an honest way must have something to hide.

Yes it's FREE, but you have to pay to be a member before you can join.... total bo**oxs, obviously the RMI are looking to boost there membership database

Re: Garage Schemes have now become a farce - Motor Codes not happy #

Posted by Graham Bullock on November 17, 2010, 4:34 pm, in reply to "Re: Garage Schemes have now become a farce - Motor Codes not happy #"
Graham Bullock

Quote "Yes it's FREE, but you have to pay to be a member before you can join.... total bo**oxs, obviously the RMI are looking to boost there membership database"

Yes, but on the other hand, as I am already a member of the RMI it is free, whereas I would have had to pay quite a lot to join "Motor Codes".

I had actually asked the RMI why I would have to pay extra to join a scheme that they were supporting and basically saying I am honest when in fact the RMI code I adhere to already said that.

I am sure the same could be said of members of other associations so the problem as I see it is - why can't there be something in place that is common to all the trade associations with a common logo, so if you are a member of any association you can display the common logo (that the customer will get to know) as well as the logo of that particular association.

Graham

Re: Garage Schemes have now become a farce - Motor Codes not happy #

Posted by Steven Paterson on November 17, 2010, 5:16 pm, in reply to "Re: Garage Schemes have now become a farce - Motor Codes not happy #"
Steven Paterson

"why can't there be something in place that is common to all the trade associations with a common logo"

My stomach tells me, because they would need to share the profits, but I 100% agree, things would turn around a lot quicker if they all worked togetherand found a solution, otherwise the solution will be made for everyone......

Re: Garage Schemes have now become a farce - Motor Codes not happy #

Posted by Steve Nicholas on November 17, 2010, 7:31 pm, in reply to "Re: Garage Schemes have now become a farce - Motor Codes not happy #"
Stephen Nicholas

"otherwise the solution will be made for everyone......"

Do you really think that will happen?

When successive governments can't even sort out limited companies going bust and the directors starting up under a different name after ripping-off countless people - possibly a far more serious issue!

Sort of topical with me at the moment...

Regards,

Steve

Re: Garage Schemes have now become a farce - Motor Codes not happy #

Posted by Steven Paterson on November 17, 2010, 9:40 pm, in reply to "Re: Garage Schemes have now become a farce - Motor Codes not happy #"
Steven Paterson

Up here we have Scottish MP's now demanding referee's declare which team they support as mandatory, while the country is in a near meltdown, given a choice they will always look for a project they know nothing about, that will NEVER be run right, but will most likely generate revenue, rather thantackle the real issues that are killing business's every day.

Re: Garage Schemes have now become a farce - Motor Codes not happy #

Posted by Mark carter on November 17, 2010, 11:38 pm, in reply to "Re: Garage Schemes have now become a farce - Motor Codes not happy #"
Mark Carter

Steve's post seems to sum it up quite well.

regards mark

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