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RAC to drive work through Autocrew #

Posted by Peter Warman on March 21, 2011, 8:27 pm
Message modified by board administrator April 6, 2011, 3:57 pm

This does seem strange to me

http://www.catmag.co.uk/headline-news-rac-drives-work-through-autocrew-garages

The RAC are going to push work to Autocrew garages (owned by Bosch).......why?, when they already have an established respected network of Bosch Car Service in place throughout the UK, or am I missing something here.........seems parts sales (ECP) comes first

UKAT

Re: RAC to drive work through Autocrew

Posted by Dave Harney on March 21, 2011, 9:59 pm, in reply to "RAC to drive work through Autocrew"
Dave Harney

Hi Peter,
Doesn't sound much different to the Good Garage Scheme then !!

Regards
Dave

Re: RAC to drive work through Autocrew

Posted by stuart smith on March 22, 2011, 8:29 am, in reply to "RAC to drive work through Autocrew"
Stuart Smith

part of the sales agreement with ecp then, rac buy parts and recommend ecp supported garages. mind you the AA now push mr clutch as their preferred repair garages

Re: RAC to drive work through Autocrew

Posted by Ed Kaps on March 22, 2011, 10:46 am, in reply to "RAC to drive work through Autocrew"
Edward Kaps

Hi Peter
You won't be the only one who does not understand the logic in this, -Loyalty??, a word from the dim and distant past unfortunately.

Ed Kaps

Re: RAC to drive work through Autocrew

Posted by Dave Harney on March 22, 2011, 3:25 pm, in reply to "Re: RAC to drive work through Autocrew"
Dave Harney

£100 a month membership !!! as well as a "certain percentage spend with Bosch & ECP"
Plus branding costs of "less than £1000"
Nice little money maker !!

750 uk garages = £900,000 per year in membership fees
750 garages x £1000 branding = £750,000

Dave

Re: RAC to drive work through Autocrew

Posted by Peter Warman on March 22, 2011, 4:27 pm, in reply to "Re: RAC to drive work through Autocrew"
Peter Warman - Administrator

Hi Ed

Makes even less sense when you read this, they have appointed someone new to oversee the expansion of Bosch Car Service

http://www.am-online.com/aftermarket/story/Manager-tasked-with-growing-Bosch-service-network/42903628

I suppose their new PR line to prospective BCS workshops will be:

"We would like you to become one of our prestige BCS outlets, but first you will have to invest heavily in branding, training, equipment ect. Then once you have complied we will send all the lucrative RAC work to our other lesser known, second line soft franchise Autocrew".......makes it sound very tempting!

Peter

Re: RAC to drive work through Autocrew

Posted by Ian Baxter on March 22, 2011, 9:50 pm, in reply to "Re: RAC to drive work through Autocrew"
Ian Baxter

Mr Clutch

!!!!!!!! As seen on Watchdog !!!!!! (albeit a couple of years ago)

Ian.

Re: RAC to drive work through Autocrew

Posted by Phil Dunmore on March 26, 2011, 1:25 pm, in reply to "RAC to drive work through Autocrew"
Philip Dunmore

I recently looked at BCS. Like training and tech support. Not so keen on all the obligations. In particular, cost off signage and diagnostic equipment. My desicion was "Maybe later".
This sort of thing is not positive.
Makes me think perhaps independance is still the best way. I quote from the home page of this very site.

"WELCOME to the UK's largest online network of Automotive Technicians and Independent Garage owners."

Re: RAC to drive work through Autocrew

Posted by Peter Warman on March 26, 2011, 1:44 pm, in reply to "Re: RAC to drive work through Autocrew"
Peter Warman - Administrator

Hi Phil

This garage has just become the 500th BCS, may be worth giving them a call to see what the "real world" costs and benefits are

http://www.automotivepr.com/news_detail.php?Bosch-Car-Service-welcomes-500th-member-749

Must admit the exterior looks the business

I still cannot workout why Bosch have bought Autocrew, its an unknown quantity in the UK, I would have thought putting a 100% effort into promoting BCS would be better

Peter

Re: RAC to drive work through Autocrew

Posted by Ed Kaps on April 19, 2011, 12:25 pm, in reply to "Re: RAC to drive work through Autocrew"
Edward Kaps

Peter
It gets better, have you seen page 3 of ECP national trade paper 'star offers', there appears to be a Bosch signage scheme as part of it.
Ed Kaps

Re: RAC to drive work through Autocrew

Posted by Peter Warman on April 20, 2011, 8:14 am, in reply to "Re: RAC to drive work through Autocrew"
Peter Warman - Administrator

Hi Ed

I have not seen the trade paper yet, but about an hour before you posted I got a call from Autocrew to come and have a chat about becoming an Autocrew workshop. I had made an equiry last November at Sandown Mechanex about what was involved, they took my details and said someone would be in touch.......now they have, 5 months later

. I did politly decline their offer

Peter

Re: RAC to drive work through Autocrew

Posted by Tom Williams on April 22, 2011, 9:23 pm, in reply to "Re: RAC to drive work through Autocrew"
Tom Williams

We've been involved with Bosch for a long time, first as a Service Agent and then 'converted' to Bosch Car Service.
I am at the stage where words fail me.
Anyone who has ever been to Bosch at Denham will have noticed the little wall plaques dotted about, with words of the founder, Robert Bosch. He extols the importance of quality and integrity.
I haven't been there lately, but I'm sure they must have been replaced it with the motto 'Pile it high, sell it cheap'

Re: RAC to drive work through Autocrew

Posted by Ed Kaps on April 23, 2011, 11:37 am, in reply to "Re: RAC to drive work through Autocrew"
Edward Kaps

Hi Tom
We have exactly the same history with Bosch as yourself and I fully agree with your comments. I have already let Bosch know how I feel as well as the trade press.
Ed Kaps

Re: RAC to drive work through Autocrew

Posted by Peter Warman on May 25, 2011, 4:21 pm, in reply to "Re: RAC to drive work through Autocrew"
Peter Warman - Administrator

Just had a Focus recovered in by RAC and had a chat with the driver. He had not heard of Autocrew and has not been given an directive to take to any Autocrew workshops. He was very surprised it was all in the Motor Trade press but the RAC drivers know nothing about it

Peter

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