Audi parts experience - Trade Part Specialists

[curlyks2]

Dealer experiences...

• Harrogate Audi: utterly useless on many levels, and nearly took them to court. I have to say however that this was a few years ago, and was while they were part of the Massingberd Group (no longer the case). Time and new management may have changed them.
• Portsmouth Audi: parts department came out with the line we all dread - "do you mean A2?". I didn't call back.
• Southampton Audi: Good - really helpful and really clued up.
• Amersham Audi: Also really helpful - screens on the desk etc which the gent serving was quite happy for me to peer at with him.

Ck.

[s2avant]

@Ben - I give up then

Wasn't trying to crush your spirit, sir, merely trying to point out the view from their side of the fence.

I managed to collar my regional sales manager for a chat about this yesterday. He likes the idea of all that extra money (surprise, surprise) but is concerned about diluting the trade focus of our operation. I explained the pros and cons of the scheme and has tasked me with setting up a pilot scheme for owners clubs/forums from my site (Coventry) to study the feasibility of opening up the TPS network to the DIY enthusiast market. If I can prove there is a revenue stream we are missing out on he will then push for it to rolled out nationwide.

So today I will be setting up the afformentioned cash account for owners clubs. Just need to make sure the word gets about so I can pull in some decent figures to prove it is a good idea for the whole network.

Unfortunately this can't cover mail order to due to our out of territory trading restrictions BUT that doesn't prevent people arranging their own courier to collect parts.

Ben

[Rusty]

Ben, good work There are plenty of places where people can sort postage with some simple details. Hopefully this will do well!

[Ross]

Just to say, we need to help ourselves here, I've used Ben for parts and as have a few others - simply put in an order, confirmed when ready for collection, and sent a courier to collect for £8 cost. Far less than the savings made. As long as TPS Coventry don't start getting upset if a dozen parcels a day are collected from site, I think that is a good way forward. Way I see it, what's the difference between me collecting in person or my representative DHL driver?

In regards to the web frontend... sounds like nobody at TPS is willing to think outside the box on this one - there's always a way, may take slight modifications to stock allocation and supply chain, but it would be quite a project and if they don't have the in-house team and infrastructure in place, also expensive... in times like this ROI is going to the top question, an this probably isn't a big enough revenue stream to justify the risk and resources.

Going forward, I'd agree - trying to set up a localised system that works, as Ben suggested ordrered through TPS Coventry and then distributed from there. It would be plausable to set up a 3rd party website, but that would take some responsibility to administer and service. It may open doors in the future to having it integrated with whatever WMS/logistics software system they use.

[S2central.net]

Ben - that's great... I wasn't being snippy there, its the few insiders like yourself at TPS who we rely on so much that make old Audi ownership anyway possible. Seriously great job on setting up this pilot scheme.

As for the couriers - I've made use of www.payperparcel.co.uk twice to Ben's TPS and its been fantastically easy and fairly priced - even with shipments to my part of the world where they handover to DHL. About 2 working days delivery time.

Paul

[Lloyd]

So today I will be setting up the afformentioned cash account for owners clubs. Just need to make sure the word gets about so I can pull in some decent figures to prove it is a good idea for the whole network.

Unfortunately this can't cover mail order to due to our out of territory trading restrictions BUT that doesn't prevent people arranging their own courier to collect parts.

Ben

Ben, this is awesome news. Count on my support.

[missmouse]

sorry to seem a bit thick here.... what does TPS stand for?

simon

[S2central.net]

TPS = http://www.thetradepartsspecialists.co.uk/

[4WheelDrifter]

I managed to collar my regional sales manager for a chat about this yesterday. He likes the idea of all that extra money (surprise, surprise) but is concerned about diluting the trade focus of our operation. I explained the pros and cons of the scheme and has tasked me with setting up a pilot scheme for owners clubs/forums from my site (Coventry) to study the feasibility of opening up the TPS network to the DIY enthusiast market. If I can prove there is a revenue stream we are missing out on he will then push for it to rolled out nationwide.

So today I will be setting up the afformentioned cash account for owners clubs. Just need to make sure the word gets about so I can pull in some decent figures to prove it is a good idea for the whole network.

Unfortunately this can't cover mail order to due to our out of territory trading restrictions BUT that doesn't prevent people arranging their own courier to collect parts.

Ben

Ben, this is awesome news. Count on my support.

Good to see someone else is supporting this. Bo and I popped in to Coventry TPS yesterday for a few more bits and bobs. Shame the rest are all talk and no action, as usual.

I tend to buy service items in bulk. It makes it worth a trip to collect them that way. I have most parts on the shelf when I need them that way. It just takes some storage space with 5 VAG cars on the go.
I'm trying to knock up another list to get a few more parts on this account before the end of the month.

Don't forget guys. If you don't use it, you'll lose it. Then you'll be left with QC.

[S2central.net]

As Stu says - use it... I do so by post as often as I can afford to...
Ben accomodates this if you make your own arrangements for courier collection - just be organised and communicate the pickup date with Ben.

If this branch of TPS doesn't see useful extra revenue from the scheme and/or its viewed as burdensome - it might go away as Stu suggests.

[twoqu]

Right,
Just to update this. Thanks to Eurocarparts robbing all the essential nuts need to replace all the knackered front end components I decided to use Bath Audi!
Even though the order was a few £'s of nuts, they were friendly and helpful, bits turned up when they said and no problem to stick them in the post for me. So no complaints from me on this one! Saved a lot of time and effort and cost.
Is there a way for the Mods to extract some of the info on this thread about helpful dealers and contacts and make it a sticky somewhere noticeable!

[Jamo]

Just a reminder to all if you require parts please try the trade part specialists via S2avant as an alternative means to our sponsors

[Rusty]

I've been using Ben a lot recently and have recommended his services to some friends! Keep up the good work sir!

[Error404]

is there a preceedure? Do we just ring up with part numbers? Contact details?

[Rusty]

PM him or call 0845 6099066