Audi parts experience - Trade Part Specialists

[twoqu]

Ben,

My bad! I guess I got confused over site being a web site not a location!
I can understand not encouraging hoards of people all wanting a clip or washer. Thats why I was proposing in essence a Regional Representative, that all business is diverted through. Clearly this needs to be a committed person but I am sure they exist on here.
It does open up the possibilities of bulk buying or in larger quantities providing that stuff like fluids could be decanted in to user friendly amounts. Again this all down to peoples willingness to travel within an area.
What are the requirements needed to satisfy TPS that you are a trade customer?

[s2avant]

With the advent of parts club there is very little difference between genuine and aftermarket pricing. In fact in most cases we are actually cheaper Admittedly this is mainly on the newer vehicles which are our primary market but we are actively gathering competitor data for VAG so they can realign prices accordingly. This is a long process but we are makig progress slowly.

Not sure what you mean by my site? I have been able to offer a limited servie to enthusiast groups mainly based on the coming to site to collect orders. As of yet the rules of the TPS network forbid sites from providing a mail order service (I don't think thsi will ever change) and also frown upon us dealing openly with the general public. Guidelines are that we shouldn't turn people away but on the other hand we shouldn't encourage such business.

[twoqu]

Ben,

Agreed. If there was little price difference between a genuine and aftermarket quality part then I would think most would go for the original.
I was speaking to anoter member at the weekend who mentioned your site. I wasn't aware that you had one! Is it something you can share with us?

[Greg_S]

On the parts experience, Shrewsbury Audi have always been very good when I have been in to see the parts department and very helpful. Bedford Audi are ok too, no where near as knowledgable though. Hitching Audi weren't much help at all.

[s2avant]

TPS centres can and do supply all available VAG group parts and lubricants/consumables etc.

With all due respect you are never going to get a motor manufacturer to set up a VAGParts style webshop/courier delivery service. They simply won't see the benefit when they have the country virtually catered for with the retailer and tps network. I can appreciate it would be the easiest solution for the end user BUT when have you seen VAG (or other manufacturers) working towards making it easy for customers

The objective of the TPS network is to get back lost business from the likes of GSF and eurocarparts. The argument I have made with those in charge of the TPS network is that rather than trying to crush the competition (which amongst other things will result in forcing the normal enthusiast back into the retailer network) why not just offer a better deal to the enthusiast market in the first place. The net result is the same in that the competition loses sales and this way customers will be happy to use the TPS network with almost zero additional costs to VAG.

I have provided them figures to show how much additional turnover my site has brought in from such a scheme and that is the tip of the iceberg. If you consider how many VAG enthusiasts there are in the UK across all the brands then there is huge potential.

Maybe if the rest of the TPS centres were pushed by end users such as yourselves the weight of feeling could help VAG see the potential market they are currently ignoring.

Ben

[rocketdog]

Teeside Audi = Brilliant. Can't say a bad word about them. I've even had a coffee and biscuits.

Wearside Audi = Massive PANTS. Clueless, rude and extremely unhelpful.

i had the same level of customer service at wearside audi, i turned up in my work clothes and they fell over eachother trying to avoid me! when i finally spoke to someone she was very rude so i told her to poke it up her ****! F**kin snobs

[twoqu]

But do the TPS outlets supply genuine Audi parts as well as consumables, i.e clips, nuts and all the other little things we break as well?
Paul is right. Basically the Vag Parts model! No need to reinvent the wheel!
Still if we can bulk buy as a region on oil/plugs even brake discs as long as they realise we would be interested in other models, then that would be worthwhile too!

[S2central.net]

This cracks me up... All VW/Audi & TPS need to do is create a well laid out secure webshop for this.

Parts could be delivered to your nearest dealer - or you pay more for delivery to your doorstep. Vouchers and Club discounts would be easy to run on this system too. There is an element of ecofriendliness for such a solution too - only one trip to the dealer required to get your parts - or none if a local courier is doing the delivery... to multiple people per day. It would so much more efficient and cost very little to operate... The additional revenues brought from such a webshop would easily make this profitable.

I am glad that Ben is pushing for something for changes in TPS, but the system described above would be ideal IMHO.

[AndyP]

http://www.thetradepartsspecialists.co.uk/latestNews.php

Put your postcode in the box to find the nearist location.

[twoqu]

Ben,

Where are there TPS outlets? One solution might be to have a regional nominee who could at least order/collect parts either for collection by other members at a convenient time, or if not too much trouble, to send. Obviously if we can get some discount then that would be cool. Perhaps that could be gifted to the nominee for their time and effort or used to cover postage on smaller items.
They clearly is an issue with dealerships. We know its unlikely that what we want will be stocked. I know its only a few £'s worth of fixings but the cost of the round trip in fuel alone is going to cost more than the parts! You could even argue its a Green issue considering the extra polution two trips causes!

[steve1234]

Andy i too have had the unfortunate experience of encountering the woman at Bristol Audi, What a total idiot she is. I was so angry one day i walked out and havent been back since. I now use tetbury Audi and i find the service second to none. If you have parts query they ask you to accompany them to the spare parts department where you can look up the relevant info on the computer assisted by the storeman of course. very good people i wouldnt ever go to bristol audi ever ever again there just a bunch of pompous idiots who just look down there nose at you want a bunch of muppets.........

[s2avant]

So we either need to cultivate a enthuasiatic dealer or somehow get a foot in the door on the trade side. Perhaps this need to be joined up with the NLA campaign. Not only are parts NLA but getting the parts that do still exist is getting to be a right royal PITA!

:mischeif:

I am still working on VAG to set up a national cash account throughout the TPS network to have a set discount etc for owners clubs/forums no matter where they go.

In the meantime you could still walk into any one of them and should be served (and maybe get a little discount). Granted there are no nice cars to look at but you won't get looked down upon.

Ben

[twoqu]

Well as expected, the "the parts will be here in the morning" phone call hasn't materialised! Not really unexpected as he must have heard of backorder. Thats another disadvantage of not "serving" a customer at a dedicated parts desk where the information would be available on stock supplies.
It does seem to me that Audi are missing a trick here. Come to think of it the model already existed when South Hereford was a point of contact for quattro club members. You could ring up, speak to somebody knowledgable, be told whether the parts were available and the price, given a small discount and the parts would be dispatched as soon as they arrived. That all ended when the brands were seperated a while ago.
So we either need to cultivate a enthuasiatic dealer or somehow get a foot in the door on the trade side. Perhaps this need to be joined up with the NLA campaign. Not only are parts NLA but getting the parts that do still exist is getting to be a right royal PITA!

[mcandmar]

Cant really complain about my local, trick is to get an arrangement where you provide the part numbers, deal is no refunds but it takes the hassle out of explaining what the car is and what parts you want. I can give them the part numbers and wait for the phone call, mind you it costs a lot more then vagparts ever did

[Cymru1]

My local is Pentreath Audi (Anglesey), went there a while back for a oil filter.
Had not been for years so I went to the "old" side door where they used to do
all VAG parts only to be told that the Audi parts desk had been moved to the
Audi Showroom. Very nice!!

Dedicated parts desk with terminal (so you can point at the screen!) in the middle
of a posh showroom. And the guy knew what an S2 actually was.