Strange VW / Audi Dealership Goings on....

[s2_wot]

I buy all my OEM Audi (and VW) parts off our local VW Dealer. I've had a good relationship with the folk at the spare parts counter over 5-6 years now. Great service and a good discount, especially on bigger stuff. As of 1st July this year they cannot sell Audi parts anymore. So unless the part I want is off a VW car I'm going to be 20 miles away from the next audi stealer who is a :corey:.

Apparently the reason behind this is that if they want to sell audi cars (and spare parts or service audis) they need to spend a ridiculous amount of money. They need dedicated sales and technical staff and a dedicated showroom.

It's lunacy,the small VW place does a good trade in Audi parts to local mechanics + enthusiasts and I assume it's profitable. They don't need a big flashy showroom to give good service 'cos they know what they are doing!!

Has this happened anywhere else??

[Acidburn]

not seen this anywhere else then, are you able to order from the other place and have it sent to your original place?

[veneto rs2]

In Italy it's the same thing.
We have one of our Club member who use to be owner of an Audi Service....
Audi italia ask him a ridicolous (or ludicrous) amount of money to be spend to keep the Audi postsign and he just sayed thanks but no thanks.
The morning after he was not capable to join the Audi network to work in the Audis he had in the workshop.....
Audis with an already open worksheet in warranty!
Unbelievable!

Stefano

[mcandmar]

Changes are happening. From what i understand Audi came over and looked at all the dealerships, turned there noses up and decided to pull them all. What they want is a North,South,East,West main dealer with a big fancy glass building and all the bling to go with it. All the small dealerships like Annessley motors, or your local have lost Audi, and the parts trade that goes with it.

For us Eastern side guys we have to use the new main dealership, which i believe is owned by Joe Duffy. Its right across the road from their BMW main dealership, can be seen from the M50. I haven't been in there personally but i have heard a few people give out about the parts counter. Got the impression the staff aren't exactly fluent in the Audi range, or parts system.

As for parts, i used to use my local as i got a good discount and they ordered everything direct from Audi in germany. Usually had to wait a week for parts but that was ok. Other alternative was MSL who supply a lot of parts to trade garages etc. I believe MSL are now buying there parts from the UK stores. And if you do go to Annessley or other garages and order parts, they are all buying them from MSL.

Shortly before this happened i got a price check for a dozen S2 parts, things like MAF's, Coil Packs, Diff Mounts that all cost over €100. Going to check the same list against MSL and the new main dealer and see what prices they quote me :mischeif:

[s2_wot]

Wow, that seems to align with what my local guy was saying, he's in Mullingar.
He reckons that the :corey: in Athlone / Portarlington is going to lose it too because there's another cut off date on the 1st of october.

Not that I'm likely to buy a new audi anytime soon, but if I can't get help within 100miles I wouldn't bother.
I'd love to see the results of your survey actually maybe throw quattro corner into that too for the hell of it.

Audi beat:

[dmacdou1]

Theres a big/shiny/bling audi dealership in Naas, can sell the R8 and all that. Does that mean he'll be gone as well? So only 4 Audi dealers in ireland?

[s2_wot]

I think its a question of who has the deepest pockets as per Stefano's comments above. I don't get the thinking, haven't a clue if there is a number of dealerships or whatever. On the upside maybe the plan is to turn these audi places into bugatti + audi dealerships.

MSL, QC + Ebay all the way by the looks of it...

Shane

[Mikes2]

this must be new in Ireland. It happened over here quite a while ago - at least two years

[hibby]

As Mike says Audi have already rebranded all the dealerships.

Getting back to the original post though any Approved Audi dealer is now losing the Approved status and are now just Audi Specialists this has happened to 3 local VW garages that have had the approved status for ages.

Audi have woke up and realised how much work they lose to these approved garages, In particular they are targeting fleet work that MUST have all servicing and repairs carried out at an "Approved Garage" . They have also changed pricing on things like timing belts and servicing to a more reasonable and competitive price.

[s2_wot]

Interesting comments guys, I knew there were structural changes happening but am a bit surprised that the parts supply would just dry up. I can see the logic to keep the spare parts profit in the hands of the dedicated Audi folk, but on a practical basis the distribution network is not going to be the same. ah well rant over, just have to live with it

[s2avant]

It's all part of the ongoing brand separation. It's been phased in over the last few years. It started with Van Centres not being able to order car parts, then moved into Franchises being locked into a particular brand. That means they only have technical information for one brand and parts departments now can order either VW/Audi/Seat/Skoka or commercial but not a mix. Obviously there are some crossover parts but not that many in the big scheme of things.

The only exception to this is the TPS centres who can supply all five brands. One of the reasons for this setup is that retail parts customers on the whole will visit whichever brand they need to wheras trade customers want to have as few suppliers as possible. Obviously this doesn't help people who have an existing relationship with a retailer. This is true for both retail and smaller trade customers and having to start again with a new supplier is never an easy experience for either the customer or the supplier. Over the past three years we have had to take on many trade customers who had existing relationships with retailers (some going back years or decades) and it is a challenge to give them the sales experience they are used to. i.e a customer may not give out vehicle details and expect you to know what he wants or they may have nonstandard delivery requirements.

I have drifted off topic slightly so I'll conclude by stating for the record that I am not condoning or supporting Volkswagen Group policy, merely reporting the facts from my side of the fence.

Ben

[s2_wot]

The only exception to this is the TPS centres who can supply all five brands. One of the reasons for this setup is that retail parts customers on the whole will visit whichever brand they need to wheras trade customers want to have as few suppliers as possible. Obviously this doesn't help people who have an existing relationship with a retailer. This is true for both retail and smaller trade customers and having to start again with a new supplier is never an easy experience for either the customer or the supplier. Over the past three years we have had to take on many trade customers who had existing relationships with retailers (some going back years or decades) and it is a challenge to give them the sales experience they are used to. i.e a customer may not give out vehicle details and expect you to know what he wants or they may have nonstandard delivery requirements.
Ben

Ben I think you've hit the nail on the head considering the recent conversation:

Me: Can you get me 2 brake discs for the front of my audi, How was the young lads birthday party last week?
Counter Guy: Party was great, wrecked after it, is that the blue one or the red one, were you out for a few pints yourself?
Me: The blue one, I went... (but I'll save ye all the gorey details)

If it aint broken why break it!!! On the upside maybe I can knock a good deal out of the new TPS or whatever they call themselves when they set up. Might open an account altogether...

Thanks,
Shane

[iain1067]

a long time ago now i remember audi tried to do a similar thing in the uk, never worked they tried to block etka from showing vw parts in audi dealer and vice versa,