So I got an email today saying Northshore Auto Group is closing.
They are moving to Hunter Holden in Ryde (good for me) but I don't think ill trust them with my car.
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So I got an email today saying Northshore Auto Group is closing.
They are moving to Hunter Holden in Ryde (good for me) but I don't think ill trust them with my car.
Its hard to build up a brand when it bounces from dealer to dealer and then the new dealer just use the cars as a space filler in their used car section.
I think its about time some of these small imports take a bit more control over the future of their brands instead of leaving it in the hands of some knowledge poor dealer.
I received the same email but the Skoda sales franchise is not relocating. It seems the whole Northshore Auto Group is closing and only the Mitsubishi franchise is relocating to Ryde, taken over my Hunter Holden. The other franchises held of Skoda, Kia, Great Wall and Ssangyong appear to be terminated. They will continue to service these other makes at Ryde but like you I will look elsewhere.
Until Skoda reach a critical mass of sales they will continue to be involved in the revolving door of dealerships syndrome.
The problem is that its a chicken and egg situation and at the moment Joe and Jane public will feel nervous about buying a car brand that is here one day and over there a month later.
It might well be time for Skoda to establish marquee dealerships in Melbourne and Sydney at least that are factory backed, large with good stock, knowledgable about the product and have acceptable (read very good) service departments. Use the dealerships to build the sales volumes brand awareness and customer confidence then leverage independent dealerships off those.
the sucky thing is my dealer extended warranty for 3 years beyond the factory warranty is now not worth the paper its written on
I didn't mention lawyers.
but you have a good point, not that ill be servicing it there anyway, thus voiding the conditions of the 'extended warranty'. I already have 5 year factory warranty so I may never need it if I replace it with a new Octavia when this one runs out of warranty
Who actually bought Skodas from North Shore though? I've heard nothing but bad things about them and only went there to look at the Yeti when it first came out. Hunter Holden at Ryde have a similarly bad rep.