Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2005 12:32:10 -0900
Reply-To: Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Subject: Re: why no VW trucks/vans
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Re: " you EVER see any vw dealer mechanic or service department morons actually show up for work IN a vw? "
Yes!
There is a technician at Larsen(?) VW in Tacoma that drives a vanagon, at least as of August 2003 when we stopped in on our way home with our Westy Syncro. I have his name at home, he was very helpful as I changed a siezed alternator in their parking lot. While this is only one, I am sure that there are others out there somewhere.
On the surface it seems logical that people that work for dealerships drive that brand of vehicle, it does not happen for a variety of reasons. If you work for a dealership that does not carry a line of vehicles that suits your needs, or have not been there long, you drive what you have, or that works for you. I once worked for a dealership that tried to pressure you into purchasing a vehicle from them. They went so far as to fire someone for purchasing a used corvette from another dealer. I have spent the last eleven years working for a Honda and Acura franchise and a number of our employees and/or their spouses, do drive our products, but many don't. Alaskans drive a lot of 4 wheel drive trucks and many of our employees have Ford, Chevy, Toyota, or Dodge trucks because Honda did not offer one. Honda is just now getting into that market, the new Ridgeline truck debuts March 1st, but prior to this if you wanted a truck you had to shop elsewhere.
Mark in AK
----- Original Message -----
From: Joel Walker <jwalker17@EARTHLINK.NET>
Date: Saturday, February 19, 2005 11:18 pm
Subject: Re: why no VW trucks/vans
> ok, along the same lines (as no vw dealers using their own products),
> here's one for you ...
>
>
> wouldn't it make sense to you, if you were a dealer, to have your
> mechanics and service personnel DRIVING your product? gives them
> familiarity with the product?
>
> but ...
>
> you EVER see any vw dealer mechanic or service department morons
> actually show up for work IN a vw? i haven't seen that since the
> 1950's ... when some of the mechanics were actual germans working over
> here.
>
> it would seem to me to be good business for the dealership to give big
> discounts to the staff and mechanics, just to push the product, for
> one thing ... let the new stuff be seen in the neighborhoods at home.
> doesn't seem to be the case. and not with just vw ... same thing at
> the other dealerships.
>
> one odd thing ... at the local Mercedes M-Class factory, they DO
> something like this ... they loan out the product to the folks on the
> assembly line. yup. you work there, you get to drive one for a couple
> of weeks. so you know what you're working on. AND to impress your
> neighbors. :) and if you decide you want one, they give you a big
> discount ... you do have to wait for yours to be built, however; but
> you take it from the factory, not the dealership. and you have to keep
> it for at least one calendar year before you can sell it. same
> deal as
> they do in germany, i hear.
>
> but it ain't a bus. :( they used to make a bus about the size of a
> vanagon, called the MB-100. even looked like the vanagon. engine in
> front, between the front seats, though.
>
> joel
>
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