Open Evening Leicester OPC 12/12 - who is going?

[smallspeed]

Must have missed you; I was there about 5:45 until 7, but deeply engrosed discussing interior plastics with my mate and the disgraceful replacement of metal interior door handles (996) with plastic (997) [] Also what a pain the lump in the floor is on the drivers side of a RHD Cayenne

I know what you mean about the staff, the only person who spoke to me was the parts guy who I have dealt with in the past.. we had a bit of a chat about how he was getting on preparing my C-GT for collection (I wish) and how I was getting on with my car.. Its odd because my friend would have been a great target for the salesmen last night; he's in the market for a new car to replace his Merc SL in the spring, but I guess we (well he, I think my lack of hair adds 10yrs and 20lbs [] ) looked too young to be in the market or something.. His money's with Alpina for a new B3 coupe, and despite my best efforts I couldn't sway him!..

I guess if the parts guys are ok, thats enough for me; thats pretty much all I use anyway..

ben

PS.. Mince pie's were nice []

 

[Helen Goff]

we were dissapointed by the quality of the plastic trim on the inside the New Cayenne. even my uninterested daughter commented on it.. we were also amazed that they have got rid of the very handy draw that was under drivers seat . []
wanted to ask a salesman some questions about spec but gave up trying to find one.

 

[Helen Goff]

because my friend would have been a great target for the salesmen last night; he's in the market for a new car to replace his Merc SL in the spring,

so thats at least 2 possable sales they lost last night. []

 

[smallspeed]

I've been looking at a lot of 50-100k cars recently (not for me) at the IAA Frankfurt, Top Marques Monaco, Paris, etc. and Im not particularly impressed with the Porsche interiors.. I have to bite my tounge a bit, as they are allegedly the most profitable car company in the world so must know what they are doing

They have improved the 911 interior over the boxster/996 which I thought was a bit dated looking when it came out, but detail bits like the centre console, door handles, ashtray, etc., are all a bit cheap looking, as are the sliver plastic bits (I dont think the glitzy silver paint finish helps)

I know its a lightweight sports car and people buy for the engine/trans/suspension as much as the trim and fittings, but the interior of the R8 among other competitors is much better finished (and I hate Audi's). I argued the whole way home 911 vs. Alpina, but I have to conceed the new Alpina B3 is a good 25k cheaper, its faster, its better equipped, its as well built, and the standard of trim and level of equipment is far better.. I know the 911 probably hits the core customers they are looking to please, but the fringe buyers who are there to be swayed (like my mate) aren't necessarily going to fall the stutgart side of the fence..

Perhaps this is the porsche 10yr plan, to keep the specialist market and customers and drive forward with that core custom, but it seems (possibly) a little short sighted.. As I said at the start though, its hard to argue when the income of the company is so high, I just hope they can maintain it

ben

 

[Helen Goff]

Porsche are proud of telling us that over 70% of all porsches ever made are still on the road.

i am unconvinced that most of the modern porsche will still be with us when they are 15-50 years old. [&o]

 

[smallspeed]

ORIGINAL: Helen Goff
so thats at least 2 possable sales they lost last night. []

Its weird but we get the same response from sales people almost everwhere we've been in the last couple of months; they sit at their desks and watch us looking around their expensive cars for 20mins, and then we leave.. I thought it was an age thing, but the same happened with my Dad in Oxford at BMW and Mercedes, so perhaps they met their quota's already this year?!..

Ok, "my name is ben, and Im a car-oholic" [] but despite that, if I worked at the Leicester OPC I would have been there last night, wandering around talking to Porsche nuts about cars.. And if I was in charge of the place, I would have made it compulsory for the rest of the staff.. It doesn't strike me as being "proper work" hanging around talking turkey and eating mince pies, but as proved here you never know what business might result..

 

[Helen Goff]

I've found even vauxhall(i've bought 2 in last 18 months) and ford (6 over last 10 years) salemen are as lazy. i thought maybe it was because i'm a women.


i made my money by selling houses and land for other people. if i had worked with the same enthusiasm as they do i wouldn't have been able to have fed and clothed my kids while my husband was studying and working his way up the business ladder.

 

[Helen Goff]

infact the only car salemen/dealership i have ever been really impressed with is Landrover.

 

[jason]

On reflection - fair points only one guy actuallly spoke to me and he wanted my details for their database - he was very polite and enthusiastic though.

The others all sitting in their offices hiding was very obvious....especially as they are all glass!

If it was my business there would have been a meet and greeter, someone taking tours around the workshop, someone showing new cars and second hand and a few talking to individuals about what they have now and what they fancy in the future....with a finance guy on hand!

 

[smallspeed]

It surprises me they didn't make more of an effort to get to know their die hard supporters; perhap's we're seen as being "in the keep net" as we are porsche fans so not likely to go elsewhere

totally un-related, but helen's comment re: other car dealers reminded me (so its her fault [] ) I had a new 1.2 corsa hire car the last couple of days to go meet and greet some digger drivers, and it was an absolute hoot around the country lanes; so chuckable.. absolutely destroyed some guy out for a blast in his 1.8 Audi TT yesterday lunchtime.. Only downside to the experience was the stupid electronic throttle, and those fluffy monsters kept trying to steal my keys []

C'mon!..

 

[Helen Goff]

ORIGINAL: smallspeed



totally un-related, but helen's comment re: other car dealers reminded me (so its her fault [] )

[:-] cor,i get blaimed for everything [][]

 

[carrera7]

Lets get the facts straight shall we. Leicester consulted me as to how the evening should be run and I asked for an open evening where people could meet and look round the premises with no pressure and no salesmen pouncing. Sales and technical advice was there and several members who bothered to stay asked for and were given advice. It was my suggestion that details were obtained for the data base. The evening was basically a venue for the Raffle draw which they had graciously sponsored and I would not blame them if they did not want to do it again. If you had a problem with the evening then talk to me about it next time you see me.

 

[jason]

ORIGINAL: carrera7

Lets get the facts straight shall we. Leicester consulted me as to how the evening should be run and I asked for an open evening where people could meet and look round the premises with no pressure and no salesmen pouncing. Sales and technical advice was there and several members who bothered to stay asked for and were given advice. It was my suggestion that details were obtained for the data base. The evening was basically a venue for the Raffle draw which they had graciously sponsored and I would not blame them if they did not want to do it again. If you had a problem with the evening then talk to me about it next time you see me.

Patrick - that puts a totally different light on the situation.

TBH I guess we all 'expect' to be pounced on by car salesmen...complain when it happens and then when they don't we presume they are lazy and not interested in us. I guess they can't win!

If they were told not to pressurise us then they did an admirable job and the guy I spoke to was very enthusiastic. Guess none of us knew that though and that can come across as disinterested.

Was a good venue - hope they get more involved with the region...and maybe I'll get chance to also next year!

Away next week so have a merry xmas and prosperous new year all in R8.

J

 

[OllieW]

I can agree with all the comments made above, but not once did a sales man even grace the floor. I spent a good 20 minutes talking to their delivery driver who seems far more familiar with the soft sell technique and was a delight to talk to.

Appreciate what you have said about wanting the sales men not to pounce on the unsuspecting attendees but that doesn't mean they should totally ignore people walking around their dealership.

On that point I don't think anyone has a "problem" with the evening, just stating that in reality it was a little poor on their behalf.

If one had bothered to even spark up polite conversation I would have asked if they knew of any GT3RS's for sale, so their lack of effort (even a little) has resulted in them losing potentially 3 sales, which in the run up to Christmas would be very welcome I assume.

I am going back on Saturday to look at the Targa 4s for my father, lets see how the predators pounce then...

PS If anyone knows of a white/blue 3RS for sale please let me know.

Cheers

 

[smallspeed]

ORIGINAL: carrera7
Lets get the facts straight shall we.
Leicester consulted me as to how the evening should be run and I asked for an open evening where people could meet and look round the premises with no pressure and no salesmen pouncing.

Thats fair enough and a good idea, but personally I felt the majority of the staff were avoiding us sitting in their office.. made me feel like they weren't interested; as a sales person you can be involved without being pushy or selling anything

ORIGINAL: carrera7
Sales and technical advice was there and several members who bothered to stay asked for and were given advice.

cheap shot presumably aimed at me as I left before the raffle draw, although I did get there half an hour before anyone else and I did have a regular appointment elsewhere at 8..

Regardless of that, I wouldn't have minded having a chat with the staff to see how business was going, but the only people I saw were the parts guy (who ive dealt with before and had a chat with) and an older guy in a suit who came out of a small kitchen around the corner by the white cayman, said "alright" and dashed off somewhere, possibly to watch the football on the widescreen tv in the staffroom?

ORIGINAL: carrera7
It was my suggestion that details were obtained for the data base. The evening was basically a venue for the Raffle draw which they had graciously sponsored and I would not blame them if they did not want to do it again.

I didn't see anyone taking details, but seems like a good idea; i guess most of us are on record elsewhere (silverstone, nottingham, etc) so was a good oportunity to get our details on their records and get to know us a bit maybe?

I think them sponsoring a raffle is a great gesture, and I brought tickets and supported that. I apologise I wasnt there for the draw if my absence in some way offended people within the OPC or PCGB, but as explained above I had an appointment 15miles away on the other side of leicester at 8..

I dont see why they wouldn't want to do it again unless you're refering to comments made here, in which case nothing derogatory has been said that I can see, just people expressing how they felt and would have done things if they were running the OPC

ORIGINAL: carrera7
If you had a problem with the evening then talk to me about it next time you see me. 

As Im not likely to see you anytime soon due to spending most of my time living out of a suitcase in eastern europe at the moment..

I didn't have a problem with the evening at all; I thought it was well organised and Im grateful to you for the time you spent organising it. I thought it was great to get up there and have a look around as I always feel like a bit of an idiot just wandering around a showroom drooling over the cars

I was surprised the people at the OPC didn't get more involved and Im disappointed none of the staff took the time to have a chat, seemingly prefering to sit in their glass box.. I work on the commercial side of the construction equipment business and there is no excuse for being lassie-faire with customers; whether that was their intention or not I don't know, thats how it came across to me.. We may not have been buying anything, but I still feel they could have taken the time, even if there was nothing in it for them directly.. first rule; get to know your customers!..

As a Porsche owner and PCGB member I don't honestly care; I went up there, brought some raffle tickets, had a look around the cars, ate a couple of mince-pies, then went on my way.. I buy original Porsche parts for my car, and I will continue to regardless; whether the sales staff spent the time to get to know me or anyone else last night is irrelevent really, Im not in the market for a new (or nearly new) car any time soon and as long as they get my parts in correctly and quickly Im a happy customer..

I personally feel they would get more out of the club by getting more involved with the people in the club.. that doesnt mean dontaing more raffle prizes, spending money, or offering freebies like vehicle inspections (however all of these are nice touches for which I think we are all grateful) just spending some time; it should be a two way street afterall..

As a commercial guy I thought it was a completely wasted opportunity for Porsche.. again, doesn't really make any difference to me, and perhaps I should stick with "diggers" and keep my nose out of the car business..

 

[jason]

Bloody hell Ben....you bored tonight? []

 

[smallspeed]

there wasn't much on the telly.. [&:]

 

[Helen Goff]

ORIGINAL: smallspeed

ORIGINAL: carrera7
Lets get the facts straight shall we.
Leicester consulted me as to how the evening should be run and I asked for an open evening where people could meet and look round the premises with no pressure and no salesmen pouncing.

Thats fair enough and a good idea, but personally I felt the majority of the staff were avoiding us sitting in their office.. made me feel like they weren't interested; as a sales person you can be involved without being pushy or selling anything

ORIGINAL: carrera7
Sales and technical advice was there and several members who bothered to stay asked for and were given advice.

cheap shot presumably aimed at me as I left before the raffle draw, although I did get there half an hour before anyone else and I did have a regular appointment elsewhere at 8..

Regardless of that, I wouldn't have minded having a chat with the staff to see how business was going, but the only people I saw were the parts guy (who ive dealt with before and had a chat with) and an older guy in a suit who came out of a small kitchen around the corner by the white cayman, said "alright" and dashed off somewhere, possibly to watch the football on the widescreen tv in the staffroom?

ORIGINAL: carrera7
It was my suggestion that details were obtained for the data base. The evening was basically a venue for the Raffle draw which they had graciously sponsored and I would not blame them if they did not want to do it again.

I didn't see anyone taking details, but seems like a good idea; i guess most of us are on record elsewhere (silverstone, nottingham, etc) so was a good oportunity to get our details on their records and get to know us a bit maybe?

I think them sponsoring a raffle is a great gesture, and I brought tickets and supported that. I apologise I wasnt there for the draw if my absence in some way offended people within the OPC or PCGB, but as explained above I had an appointment 15miles away on the other side of leicester at 8..

I dont see why they wouldn't want to do it again unless you're refering to comments made here, in which case nothing derogatory has been said that I can see, just people expressing how they felt and would have done things if they were running the OPC

ORIGINAL: carrera7
If you had a problem with the evening then talk to me about it next time you see me.

As Im not likely to see you anytime soon due to spending most of my time living out of a suitcase in eastern europe at the moment..

I didn't have a problem with the evening at all; I thought it was well organised and Im grateful to you for the time you spent organising it. I thought it was great to get up there and have a look around as I always feel like a bit of an idiot just wandering around a showroom drooling over the cars

I was surprised the people at the OPC didn't get more involved and Im disappointed none of the staff took the time to have a chat, seemingly prefering to sit in their glass box.. I work on the commercial side of the construction equipment business and there is no excuse for being lassie-faire with customers; whether that was their intention or not I don't know, thats how it came across to me.. We may not have been buying anything, but I still feel they could have taken the time, even if there was nothing in it for them directly.. first rule; get to know your customers!..

As a Porsche owner and PCGB member I don't honestly care; I went up there, brought some raffle tickets, had a look around the cars, ate a couple of mince-pies, then went on my way.. I buy original Porsche parts for my car, and I will continue to regardless; whether the sales staff spent the time to get to know me or anyone else last night is irrelevent really, Im not in the market for a new (or nearly new) car any time soon and as long as they get my parts in correctly and quickly Im a happy customer..

I personally feel they would get more out of the club by getting more involved with the people in the club.. that doesnt mean dontaing more raffle prizes, spending money, or offering freebies like vehicle inspections (however all of these are nice touches for which I think we are all grateful) just spending some time; it should be a two way street afterall..

As a commercial guy I thought it was a completely wasted opportunity for Porsche.. again, doesn't really make any difference to me, and perhaps I should stick with "diggers" and keep my nose out of the car business..

agree 100% with all comments above. if the salemen and staff had done some friendly meeting and greeting then my daughter would not have got bored, we would then have been there for the raffle.

 

[Helen Goff]

ORIGINAL: carrera7

Lets get the facts straight shall we. Leicester consulted me as to how the evening should be run and I asked for an open evening where people could meet and look round the premises with no pressure and no salesmen pouncing. Sales and technical advice was there and several members who bothered to stay asked for and were given advice. It was my suggestion that details were obtained for the data base. The evening was basically a venue for the Raffle draw which they had graciously sponsored and I would not blame them if they did not want to do it again. If you had a problem with the evening then talk to me about it next time you see me.

i went along as i thought it was a golden oppertunity for us to see the new venue, to meet and get to know the staff. I wanted to see if they were the sort of people i could do business with.

while i was there, i happily bought £10 worth of raffle tickets to support YOU and what ever charity the moneys going towards. if i had know the sole purpose of the evening was the raffle i wouldn't have bothered going.