remmington
Apprentice
Owns Spark Eroder
Posts: 4,971
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Post by remmington on Dec 6, 2023 8:12:34 GMT 1
"quote ex google"
"Why is Volkswagen struggling?
Volkswagen's woes are compounded by various factors. High inflation rates, increasing interest rates, and the end of EV subsidies in Germany have put the company in a tough spot"
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Post by Joepublic on Dec 6, 2023 11:12:44 GMT 1
I'd imagine the transition from ICE to EV costs are huge (Tesla don't have that?) as all the ICE stuff becomes obsolete or if they doubt the EV route is the correct way forward they might still be investing for a second coming of ICE?
I'm in a few BMW groups on FB, a repairer has commented on parts prices increasing in the last few weeks, stuff he orders week after week so no prices discussed with parts dept, then the invoice appears with the parts.......
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Post by Joepublic on Dec 6, 2023 11:23:43 GMT 1
Copied
BMW are really taking the p*ss with prices now.. .
I own a independent bmw specialist, and we do a LOT of convertible roof repairs.
Anyway, we keep common failure parts on the shelf, and buy and have delivered from local dealer.
One such item is a handed microswitch from the rear kinematics box on the E89 (Z4) we do a few sets a week as they are common.
So, did a pair yesterday and apprentice told me they were the last pair, so I rang Halliwell Jones and ordered another couple of sets...
Job done and paid for yesterday, 2 switches and an hrs labour, £111 all in..
Parts delivery guy walks in this afternoon, and I said "what's the damage" (I pay by card)
£209.89 he says, to which I replied "I only wanted 2 pairs, not 5" his reply?
"I've only got you 2 pairs"
Wtf??
Ended up on phone to dealer.. 3 weeks ago they were £19.28 each incl vat, the price today is over £52 each!
I asked why, and tbf, he was gobsmacked as he looked at my last invoice for them...
He said "because your are buying them regularly, they put the price up"
Same thing happened last month, cruise control stalk for e85/6, buy a couple a month, circa £85+ and has gone up from about £70+ over last year or so..
Ordered one Nov, never ask the price on stuff I order regularly as it adds time whilst they check... Thing arrives and was £186+vat ffs..
Absolute p*ss take, and pure profiteering...
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Post by Rhubarb on Dec 6, 2023 12:37:34 GMT 1
Copied BMW are really taking the p*ss with prices now.. . I own a independent bmw specialist, and we do a LOT of convertible roof repairs. Anyway, we keep common failure parts on the shelf, and buy and have delivered from local dealer. One such item is a handed microswitch from the rear kinematics box on the E89 (Z4) we do a few sets a week as they are common. So, did a pair yesterday and apprentice told me they were the last pair, so I rang Halliwell Jones and ordered another couple of sets... Job done and paid for yesterday, 2 switches and an hrs labour, £111 all in.. Parts delivery guy walks in this afternoon, and I said "what's the damage" (I pay by card) £209.89 he says, to which I replied "I only wanted 2 pairs, not 5" his reply? "I've only got you 2 pairs" Wtf?? Ended up on phone to dealer.. 3 weeks ago they were £19.28 each incl vat, the price today is over £52 each! I asked why, and tbf, he was gobsmacked as he looked at my last invoice for them... He said "because your are buying them regularly, they put the price up" Same thing happened last month, cruise control stalk for e85/6, buy a couple a month, circa £85+ and has gone up from about £70+ over last year or so.. Ordered one Nov, never ask the price on stuff I order regularly as it adds time whilst they check... Thing arrives and was £186+vat ffs.. Absolute p*ss take, and pure profiteering... That's a different subject  |
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Post by Joepublic on Dec 6, 2023 12:47:18 GMT 1
Well I’m sure the bean counters at VW will be searching ways to recover, if they can’t make money on new cars, can’t make customers use dealers for repairs and servicing, the only other thing it can do is increase prices of spares they have a monopoly on?
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Post by Rhubarb on Dec 6, 2023 13:00:36 GMT 1
Well I’m sure the bean counters at VW will be searching ways to recover, if they can’t make money on new cars, can’t make customers use dealers for repairs and servicing, the only other thing it can do is increase prices of spares they have a monopoly on? It's nothing new, they've all been doing it for years. Motor Factors pull the same stunt too, as do builders merchants. It's business, and supply and demand. Exactly the same with petrol/derv prices too. |
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remmington
Apprentice
Owns Spark Eroder
Posts: 4,971
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Post by remmington on Dec 6, 2023 17:50:35 GMT 1
Well I’m sure the bean counters at VW will be searching ways to recover, if they can’t make money on new cars, can’t make customers use dealers for repairs and servicing, the only other thing it can do is increase prices of spares they have a monopoly on? Dealer parts prices have gone thru the roof - we do allot of Kia/Hyundai stuff as dealer in town sold a lot of cars and then went skint - we took a member of thier staff on at the time - so got allot of there punters - and they stayed loyal to us - lad long gone - new dealers opened up - but we still got loyal punters from that marque. BMW parts hardly answer the phone to me - it is like they don't wanna serve me. VAG stuff I just use TPS. I like TPS - buying most of my consumables and Oils from them now. I started using multi franchise dealers of late who will deliver - as most small dealerships local to me - have pulled the vans off the road - only the city dealers 35/45miles away - put vans on the road now. |
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remmington
Apprentice
Owns Spark Eroder
Posts: 4,971
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Post by remmington on Dec 6, 2023 17:53:18 GMT 1
Well I’m sure the bean counters at VW will be searching ways to recover, if they can’t make money on new cars, can’t make customers use dealers for repairs and servicing, the only other thing it can do is increase prices of spares they have a monopoly on? It's nothing new, they've all been doing it for years. Motor Factors pull the same stunt too, as do builders merchants.
It's business, and supply and demand.Exactly the same with petrol/derv prices too. Even so - it is no fun when you doing repeat jobs for repeat customers and trying to hold a price to keep the work - and end up losing out.... |
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Post by chippie on Dec 6, 2023 18:24:26 GMT 1
It's business, and supply and demand But it’s self defeating….ultimately…people won’t pay or can’t pay….so the stock stays on the shelf…. I’ve done it, gone to the supermarket, seen an item, said ‘ I’m not paying that price’ no sale.. There’s only so much we can stand as consumers.. |
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Post by Karl on Dec 6, 2023 21:25:59 GMT 1
I'd imagine the transition from ICE to EV costs are huge (Tesla don't have that?) as all the ICE stuff becomes obsolete or if they doubt the EV route is the correct way forward they might still be investing for a second coming of ICE? I'm in a few BMW groups on FB, a repairer has commented on parts prices increasing in the last few weeks, stuff he orders week after week so no prices discussed with parts dept, then the invoice appears with the parts....... Not quite so though is it Still gonna be making engines for all the other markets that wouldn’t have a ban ie all of South America , Africa , etc |
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Post by rhyds on Dec 6, 2023 22:57:34 GMT 1
A couple of things to note
1) The new car market is still on its uppers, especially with rising interest rates and inflation making new cars less affordable
2) VW is spending a *lot* on its EV platform developments, don't forget they're also supplying Ford's smaller EV platforms for Europe now
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Post by valhalla on Dec 7, 2023 0:27:29 GMT 1
I understand that VW is no longer seen as a desirable make - the punters are going elsewhere.
I saw this coming with Landrover; at one point (a few decades ago) the products just "sold themselves". LR went silly over chasing markets that they really didn't understand (Asia) and the products just followed those markets (over-inflated blobs with too many electronic tricks). The EU markets started to look elsewhere when they realised that the prices out-competed the quality, the styling was going down the Ssangyong Musso path of revolting looks , and LR Marketing started to have to pull their weight - except they couldn't anymore, they had forgotten what it was all about, having to shift metal.
I think this is where VW find themselves right now. They have lost their way, and the products have no appeal against the competition, not when VW are trying to leverage a premium with perceived quality. Punters are fickle; they will happily talk about the "Good old days" of their 411 Variant, or whatever, but still buy Hyundai or Kia at the next purchase. They can get VW reliability from Asia now, as standard, and knocked-down prices.
One example is the EV touring-van thing that VW have been knocking-out for a short while now (Buzz?). Demand outstripped supply, and it looked like it was a natural replacement for the old bay-window campers of old - a bit quirky (it's an EV for a start) but fun for high-days and holidays. Now demand has waned, surplus money for "weekend toys" is less and less, and VW Marketing are having to work for their living to move stock. It isn't that the vehicle is bad (it isn't), it's just that the punters have moved-on to other things that make more sense for a limited-sized wallet.
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Post by Karl on Dec 7, 2023 22:05:40 GMT 1
A couple of things to note 1) The new car market is still on its uppers, especially with rising interest rates and inflation making new cars less affordable 2) VW is spending a *lot* on its EV platform developments, don't forget they're also supplying Ford's smaller EV platforms for Europe now Sharing models again New transporter is a transit And the new connect is a caddy |
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Post by Karl on Dec 7, 2023 22:09:49 GMT 1
The ford explorer EV (European)one will be a vw
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remmington
Apprentice
Owns Spark Eroder
Posts: 4,971
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Post by remmington on Dec 8, 2023 8:37:12 GMT 1
A couple of things to note 1) The new car market is still on its uppers, especially with rising interest rates and inflation making new cars less affordable 2) VW is spending a *lot* on its EV platform developments, don't forget they're also supplying Ford's smaller EV platforms for Europe now Sharing models again New transporter is a transit And the new connect is a caddy Sharan/Galaxy/Alhambra in Europe. 1995 onwards. Apollo/Verona in the USA (vile Ford Orion type thing). Logus/Pointer - Mk4 Escort in Brasil. Passat engines in Ford Royales. Bet there is more? I don't know about - VW and Ford have colaborated before. God I know some obscure C##p - I should get out more ofter.  But I had a petrol V70 Volvo estate in the year 2000 ish - it had a five cylinder VW engine in it (was a good car - superb on fuel for a 2.5 petrol - 44mpg + on a run) |
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