GS.Mick.B
Guest
Any more news on the fate of Blue Bell?
Bluebell Crewe Closing?
- Thread starter finn
- Start date
Note for Bluebell.
AS a marketing winner - they should be looking for a place close to D&K
I have seen them sell scruffy used BMW's for more than a pukka BMW one.
There are thousands of bikers passing here because of D&K. They travel far and wide to call in.
Stoke has lots of clothing shops hence lots of spending bikers.
Scoop up the unfulfilled folks as they leave D&K and wow them with the quality of service and bikes.
I'd even apply for a sales job myself - it would be rich pickings.
AS a marketing winner - they should be looking for a place close to D&K
I have seen them sell scruffy used BMW's for more than a pukka BMW one.
There are thousands of bikers passing here because of D&K. They travel far and wide to call in.
Stoke has lots of clothing shops hence lots of spending bikers.
Scoop up the unfulfilled folks as they leave D&K and wow them with the quality of service and bikes.
I'd even apply for a sales job myself - it would be rich pickings.
bustupbiker
Registered user
** a long time,dyed in the wool BWM dealer giving up their franchise because they wouldn't spend a fortune on the corporate crap and (i believe) drop the Honda franchise.**
Thats just what happened in North Wales ( Colwynbay ) so i have to go to ManChester....Never bought from BB cos they could not get me a bike in time.
Bad news this but sounds about rite for todays modern business methods.
Thats just what happened in North Wales ( Colwynbay ) so i have to go to ManChester....Never bought from BB cos they could not get me a bike in time.
Bad news this but sounds about rite for todays modern business methods.
Darren@Vines
Registered user
There's Vines in Guildford where the bikes and bikers are treated as 2nd class citizens by being squeezed into a small corner of the showroom space.[/QUOTE]
I guess you have not been to our new showroom???
www.vinesbikes.co.uk
I guess you have not been to our new showroom???
www.vinesbikes.co.uk
Became a BMW owner in July from Blue Bell so I wonder where its service will be done then?
Hopefully Crewe otherwise its a bloody miles to Nottingham and Pidcocks, not a good start is it Mr BMW, very pleased with the bike but if that is the sort of dealer back up no wonder I have always bought Jap with a dealer not more than half an hour in any direction.
Teejay
Hopefully Crewe otherwise its a bloody miles to Nottingham and Pidcocks, not a good start is it Mr BMW, very pleased with the bike but if that is the sort of dealer back up no wonder I have always bought Jap with a dealer not more than half an hour in any direction.
Teejay
I'm with you on that point. Lucky to work not far from piddocks but live much closer to Bluebell.
Bluebell would be much much easier for me. I got rid of a Triumph when the local dealer closed amongst other reasons.
Travelling a long distance for a dealer is not really practical - especially if the bike has a mechanical problem.
BMW's major asset is the quality of service.
HR0
Registered user
the latest I have heard is that there was an issue with the money BMW wanted Bluebell to spend in creating a stand alone bike store.
Bluebell quite righly were pointing out the BM has already forced them down this route for their standalone Mini shop round the corner. (not cheap).
now within an unreasonably short time they expecting a similar spending on the bike side and according to one employee they just wanted time to save up.
but feb 2008 is still the deadline.
as for an alternative, while not being too close, I have had good service from southport superbikes.
and it is them i shall be asking when the F800gs is launched
H
Bluebell quite righly were pointing out the BM has already forced them down this route for their standalone Mini shop round the corner. (not cheap).
now within an unreasonably short time they expecting a similar spending on the bike side and according to one employee they just wanted time to save up.
but feb 2008 is still the deadline.
as for an alternative, while not being too close, I have had good service from southport superbikes.
and it is them i shall be asking when the F800gs is launched
H
ALso noticed last week that they have stopped opening the bike showroom on a Sunday.
Presumably to cut down on payroll costs, or probably to avoid recruiting more sales staff only to have to lay 'em off in February
Presumably to cut down on payroll costs, or probably to avoid recruiting more sales staff only to have to lay 'em off in February
my nearest dealer 100miles away 
hightower
Guest
Talking to a guy who knows a member of staff there who said that they intend to shut on or around new years eve.
Interesting that there's a push to seperate car showrooms from bike showrooms. Obviously don't want scruffy bikers messing up their pristine car showrooms. There again, the type of person who buys a BMW car, is more likely to buy a japanese bike.
Paul Newman
Registered user
Hello all,
Sorry I've been a bit quiet on this but as things stand right now, very little has changed.
One thing I can catergorically state is that as an absolute worst case scenario, we will be closing at the end of February.
Any story about us closing any time before that has absolutely no foundation in truth whatsoever, because quite apart from anything else, we have a contract with BMW until that point.
I have said all along that I will fall off my chair (that's 'me' for 'I would be very very surprised') if we close when there is nobody to take over from us in this area.
I do know that discussions are ongoing, but I don't have anything concrete as yet to tell you (and anybody who knows me knows how much I hate half-information, speculation, rumour and cheese (of any sort)) and as soon as I have any proper information I promise I will post again, and we will write to all of the customers on our database to let them know where things are up to with Blue Bell and BMW Motorcycle's in this area.
I appreciate that I have just said pretty much bugger all, but somebody told me they had read on here that we were closing around New Years Eve and I just wanted to scotch that particular rumour. Whichever member of staff who said that from here is talking out of their arse.
I am hopeful/optimistic that I will be on again quite soon to say something:
a. Concrete
b. Factual
c. Interesting
d. Helpful
e. Informative
f. Something else
btw, if anyone's going to the NEC, feel free to meither the living daylights out of BMW, and tell them to keep us open! (obviously I don't expect any of you guys from Southport or Williams to help me out on that
)
thanks for taking the time to read this drivel
hopefully speak soon...
Sorry I've been a bit quiet on this but as things stand right now, very little has changed.
One thing I can catergorically state is that as an absolute worst case scenario, we will be closing at the end of February.
Any story about us closing any time before that has absolutely no foundation in truth whatsoever, because quite apart from anything else, we have a contract with BMW until that point.
I have said all along that I will fall off my chair (that's 'me' for 'I would be very very surprised') if we close when there is nobody to take over from us in this area.
I do know that discussions are ongoing, but I don't have anything concrete as yet to tell you (and anybody who knows me knows how much I hate half-information, speculation, rumour and cheese (of any sort)) and as soon as I have any proper information I promise I will post again, and we will write to all of the customers on our database to let them know where things are up to with Blue Bell and BMW Motorcycle's in this area.
I appreciate that I have just said pretty much bugger all, but somebody told me they had read on here that we were closing around New Years Eve and I just wanted to scotch that particular rumour. Whichever member of staff who said that from here is talking out of their arse.
I am hopeful/optimistic that I will be on again quite soon to say something:
a. Concrete
b. Factual
c. Interesting
d. Helpful
e. Informative
f. Something else
btw, if anyone's going to the NEC, feel free to meither the living daylights out of BMW, and tell them to keep us open! (obviously I don't expect any of you guys from Southport or Williams to help me out on that
)thanks for taking the time to read this drivel
hopefully speak soon...
ed4554
Registered user
Hi Paul,
Just read your update. Sorry not sooner but been away. Thanks for the info (however small) and for those who cannot make it to the NEC to "Meither or hound BMW" have you an name we can email or write to?
Hope all this does not spoil your Xmas and New Year?
Regards.
Ed Hart
Just read your update. Sorry not sooner but been away. Thanks for the info (however small) and for those who cannot make it to the NEC to "Meither or hound BMW" have you an name we can email or write to?
Hope all this does not spoil your Xmas and New Year?
Regards.
Ed Hart
Sorry to hear the sad news. Not used you, but it helps keep the local opposition on its toes.
rocks
Registered user
Thanks for the update..
Cheers Paul,
Nice to get an update and I do hope they do keep the bikes going.
It would be a real pain for me and I am sure for many others if the bikes were to go.
Cheers
John
Cheers Paul,
Nice to get an update and I do hope they do keep the bikes going.
It would be a real pain for me and I am sure for many others if the bikes were to go.
Cheers
John
Hawk
Guest
For similar reasons three big bike shops in West Yorkshire stopped selling Hondas because Honda wanted them to set up solus Honda showrooms with one telling me 'they want £1.5 mill off us to do it'.
Corporate image seems to be everything so BMW UK better be careful not to upset too many loyal and longstanding customers
Paul Newman
Registered user
Right,
Please prepare yourselves, as I am about to post something that actually has some content.
As I have mentioned previously, discussions have been ongoing between Blue Bell and BMW Motorrad for some time, and we are now in a position to offer some clarification on our situation -
I will post an exerpt from the official statement which is as follows -
"...whilst Blue Bell are to concentrate (long term) on their core car business, there is a desire to continue to serve their (motorcycle) customers whilst a replacement dealership to match the high customer expectations is sought. To this end Blue Bell have offered ongoing aftersales, and sales if required, support until further notice."
Basically, we will carry on as normal (subject to demand) until a new dealership is ready to open it's doors and take over from us.
I think everyone will agree that this is great news as we can now continue to look after our customers without this cloud hanging over us. Personally I am well chuffed, because now I won't have to go over to the dark side (ie.cars).
(<- Bill & Ted stylee)
We will be writing to all of the customers on our database to formally let people know in due course but please bear with me on this as Chris Bowyer (one of my Sales staff) had a smash on his bike last night so I'm going to be without his services for a while, and therefore a little bit stretched.
Please feel free to fire any questions at me that you may think of, and I will do my best to answer them...
Did I mention I was chuffed?
Please prepare yourselves, as I am about to post something that actually has some content.
As I have mentioned previously, discussions have been ongoing between Blue Bell and BMW Motorrad for some time, and we are now in a position to offer some clarification on our situation -
I will post an exerpt from the official statement which is as follows -
"...whilst Blue Bell are to concentrate (long term) on their core car business, there is a desire to continue to serve their (motorcycle) customers whilst a replacement dealership to match the high customer expectations is sought. To this end Blue Bell have offered ongoing aftersales, and sales if required, support until further notice."
Basically, we will carry on as normal (subject to demand) until a new dealership is ready to open it's doors and take over from us.
I think everyone will agree that this is great news as we can now continue to look after our customers without this cloud hanging over us. Personally I am well chuffed, because now I won't have to go over to the dark side (ie.cars).
(<- Bill & Ted stylee)We will be writing to all of the customers on our database to formally let people know in due course but please bear with me on this as Chris Bowyer (one of my Sales staff) had a smash on his bike last night so I'm going to be without his services for a while, and therefore a little bit stretched.
Please feel free to fire any questions at me that you may think of, and I will do my best to answer them...
Did I mention I was chuffed?
Staying open
Great news lets hope you find a new outlet soon!!!
What does this mean for new purchases as am looking at the new 800 wouldn't want to order from your good selves only to have a car
replacement come 1/3/08?
However would like to keep you all in business so not sure this is a good or bad move anyway.
Paul if you can clarify that would be great
Great news lets hope you find a new outlet soon!!!
What does this mean for new purchases as am looking at the new 800 wouldn't want to order from your good selves only to have a car
replacement come 1/3/08?However would like to keep you all in business so not sure this is a good or bad move anyway.
Paul if you can clarify that would be great
Paul Newman
Registered user
Great news lets hope you find a new outlet soon!!!
What does this mean for new purchases as am looking at the new 800 wouldn't want to order from your good selves only to have a car
However would like to keep you all in business so not sure this is a good or bad move anyway.
Paul if you can clarify that would be great
Thanks Finn,
We are currently taking orders for all of the new 2008 bikes. I had a sit on all the new stuff at the show yesterday and I am properly excited about the new F800GS (and the G450X).
If, at any given point BMW appoint a new dealer for this area, any outstanding customer orders at Blue Bell will be transferred to a dealership of the customers choice, and you would not lose your place in the queue.
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