First Impressions eh??

[MrC]

Hello all,

Just thought i'd type a few words regarding Benham's in Wolvo...

3 weeks ago I walked into Clarks, B'ham and was having a mosey around. It took about 15 minutes before the not-very-busy salesbloke asked if I needed any help (took yer time day ya?). I told him I was interested in the 1200 GSA and the cheeky sod looked me up and down and asked me to take a seat! Cutting it short, he reluctantly offered a demo, ran off the fastest finance quote i'd ever seen and generally seemed not that interested...

I swiftly wrote off the idea of having a BMW, popped into Triumph B'ham, had a 1050 Tiger for the day and was bitten (sorry). Told the bloke i'd sort something out when i returned from my first Alps trip.

On return to work, one of the young ladies informed me that Benham now sold bikes, and I told her i'd give them a shot (my Bandit killed me that week!). Phoned Tim (sales bloke), and he told me to get up there to take the 1200 GSA out for a spin.

Along I popped, had a quick chat, signed the forms and off I went. On returning from the test ride, Tim valued my bike (a lot higher than what a certain suzuki dealer in Quinton offered!), showed me the specs & pricing over a cup of coffee (damn good coffee too) and got Ross the finance bloke to run through the important stuff. Once happy, I had purchased me first beemer and haven't stopped grinning!

I feel any good experiences with any dealer should be mentioned, as these things cost a fair bit of dosh. At the end of the day Clarks lost business due to what must of appeared to be a young chap "dreaming". That said, they were no where near as bad as Ducati Wolverhampton, I have vowed never to set foot in there again.

Thanks to Tim and Ross for making spending loads of dollar a very pleasant experience. Kudos to you!

Hope that helps anybody looking at dealers in the Midlands for prospective purchases.

 

[Zach]

Welcome!

Hi MrC

Good to hear that our local dealer seem to be getting customer service right!

I too have been totally underwhelmed by Clarks.

Maybe you'd like to come to Broom tomorrow to show us your new bike - you'd be very welcome.

Cheers

Zach

 

[seefour]

Mr C,

Funny that had the exact same experience myself in June at Clarks, have to say the service people are great but the sales lead a lot to be desired. Now Benhams are slowly getting up to speed they might have to rethink there sales attitude. Mind i was in there the weekend and they did'ent have an oil filter on the shelf in spares, but to be fair it was ready for pick up the following day, lets hope they get there full complment of spares soon.

C4

 

[Morticia]

Hello Mr C, welcome to the site

....its looks like 4 out of 4 then for Clarks..when i visited the salesman in there he was not bothered, i asked for an F800 and he said they were selling the ex demo!....i was not impressed with their attitude or less than eagerness to serve me.

Anyway alls well, found Ritchie at Pidcocks BMW at Long Eaton.....what a brillient place, nothing is too much trouble and your greeted at the door with a smile and everyone makes time to talk to you...


Morticia

 

[G5RJO]

Clarkes, lazy?

Went in last November with cash in hand for a new 09 GSA. The guy sat reading his paper and flat ignored me

I'm middle aged +, wearing a suit and had to approach salesman who seemed rather p'd off having to leave his sudoku to speak to a mere customer.

Questions about price and options involved handing me a brochure and a price list, I think he must have thought I'd told him to F himself from his reaction but I suppose he was shocked at being asked for a discount. This was met with a "That's the price, we can sell them all day" Well I didn't see a queue

Didn't bother asking for a test ride as he quickly pointed out I couldn't

I did a deal with BVM in Stroud once via a visit then over the phone. Massive discount given. I thought about riding it from Stroud to Clarkes for a gloat at the salesman but couldn't be arsed with them.

They need a good shake up at Clarkes, they're a disgrace IMHO.

Roger.

 

[MrC]

wow, I thought i'd be the only one being a 25 yr old youff!

Zach, If I had the bike I'd be there, but i've got to wait till friday!

seefour, aparently the bike department is moving to where the original Mini showroom is soon, so as you say, they may get sorted in the near future.

morticia, agreed. I got the impression I was purely based on what clobber I was wearing TBH, Seems as if they thought you could only afford the ex-demo bike!

G5RJO, I may just pop in to gloat! Bunch of W*nkers!

I have to say, when I bought my last car, the salesman immediately came over and said he was sitting over there and if I needed him, just give him a shout. That approach was excellent, and there was never any pressure place upon me.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

I'm always amazed at the different way folk get treated at dealers.

I've dealt with Clarkes for years and always had excellent service from the sales department and when my bike is serviced. The only thing they need to do is stock some feckin parts because that is their biggest issue.

Tim, the sales manager from Benhams, turned up at Syco's do at the weekend and although he was full of the joys of spring about them, he did say that they are a car dealer and just getting into bikes.

Always good to have an option

 

[wreck diver]

I have always found Clarkes to be the most unhelpfull and dissjointed dealership of any franchise i have ever visited.
You would think the sales and parts department were from different planets,instead of working together.
There poor service to myself and 2 workmates have lost them the sale of a new GSA an RT and 5 services,2 sets of tyres plus kit.
I only live 10 miles from Clarkes but i now prefer to travel to Pidcocks,Long Eaton ..
I think when the new dealers in Wolverhampton and soon in Gloucester get up to speed Clarkes will struggle and hopefully close.

 

[Tonyplod]

Clarkes

What a waste of space, only use them if desperate. everyone I have spoken with have slated Clarkes, they need some new blood in there or close it down?.

 

[Buz]

I think when the new dealers in Wolverhampton and soon in Gloucester get up to speed Clarkes will struggle and hopefully close.

Not heard of a Dealer opening in Gloucester, does anyone know any more about it?

 

[wreck diver]

I am led to believe that BVM are loosing the franchise in December and a new flashy BMW showroom will appear in Gloucs. The name of the dealer escapes me at the mo.

 

[Mutley]

I'm always amazed at the different way folk get treated at dealers.

I've dealt with Clarkes for years and always had excellent service from the sales department and when my bike is serviced. The only thing they need to do is stock some feckin parts because that is their biggest issue.

TBH Bilks I get treated very well by the parts and service team at Clarkes but the sales boys really are a bit miserable. They ignore me each and every time I go in and that's why I still have an 1150 and now an HD instead of a 1200GSA

 

[sycomoto]

mr Tim Harris

I've known Bimbles for some 10 years now and he's a top guy he's not full of shite like some and is always got time to talk bikes. He's not a BIKE SALES MAN he's a genuine biker who just happens to sell bmw's.
if your looking for a new bm give the guy a go. As for the service side of things they will be up there soon, once they see how the bike sale go.

 

[nutter_on_the_bus]

BVM

It appears that BMW wanted BVM to open a francise in Gloucester or Cheltenham, after all thats where HD is. BVM wanted to stick to their roots and refused

Most of the current bike dealers have been approached but all turned BM down to its down to one of the car dealers opening upi a bike showroom

Good news is that BVM servicing cost should drop as they no longer have to charge BMW rates

 

[Ludlovian]

Service?

Sycomoto, your previous entry "As for the service side of things they will be up there soon, once they see how the bike sale go" sort of implies that if sales aren't too good then they might not bother with a service dept - do you have some inside knowledge?

 

[Big Si]

I'm always amazed at the different way folk get treated at dealers.

I've dealt with Clarkes for years and always had excellent service from the sales department and when my bike is serviced. The only thing they need to do is stock some feckin parts because that is their biggest issue.

Tim, the sales manager from Benhams, turned up at Syco's do at the weekend and although he was full of the joys of spring about them, he did say that they are a car dealer and just getting into bikes.

Always good to have an option

Hi Sarge, seems to me you are one of the only folks here with a good word to say about Clarkes sales dept!

I'm in sales myself and I would have thought the best approach was as someone mentioned above; i.e. the salesman introducing himself and saying "I'm here if you need any info. etc"
As I've said before they're not salesmen, they're order takers. It does no harm at all to intro' yourself, talk bollox about the weather etc for 5mins to get a feel for who they are dealing with. I ride an '06 GSA, I went up there for a service in the pissing rain (more fool me), and was looking in the showroom. I was not even approached, much less offerred a coffee. I may have been looking to trade in etc, etc. but they will never know because they are too arrogant to ask.

Service side ok tho' but I shouldn't waste my time bitching about them , I'll just vote with my feet when it comes time for a change. Bought the bike from Wollastons, and can't fault them from experience to date.

 

[flying circus]

first impressions eh??

have read all above posts with great intrest, when we walk through those doors into that dealership we all have very different expectations,if i have just rode 30 odd miles to clarks or pidcocks i am happy to have 15/20 mins just to gather my thoughts and a coffee is good.at clarks and benham they tick these boxs, if i spot a bike and want some help would expect this to follow.found rob at clarks very good knew the products and treated me how i would deal with my customers. at benhams nothing wrong there but they really are just starting would suggest another year, they have just put some bikes in the corner of a car showroom just like brindley honda down the road, and all the time i was in there i was thinking have i got to pay for this site,staff ect ect it is very impressive but the customer is the one who will pay for it all. pidcocks long eaton did 70 mile round trip on a drz400sm only to be told by a big fat man richie round that he had no intrest in my part ex (he already had two of them, is that my problem!!!) great people skills that man.i think all customers have different needs one dealer who i really like told me i am a dinasaur because only buy things outright for cash not leasing or on finanace he as a point bike trader 324 gs 1200 for sale only 24 were private sales, i could go on, yours thoughts please

 

[santrix]

To be honest... i don't know where to turn now... Clarks have cocked up big time with me in the past and lost out on 2 new bike sales.... But they have sort of come good albeit after the horse has bolted.... I have had good opinions of Pidcocks but they too... have demonstrated some severe muppetry as of late.... i think it really depnds on A: pot luck and B: have you spent 1000s with them before.... and C: are the staff having a good day...

 

[flying circus]

To be honest... i don't know where to turn now... Clarks have cocked up big time with me in the past and lost out on 2 new bike sales.... But they have sort of come good albeit after the horse has bolted.... I have had good opinions of Pidcocks but they too... have demonstrated some severe muppetry as of late.... i think it really depnds on A: pot luck and B: have you spent 1000s with them before.... and C: are the staff having a good day...

scary because what you say is spot on,i do my job right, spot on everytime so why do they fail too. first damage on my new beemer,bmw recall to replace ring on ignition key.well done clarks, let's use forums to name and shame, and once every blue moon we can praise good service and pigs can fly

 

[Zach]

Benhams

Had my 1150 serviced (30k) at Benhams - booking in was a bit slow since the service reception team have very little experience of bikes but the service itself went well (maybe because they didn't have to replce any unexpected parts).

Service experience at clarks was less than good (and by this I mean shit)

Have bought a clymer manual - gonna screw things up myself in future- then get 'em fixed by someone who knows what they're doin!