North Oxford new dealership or Coopers

[Deleted Member I]

Coopers is pretty good

Guys,

I think it necessary to add my POSITIVE feedback from my experience of Coopers and Tim A.

Two years ago I wanted to get back into biking and having had my licence for several years (but almost zero experience due to lack of funds to buy a bike). I really wanted the 1150GS, but I was really hesitant about it. Being only 5"6, it is quite a big bike.

I went into Coopers to discuss this, and spoke to Tim. He suggested the training that they offer. For a nominal fee THEY LEND YOU THE BIKE FOR A WHOLE DAY, and you are given ONE to ONE tutition for that whole day. What a bloody great idea! They are the only dealer that does this (as far as I know). At the time they didn't have a GS, and lent me a R instead. I did about two or three of these training sessions. At no time did Tim "apply pressure" about buying a bike.

Finally I decided to take the plunge and bought a R. I went to discuss this with Tim, and he was courteous. The only issue was that he could not offer much discount. Given my earlier point about limited funds, I went elsewhere for the bike.

Before you are start ranting about how crap that is ... you must realise a simple thing. Tim is an EMPLOYEE of a BIG CORPORATION. Whilst I eventually bought my bike from a small dealer and dealt with the owner. I am sure if his bosses were more flexible with "profit/margin targets", Tim would have given me the deal I wanted.

I understand Coopers is a part of Inchcape, which is one of the world's largest motor dealer (if not the largest). Companies get this big from setting rigours profit/margin targets. So some of your experience may be down to the fact you are dealing with a big company rather than a small business.

From reading the threads, it seems to be that the car dealer related bike dealer are less good when compared to dedicated bike dealers. This could just come down to business attitude of the companies. Selling cars is pretty cut throat these days, so "management" mentality at these companies will be reflected in your experience.

 

[pint6x]

Novice

Good to hear you had a positive experience with Coopers - shame you didn't feel the attention they gave you warranted buying a bike from them.

Having re-read the posts from earlier contributors, there seems to be something regarding an attitude at Coopers - almost "oh no, another customer, do I really have to deal with them ?"

This has nothing to do with the size of the organisation and everything to do with mindset.

Although I grant you that if the people in the motorbike division had a controlling interest or share in the profits, they may perhaps be a little more inclined to be nicer to their clients.

Compare them to Vines in Guildford - not perfect, but a distinct lack of the sort of shitty attitude evidenced in Reading.

And they're a big organisation as well.

Coopers are my nearest dealer but it'll take something special to get me back there.

6X

 

[NeilF]

As said in an earlier post, I have not experienced any issues at Coopers.
But let me describe for you the environment there, which I believe contributes much to the discontent being vented here.

The Bike Showroom is Tim's office, bike showroom, and equipment showroom. It is very small - probably 10m x 10m, so definitely no SPC! I'm not sure if Andy is a full time assistant, but those two guys are the sum of all staff. They are a small attachment to a big car dealer.

Whenever I have been in there, there are always at least 4 people waiting to be served. Put yourself in Tim's position - does he "chew the fat" with each and everyone, or does he service the current customer as quickly as possible? What would your preference be (depends of course whether you are the first or the fifth customer!)? It reminds me very much of a 10m x 10m doctor's surgery - people stood around in silence waiting for their slot.

I know that Tim has organised Stock Sales, using kit which WMB in Bracknell would otherwise have scrapped - for the benefit of his customers. And, I do believe that Tim does offer good service. In the past he has loaned me bikes and equipment. He is limited very much by the facilities he has to operate with. Poor sod - he has to sell WMB equipment at WMB prices to us lot, and then communicate WMB's stance when it comes to warranty issues!

Coopers isn't an SPC, but it's still a WMB garage, for all that means.

 

[Deleted Member I]

6X,

I am certain you had bad service there, otherwise you would not be providing the recommendations that you have.

My view is that life is never that straight forward or black & white.

I felt really bad not buying my bike from Tim because of the service and attention he offered. He was really prompt in confirming financing for me. At the end it boiled down to price, I simply could not afford the package he was offering. I remember at the time thinking I might regret going down the "cheapest" route because I might not get the service further down the line. Fortunately the other dealer is pretty good.

My experience at my current dealer is not 100%, even though they are one of the highly rated ones. The owner is great, however I found some of his staff not so great to deal with. This I just write off as "personality" clash. And some customers I have met in the shop find the reverse is true!!

I recently learned this NLP stuff (Neuro Linguistic Programming) and it helped me understand why certain people I get on with straight away and other I just think are to**ers.

At the end of the day, I hope any prospective buyer will use both our comments before venturing to their local dealer. I suppose that is why I enjoy this forum so much. You get a reasonable amount of opinions on buying, owning, modifying the bike we love.

 

[Titch]

After reading all of these threads you can see that Tim at Coopers is hard done by.

Inchcape, the group owner could do well to think about making its bike concerns separate from the car ones and give Tim and his team the chance to deliver the service that a lot of people believe that they do, and change the minds of those people who have had a not so positive experience.

This would hopefully give Tim and his team the time and space to deliever.

I for one would go for a coffee!

 

[Paul Wakefield]

probably 10m x 10m

Don't exaggerate! Its nowhere near that big. A while since I've been there but I guess 6m x 6m. Any other offers?

Paul

 

[Jaq Draco]

face it. it's a cupboard.

at least North Ox gives the bikes a decent amount of space in the main showroom.

 

[NeilF]

Yes, sorry. 6m x 6m. I forgot about the coffee machine!

 

[pint6x]

doesn't matter how big the place is - as I keep trying to say - there is an "attitude" thing going on down there which I (and others) don't much care for.

 

[Pat Creagh]

In the past I have visited Coopers and came away with the view that Tim Angus was not for me. Personality clash, perhaps.
But very recently I visited with a friend to assess some accessories.
Initially Tim was reserved and after a while allowing us to look at his wares, so to speak, asked if he could help.
A discussion started about the merits of aftermarket parts which was enlightening and useful. No purchase ensued but Tim proved to be human and a reasonable guy.
For what it's worth.
Pat.

 

[Titch]

I had half an hour yesterday before a meeting and popped into Coopers to get some info on the new 1200 and was welcomed by Tim Angus assistant (name escapes me!) who only had a price list and a photocopy of the MCN article.

"Oh" I said, "I was hoping for some more details than that".

"Want to see one!" he said.

"We have just unloaded our first one and its in the garage being set up"

So off to the garage I go to see the beast in the flesh, and what a difference it is in the flesh. I have half an hour chatting with the mechanic, who has been on a riding training day, and say that its is one of the best bikes he has riden, and he wasn't a great fan until now. They even let me have a sit on and I can tell you the difference in weight is amazing compared to my 1150. All of this cusmoter service and was just killing half an hour!

So big respect to the guys at Coopers.

They are having a launch weekend at Caversham Heath Golf Club 13th-14th March where you can take a ride.

 

[kalahari]

traveled from london 2 visit coopers when looking 2 buy another bmw lets just say customer service was

 

[thesanguine]

It could be worse.......

I have to tell you this guys....

I had one of my bikes services a Coopers a couple of times when I lived near Maidenhead. The servicing was OK, but I didn't really feel "comfortable" with them. Difficult to put my finger on why, just seemed an offshoot from a big car dealer.....

.....so, I thought I'd try a dealer along the road in Gerrards Cross (when they did bikes).....the rest is history....

Count your blessings

PS: There is another dealer in between the two that my friend bought an M3 off......don't ask, just don't ask....must be something in the water!