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J8GHX

Member Since: 22 May 2012
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 154

2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Corris Grey

Land Rover UK impose a number of requirements on their retailers, some of which carry a new vehicle margin adjustment if they are not adhered to. Both demonstrator vehicle and static showroom display vehicles I understand carry quite a weighting on margin. Therefore, if the LR UK Sales Centre tells its dealers that they must have a certain combination of vehicles on display or as demonstrators, they have to do it and comply with the requirements in order to retain their full margin.

Land Rover view demonstrators as 'qualifying' for the criteria when they are available for between 3 and 6 months from date of registration.

I'm sure there will be a criteria set out by Land Rover to their dealers which states how long they must maintain a Defender on their fleet for. When this carries even only a percent or so of their margin for the year, you can see that the dealer could be penalised by tens of thousands of pounds if they do not adhere to requirements.

I'm quite sure the dealer isn't being awkward, or doesn't want to release the vehicle - ultimately, they will have made a profit by selling the vehicle, and neither their targeted salesman or managers will get paid for the sale until the vehicle is paid for and handed over. The dealer staff will be caught between a rock and a hard place.

Although 'your' dealer may not have Defenders left to sell, some dealers do. I'm quite sure that Land Rover have one rule for all dealerships, so it will be down to whichever dealer sells their last one last........

Just my thoughts from my knowledge.

John. Currently....... all gone...... pending delivery of a mid life crisis.......
Previously..... Quite a few! I really am a sucker for them!

3rd Nov 2015 7:40pm

Edzi

Member Since: 20 Sep 2015
Location: London
Posts: 279

2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Alaska White

Supacat wrote:
So what are the criteria JLR impose on the main dealers with regard to them having a demo fleet?

My understanding from what I've heard and read is that until all orders are met, the demo vehicle has to be kept as a demo. A bit silly in some ways.

3rd Nov 2015 7:57pm

J8GHX

Member Since: 22 May 2012
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 154

Edzi,

It really depends which way you look at it. I could easily imagine a thread on this page which says 'I want to spend £35k on a new Defender and my dealer won't let me drive one first, he says there are no demonstrators!...... that's terrible service!....'

Forgive me, but there is two sides to everything I suppose.

John Currently....... all gone...... pending delivery of a mid life crisis.......
Previously..... Quite a few! I really am a sucker for them!

3rd Nov 2015 8:45pm

Edzi

Member Since: 20 Sep 2015
Location: London
Posts: 279

I agree completely John. However from what I've been told and read, the order books were closed ages ago for new cars. Keeping demo cars until current, already ordered cars are delivered across the country just feels a bit unnecessary! Having paid a deposit four months ago I'm just really keen to get my first ever Defender

3rd Nov 2015 9:15pm

J8GHX

Member Since: 22 May 2012
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 154

I can fully understand your excitement!

I've had many Defenders, both new and second hand, and each one has been just as exciting!

Since the end of June, dealers have not been able to order new Defenders from the factory. By the end of June, dealers had ordered all of their build allocation from the factory to cover vehicles being built up to and including January 2016.

Many of those vehicles at the time weren't sold, and some still aren't. I know of a number of vehicles locally which are available, including 110 XS Station Wagons, Utility Wagons and a Landmark or two.

I know it won't settle your excitement though - nothing should - hopefully it will be worth the wait and make the final event of collecting it even more exciting. When there is a story behind, it's always more memorable! Currently....... all gone...... pending delivery of a mid life crisis.......
Previously..... Quite a few! I really am a sucker for them!

3rd Nov 2015 9:27pm

mse

Member Since: 06 Apr 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 5035

2016 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Scotia Grey

Order books arent closed, there are just no build slots. Mike

3rd Nov 2015 9:27pm

Edzi

Member Since: 20 Sep 2015
Location: London
Posts: 279

J8GHX wrote:
I can fully understand your excitement!

I've had many Defenders, both new and second hand, and each one has been just as exciting!

Since the end of June, dealers have not been able to order new Defenders from the factory. By the end of June, dealers had ordered all of their build allocation from the factory to cover vehicles being built up to and including January 2016.

Many of those vehicles at the time weren't sold, and some still aren't. I know of a number of vehicles locally which are available, including 110 XS Station Wagons, Utility Wagons and a Landmark or two.

I know it won't settle your excitement though - nothing should - hopefully it will be worth the wait and make the final event of collecting it even more exciting. When there is a story behind, it's always more memorable!

Let's hope

Cheers

4th Nov 2015 7:44pm

Edzi

Member Since: 20 Sep 2015
Location: London
Posts: 279

mse wrote:
Order books arent closed, there are just no build slots.

Strange! So a Defender can be ordered, but will never get built?!

*humour

4th Nov 2015 7:45pm

Pickles

Member Since: 26 May 2013
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 3784

2013 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Keswick Green

mse wrote:
Order books arent closed, there are just no build slots.

So, with that in mind, is it possible that with a build slot, and a situation where the dealer may not have sold a vehicle relative to that "slot", that someone could still visit the dealer & have a vehicle built to their specs, in that "slot" ?
Pickles.

4th Nov 2015 8:54pm

JOW240725

Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7906

2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey

From my understanding this thread is about dealer honesty?! Why don't they just be honest, and say it's yours but you can't have until ..... Because...... I'm sure you'd have understood and be happy to wait.

4th Nov 2015 8:58pm

mse

Member Since: 06 Apr 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 5035

Pickles wrote:
mse wrote:
Order books arent closed, there are just no build slots.

So, with that in mind, is it possible that with a build slot, and a situation where the dealer may not have sold a vehicle relative to that "slot", that someone could still visit the dealer & have a vehicle built to their specs, in that "slot" ?
Pickles.

Yes although you would be right close to last orders i would suggest now, even a late Jan one, so you may only be able to add dealer fit options, not change the colour even Mike

5th Nov 2015 5:06pm

Mr Fox

Member Since: 10 Sep 2011
Location: green & pleasant land
Posts: 1037

2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Keswick Green

JOW240725 wrote:
From my understanding this thread is about dealer honesty?!

Based on my recent experience, whilst trying to change my daily driver, I'd say those last words are an oxymoron.

The sad fact is that far too many LR dealers struggle to deliver the bare minimum of customer service, let alone higher functionality.

5th Nov 2015 6:00pm

fidei defensor

Member Since: 06 Sep 2015
Location: Winchester
Posts: 12

2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black

JOW240725 wrote:
From my understanding this thread is about dealer honesty?! Why don't they just be honest, and say it's yours but you can't have until ..... Because...... I'm sure you'd have understood and be happy to wait.

You are so right but it is also poor business practice and not understanding that customers can deal with the truth. When you have to resort to social media to make them respond it shows their disdain for the customer. LR dealers have it too easy, and LR let them get away with it.

They should take more care of the home market.

F.D LR MY16 Discovery Sport Black HSE
LR MY15 Defender 90 SW TDCI

6th Nov 2015 7:22pm

fidei defensor

Member Since: 06 Sep 2015
Location: Winchester
Posts: 12

Got it at last, it has been parked up in Dealers yard for nearly two months, but the wait was worth it. Dealers gave she who must be obeyed a large bouquet of flowers which was well received.

Click image to enlarge

F.D LR MY16 Discovery Sport Black HSE
LR MY15 Defender 90 SW TDCI

27th Nov 2015 5:24pm

mk1collector

Member Since: 17 Sep 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 6769

looks great! Now you've just got the 20 trips back to the dealer for warranty work

Ray
My build thread
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic17615.html

27th Nov 2015 5:39pm

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