 | Home > Off Topic > Queen's Jaguar supplier to close after 'too many demands' |
 
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| Supacat Member Since: 16 Oct 2012 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 11018   
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 Click image to enlarge "The Queen’s Jaguar supplier is to close down after supplying and repairing her cars for more than 40 years, as the co-founder’s grandson reveals there are too many “demands” on the company. R A Creamer & Son is Jaguar’s oldest dealership and has confirmed it will hand back its two Royal warrants as its distinguished 90-year history comes to an end. Located near Kensington Palace, Creamer & Son has supplied cars for the Queen, the Queen Mother and Prince Charles. At one point, they adapted Her Majesty’s Jaguar to make it more environmentally friendly. Dealer Principal Michael Quinn, is the grandson of Jaguar co-founder Sir William Lyons, announced the closure news to clients on Friday. He said: “In my last correspondence in January 2016 I stated that our business was unlikely to continue to operate ‘beyond the end of 2016 and could well be earlier than that’. “This is due in no small part to the changes in our business that we have been forced to face which have challenged us in a way that we now feel that we cannot sustain the current business model, or rationalise the level of investment required. “It does mark the end of a great story and a proud history that can be traced back to 1927. Mr Quinn attended a meeting with representatives from Buckingham Palace earlier in the year and has had a letter expressing the Royals’ gratitude and best wishes. Jaguar sales are increasing as a result and we are asking all authorised Jaguar centres to upgrade their facilities to cope with increased customer interest Jaguar spokesman He said: “It’s sad to hand back the Royal Warrants but we are proud to have had that association and it is something that will never be taken away from us. “It was a long service that culminated in Syd Creamer being made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order for services to the Royal Household, which we are also incredibly proud of.” Speaking of the reasons behind the closure, Michael Quinn told the Telegraph that while he welcomes the expansion in Jaguar's operations, the consequences of the reorganisation had "created a problem for us". He said: "The majority of dealers have been expected to invest considerably and upgrade their businesses to improve capacity, professionalism and appearance. This involves great financial investment and property expansion, and would have required us to move our location. "Both these factors would have added genuine complications to our business and the decision was taken not to embark on an expansion which might risk our ability to care for our employees. And frankly, our customers told us they did not want it and liked the fact that we were unique, customer-focused, almost 'old-fashioned' firm." Creamer & Son is expected to finalise a sale amounting to tens of millions for its 10 properties in London in coming weeks. Indian company Tata bought Jaguar Land Rover for £1.15 billion in 2008 and pledged to “preserve and build” on the heritage of the historic car maker. A Jaguar spokesman said: “Over recent years Jaguar has totally overhauled its car range with the launch of class-leading new models like the XE sports saloon, XF executive saloon, F-TYPE sports car and the recently revealed F-PACE performance crossover. “Jaguar sales are increasing as a result and we are asking all authorised Jaguar centres to upgrade their facilities to cope with increased customer interest." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/11...d-company/ A great shame - surely there's room for more than one type of business model? |
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12th Dec 2016 8:07am |
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| BuckBlu110 Member Since: 19 Apr 2014 Location: in the pub Posts: 714 
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Sounds like the fat cats strike again, more concerned about profit than anything else. Great shame
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12th Dec 2016 8:27am |
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| Rashers Member Since: 21 Jun 2015 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3525 
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I'm not sure I would want a motor company franchise.
There have been several dealerships around Norwich close in recent years. We lost our Rolls Royce / Bentley dealer in the same way as this company has been forced to close (they moved all their business to their Colchester branch) This obviously has caused a lot of inconvenience to the current Mrs Rashers 
I was reading last week about the profit that had been made by a local company in east anglia - Marriot Motor Group (VW Audi not JLR, and I know they have probably had better years). They made £208300 profit (pre-tax) on a turnover of £160m! - (Eastern Daily Press 09/12/2016) That's not a great lot (can't do the maths to work out the percentage as I have man-flu today). Our local Ford dealership has just upgraded all their showrooms in the area. Did they do this because they wanted to or did Ford tell them they had to? There is considerable amounts of unhappiness on these pages about Main Dealers and tales of being ripped off. We never see the kinds of investment that these companies have to put in just to just keep hold of the franchise, let alone making a profit. Maybe it is time to start blaming the manufacturers for sky high main dealer bills, not the dealership (who I would think have to charge what they are told to charge?) I'm not trying to make excuses for these businesses, but I'm sure it's not the 'Golden Goose' some may presume. How very sad for all concerned at R A Creamer and Son. And yes, the second service on my Defender did make my eyes water. |
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12th Dec 2016 2:45pm |
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| gilarion Member Since: 05 Dec 2013 Location: Wales Posts: 5111  
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This is taken from a modern day company training seminar.... ‘Today’s consumers prefer to use technology, a menu driven phone system to solve customer service issues or concerns rather than speaking direct with an agent. Not only is it quicker, but it is more efficient and consistent. Menu driven phone systems creates an effortless and satisfying customer experience.’ Now I do not know about you but I personally hate this press 1 then 2 then 5 then 2 then press 1 again etc etc. Finally when you do get through all I hear is ‘we are incredibly busy at this time and all our agents are busy, your call is important to us, you are twentieth in the queue waiting time one hour. Our opening times are 9 till 5 please phone back when we are less busy. I long for the good old days of Grace Brothers type of service such as the customer matters For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at.. http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1 |
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12th Dec 2016 3:36pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17481 
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I have never in my entire life met a person who prefers a "menu driven phone system" to human dialogue, and that includes 20 years designing telecommunications systems!
99% of people want the 'phone to be answered promptly by a polite, empathetic, and helpful person. Automated systems also damage the working lives of many people since the majority of callers are in a foul and aggressive mood when they finally speak to a human. And yes, your call is important to us, it's earning us £1.50 per minute! |
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12th Dec 2016 3:53pm |
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| discomog Member Since: 09 May 2015 Location: Notts/Lincs Border Posts: 2531 
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Our local pizza shop a has menu driven phone system. You ring him up, he answers straight away in a pleasant tone of voice and you tell him what you want from the menu. He says see you in 15 minutes, thank you for your custom. Defender 90XS SW
Mini Countryman Cooper S Morgan Plus 8 |
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12th Dec 2016 5:17pm |
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| Tiger Member Since: 06 Jul 2012 Location: Wales Posts: 2265 
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Lets read between the lines folks, yes you have to invest but.......
....but thats a hell of an excuse to cash out of business that perhaps you couldn't due to the previously 'handed down' nature |
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12th Dec 2016 6:22pm |
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| Projectblue Member Since: 22 Nov 2011 Location: Devon Posts: 1096 
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It's not that at all. I have business contacts with a major JLR dealer and it's to do with investing in JLR dealership buildings and bringing them in to the 21st Century. Fancy new premises, servicing etc. It's all to do with taking JLR in to the premier car category and what customers want as an experience. In other words, swish sales rooms with fancy lighting, posh coffee and sales people who ignore you whilst you clamour desperately to shove your hard earned cash into a waiting palm rather than giving it to the Germans. The fact that the investment for this old world dealer would be far greater cost, given the location, and the struggle to recoup that kind of investment. New project and it's green: www.projectoverland.info |
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13th Dec 2016 12:28am |
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| Disco_Mikey Member Since: 16 Nov 2014 Location: Dundee Posts: 531  
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We have had a few new JLR showrooms built up this way. Forced to upgrade by JLR, I may add. Not one has cost less than £5m, with one costing in excess of £8m. A small business likely cannot afford to upgrade, nor want to invest that amount of capital... Also goes some way towards explaining labour rates in excess of £150 p/h... |
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13th Dec 2016 6:36am |
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| Huttopia Member Since: 23 Feb 2016 Location: West Midlands Posts: 1977
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I can't get my head around how the Jag bit of JLR works - if I'm in Listers Droitwich I'll have a look around and it strikes me that residuals on the Jags are woeful, so whonis buying new and taking such a hit, and in my mind residuals equal quality which can't be there. Hard to justify the hike to premium showrooms and facilities if the cars aren't up to it.....
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13th Dec 2016 7:26am |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971 
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I rather like the non-dealership model that Tesla has.
You buy your car from Tesla, not a dealership that's then buying the car from Tesla. As for not dealing with a human, I hate automated phone systems but would sooner go on to a website and look up something or email than I would ring someone up. In part that's because you frequently get the wrong answer when you call someone, particularly on technical matters, and in future you've got nothing to refer back to. |
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13th Dec 2016 7:34am |
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| Anderzander Member Since: 08 Feb 2011 Location: Lancashire Posts: 1000
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You'd think Jaguar would want to keep the association with a royal warrant?
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13th Dec 2016 8:00am |
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| Rashers Member Since: 21 Jun 2015 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3525
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I'm not sure that has the kudos it once had.
It wouldn't be a decider on which car I bought / Dealer I used. Plus Tata are an Indian company. Maybe it's payback for the way the British Colonials treated them ?? I wonder with this dealership closing, the Royal household will take their cars to that Jag specialist who operates out of a lock up behind the paint factory? I presume they will use the one who has just spent £8M tarting their hovel up with corporate tat. This kind of re-branding (you see it in all forms of retail) seems to happen regularly these days. Bankrupt banks seem to be quite good at it as well. Good job the Tax man is bailing them out. What these people don't seem to realise is that most people go where it is most convenient (more than likely why this Jag dealership was used by the Royals) not where the comfy sofas have been replaced in the latest corporate design. I believe HA Fox are quite good in Norwich but if I lived in Buckingham Palace, not my first choice for a service?? |
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13th Dec 2016 8:20am |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324
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I don't think residuals are directly related to quality; they're more about image and desirability. Just look at the price of both old Defenders and VW-era Skodas! In Jaguars case, it's a bit chicken and egg - build premium showrooms, state that it's a premium brand at every opportunity, give the cars that premium 'feel' and eventually enough people will buy into it that it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The fact that they break down more than, say, Toyotas is largely irrelevant. Darren 110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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13th Dec 2016 8:27am |
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