Over the last 4 years I've bought two bikes from Wollastons Motorrad and had the bikes serviced by them. It's a lovely, chilled-out dealership - always friendly and professional, both sales and service, with excellent support all round. Really nice little cafe as well, covid permitting.
Bought many bikes from Wollaston - a great company to buy from. Richard is an open and honest person to chat to. Very genuine. Can't fault the service department managed by Jack. Top notch service all round. Looking forward to normality again if that's ever going to be possible.
Having worked in a number of dealerships down the years I can tell you some stories you might not like to hear and I trust main dealers less than ever. There are some genuine people still around and just my opinion of course but it is soundly based.
Wollaston Motorrad are a great dealership. Richard is right, the team there are friendly, knowledgeable, patient and honest. I live 70 miles away now and they are still my dealer of choice. Interesting to see behind the scenes.
Great video and refreshing to hear Richard Higgs speaking, completely agree that the workshop is crucial in customer relations. There are a couple of dealers that have lost my business due to poor work. The motor trade as a whole needs more people like Richard! Am off now to see if they have any f750gs' in 😃
It’s about honesty had Bmw s1000xr 2016 which had such bad vibes I got numb fingers for first time in 25 yrs went to 2 Bmw dealers in London and Guildford & they told me it was normal a friend who works at bmw said the vibes were bad both dealers told me I should get a new xr Tested 2021 X-r still vibes 65-75 & worse through seat Bmw buried their head about vibes Bike shed is great bikes to look at cafe shop moto gp live barber great meeting point dealers make your shop multifunctional u don’t need lost of stock on display keep it in back most of us do our homework before we come
I sometimes get the feeling that BMW customer loyalty is on par with Harley Davidson's, for good and for bad. Riders seem more likely to wear BMW's branded gear, for example. Are they cultish? I don't know. Customers are willing to pay more for the same/less than other brand customers Take for example the difference in base model prices and fully specced bikes which is sometimes as much as 33%. When I went looking to buy a new bike last year I also found that - at least here locally (European continent) - hourly service costs were 20-30% higher than for Japanese brands. I am curious to know if that is the general difference.
Fabulous insight. I considered building a franchise some 15 years ago but for various reasons didn't. There are some elements from this vid that make me wish I had and others that make me glad I chose not to. All the very best to all the dealers out there and lets hope they all strive for and achieve at least 800 units a year on the back of this entertaining video.
Cannot rate wollaston motorrad highly enough. I've been so well looked after buy them since I did my rookie to rider with them last year. Such a friendly atmosphere in there and their enthusiasm is very infectious!
Getting young people in the door and making the sport cool for the younger generations. I hear this all the time but I don't see dealers or manufacturers actually putting a strategy together to keep the sport growing. Any insights?
There are probably a couple of factors that contribute to that and in no particular order: a) prices; new bikes have become unaffordable b) health and safety; young people have grown accustomed to "being careful" c) rebel image; young people have more ways of displaying their rebelliousness than being "outlaws on bikes" d) Hollywood; you don't see young heroic figures on the big screen riding motorbikes.
I agree. I learnt on a Honda MT5 and I definitely learned my craft on this. Kids these days (my 2 boys are 9 & 11) are being taught electric is the future. Whether you agree with that (given electricity needs to be generated and there's lots of pollution involved in the battery lifecycle) this is the reality. None of the big retailers are selling 'small capacity' petrol let alone electric bikes which will allow bikers to build experience.
It’s been certainly a struggle for all of us working in the trade over the last year with the uncertainty, hopefully will get back to some form of normality shortly.
Also having car & bike same site showrooms I always feel like shit in my bike gear sitting with car owners despite being a car owner I don’t like that concept Bmw keep the car owners away from us please
have bought several bikes and cars this way.if bikes are new or nearly new its fine.otherwise ask salesman if machine is mint as mine are, never see bad weather.
I get that fancy dealerships have to make a profit and things like the cafe and being open on Sunday's has to be be paid for. However I have just bought a new bike and rang my local dealer for a quote for the 1st 600 mile service and was quoted £250 for what is essentially an oil and filter change. I'm sorry but that just puts me off right away.
I suppose it must either depend on the dealer themselves, my local yamaha dealer only charged me for oil and filter at cost price for 1st service, which was around £30 at the time (4yrs ago) no labour charge at all.
My question, is a BMW R1250GS same spec as a Triumph Tiger 1200 XRT with luggage worth the additional £5k it will cost ? Enjoyed this review and great to see a BMW dealer that seems to value their customers / prospective customers.
@@alanbriggs7177 Interestingly I just got a trade in price of £11k against a newish GS, I suspect that the depreciation in monetary terms on a £20k spec GS after 18 months would be greater than £4K although longer term ownership of the GS would probably depreciate less than the Triumph. I think the GS is a lovely bike, but I’m not sure its £5k more lovely than my Triumph 🤔
@@samsara3694 The TE with heated seats and fog lamps (same spec as Tiger XRT) plus aluminium luggage prices in at £19,825 on the BMW Motorrad website. My Tiger XRT was £15,300 with aluminium luggage. BMW didn’t offer a discount.
@@MarkATaylor List price of the GD TE with heating, fog lights and luggage set is £19005, compared to £16525 list for the Tiger, so 2.5k difference. Discounts for the brands vary across dealers so not really relevant. But typically 7% off the GS.
Thanks for an informative video. Out of interest, how much does a salesman at Wollaston get above his normal wages for selling a new bike. My friend at at a major Japanese dealer in Essex tells me he gets around £60 per bike. He has sold 100 bikes in the last year so a handy bonus.
Make sure staff don’t bull shit customers was in Skoda dealership & they tried to bully my other half usual shit we can do the price for today only gap insurance is best deal interest rate (Bmw dealer said 7:9 % was great deal really got bank loan at 3.5 boo
Hey producers, next time try to instruct interviewee not to be repetitive. Yes its a lockdown and procedures change. I get it from your tone. Its annoying and inconvenient. A lot of mechanics have died so be safe. Trust me, it will all go back to normal. Also motorcycles dealers are profiting during this time. You'll be fine.
Performance indicators are an odd thing. For me (ol’fart rider) here’s a few that matter to me: The dealership must smell more like waste oil than espresso, fancy leather furniture and large glass windows makes my wallet very nervous and, if the parts and service fellow has clean fingernails - I’m outta there.
The business will close if you don't open the doors. It's time businesses got up and carried on. You wearing that mask is evidence you are happy being a slave as that's what it stands for.
Over the last 4 years I've bought two bikes from Wollastons Motorrad and had the bikes serviced by them. It's a lovely, chilled-out dealership - always friendly and professional, both sales and service, with excellent support all round. Really nice little cafe as well, covid permitting.
Bought my f800gs from Wollaston last year, great bike and great purchasing experience. Even delivered it all the way to essex for me top chaps! 😀
Bought many bikes from Wollaston - a great company to buy from. Richard is an open and honest person to chat to. Very genuine. Can't fault the service department managed by Jack. Top notch service all round. Looking forward to normality again if that's ever going to be possible.
Having worked in a number of dealerships down the years I can tell you some stories you might not like to hear and I trust main dealers less than ever. There are some genuine people still around and just my opinion of course but it is soundly based.
Well done Bennett’s, some really good and different videos coming from you guys....top job 👍
Appreciate it Chris, and if there's anything you'd particularly like to see then do let us know.
Cheers, Michael
@@bennettsbikesocial 👍
Wollaston Motorrad are a great dealership. Richard is right, the team there are friendly, knowledgeable, patient and honest. I live 70 miles away now and they are still my dealer of choice. Interesting to see behind the scenes.
Nice one Jason, thanks for your input and I'm glad you get the service you deserve there.
Cheers, Michael
Great video and refreshing to hear Richard Higgs speaking, completely agree that the workshop is crucial in customer relations. There are a couple of dealers that have lost my business due to poor work.
The motor trade as a whole needs more people like Richard!
Am off now to see if they have any f750gs' in 😃
Well said Phil, good luck with your quest.
Cheers, Michael
Thanks for this video. Really interesting. Looks like a good honest dealership.
It’s about honesty had Bmw s1000xr 2016 which had such bad vibes I got numb fingers for first time in 25 yrs went to 2 Bmw dealers in London and Guildford & they told me it was normal a friend who works at bmw said the vibes were bad both dealers told me I should get a new xr
Tested 2021 X-r still vibes 65-75 & worse through seat Bmw buried their head about vibes
Bike shed is great bikes to look at cafe shop moto gp live barber great meeting point dealers make your shop multifunctional u don’t need lost of stock on display keep it in back most of us do our homework before we come
I sometimes get the feeling that BMW customer loyalty is on par with Harley Davidson's, for good and for bad. Riders seem more likely to wear BMW's branded gear, for example. Are they cultish? I don't know. Customers are willing to pay more for the same/less than other brand customers Take for example the difference in base model prices and fully specced bikes which is sometimes as much as 33%.
When I went looking to buy a new bike last year I also found that - at least here locally (European continent) - hourly service costs were 20-30% higher than for Japanese brands. I am curious to know if that is the general difference.
Fabulous insight. I considered building a franchise some 15 years ago but for various reasons didn't. There are some elements from this vid that make me wish I had and others that make me glad I chose not to. All the very best to all the dealers out there and lets hope they all strive for and achieve at least 800 units a year on the back of this entertaining video.
Thanks Bob, cheers for taking the time to comment and I hope things worked out for you.
MM
Great insight into how dealers operate
Thanks SB, appreciate your comment.
Cheers, Michael
Great insight, nice to have a GM who understands the value of good staff to a business! 👏🏻👏🏻
Cannot rate wollaston motorrad highly enough. I've been so well looked after buy them since I did my rookie to rider with them last year. Such a friendly atmosphere in there and their enthusiasm is very infectious!
That’s good to hear, AIA.
Cannot beat a cafe. Committed Kawasaki owner but go to my local Yamaha/Suzuki dealer because they have a cafe.
And I'm sure they welcome you with open arms... well, not at the moment obvs.
Cheers, MM
Getting young people in the door and making the sport cool for the younger generations. I hear this all the time but I don't see dealers or manufacturers actually putting a strategy together to keep the sport growing. Any insights?
There are probably a couple of factors that contribute to that and in no particular order: a) prices; new bikes have become unaffordable b) health and safety; young people have grown accustomed to "being careful" c) rebel image; young people have more ways of displaying their rebelliousness than being "outlaws on bikes" d) Hollywood; you don't see young heroic figures on the big screen riding motorbikes.
I agree. I learnt on a Honda MT5 and I definitely learned my craft on this. Kids these days (my 2 boys are 9 & 11) are being taught electric is the future. Whether you agree with that (given electricity needs to be generated and there's lots of pollution involved in the battery lifecycle) this is the reality. None of the big retailers are selling 'small capacity' petrol let alone electric bikes which will allow bikers to build experience.
GREAT video and lovely looking shop too!! The Manager sounds like an excellent fellow. Well done!!
Great video, be good to see this with each manufacturer
It’s been certainly a struggle for all of us working in the trade over the last year with the uncertainty, hopefully will get back to some form of normality shortly.
I am so glad you didn't write "normalcy" ...
Great insight into the industry 👍👏
Bennets always come up with interesting videos
Cheers B C, hope you're enjoying them.
Thanks, Michael
I like strolling around dealerships, the only thing I don't look forward to is dropping the bike in for a service.
17:56 spot on. Seems like a decent dealership.
I love the video shots when my bike is being service at bmw it’s great use of social media well done bmw
Amazing information! Just like a short course in dealership management. Congrats and thanks!
I really hope everything gets back to normal and people get back to doing test rides and conversing in public soon.
I think the dealers hope that too. Makes sense for them and the customers.
MM
April 12th is the date if you’re out of the loop.
Not a superstitious person but fingers crossed that the 12th of April doesn't get changed.
Also having car & bike same site showrooms I always feel like shit in my bike gear sitting with car owners despite being a car owner
I don’t like that concept Bmw keep the car owners away from us please
have bought several bikes and cars this way.if bikes are new or nearly new its fine.otherwise ask salesman if machine is mint as mine are, never see bad weather.
I get that fancy dealerships have to make a profit and things like the cafe and being open on Sunday's has to be be paid for. However I have just bought a new bike and rang my local dealer for a quote for the 1st 600 mile service and was quoted £250 for what is essentially an oil and filter change. I'm sorry but that just puts me off right away.
I suppose it must either depend on the dealer themselves, my local yamaha dealer only charged me for oil and filter at cost price for 1st service, which was around £30 at the time (4yrs ago) no labour charge at all.
@@jonno94 yeah I remember buying my first big bike. A Suzuki SV 650S back on 09. The first service was £45 quid.
My question, is a BMW R1250GS same spec as a Triumph Tiger 1200 XRT with luggage worth the additional £5k it will cost ? Enjoyed this review and great to see a BMW dealer that seems to value their customers / prospective customers.
Will it retain the same differential when you come to p/ex?
@@alanbriggs7177 Interestingly I just got a trade in price of £11k against a newish GS, I suspect that the depreciation in monetary terms on a £20k spec GS after 18 months would be greater than £4K although longer term ownership of the GS would probably depreciate less than the Triumph. I think the GS is a lovely bike, but I’m not sure its £5k more lovely than my Triumph 🤔
Triumph xrt list price £16300. Similar spec'd R1250GS TE is £16945. Luggage costs aren't too dissimilar either.
@@samsara3694 The TE with heated seats and fog lamps (same spec as Tiger XRT) plus aluminium luggage prices in at £19,825 on the BMW Motorrad website. My Tiger XRT was £15,300 with aluminium luggage. BMW didn’t offer a discount.
@@MarkATaylor List price of the GD TE with heating, fog lights and luggage set is £19005, compared to £16525 list for the Tiger, so 2.5k difference. Discounts for the brands vary across dealers so not really relevant. But typically 7% off the GS.
Really interesting insight many thanks
Thanks for an informative video.
Out of interest, how much does a salesman at Wollaston get above his normal wages for selling a new bike. My friend at at a major Japanese dealer in Essex tells me he gets around £60 per bike. He has sold 100 bikes in the last year so a handy bonus.
It would be so depressing to buy a motorcycle from here. I think the man you interviewed would benefit from some sales training.
What are your thoughts on the health of motorcycle industry especially in Europe ?? Is it healthy or is it on a decline ?
Lotta lotta money tied up in a brand name franchised dealership.
Like several millions....
Maybe I was unlucky but the worst prepared used bike I ever had came from these people, totally put me off doing any further business.
"you know"....."obviously"
Make sure staff don’t bull shit customers was in Skoda dealership & they tried to bully my other half usual shit we can do the price for today only gap insurance is best deal interest rate (Bmw dealer said 7:9 % was great deal really got bank loan at 3.5 boo
Watch those used pens there deadly 💀
Hey producers, next time try to instruct interviewee not to be repetitive. Yes its a lockdown and procedures change. I get it from your tone. Its annoying and inconvenient. A lot of mechanics have died so be safe. Trust me, it will all go back to normal. Also motorcycles dealers are profiting during this time. You'll be fine.
I can´t get over the stupidity of the "covid""restrictions"
Performance indicators are an odd thing. For me (ol’fart rider) here’s a few that matter to me: The dealership must smell more like waste oil than espresso, fancy leather furniture and large glass windows makes my wallet very nervous and, if the parts and service fellow has clean fingernails - I’m outta there.
The people behind the desk won’t have dirty hands? That’s for us techs.
Good morning from Ghana 🇬🇭
Please Who can donate me a bike 🏍 then I will used to go to school please I need help, help me
First step, become a dishonest weasel.
The business will close if you don't open the doors. It's time businesses got up and carried on. You wearing that mask is evidence you are happy being a slave as that's what it stands for.
I turned of as soon as I saw the stupid masks come out🙄