http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/ Autoblog Comments for Honda tells some dealers to upgrade, or else... http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/
I've also often wondered why US Honda dealers have blue white branding. Whats that about - why dont they have red and white like Honda, the world over.]]>May 5th 2008 5:50PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/May 5th 2008 5:56PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/
At minimum, I would hope that *all* dealers that had bad service areas would be required to make the necessary upgrades to improve service, because that reflects Honda's image much more-so than their lot size. "If your store has a 1+ week lead time for service, and you have no plans to improve that, we're gonna shut you down." Again, unfortunately, they probably won't even do that. I've lived in all different kinds of cities, and I've yet to really see a dealership be shut down by their parent.]]>May 5th 2008 5:57PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/May 5th 2008 8:11PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/
]]>May 5th 2008 6:01PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/
Here's a horror story for ya. The dude got very little help from BMWNA with a clearly negligent dealer:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49291&highlight=savage+bmw+m3 ]]>May 6th 2008 10:42AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/
So to hear them bitching about investing money in their operations to serve customers better and expand throughput--which will only increase their profitability LT--is a bunch of crap.

Toyota recently backed off of requirements for some dealers to expand, which is a huge mistake, especially since TMS has stated it will not expand its dealer network with a ton of new points.]]>May 5th 2008 6:27PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/
but in fly-over country, not all of the dealers are urban, and not all of them turn over that much inventory.

Those are also the ones more likely to have older facilities, fewer service bays, etc...

Most city dealerships are all about the bling anyway, it is the rural dealers who don't have the cash to spend on flash.]]>May 5th 2008 11:19PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/
the description and color chit show a gold civic with nav, but this civic is decoded as red with a 5 spd.

DEMERIT

your online used car section does not separate used honda products and display them on another page, or even prior to other used models.

NO SOUP FOR YOU!

etc etc...]]>May 5th 2008 6:59PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/
One distinguishing characteristic of Honda is that its dealers look strong. Good locations, bright and clean showrooms and service areas. This builds confidence for Honda owners and prospective owners.

No greater turn-off when car shopping than a lousy showroom and service area which say that neither the company nor the dealer care about how they appear.

I wouldn't buy a car from a slob.]]>May 5th 2008 7:39PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/
Maybe Honda should fix the faulty 3rd gear problem in their manual trannys and that might reduce the workload?]]>May 5th 2008 8:04PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/
There are many lame ducks dealers out there who do a piss-poor job on every single front. In my mind Honda is doing the right thing, they have to be solid on all fronts, even if that means losing dealers. Which is not bad thing, considering the US new car market is about to get a WHOLE LOT smaller.

Also dealers are lying about Honda not renewing the franchise agreements, franchisor has little power to merely terminate the contract.

Dealers are no better than most Mortgage Loan Officers, a majority of them are deceiving, greedy crooks. ]]>May 5th 2008 8:52PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/May 5th 2008 10:25PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/
I would even take Honda standing behind there own recall letter.]]>May 5th 2008 8:47PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/
As others have mentioned, car dealerships are *not* poor by any stretch of the imagination, and if they spent half a minute thinking about it, they would realize that Apple computer products would not sell as well if customers had to go to Radio Shack to buy them. Yes, the showroom needs to be just as good as the product you're selling...]]>May 5th 2008 9:52PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/May 5th 2008 10:57PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/
One wonders, for the sort of money that Honda is making them spend, could they convert to another brand that isn't making unsubsidized requests, or demands.]]>May 5th 2008 11:13PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/May 6th 2008 9:24AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/
the 1st dealership will get the deal, just because its a better buying experience and just feels like a better place to buy a vehicle and take it in. Honda is right in addressing these needs across all their dealers.]]>May 6th 2008 9:27AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/honda-tells-some-dealers-to-upgrade-or-else/May 6th 2008 11:28AM