Based on the poll conducted in the spring by Pied Piper Management Co. of Pacific Grove, Calif., dealers selling the Honda Motor Co.’s premium Acura vehicles won the highest marks from car shoppers, followed by Land Rover, Saturn, Jaguar and Volkswagen stores.
Acura, the luxury division of the Honda Motor Co., has etched a good name in the American auto industry. Before, Japanese cars were primarily economical in design and largely targeted at low-cost consumers. With Acura’s arrival, the standing of exported vehicles from Japan was elevated to new heights.
As reported by The Auto Channel, the poll shows luxury brand dealers give customers best treatment. At the other end, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Jeep, Lincoln, Kia and Scion scored poorly, according to the poll conducted in the spring by Pied Piper Management Co. of Pacific Grove, Calif.
The brands with the highest ratings also tended to have higher sales and profits, noted Fran O’Hagan, the president of Pied Piper. “We found that eight of the top ten brands averaged more than 250 units per year, and only three of the ten lowest rated brands averaged more than 250 units. There are exceptions, but still, it makes me think those numbers are a proxy for dealer profitability,” he declared.
The survey’s findings dispelled a deeply rooted myth about the business, O’Hagan said. While most people associate car shopping with overbearing sales staffers, “the reality is, it’s four times more likely for a customer leaving the dealership to feel that they were undersold than oversold,” he added.
Other surveys measure car owners’ satisfaction with their dealers and dealer service, but O’Hagan said that his study is the first that gauges prospective car buyers’ fresh impressions.
Pied Piper surveyed shoppers at 1,592 dealerships. O’Hagan said that Acura, the top-rated brand, showed a high level of consistency, with survey respondents giving dealers high marks across the board. Of the 55 attributes measured, “they were always up in the top five or six,” he said. In addition, there were not any sharp variations in the scores of individual Acura dealers.
Chip Elliott, a sales manager at Suburban Acura in Farmington Hills, said the store strives to achieve the right balance. Staffers do not go out to the parking lot to greet visitors as they pull in. “Once they come into the dealership, there’s a meet-and-greet,” Elliott said. “If they choose to be left alone, that’s OK. We stay close by for questions or concerns, until we can take it to the next level.”
If are heading to Pennsylvania auto parts store or any dealership, try to compare and rate them. This is your opportunity to have the best slice of the auto industry.
Watch the video related to Auto Parts Stores
A Hot Girl Calls Auto Parts Store For Some Help With Her Car.
Help answer the question about Auto Parts Stores
What Auto Parts Stores In Los Angeles County Sell Engine Oil Fluorescent Leak Detecting Dye Products?About Author
Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.
Tags: bikes in the kitchen, juiceboxxx, unartignyc
#1 by ilovebobsaget2 on September 17, 2009 - 8:15 pm
None do "free diagnostic". Some do free "code reading" which is not even remotely the same thing. Code reading is just a matter of saying "your engine is running lean" or " you have a random misfire" or whatever the problem is. That by itself tells you almost nothing. Diagnostic is the art and science of finding out WHY you have the particular problem. Parts store guys don't do that. All they can do is suggest parts to replace that MIGHT help with the problem but usually won't.
#2 by lucasfunkytown on September 17, 2009 - 8:43 pm
haha, pretty funny