Ford Dealerships closing

Miss_XR6 · 16-04-2012, 12:03 PM

Has anyone else noticed some Ford Dealerships around sydney shutting up with no word

Chullora shut up some time during last week and is now the 5th car yard in the area to go as well

washoutbeach · 16-04-2012, 12:22 PM

Yeah my current car is ex-Dale Ford.

Sadly, Dale Ford bit the dust.

Ford has been struggling in the jostle in the market.

Its up to each one of us to ensure that every new car buyer we know or hear of tries out a Ford. Because once test driven, once comparisons are made, the product will easily sell itself.

Ive owned almost every other popular brand of car, but now I drive a Ford and I will never even consider buying the competition again.

Marketing gurus and all those spin-kings and can tell you all about the merits of the competition, but its in the actual driving that counts.

Sit down, see, hear, steer, accellerate, decellerate (the whole feel) = Ford

Feel the difference- not just a marketing blurb-but a statment of fact.

The 2012 Falcon XR6-one of the best cars ever made. The cats whiskers, I want one!!

Smoke Pursuit · 16-04-2012, 12:24 PM

Most of the big ones have moved into other brands / products to keep afloat... The drop in sales in Falcon / Falcon ute has affected many of the dealerships, sadly imports haven't caught up yet.

Miss_XR6 · 16-04-2012, 12:28 PM

This one was A Domnelli Ford and sold there used cars to the A1 city ford down the road and some to holden across the road

The G6ET Spot · 16-04-2012, 12:45 PM

It's just a sign of the times I'm afraid. Heartland Holden at Parramatta has closed and amalgamated with their Blacktown and Penrith sites.

Interesting when you consider that where they were in "Auto Alley" at Parramatta all the bid name manufacturers were in the same area. Where people were able to compare all the cars easily.

But maybe that is why they moved, they didn't want people to compare and possibly loose a sale.

Miss_XR6 · 16-04-2012, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The G6ET Spot

It's just a sign of the times I'm afraid. Heartland Holden at Parramatta has closed and amalgamated with their Blacktown and Penrith sites.

Interesting when you consider that where they were in "Auto Alley" at Parramatta all the bid name manufacturers were in the same area. Where people were able to compare all the cars easily.

But maybe that is why they moved, they didn't want people to compare and possibly loose a sale.

Heartland Holden is all owned by the 1 person and all there stores always have been amalgamted if one store had a certain car/color they would swap it for what they had on the lot to get sales ect
Unlike Suttons who dont do this

MDS69 · 16-04-2012, 12:46 PM

Phil Gilbert Toyota/Mitsubishi/Hyundai/Great Wall at Lidcombe have recently taken on a Ford franchise. That is not far from Chullora.

Yellow_Festiva · 16-04-2012, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss_XR6

This one was A Domnelli Ford and sold there used cars to the A1 city ford down the road and some to holden across the road

Only Domenelli Ford I knew was at Hurstville. That has been shut for over 10 years and the site was meant to be hi-rise apartments. There was (is??) a display shed on site for the apartment sales and I heard that at one stage Mr (Ferdi?) Domenelli was trying to get into local politics. Wonder if either of his pursuits got anywhere??

Miss_XR6 · 16-04-2012, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Only Domenelli Ford I knew was at Hurstville. That has been shut for over 10 years and the site was meant to be hi-rise apartments. There was (is??) a display shed on site for the apartment sales and I heard that at one stage Mr (Ferdi?) Domenelli was trying to get into local politics. Wonder if either of his pursuits got anywhere??

It was Dale Ford sorry that shut in Chullora last week

Chullora has also lost Proton, Sanyong and a few thers
Suttons sold some of there land to Subaru and Nissan to make a massive joint dealership and Heartland Holden went in down the road about 2 years ago for used cars and Austalian Fleet sales is still there plus Toyota
Its always been a thriving place for car buyers but doesnt look that way anymore

Yellow_Festiva · 16-04-2012, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss_XR6

It was Dale Ford sorry that shut in Chullora last week

Chullora has also lost Proton, Sanyong and a few thers
Suttons sold some of there land to Subaru and Nissan to make a massive joint dealership and Heartland Holden went in down the road about 2 years ago for used cars and Austalian Fleet sales is still there plus Toyota
Its always been a thriving place for car buyers but doesnt look that way anymore

No worries..

There was a thread about Dale Ford closing recently in the Pub. The Ironic thing was that I was at Dale Ford just a few days before that thread came up trying to buy a new Focus with my sister. She was a cash buyer and had already spoken to a person there. Her intention was sign that day.

We both left soon after disgusted with the 'service'.. seems I'm not the only one.

She bought a Hyundai that afternoon..

Oh well... perhaps 'Survival of the fittest' is a fitting analogy after all....

4.0i OHC · 18-04-2012, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

No worries..

There was a thread about Dale Ford closing recently in the Pub. The Ironic thing was that I was at Dale Ford just a few days before that thread came up trying to buy a new Focus with my sister. She was a cash buyer and had already spoken to a person there. Her intention was sign that day.

We both left soon after disgusted with the 'service'.. seems I'm not the only one.

She bought a Hyundai that afternoon..

Oh well... perhaps 'Survival of the fittest' is a fitting analogy after all....

I never really understood why if someone received poor service at a certain Ford dealer, they would go buy a car from another manufacturer? Why not just visit a different Ford dealer instead of settling for a Hyundai?

.FoMoCo. · 17-04-2012, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Only Domenelli Ford I knew was at Hurstville. That has been shut for over 10 years and the site was meant to be hi-rise apartments. There was (is??) a display shed on site for the apartment sales and I heard that at one stage Mr (Ferdi?) Domenelli was trying to get into local politics. Wonder if either of his pursuits got anywhere??

Dominelli Ford is now at Kirawee. The "Ferdi Bird" is still there upstairs near the customer lounge! The service department is good there, and I will be using them again.

Yellow_Festiva · 17-04-2012, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by .FoMoCo.

Dominelli Ford is now at Kirawee. The "Ferdi Bird" is still there upstairs near the customer lounge! The service department is good there, and I will be using them again.

Ok sweet, thanks for that.

Rodge · 16-04-2012, 01:42 PM

Multi franchise dealerships are the way of the future.

music189 · 16-04-2012, 04:37 PM

Just went past jefferson ford Braeside in melbourne all the Ford signs are gone and aheap of Hyundais are out the front but the storage yard acroos the road is half ford and half hyundais

XB GS 351 Coupe · 16-04-2012, 04:50 PM

I have dealt with Dale Ford in Chullora and they were terrible for customer service, and deserve to be closed down, have gone there several times as they are convenient to me and walked away bitterly disappointed each time.

My work also used to service their fleet of cars there, but the service was that bad that they now take them to either Ultratune or Peter Warren at Liverpool, when Dale Ford was 30 seconds around the corner.

Heartland Holden is the same terrible service, bought a brand new 50K plus vehicle from them a little while back and they were terrible to deal with lied to me on several occasions, then when the car went back for servicing and warranty work they lied again and did shocking work, to the point where I had to take the vehicle to another dealer to get sorted out.

We don't need these bad dealers, the good ones will survive, process of natural selection I say

Feathers · 17-04-2012, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

I have dealt with Dale Ford in Chullora and they were terrible for customer service, and deserve to be closed down, have gone there several times as they are convenient to me and walked away bitterly disappointed each time.

My work also used to service their fleet of cars there, but the service was that bad that they now take them to either Ultratune or Peter Warren at Liverpool, when Dale Ford was 30 seconds around the corner.

Heartland Holden is the same terrible service, bought a brand new 50K plus vehicle from them a little while back and they were terrible to deal with lied to me on several occasions, then when the car went back for servicing and warranty work they lied again and did shocking work, to the point where I had to take the vehicle to another dealer to get sorted out.

We don't need these bad dealers, the good ones will survive, process of natural selection I say

I never had anything but great service from Dale Ford. My car was not purchased there, but for as long as it was under warranty, they did the servicing. Never had an issue with them.
The boys remembered me by my car, even when I was in there with my parents' cars.

Fiesta_Man69 · 17-04-2012, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feathers

I never had anything but great service from Dale Ford. My car was not purchased there, but for as long as it was under warranty, they did the servicing. Never had an issue with them.
The boys remembered me by my car, even when I was in there with my parents' cars.

I suggest you read the "Dale Ford -gone" thread in the Pub section. It is littered with dozens of dissatisfied customers.

I also suggest you read my thread "WS Alternative Review" in the Fiesta section of this forum.

No doubt reading these many, many comments on how incompetent, rude, arrogant and negligent this dealership was will perhaps shift any rational person's view on this once great Ford outlet....

Dominelli has been at Kirrawee for 15 years: they closed the Hurstville store as Ferdie (on the council) attempted to change building laws in the area so he could develop the site into high rise apartments (as he did with the site across the road). As an aside, Dominelli quoted me $21,500 for my CL Fiesta driveaway, the most expensive quote from any dealership by over $2K. Most of their business is fleet. With the death of the Falcon their days are numbered.

Essentially, Ford dealerships are dying because of their product and of their service. The Modeo is a great car but priced out of the market - it isn't selling. The 3 is killing the Focus. The Fiesta, while being superior to the 2, is being outsold 2 to 1. And the Falcon, private sales wise, is dead. The Ecoboost model is too little, too late - anyone considering a 4 cylinder family car will buy an Accord, Mazda 6, Camry, Optima etc long before a big, old Falcon.

The service I've experienced from Dale, Sinclair and Cumberland Ford (Sydney) is precisely why Ford in Australia is doomed: time to buy a Hyundai/Kia I think.....

imugli · 19-04-2012, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by music189

Just went past jefferson ford Braeside in melbourne all the Ford signs are gone and aheap of Hyundais are out the front but the storage yard acroos the road is half ford and half hyundais

Jefferson's also own Brighton Hyundai and Brighton Nissan, thus the Hyundai's in the Braeside holding yard.

They've just renovated their Nepean Highway showroom, so I don't think the Ford franchise is going anywhere in a hurry.

Miss_XR6 · 16-04-2012, 06:10 PM

^^ Ive worked in new car sales before and I was told my job was to be rude to time wasters and be quick but semi nice to people buying
I never did what he said and was nice to all if they wanted a test drive I did it even if they said they were tossing between 5 different cars

I left due to the rudeness and harrasment by the boss

hawker · 17-04-2012, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss_XR6

^^ Ive worked in new car sales before and I was told my job was to be rude to time wasters and be quick but semi nice to people buying
I never did what he said and was nice to all if they wanted a test drive I did it even if they said they were tossing between 5 different cars

That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Good on you for leaving. People need to realise that even though people might seem time-wasters, they remember you when they actually want to buy. And send friends over too.

Was looking for a place to rent last year. Girlfriend called up a real estate agent to find out a time for a viewing for a place (as the website said call for inspection details). The reception girl rudely told my girlfriend that they only do inspections on Wednesday and hung up on her. Didn't even tell her the time or any other info. I wrote a letter to the manager saying that it was rude and that some people need to realise that renters turn into buyers and that when we were looking to buy we would never consider going with them due to the horrible treatment.

On the flip side of that, received outstanding service in JB Hifi the other day. Was looking for a 3D blu-ray movie, they didn't have it, but asked the girl packing shelves just in case. She went out the back and came back a moment later and said that they didn't have a copy, but another store (about 20 minutes away) had a few copies and if we wanted they would reserve one for us. So we got her to and went over and bought the blu-ray (plus a few more!)

Of course some could say she did it because we still bought from JB Hifi, but I've been in other places where I've asked for something (Dick Smith / Target etc) they've said they don't have it, I've asked if they know if one of their other stores have it and been told 'don't know.' No offer to call or help in anyway.

A little bit of customer service goes along way.

The sad part is, that bad Ford dealers give good Ford dealers a bad name. Sure lots of people know the difference between dealers, but most buyers who are looking for a car by brand just see it as Ford. So if a Ford dealer gives them bad service, they go off the Ford brand altogether. That's the truly said thing! That's why as a community we have to push people we know to go to the good dealers...

mash again · 18-04-2012, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawker

A little bit of customer service goes along way.

The sad part is, that bad Ford dealers give good Ford dealers a bad name. Sure lots of people know the difference between dealers, but most buyers who are looking for a car by brand just see it as Ford. So if a Ford dealer gives them bad service, they go off the Ford brand altogether. That's the truly said thing! That's why as a community we have to push people we know to go to the good dealers...

maybe its time Ford stepped up and weeded out the bad dealerships and took a more proactive approach to THEIR dealers customer service. People get treated bad they do see it as a Ford thing and if Ford arent doing anything about those dealers then those customers are right.

Yellow_Festiva · 18-04-2012, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mash again

maybe its time Ford stepped up and weeded out the bad dealerships and took a more proactive approach to THEIR dealers customer service. People get treated bad they do see it as a Ford thing and if Ford arent doing anything about those dealers then those customers are right.

I got my Festiva new from McLeod Ford in Rockdale (or was it Arncliffe??) back when it was open. Was serviced there as well for a while till I got stuffed around and had a whole day wasted caus some twat forgot to make a phone call (then lied about it as well)...

When I called Ford head office they said that they only step in when they got '3 or 4' of the same type of complaint..... That was the last time I dealt with McLeod Ford. Prob back in 02 or 03.

Having said that, the purchase of a Focus for my wife last year was a shocking experience... This time a 5 page letter and many persistent phone calls got my problems resolved thanks to Ford customer relations stepping in as mediator. I made it clear that I either got what I was promised and paid for, or a refund.....

Anyway...

hawker · 18-04-2012, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mash again

maybe its time Ford stepped up and weeded out the bad dealerships and took a more proactive approach to THEIR dealers customer service. People get treated bad they do see it as a Ford thing and if Ford arent doing anything about those dealers then those customers are right.

If a Ford dealer is selling cars Ford won't really care if they treat the odd customer like dirt. Problem is people won't tell Ford a dealer is crap and I don't think Ford have the care (nor $$) to go around and check up.

Mind you, it's something Apple is having good success in now. They are basically forcing resellers out of the big markets (ie Sydney and Melbourne) and setting up shop for themselves. Maybe that is something Ford should consider...

mik · 16-04-2012, 06:31 PM

driving around the burbs i see quite a few yards in general closed up shop , i reckon its a country wide thing not just the odd ford dealer.

focus2007_angel · 17-04-2012, 08:47 PM

Thanks vbmenu_register("postmenu_4222274", true); for that , do you know what will happen to this ,As Dale ford is closed down ? Does any other Ford dealer accepts this ?

Miss_XR6 · 18-04-2012, 10:35 AM

Ist terrible to see so many dealerships with bad reps but the same goes in the Holden market too

cobramania · 18-04-2012, 10:35 AM

Ford have stepped in & revoked franchise licences before, Alto Ford Artarmon lost theirs years ago, Ford ran it themselves for a while then withdrew altogether. Alto got it back late 2006 or early 2007 I think, I've been dealing with Alto since Oct. 2007 & haven't had a problem, think they learned their lesson. Maybe it's time to get tough & start revoking a few more licences before a dealer goes down the tube due to poor service & sullying the Ford brand name.

Fiesta_Man69 · 19-04-2012, 11:23 AM

Well statistics prove otherwise. Customer satisfaction surveys prove otherwise too. Diagreeing doesn't change facts. Customers are voting with their feet: Hyundai/Kia sales in the passenger car market are way above Ford in Aus YTD. Simple.

.FoMoCo. · 19-04-2012, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiesta_Man69

Well statistics prove otherwise. Customer satisfaction surveys prove otherwise too. Diagreeing doesn't change facts. Customers are voting with their feet: Hyundai/Kia sales in the passenger car market are way above Ford in Aus YTD. Simple.

Mate if if you are coming on to a ford fan site, then constantly bashing the brand, expect resistance. Simple.
You might be better served going to kia/Hyundai forums.