MB Selling their South London Dealerships

[vijilants]

I've been on the end of TUPE takeovers.....eventually they have ended in tears for the staff that have been taken over. It all starts off well and you are you are promised a ticket to heaven so that business continues as normal, but once things move on and the incoming company feel that they are now fimaliar with the business they have bought, thats when existing staff are literally forced out of the door.

Thie situation becomes far worse when the existing staff in the company that is being taken over are on more money and better terms and conditions than the incoming company !

Not havings some sort of union representation for the company staff being taken over also leaves them vunerable.

 

[Rory]

I've been on the end of TUPE takeovers.....eventually they have ended in tears for the staff that have been taken over.

Bit off topic but daughter was Tuped from NHS to some random comapny that provides clinical services to the NHS.

She has a choice - stay on NHS T's & C's but never (literally never) get a pay rise, or switch to the new company's T's & C's.

 

[markjay]

Bit off topic but daughter was Tuped from NHS to some random comapny that provides clinical services to the NHS.

She has a choice - stay on NHS T's & C's but never (literally never) get a pay rise, or switch to the new company's T's & C's.

Yes, this is how it works.

And, if she accepts the new employment contract, then under TUPE she still has the legal right - now, or at any time in future - to go back to her old NHS T&C (and old pay), if she wanted to.

 

[markjay]

It happens all the time. Employees are transferred with the business when it is bought and sold. and their rights are protected (known as TUPE). Whilst redundancies may happen for other reasons - either in the run up to or following - a business being bought, it would be highly unusual for employees to be offered redundancy if they objected to the change in ownership.

An employee that does not wish to transfer to the new employer, can resign without notice on the transfer day by simply not showing up to work.

 

[MCFastybloke]

today i saw the one price fits all advert on the TV

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

An employee that does not wish to transfer to the new employer, can resign without notice on the transfer day by simply not showing up to work.

Resignation is quite different to redundancy though. Of course an employee can choose to resign at any time.

 

[markjay]

Resignation is quite different to redundancy though....

Agreed.

...Of course an employee can choose to resign at any time.

Yes, but normally the employee would be bound by the statutory notice period, as well as any contractual notice period (which can be as long as 3 months). It's one of the little known quirks of TUPE, that a transferred emply may resign without notice simply but not showing up to work on the day of the transfer.

 

[arana]

I am assuming I am not the only one who received this email:

"We are writing to you as a customer of Mercedes‑Benz at our dealerships in South London. These dealerships have been owned and operated by Mercedes‑Benz Retail Group UK Limited ("MBRG"). MBRG prides itself on providing excellent levels of customer service and building effective relationships with its customers.

We are writing to inform you that these dealerships will be sold to Hedin Automotive London Ltd ("Hedin"), part of the Hedin Mobility Group with effect from 31 March 2023.

The following dealerships are affected:

Brooklands
Croydon
Dartford
West Bromley (After Sales)
Our South London Trade Parts operation, will also transfer to Hedin Automotive London Ltd as part of the sale.

Hedin Mobility Group is one of Europe's largest mobility providers with more than 7,500 employees and operations in 13 countries and was founded in 1985. Today, its business ranges from the import and distribution of vehicles and spare parts to vehicle retailing and mobility solutions. Hedin Mobility Group’s headquarters are in Mölndal, Sweden..."

MB Retail also sold their North London dealerships to Sytner.

I have used Watford and Colindale for years and last month was the first time I used Watford service under the new ownership.

I have to say it is the worst experience I have ever had.

 

[Benz17]

MB Retail also sold their North London dealerships to Sytner.

I have used Watford and Colindale for years and last month was the first time I used Watford service under the new ownership.

I have to say it is the worst experience I have ever had.

So a change for the worse then. Which doesn’t fill me happiness, as I have my last service under my service plan at Brooklands in July.

I was contemplating what my next move would be after this last service, go back to Terry @wayne Gates,, or renew my service plan, I only took out a service plan because of the discount offered for paying up front in 2020. Haven’t seen any discounts offered since.

So will go back to Terry.

 

[kcsun]

So a change for the worse then. Which doesn’t fill me happiness, as I have my last service under my service plan at Brooklands in July.

I was contemplating what my next move would be after this last service, go back to Terry @wayne Gates,, or renew my service plan, I only took out a service plan because of the discount offered for paying up front in 2020. Haven’t seen any discounts offered since.

So will go back to Terry

My last service plan B service is/was going to be Brooklands in August. Please let me know how you find it

I purchased my plan also with the discount and also have not spotted it again as a discounted item

kc

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

My last service plan B service is/was going to be Brooklands in August. Please let me know how you find it

I purchased my plan also with the discount and also have not spotted it again as a discounted item

kc

It was a COVID special.

If I remember right, a few years ago there was also a very small discount coinciding with an anniversary, maybe £50 off for 50 years of AMG or similar.

 

[vijilants]

I purchased my car from a franchised Merc dealership....I can't say that I was impressed with their service dept. Lousy would be an understatement.

 

[Benz17]

My last service plan B service is/was going to be Brooklands in August. Please let me know how you find it

I purchased my plan also with the discount and also have not spotted it again as a discounted item

kc

Will do.

 

[Billywedlocks]

Probably another step along the road to selling directly online , with retail dealers disappearing

 

[rOckyAMG]

I just came back from Brooklands this morning and it seems so far no staff have been lost - other than a new computer system which everyone is getting used too.

I sense Hedin see the benefit of owning Brooklands!

 

[Duncan Beaumont]

I had my car serviced this week at Brooklands. Very disappointed.

Hedin are not taking credit cards, debit cards or cheques!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I had my car serviced this week at Brooklands. Very disappointed.

Hedin are not taking credit cards, debit cards or cheques!

Do you mean that they have made a decision to only accept cash, or they had technical difficulties which prevented card payments?

 

[area51]

Tried to buy parts at MB Dartford earlier this week. Failed. I was told that they are unable sell any parts currently and are unsure when they will resume normal trading. Also told that they don't have any card readers....

 

[scillyisles1]

I have used Mercedes Benz Brooklands ever since it opened and before that Woking Motors which is where the service staff came from. Took the car in last week and the experience has certainly detiorated. Even though the car was booked in well in advance, they phoned up later in the day on which it was taken in to say they had not had time to look at the vehicle. Not a big problem as did not expect the car back the same day. When they got around to looking at the vehicle the following day then it emerged that in the transfer from Mercedes Benz retail to Hedin they lost access to all the service records so I ended up having to go through my service receipts on file to assist them in working out what was required. I had also to chase them to see when my car was ready to pickup. A lot of the service staff are the same so that is good but when picking the car up another downgrade appears to have taken place. In the past your service advisor would come out and explain what had been done and go through the invoice with you. Now it appears that they send you the service invoice by email and the service receptionist hands you your car keys once the car has been brought around to the front.

 

[Fastcar155]

I suspect this has in part something to do with the agency model to ensure all dealerships are franchised. I believe there has been a lot of internal restructuring within MB UK.

Hi , let's hope that true.