Mercedes of Gillingham shutting down.

[R2D2]

All employees of MB Gillingham are being made redundant on 24th December as MB have pulled the plug on the Gillingham site. The lease was up and it wasn't making enough money so its being closed.

 

[Rory]

I don't know if there are any particular issues affected that location, but there has to be something seriously wrong with whole vehicle supply / servicing business model if a Mercedes dealership can't make money.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

All employees of MB Gillingham are being made redundant on 24th December

What a date to have chosen. Let's hope all affected get alternative employment sorted soon.

 

[R2D2]

yes HR obviously had worked their magic to select Christmas eve to lay everyone off on

 

[crockers]

Of course HR personnel don't have families and therefore Christmas isnt an important part of their lives...........lets hope a good M indi sets up.....

 

[glojo]

All employees of MB Gillingham are being made redundant on 24th December

Absolutely unbelievable! Will they be wishing their employees merry Christmas?

Regards
John

 

[dougal74]

Is this the Brabus place that is also a FIAT dealership? If so I have dealt with them and they have always been lovely people, the service manager's Dad had serviced my old Coupe at another MB dealership in the Midlands years ago - talk about in the blood!

In any event, having just gone through redundancy, I wouldn't wish it on anyone at any time let alone Christmas.

 

[lexuscol]

Is this the Brabus place that is also a FIAT dealership? If so I have dealt with them and they have always been lovely people, the service manager's Dad had serviced my old Coupe at another MB dealership in the Midlands years ago - talk about in the blood!

In any event, having just gone through redundancy, I would wish it on anyone at any time let alone Christmas.

Think you mean wouldn't? Me neither.

 

[Robbo]

yes HR obviously had worked their magic to select Christmas eve to lay everyone off on

HR arent the ones who decide on job losses or closures, it's managment that do that! HR are the ones that have to administer the process....

 

[davidjpowell]

It my well be the date the lease actually expires. In commercial property where rent is paid quarterly 25th Dec is a 'legal quarter day'. The result is lawyers sometimes draft leases to expire the day before. Assuming that they would move out a few days before they may be giving a few extra days.

Still rotten news for the staff though.

David

 

[glojo]

It my well be the date the lease actually expires. In commercial property where rent is paid quarterly 25th Dec is a 'legal quarter day'. The result is lawyers sometimes draft leases to expire the day before. Assuming that they would move out a few days before they may be giving a few extra days.

Still rotten news for the staff though.

David

I still feel you are trying to defend the indefensible. If it is quarterly then what half-wit chose this quarter?

Regards
The apprentice of Scrooge

 

[Robbo]

But does it really matter when it is? being made redundant is terrible news at any time. Why is redundancy near Christmas so particularly heinous?

 

[pammy]

It is tragic for them all, but at least they have some notice amd they may have known fro a little bit longer. Often redundancies are served on the day of closure with the staff having no idea.

Awful news no matter what time of year but like all things - when it happens around Christmas it seems so much worse. It's because we all believe Christmas should be a happy time when good things happen. Sadly life aint like that.

 

[davidjpowell]

I still feel you are trying to defend the indefensible. If it is quarterly then what half-wit chose this quarter?

Regards
The apprentice of Scrooge

Not defending anyone, and I cannot remember the last time I saw a Mercedes dealer close the doors. We don't know the background, but can all agree that it is not a nice time of year to job hunt.

David

 

[TonyVianoAmbiente]

I don't know if there are any particular issues affected that location, but there has to be something seriously wrong with whole vehicle supply / servicing business model if a Mercedes dealership can't make money.

Gillingham is probably the poorest of the Medway Towns, which together represent one of the most deprived areas of the UK. I cannot think of anywhere in Cheshire (a leafy, prosperous county) that would compare.

I'm surprised that a Mercedes dealership could ever have made money in Gillingham. I used to work in neighbouring Chatham, commuting daily from prosperous mid-Sussex, and never got over the contrast between where I lived and where I worked.

I agree that the timing is grossly insensitive.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

It is indeed awful to go through redundancy on the other 364 days of the year too, but Christmas is a time when money is short for many people, with expenditure probably at it's highest.

It must inevitably lead to even greater pressure for those involved, and no doubt tightening of purses strings also mean that some people for feeling guilty that Santa isn't as generous as he might usually be.

 

[Silestanix]

That's rotten...so near Xmas...I feel for the employees

 

[glojo]

Why is redundancy near Christmas so particularly heinous?

Sorry not going to bite

 

[hawk20]

http://www.mercedes-benzofgillingham.co.uk

Website says owned by Dutton Forshaw group and branches appear to include Ashford, Canterbury, Maidstone and Tonbridge. For all we know may just be closing one branch and expanding others as was done by my local dealer. And all staff were offered jobs at other branches. Maybe we need more detail before jumping to conclusions?

Lot of dealers have shut branches/showrooms that are not up to latest standards and moved to new sites, expanded better ones etc.

 

[R2D2]

A source close to the affected branch says that it only affects the Gillingham branch. The staff are not being redeployed as the other branches are remaining open but with their existing staff.

The history to this fiasco is that since time began Medway Mercedes was run by Greens garage in Rainham (4 miles from Gillingham). Rainham being a more affluent area.

When MB closed lots of dealers Medway Mercedes lost its franchaise but continued to trade as an independent specialist. It then also took on the Brabus franchaise and the Alfa franchaise.

Meanwhile MB leased an anonymous building on Gillingham Business park and opened it as a service only outlet. The service offered was nowhere near as good as Medway Mercedes, who whilst not without fault, had some helpful people.

Medway Mercedes now Brabus of kent survived and kept many of its old customers. After a couple of years it regained its "official Mercedes Service Centre" status so that it could officially stamp customers books again. This meant Mercedes of Gillingham had a cheaper more popular rival again.

Two years on, MB pull the plug as they haven't got enough work and Brabus of Kent grin from ear to ear.................