Halfords buys nationwide autocentres

superclan

Halfords have bought the Nationwide Autocentres Franchise.

anewman

Wonder if they'll muck it up by focussing on employee bonuses for the amount of work they do? Result = employees spraying oil on shock absorbers, gouging brake discs, taking off brakes and bringing old parts out to show customers. Same business model as Kwik Fit. Scam the public for all the money you can.

Anihilator

Nationwide already have that philosophy in lots of centres. The centres tend to vary in quality just like Kwik Fit.

Contrary to belief you do find the odd good kwik fit.

Shimrod

Halfords used to offer servicing (at least 10 years ago). I can't remember now if it was the AA service centres and Halfords took them or the other way round. I think it came out of when they used to have the Daewoo franchise at the stores as well. I never had any complaints over the customer service or cost, but they closed them down because they were losing money. Wonder how they'll manage this time round.

haggisAThome

nationwide took over the aa garages and closed them down , the best way to get rid of the competition (look at what bmw did to rover)

Alt

haggisAThome wrote: »

the best way to get rid of the competition (look at what bmw did to rover)

Are you serious?

plane_boy2000

haggisAThome wrote: »

nationwide took over the aa garages and closed them down , the best way to get rid of the competition (look at what bmw did to rover)

Not really - BMW wanted to move into the volume market so buy buying a lesser brand they bought more market sharw without loosing sales of their "premium" brand. Reality was that British Aerospace had milked Rover dry with no investment in future models so when BMW bought it it was already drifting into murky water.

What BMW did do is gain the 4X4 knowledge that came with Land Rover

ukjoel

Mini as well. More the brand than the technology but was money well spent all the same.

plane_boy2000

ukjoel wrote: »

Mini as well. More the brand than the technology but was money well spent all the same.

Forgot about Mini - think they still own quite a few other brand names out of the deal to.

From memory BMW paid the same for Rover as it cost Opel to design the Omega - when you look at it like that BMW got the better deal (well actualy British Aerospace as they paid next to nothing for it)