No Volvo dealer from Seattle to Billings MT

Post by **BlackBart** » 20 Feb 2024, 08:18

I was planning a trip over to Spokane WA to have the airbag recall done. I hunted for the contact number and the dealer there is just gone! From what I can gather, it was a combined Jaguar LR Volvo dealer (I bought parts there some time ago), then AutoNation bought it, mismanaged it, ran it into the ground, and just shut it down. Apparently they only had one certified Volvo tech in the shop.

There is a dealer in Billings MT, a 4 1/2 hour trip.
Too bad, that means it’s 820 miles between dealers on I-90. Or wind 8 hours through the mountains of ID to Boise.

Post by **volvolugnut** » 20 Feb 2024, 08:43

I thought I was in a Volvo dealer desert in Oklahoma. A hour and a half in two directions to a Volvo dealer.
I just checked. It appears the dealer to the south has closed. Now 2.5 hours to the south to a dealer.
Perhaps we should have supported our local dealers more.

volvolugnut

Post by **matthew1** » 20 Feb 2024, 08:43

What. That's not good.

Post by **scot850** » 20 Feb 2024, 10:35

I have been rattling the cage of using dealers where you can for this reason. But now with the online parts sales by larger dealerships in the bigger cities, the smaller dealers no longer can compete. Some of it is still greed in my personal opinion. Overpriced servicing and parts.

I have tried to use my local dealers (we finally got a 2nd one after only one for 20+ years in a city of 1.5m). Unfortunately it is partially owned by the other dealership which removes competition. What pissed me off more was recently I wanted a part quickly, so contacted the local dealer, expecting to pay the MSRP on the part. Only to find out they were charging MSRP + 25% on the part!! That was over $50 more on a $100 MSRP part. The on-line dealer out east sold me the part for $75 and at the time the shipping was free on $75 and up. Sure I had to wait for 3-4 more days for the part was the downside.

I have talked to the 2 dealerships on ways to attract and retain customers but all they have done is increase the hourly rate from $160 to $200 CDN/hr. Oh, none of that went to the mechanics. Some of whom have had no increase in pay for over 4 years!

The suggestion to have some apprentices using the facility on evenings or weekends under the guidance of a master mechanic utilizing the empty facility during those times, working at lower hourly rates to attract older Volvos in the doors. Over time chances are the younger owners as they progress in life may buy newer Volvos and utilize the full dealership.

Selling on-line parts would increase their parts usage which reduces their cost on volumes of parts sold.

Nope the suggestions fall on deaf ears.

I seldom use the dealers now as I can do most of my own repairs still, and I now have the luxury of a friend and former dealer master mechanic that I can call on if needed.

Neil.

Post by **BlackBart** » 20 Feb 2024, 11:10

Yep...but for a recall you gotta use a dealer.

Last time I was in CO I rolled in the service door to see if they had a gap and could do it for an out-of-towner. They sort of smirked at me... "Um..we could get you in next month...."

Post by **matthew1** » 20 Feb 2024, 12:07

scot850 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2024, 10:35 I have been rattling the cage of using dealers where you can for this reason. But now with the online parts sales by larger dealerships in the bigger cities, the smaller dealers no longer can compete.

I'm starting to think more and more that the Internet was a mistake.... (and my whole career has been Internet).

Post by **abscate** » 24 Feb 2024, 05:49

It has been disruptive but by far it has stopped abuse of markets more than not.

Moving to Suffolk county, my dealer is 6 miles away. Pricy but good knowledge on P80s there, but even better is a Volvo Indy 15 minute walk away. These were the guys who dropped the Kat axle for 4 hours and did my fuel line. Munch Auto , Stony Brook

Post by **BlackBart** » 24 Feb 2024, 13:26

I used to drive a shortish distance to the old Bob Byers Ravenna Volvo (Seattle) just up the hill from UW campus and Husky Stadium. Saturday morning parts run for my 245. Great parts guys, they knew their stuff. Always open on Saturdays. Had their own body shop. That’s where I sat in the just-released 850 wagon and thought, Wow, do you think we could ever afford one of these?