Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
Guava Changes Hands
Just had this email, I hope that Hunters don't ruin it, Guava has been the only decent place to get a car main dealer serviced for years.
Quote:
26th January 2016
Dear Sir
As we move into 2016, as well as wishing you a happy new year, I am writing to let you know of an exciting development for the Guava Service Centre. From the end of January, the business and premises will be operated by Hunters of Guildford, as part of Inchcape PLC.
You will know that the bulk of Guava’s business has been on the export side, managing a wide range of markets for Jaguar Land Rover across Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia – hence some of the odd specification vehicles on site from time to time. Regrettably JLR has now decided to dispense with the services we provide them in international export, which has required us to review the future direction of our business as a whole. Guava’s export operation will be continuing, with other car manufacturers as partners, but we have made the decision to sell the Astolat business and premises. The management team at Guava would like to express their sincere thanks for your patronage and support, and we are delighted that we have been able to secure a future for our hard working service centre team.
The good news for you is that – other than the name on the door – nothing will change. We will continue to provide the same level of service that is so widely appreciated by our customers, and you will still be greeted by the same friendly faces. The letterhead will be different, but we will continue to send you your MOT and service reminders and other correspondence as normal.
We look forward to seeing you at Astolat again soon.
Yours sincerely,
Will Leslie
Workshop Controller
Guava Service Centre, Astolat Business Park,
Peasmarsh, Guildford, GU3 1NE
Direct line: 01483 543724
Email: service@guavauk.com
DS3 TDV6 HSE - Silver with Alpaca (old one) Gone
DS3 TDV6 HSE- Silver with Alpaca (new one) Gone
D4 HSE Lux - Montalcino Red Gone
Porsche Cayenne V8 Diesel S
25th Jan 2016 4:48 pm
sacimiddx
Member Since: 09 Mar 2007
Location: hants
Posts: 2144
mmmm - not for the best I fearIllegitimi Non Carborundum
25th Jan 2016 4:50 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73085
Hopefully same peeps means same excellent attitude without some suit from Guildford pulling the strings. Prices might go up though. Anyone experience of Hunters?
25th Jan 2016 5:02 pm
crews control
Member Since: 18 Mar 2007
Location: Dorset
Posts: 5011
Yes... although some time ago, and they weren't a patch on Guava. I hope Will and the team do okay but I suspect it's bad news for customers. Such a shame...
25th Jan 2016 5:20 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73085
And apologies to Will, James, Charlotte & the workshop team for mot thinking this first but hopefully this doesn't affect any of the peeps that work there, bound to be a worrying time for them.
25th Jan 2016 5:27 pm
Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
I hope they want to stay as they very much make it what it is.DS3 TDV6 HSE - Silver with Alpaca (old one) Gone
DS3 TDV6 HSE- Silver with Alpaca (new one) Gone
D4 HSE Lux - Montalcino Red Gone
Porsche Cayenne V8 Diesel S
25th Jan 2016 5:29 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73085
Agreed.
25th Jan 2016 5:30 pm
saufboy
Member Since: 23 May 2013
Location: Cranleigh, Surrey
Posts: 328
Mine just come back from Guavas today, I agree with you all let's hope hunters don't balls it up.?D3 HSE 55 Reg
Bicycle with 2 pedals
25th Jan 2016 8:06 pm
rockcrawler
Member Since: 31 Oct 2012
Location: Ferring
Posts: 2884
Mine was there on Saturday and they assured me the only change will be the name. Everything else will stay the same. Let's hope so as they told me Hunters charge £140 per hour D3 Metropolis Bonatti Grey-Alpaca Leather-adaptive headlights-fridge-EGR blanking kit-Harmen Karden-Cruise-4x4 info enabled-Tinted Windows-Heated F&R Seats-Rosen rear Entertainment-LED'S everywhere -Smoked Side Repeaters-Rear Aircon-Vredestein Wintrac 4 Extreme-Puddle and Footwell Lamps-Stainless Steel Side Protection Tubes- NEW ASHTRAY ( thanks to dsd1036 )
Club BAS Remote FBH
Club MXS10 Ctek
Club Beanie Grill
Rear D4 Lamps
Geoff Gearbox Flush
BAS Remap
25th Jan 2016 8:54 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73085
Hope not!! That's the only concern at the mo.
25th Jan 2016 9:01 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73085
Just had a long chat with James and he's reassured me that it'll be business as usual. The MD at Hunters is looking to learn from them as to why they are #1 dealer so looking good. Fingers crossed the transition is painless.
26th Jan 2016 10:11 am
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26774
I do hope it does work out for them (and you)
My experience of Guy Salmon in Stockport is interesting. I can't say I have had bad service since they upgraded to a very posh showroom, and merged with the Jaguar dealership. What has changed is the relationship. Before the move I had a good knowledge of who I was dealing with, who to approach, and felt comfortable to just pop in and have a coffee.
Now it is all so much bigger, I don't get the same personal touch. Don't get me wrong, there are still people there from the old dealership who know me, and will always have the time for a chat. However everything is now much more of a sanitised process, and it seems that the staff are always ticking boxes to ensure they have said the right things, or shown me the correct documentation etc.
I have no complaints about the work, I just don't feel as inclined to stop and have a coffee. This is despite them having a posh coffee and cake bar, (free cakes!!)
26th Jan 2016 10:25 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73085
Free cakes!!!
Hopefully James reads this.
26th Jan 2016 10:27 am
sacimiddx
Member Since: 09 Mar 2007
Location: hants
Posts: 2144
DSL wrote:
Just had a long chat with James and he's reassured me that it'll be business as usual. The MD at Hunters is looking to learn from them as to why they are #1 dealer so looking good. Fingers crossed the transition is painless.
looks like the PR propaganda is underway then
IMHO Hunters Guildford might want to listen to a few of their own customers for a starting point, but it would appear they never really bothered in the pastIllegitimi Non Carborundum
26th Jan 2016 11:06 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73085
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but hopefully this doesn't affect any of the peeps that work there, bound to be a worrying time for them.
