But don’t just take out word for it, Mrs Caroline Ross of Ilkley recently purchased a Skoda Octavia from Edward Johnson (Otley) Ltd and received ‘Safe and Sound’ cover with her car.  Caroline comments: “I am delighted with my purchase, buying a car covered by the ‘Safe and Sound’ used car warranty scheme gave me absolute confidence in my decision.  Edward Johnson has a great reputation for quality used cars and the addition of the ‘Safe and Sound’ warranty gave me total trust in the vehicle we were buying.  It removed any doubts or worries we may have had, allowing us to enjoy our car without the fear of a huge repair bill in the future. I will definitely be returning to Edward Johnson for my next car with ‘Safe and Sound’ cover.”

 Over the past five months more than 1000 dealers filled out Car Dealer magazines online survey voting for the best suppliers to do business with.

The ‘Best Innovation’ award required car dealers to choose one company, product or service they thought had truly blown the competition away – the entries were plentiful but Safe and Sound used car warranty and customer satisfaction scheme from The WMS Group was voted their number one choice!  

James Baggot, Editor of Car Dealer described the WMS Group as “providing a truly exceptional service to their customers and always willing to help when needed”.

The awards presentation which was hosted by James Baggot and tv presenter Mike Brewer of  ‘Wheeler Dealer’ and ‘Deals on Wheels’ fame, took place at The Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth.  Eric Stone, Business Development Director of the WMS Group proudly accepted the awards for ‘Best Innovation’ and ‘Best Car Warranty’ on behalf of the company.

The WMS Group are really proud of all that they have achieved and would like to say a big THANK YOU to everybody who voted for us and all our loyal customers.

Motor TradeBook is designed, dedicated & developed specifically for the automotive industry for anyone involved in this sector or working in any area relating to the automotive trade. From selling vehicles to promoting automotive related services and products it is a great way to network and promote yourself and / or your business using the latest business and social media links.

Current Motor TradeBook members include Dealerships, Suppliers and Buyers, many reporting increased traffic to their own websites, and a boosting of their presence across the whole Social Media Platform, a useful tool to network and a very good place to advertise products and services.

“The ability to utilise Motor TradeBook as a dedicated Social Media Hub has caught the imagination of the Automotive Industry” say’s Motor TradeBook’s Alex Wright, “being able to post a product or service in one place and to have it distributed across many Social Media Platform’s such as Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin greatly increases visibility”.

“Developed based on feedback from the Automotive Industry the site offers the ability to list products and services rather than just vehicles through the ‘StockBook’ function. Many registered members regularly advertise other areas of their business such as sign writing, specialist engineering and accident repair”.

With some of the largest Automotive Companies already registered and increasing every day, Motor TradeBook now enables you to network, trade and keep up to date with what’s happening in the Automotive Industry.

Motor TradeBook is a pioneer in the development of innovative communication solutions dedicated to the Automotive Industry, expertise in information management  is delivered across the globe. To find out more, and sign up for free please visit www.motortradebook.com

If you are a used car, motorcycle or commercial vehicle dealer already using Motor TradeBook, please add the WMS Group: http://www.motortradebook.com/StephWMSGroup

Having been a supporter of BEN for many years, the WMS Group were delighted to be of assistance when the BEN team were looking for prizes for their raffles to be held at the summer fetes in June and July this year.

BEN is the automotive industry charity caring for those who work or have worked in the motor and allied trades and their close dependants in times of hardship or distress. Providing practical, emotional and financial support alongside financial grants, BEN help people who work in the manufacturing, sales and maintenance of cars, motorcycles, bicycles, commercial vehicles, caravans and agricultural machinery sectors alongside part suppliers. Additionally, they help people in insurance, leasing, recovery and logistics organisations as well as the petroleum and lubricants industries.

Like most charities, their day-to-day work is varied and therefore each project requires a different approach. This could mean that they’d help with the cost of specialist disabled equipment for your child, give emotional support through an illness or fund a respite break for you and your partner – helping in whatever way they can.

BEN also have four residential centres around the country, offering a range of services from nursing to end of life care. In addition, BEN owns and runs the UK’s first workplace day care centre, based in Coventry. Each of the centres provides high quality care so that they can continue to look after the elderly in the communities.

The summer fetes held at the care centres in Birch Hill, Berwick-on-Tweed (Sunday June 26^th) and Alexandra House, Southport (Saturday 23^rd July) are each expected to see around 200 people and all proceeds will go towards improvements and projects at the centres, an example of which includes the Birch Hill care centre, having an enclosed courtyard which could provide the perfect safe and secure outside space for residents once redeveloped. To support the fetes, the WMS Group have agreed to donate 2x Autoglym Red Valet Cases each with a retail price of over £60 each in Halfords.

Steph Colinswood, Marketing Manager of the WMS Group commented: “BEN already has a fantastic network of supporters, including Car Dealer magazine, Kwik-Fit, Autocar, RAC and the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), alongside the industry manufacturers and retailers. It costs approximately £11million each year for BEN to continue its vital work within the industries and it’s only because of the generosity of their supporters that they’re able to do so – the Valet Cases are just a little something from us which helps to show our support to such a worthy cause!”

Other donators have included FMG Fleet Management who have donated 2x rounds of golf or a lesson with pro golfer Dan Thomas, alongside Safefleet having provided two motoring safety kits.

For more information, please visit http://www.ben.org.uk/

I have spent the majority of my working life talking to car dealers of all shapes and sizes, and their aspirations and concerns are always centred on the same few questions. How can I increase my profitability? Where will the new generation of customers come from? Which warranty provider will help my business the most? How do I reduce costs? What can I do to increase workshop absorption? Who will help me to retain more custom­ers for the future? How can I introduce an effective and relevant marketing strategy? There is no one off fix for any of those questions and they all need to be reviewed on a regular basis.

That’s why the new and innovative protection programme from WMS called Safe and Sound can provide answers for all of these questions. There is an opportunity for you to become part of a network of specialist dealerships who can offer their customers the highest level of customer care and protection, increase profits and workshop activity, reach millions more customers through high level targeted media and endorsement from a trusted and recognised celebrity.

The Safe and Sound programme has been put together as a result of customer and dealer requirements from our research over the years. If we can tick the boxes for the main prerequisites for the discerning car buyer, including safety, value, authenticity and protection then we are half way there. If we can help to attract more customers to your dealership, provide a warranty that covers wear and tear and rescue and recovery, deliver quality dealer development and increase retention, advertise to millions of potential customers via website, Radio and Television with a highly visual endorsement by Sir Stirling Moss then we are already there. We won’t just look after your customers we will even help you to attract more. We have invested a considerable sum in the development of this programme and you can become one of a few Safe and Sound dealers if you are prepared to invest 15 minutes of your time to hear more about this fantastic opportunity.

To be a part of this new generation of dealership network and learn more about it, please call me, Eric Stone on 07789 682502.

www.safeandsound.co.uk

With the motorbike riding season well under way we can stop the headache of unexpected bills for mechanical and electrical failure from spoiling your exhilaration of the open road. Win one years’ worth of valuable peace of mind with warranty protection for your motorcyle from the UK’s favourite warranty company – ‘UVW’ part of the WMS Group.

Whether you’re planning to do serious miles, riding for pleasure or just looking to reduce the expense of associated breakdowns, UVW offers comprehensive motorcyle warranties for all makes up to 10 years old including Ducati, Kawasaki, Harley Davidson, Suzuki, KTM, Yamaha, BMW, Honda and Triumph.  Extensive cover is provided ranging from engine failure to the swinging arm unit, to electronics and much more according to the policy selected.   Additional benefits included are European cover, overnight accommodation and rail fare, renewal, transfer, car or motorcycle hire and vehicle recovery.

If you need to claim we have an approved repairer network and trained qualified engineers to guide you through every stage of the claims process.  An unlimited number of claims can be made on our warranty policies aggregate to the current retail value of the motorcycle and we do not apply an insurance excess as we believe that our policies should be straight-forward and cost effective.  The WMS Group now have over 75,000 satisfied current policy holders and offer hassle free service with a smile!

Even if you don’t win you can still save 10 per cent off a motorcycle warranty policy at UVW with our special code ‘SB1067’.  For full details, visit www.usedvehiclewarranty.co.uk   or call our friendly sales team FREE 0800 0213030

Prize valid for one year from date of policy inception.  

Please refer to website www. usedvehiclewarranty.co.uk for terms and conditions, liabilities and exclusions of policies offered

Please visit www.usedvehiclewarranty.co.uk and get a no-obligation car warranty quote in just 4 clicks from our website by clicking here! get it covered!

Two Harratts car dealerships in Barnsley are the latest to join the Safe and Sound network, providing complete satisfaction and peace of mind for car buyers.

Leading used car warranty firm WMS Group congratulate two Harratts car dealerships of Malt House Road, Barnsley in becoming part of the network of specialist dealerships to offer their new Safe and Sound programme.

The exceptional programme is designed solely with the car buyer in mind and includes a wear and tear 6 month all mechanical and electrical warranty^, 60 point vehicle inspection, 6 month recovery package, provenance check (HPI), mileage verification, independent valuation from the UsedCarExpert.co.uk and a dealer buy-back guarantee meaning that the dealer will guarantee to buy back the car, regardless of the age and mileage upon the purchase of another vehicle from them. This market leading, value added car warranty package is automatically included with EVERY vehicle sold by any of the Safe and Sound approved dealerships. Safe and Sound is the new way for consumers to buy their next car with complete confidence – safety checked, independently price checked and warranty protected…it takes away the ‘what if’s’ and doubts, allowing them to enjoy their car without the fear of huge repair bills in the future. The scheme will be limited to a select number of dealers with the aim of recruiting 150 Safe and Sound dealers in year one in the UK.

The scheme will be rolled out across Harratts Peugeot and Harratts used car site this week with a view to expanding into the Harratts’ Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault and Volvo dealerships in the near future. Terry Bramley, spokesperson for the Harratts franchise commented: “I am very excited about the launch of Safe&Sound at two of our Barnsley dealerships. For years I’ve been looking for a complete programme that focuses on customer satisfaction and retention, now I’ve found it. We all know that buying a car is a major investment and Safe&Sound offers our customers complete peace of mind. It’s a winning product for the motorist and the customer care package fits perfectly with the Harratts’ family values.”

The programme is endorsed by motor racing legend Sir. Stirling Moss OBE, who was renowned for his impressive Formula 1 victories back in the 1950’s and 60’s. Stirling commented: “I often get approached to put my name to products and services but when I was introduced to Safe and Sound I knew this was something that was valuable for the consumer… a car warranty programme that goes further and adds value – a product that is good for the car buyer and good for the industry. We all know buying a car is a big decision and this product brings with it peace of mind – removing those niggling doubts about safety, car history, real mileage and even if you’re paying a fair price. I am pleased to have my name associated with Safe and Sound; it’s a winning product for motorists in the UK.”

To add further value, Safe and Sound car buyers will get entered into a draw to win back the price of their vehicle up to £15,000 and Stirling Moss will personally draw the winners name at random from the Safe and Sound database in April 2012.

The WMS Group are currently recruiting dealerships nationwide that would like to become part of the Safe and Sound dealer network who want to offer this real customer care and satisfaction protection scheme. Safe and Sound will be advertised on the radio and SKY television later in the year. To find out more information about the scheme, visit www.safeandsoundcars.com.

^Wear and tear applies to vehicles up to 6 years and 60,000 miles at the policy inception date that have not exceeded 85,000 miles at the time of claim. A support product is available for vehicles which have exceeded these parameters. Please note that service items are specifically excluded.

Newhall Cars become the first Safe and Sound dealer in the North of England.

Leading used car warranty firm WMS Group congratulate Newhall Cars of Caldy Road, West Kirby in becoming part of the network of specialist dealerships offering their new Safe and Sound package.

The exceptional Safe and Sound programme is designed solely with the car buyer in mind and includes a wear and tear 6 month all mechanical and electrical warranty^, 60 point vehicle inspection, 6 month recovery package, provenance check (HPI), mileage verification, independent valuation from the UsedCarExpert.co.uk and a dealer buy-back guarantee meaning that the dealer will guarantee to buy back the car, regardless of the age and mileage upon the purchase of another vehicle from them.

Nick Marrs, General Manager of Newhall Cars commented: “We were pleased to be the first dealer that was offered the Safe and Sound scheme as it fits perfectly with the profile of our business. At Newhall, we have always prided ourselves on providing an excellent service and a high quality product.  Safe and Sound has enabled us to formalise the standards that our customers have grown to expect.”

The programme is endorsed by motor racing legend Sir. Stirling Moss OBE, who was renowned for his impressive Formula 1 victories races back in the 1950’s and 60’s. Stirling commented: “I often get approached to put my name to products and services but when I was introduced to Safe and Sound I knew this was something that was valuable for the consumer… a car warranty programme that goes further and adds value – a product that is good for the car buyer and good for the industry. We all know buying a car is a big decision and this product brings with it peace of mind – removing those niggling doubts about safety, car history, real mileage and even if you’re paying a fair price. I am pleased to have my name associated with Safe and Sound; it’s a winning product for motorists in the UK.”

To add further value, Safe and Sound car buyers will get entered into a draw to win back the price of their vehicle up to £15,000 and Stirling Moss will personally draw the winners name at random from the Safe and Sound database in April 2012.

Safe and Sound will be advertised on the radio and SKY television later in the year. To find out more information about the scheme, visit www.safeandsoundcars.com

^Wear and tear applies to vehicles up to 6 years and 60,000 miles at the policy inception date that have not exceeded 85,000 miles at the time of claim. A support product is available for vehicles which have exceeded these parameters. Please note that service items are specifically excluded.

Tesco launches a used car retailing service that will sell ex-fleet stock direct to consumers.

The supermarket giant’s plans for used car retailing has been the subject of speculation for months and its business builds on the established Carsite.co.uk infrastructure. Automotive Management’s (AM Online) sister title Fleet News revealed that Tesco had been in discussion with Carsite.co.uk for 18 months before the official launch in April.

Tesco will continue to source cars from ex-fleet and short-cycle rental stock, although with access to 16 million Tesco Clubcard holders, there is potential for significant growth over sales achieved to date by Carsite (less than 10,000 since its launch in 2006). Tesco Cars will advertise up to 3,000 cars every week with fresh stock added to the website daily, offering a range of models between six months and three years old. Vehicles are sold as ‘buy it now’ – available immediately – or ‘pre-order’ – about to be returned to the vendor by the current user and typically available a month after the point of reservation.

Cars will be sold with a no-quibble seven-day money-back guarantee, and for additional peace of mind, HPI checked and a month’s warranty. A range of Tesco financial services including car insurance will be offered at the point of sale and buyers will receive 2,000 Clubcard points for each car purchase. Tesco customers will be able to choose after-sales servicing support from a nationwide network of about 1,000 independent garages operating through an arrangement with National Service Network (NSN) and providing servicing and general vehicle repairs up to 30% cheaper than franchise dealers.

Daksh Gupta, Marshall Motor Group chief executive, does not believe Tesco entering into the used car market poses a serious threat to franchised dealers. He told AM: “I have a lot of respect for Tesco as one of the best, if not the best retailer out there, but we have to remember that there are six million used cars sold every year in the UK. Clearly Tesco will take some market share but there is enough room for both to operate.”

Gupta said Tesco Cars’ balance of manufacturer or one month warranty, a single collection site in Birmingham, no test drives and no part-exchanges could be a concern for some customers, but there would always be some buyers where those issues would not be a problem. He added: “Tesco is offering a totally different proposition to what a franchised dealer can offer and there will be some customers who will be happy with it. The Tesco brand will give customers a lot of comfort and ultimately it will be the customer that decides where they want to spend their money as well as what level of service they want. I sincerely wish Tesco Cars all the very best with their new business venture and I hope they make a success of it – there is enough room for all good retailers who put the customer first.”

Sir Trevor Chinn, chairman of Tesco Cars, said: “When buying a used car, consumers want to know they can trust the information supplied, that they are getting value for money and a good product, all supported by good customer service. Importantly they also want to be able to take their time to make the right purchase for them. By marrying these principles, the success of the Tesco brand, and the transparent and unpressured online sales environment, we believe we will be delivering a positive new experience for today’s car buyer.”

Andrew Higginson, CEO of retailing services at Tesco, said: “Trust, value and service are at the heart of the Tesco Cars experience. The range of models – from electric cars designed for the city to family-sized MPVs – is immense.

By supplying directly to customers, they can be sure they are getting the best value out there. And we will say ‘thank you’ with 2,000 Clubcard points which can be redeemed for goods, services and rewards in the usual way.”

Source: AM Online

In response to the article, the WMS Group say that their Safe&Sound scheme was created with the used car buyer firmly in mind, following their research which showed that the top three things that buyers looked for were safety, value for money and reliability. It comprises seven valuable elements – a 6 month all mechanical and electrical warranty including wear and tear^, a combined mileage verification and provenance check (HPI), 6 months rescue and recovery, independent valuation from the UsedCarExpert.co.uk, a 60 point safety inspection and a dealer buy-back promise. Safe&Sound was originally designed as a programme for the independent used car dealerships to bring confidence and satisfaction to their customers, on a level that would be expected from a main dealer. Steph Colinswood, WMS Group marketing manager commented: “What we anticipate is that our Safe&Sound dealer network will become trusted faces of the used car industry and car buyers will want to buy from one of ours knowing that their next vehicle will be Safe, so they will have made a Sound investment. It is the ultimate in customer care, service and satisfaction.”

^Wear and tear cover applies to vehicles up to 6 years and 60,000 miles at the time of purchase that have not exceeded 85,000 miles at the time of claim. WMS Five Star will be issued to vehicles up to 10 years and 100,000 miles.

The WMS Group are delighted to announce the launch of the Safe and Sound scheme – an exceptional seven element programme for quality used cars designed to create real consumer confidence and add value.

Eric Stone, WMS Group business development director commented: “Safe and Sound has been designed with the used car buyer in mind – until now, there was no other programme like this available to customers of the independent car dealerships. The research we conducted showed us that the top three things that car buyers looked for were safety, value for money and reliability – Safe and Sound was developed to cover these requirements, plus take care of those additional worries such as whether the mileage is correct and if breakdown cover is provided. Buying a car can be a worry for buyers – which dealer can they trust, will they be paying a fair price, does it come with a warranty and if so, what does it cover? Being a Safe and Sound dealership will give the consumer a reason to buy from you. We have committed to a six figure investment for Safe and Sound which will include local and national marketing platforms such as TV and radio advertising later in the year.”  

The Safe and Sound programme includes a wear and tear 6 month all mechanical and electrical warranty^, 60 point vehicle inspection, 6 month recovery package, providence check (HPI), mileage verification, independent valuation from the Used Car Expert and a dealer buy-back guarantee. This market leading, value added car warranty package is automatically included with EVERY vehicle sold by one of the Safe and Sound approved dealerships. Safe and Sound is the new way for consumers to buy their next car – safety checked, independently price checked and warranty protected…it takes away the ‘what if’s’ and doubts, allowing them to enjoy their car without the fear of a huge repair bill in the future. The WMS Group are currently recruiting dealerships nationwide that would like to become part of the Safe and Sound network who want the opportunity to stand out from the next dealer by offering their customers something completely different. The scheme will be limited to a select number of sites with the aim of recruiting 150 Safe and Sound dealers in year one.

The scheme is endorsed by motor racing legend Sir. Stirling Moss OBE, who was renowned for his impressive Formula 1 victories back in the 1950’s and 60’s. Stirling commented: “I often get approached to put my name to products and services but when I was introduced to Safe and Sound I knew this was something that was valuable for the consumer…a car warranty programme that goes further and adds value – a product that is good for the car buyer and good for the industry. We all know buying a car is a big decision and this product brings with it peace of mind – removing those niggling doubts about safety, car history, real mileage and even if you’re paying a fair price. I am pleased to have my name associated with Safe and Sound; it’s a winning product for motorists in the UK.”

To add further value, Safe and Sound car buyers will get entered into a draw to win back the price of their vehicle up to £15,000 and Stirling Moss will personally draw the winners name at random from the Safe and Sound database in April 2012.

Matt Tumbridge, editor of UsedCarExpert.co.uk added: “Safe & Sound brings main dealer-level quality control and peace of mind to the mass market. UsedCarExpert.co.uk’s research shows that people know they pay more at main dealers, but do so because of the peace of mind that the checks, inspections and warranty give. Well now, when they see the Safe & Sound flags on the forecourt of an independent dealer, they know they are going to get the same peace of mind there too.”

To find out more information about the scheme, contact Eric Stone on 07789 682502 or visit www.safeandsoundcars.com

^Wear and tear applies to vehicles up to 6 years and 60,000 miles at the policy inception date that have not exceeded 85,000 miles at the time of claim. A support product is available for vehicles which have exceeded these parameters. Please note that service items are specifically excluded.

Portfolio Display is a well-established manufacturer of display products for the automotive and promotional industry. Products include a wide range of point of sale solutions for car dealerships looking to promote their new and used cars. Clients include car manufacturers, motor groups, franchise and independent car dealers. Customers also include car warranty and finance companies that provide point of sale to their network of dealerships.

The latest catalogue is their largest to date with over 120 pages, packed full of various display products. It can either be requested via their website or viewed online as a virtual catalogue by going to: http://www.portfolio-display.co.uk/html/free_catalogue.htm

The layout for this year’s catalogue has been improved due to the larger size, which makes it easier to follow than previous editions. Rob Walker, Marketing Director explains, “A lot of effort has gone into the content and layout for this years catalogue. We wanted to make it the best in the industry and as easy to follow as possible for our clients. I am confident that our customers will love reading through their new catalogue”.

Portfolio Display has added new products for 2011, which includes a new Branding Flagpole and Totem information stand. Other products include the self-fastening key tags for vehicle stock control and a deluxe vehicle-pricing unit, which takes a printed A4 sheet.

So far the new catalogue has been extremely well received from customers. Portfolio Display would gladly welcome any feedback from readers on their new catalogue.

To see more information on this company please go to www.portfolio-display.co.uk or email sales@portfolio-display.co.uk.

According to Roger Woodward, managing director of leading online auction company, CD Auction Group, dealers will need to be more selective about the vehicles they buy for stock, especially as major vendors such as fleet operators will be under pressure to hold onto cars for longer.

“We think 2011 is going to prove challenging in the used car market for both fleet vendors and traditional trade buyers such as car supermarkets and dealer groups,” said Woodward. “There is no doubt there is going to be a continuing shortage of good quality, retailable stock and that means auction values will be strong for the right vehicles.But retailers will be cautious about over-paying for stock because consumer demand is uncertain while fleet operators wanting to ‘cash-in’ are likely to be held back by their finance departments. Customers, both wholesale and retail, will be looking for bargains. We expect the end result to be a widening at auction of the value gap between good quality, read-to-retail stock and average cars. Dealers will need to be aware there is a limit to how much a customer is prepared to pay for a vehicle, especially in difficult economic times.”

“Canny dealers used to buy at the end of December in order to take advantage of rising prices in the early months of the new year but I think they will be more cautious this Christmas. The VAT rise in January means they will have to absorb a 2.5% price increase on most cars sold at auction or raise their forecourt prices and we think many will stick on their hands or only bid for bargains. Vendors need to be realistic and take the money that’s on offer if they want to see their cars sold before Christmas. That creates a buying opportunity. The uncertainty in the market is likely to continue through January but it is stock shortages that will create the greatest imbalance in 2011, said Woodward. “You have got to remember that, by mid-2008, many fleets had simply stopped buying new cars. These vehicles should be coming to the used market in 2011 and they would have been the bread and butter of the used car forecourt.”

CD Auction Group is already seeing a rise in the average age of vehicles it sells from some of the UK’s major trade vendors through its online auctions. The average age in 2008 was 35 months; in 2009 that stretched to 37 months and, in 2010, the average age of cars sold is 41 months.

Source: http://www.am-online.com/news/story/?nID=42903081

The core products available from the WMS Group include affordable warranty and dealer guarantee warranty cover for all cars, motorcycles and LCV’s of any age or mileage and a combined GAP/RTI product for all cars up to 10 years old. These are supported by products such as MOT cover, Rescue and Recovery and Wheel and Tyre Insurance designed to protect you and your customers from expensive repair bills.

The WMS Group has grown significantly since the end of 2009 with a dealer base now exceeding 3,000 independent and franchised dealers.  Our mission is simple: we make you money; help you retain customers and we pay all authorised claims in 24 hours – and these are just some of the reasons why we are known as the UK’s favourite warranty company. To find out more, contact Eric Stone on 07789 682502.