Blagging at Blogging
Regularity & Commitment Are Key Apparently…
I’ve neglected the Vansdirect.co.uk blog yet again… it’s been a month since my last post yet so much has happened in the van world. Lord Mandelson has extended the scrappage scheme and, what’s more, for vans he’s reduced the age of the qualifying old banger from 10 to 8 years - good news for those manufacturers who are in the merde - perhaps not such great news for independent van retailer everywhere.
Has the government thought this scrappage scheme through I wonder? It forces used car and van prices up - precluding those who can’t get finance from buying the standard of car or van they once could for a meagre fee.
It also acts as a crutch for inefficient companies - some manufacturers are selling off the back of this stunt yet they’re contribution towards the £2,000 has come from price increase after price increase. Indeed some manufacturers have put their prices up no less than 3 times in the last 6 months - give £1,000 scrappage but charge £3,000 more than 12 months ago - that’s a good money earner.
And what about the independent van and car retailers out there?! Overlooked? Considered unimportant? Deliberately pushed towards the scrap heap which is getting bigger every month? Who know’s what Lord Mandelson and his Labour brethren were thinking. The scheme places uneeded pressure on the independents and this squeeze needs to be considered.
Other News
LDV has finally sold off its assets. A Chinese company has purchased the Midlands based van company (presumably for next to nothing) with a view of turning the historic brand into a niche van maker - reducing factory capacity to low volumes and hence requiring fewer people. But, at least it will create or save 200 jobs.
