R1200RS + R1250RS Forum
Print view
Thu Oct 11, 2018 10:13 pm
|
|
It has been rumoured for some time as some staff have left etc. |
reply
|
Fucking hell - that's the worst news I've heard in a long time. Riders have given me great service since I bought my F800ST from them 10 years ago. Who are M&P?
Bridgestone 175 Hurricane Scrambler - Royal Enfield 250 Crusader - Norton Atlas 750 (two) - 25 years - F800ST - F800GT - R1200RS
|
|
|
|
Zitat von Yoda im Beitrag #2 M&P are a Swansea based company - you must've seen their catalogues in the motorcycling press. They have a massive mail order and wholesale business. For many years they were not into retailing bikes but have been taking on franchises in the last few years, initially in Swansea but seem to be expanding eastwards now. They also own the Busters mail order business. https://www.mandp.co.uk/ |
|
Thanks Wessie. I'm pretty pissed off with this, as are (I guess) the guys in Riders with whom I have a great relationship (I haven't been in to see them yet, it's been a bit damp...)
Bridgestone 175 Hurricane Scrambler - Royal Enfield 250 Crusader - Norton Atlas 750 (two) - 25 years - F800ST - F800GT - R1200RS
|
|
|
|
Zitat von Yoda im Beitrag #5 No, I am just confirming the closure. I have no inside information on the reasons why Riders have a) lost the BMW franchise and b) decided to close the Cardiff branch with the remaining Ducati & Harley brands. They will retain these 2 brands at their head office in Somerset. Whether Riders pulled out or whether BMW pulled the plug I have no idea. There is speculation on UKGSer that operating 3 franchises from 1 outlet is counter to the BMW ethos. BMW has not had much luck with a franchise in South Wales. In the 1990s it was with South Wales Superbikes in Newport, then has been with 3 different outlets in Cardiff. The first one didn't last long (possibly ran by Fowlers, can't remember), then Rydale opened a shiny single dealership around 2001 selling cars & bikes. Sytner took over that business in 2007 and binned the bikes. Riders came along with a BMW/Ducati dealership and at some point introduced Harley. Whether this upset BMW I have no idea but if you look about, they are quite ruthless if dealers do not adopt the corporate branding let alone meet sales expectations. They have obviously done a deal with M&P to get a franchise in Swansea as this has opened, and it seems M&P have plans to open a new outlet in Cardiff. They have put in plans but do not have permission granted yet to occupy a vacant site - this was previously a manufacturing site and planners might be reluctant to let it become retail. If they get a go ahead it will effectively be 3 separate businesses. Speculation on UKGSer states it will be a BMW showroom one end, a Harley the other end and a café in the middle. Even if planning permission is granted, with winter soon upon us, it will be a long time before Cardiff will have a BMW franchise. |
|
Hmm...as far as I know the Cardiff Riders didn't stock Harleys, but they had a few used ones there. Just BMW downstairs and Ducati upstairs. If no new dealership emerges then Cardiff will have only 1 new bike outlet, a Triumph dealer. Crazy for the capital city of a country with superb biking roads
Bridgestone 175 Hurricane Scrambler - Royal Enfield 250 Crusader - Norton Atlas 750 (two) - 25 years - F800ST - F800GT - R1200RS
|
|
|
The point regarding BMW not likeing mixed franchises is probably why Chester Motorrad are currently building a large extension to allow the BMW franchise to have a completely separate showroom with its own entrance (currently you gain access to BMW by stairs within the Harley showroom and I don’t think BMW like people walking past a competitors machines) |
|
|
|
Zitat von Sideshow Bob im Beitrag #8 BMW want to sell you every lifestyle product they can, hence the massive investment in Cheltenham. A 3 storey building with basement service centre. Everything from pushbikes to supercars on one site including the Mini sub-brand. Then there's the clothing, holidays and of course finance products which are key to tie you to the brand. |
|
|
Zitat von Yoda im Beitrag #7 I lived in Cardiff from 2002-05 and it is odd that the main dealers of Japanese bikes are elsewhere in the Province (not country). All are 20-30 minutes away, along the M4 corridor. South Wales Superbikes (now CMC) for Yamaha & Kawasaki in Newport, Thunderoad in Cwmbran & Bridgend for Honda & Suzuki, JT for Yamaha in Bridgend and GTS in Pontyclun also Kawasaki. Although, from my home in Roath, I could be in Newport almost as quick as I could get to Hadfield Road! |
|
Long before South Wales Superbikes the bike shop in Newport was called Memory failing name escapes me. I remember going there to buy some extended ticklers for my Amal concentrics. The Honda dealer used to be based in City Road, just up from BSA House, where Tony the spares man had parts for just about any British bike, and boy did we need them. Ah those were the days...but we digress.
Bridgestone 175 Hurricane Scrambler - Royal Enfield 250 Crusader - Norton Atlas 750 (two) - 25 years - F800ST - F800GT - R1200RS
|
|
|
Well the story I hear is that they've been screwed over by BMW. Opening an M&P franchise in Swansea whilst simultaneously upping Riders' profit target by 50% just sent them to the wall.
Bridgestone 175 Hurricane Scrambler - Royal Enfield 250 Crusader - Norton Atlas 750 (two) - 25 years - F800ST - F800GT - R1200RS
|
|
|
|
Zitat von Yoda im Beitrag #12 BMW is a hard task master. As ever, they will have an alternative viewpoint about Riders not wanting to toe the corporate business model. We had a similar thing in Gloucestershire with a long standing franchise in Stroud called BVM. Around the turn of the century BMW wanted them to upgrade the showroom and stock every model. BVM chose not to go down that route and they survive as a small family business specialising in trials bikes. The company that came into Gloucestershire, Cotswold, has supped at the corporate tit since 1995 with cars and about 15 years for bikes. They now have a massive business with brand new showrooms at each location. Whether they make much money with all of the investment made is another thing, but they are presenting the image that BMW wants. It's a very successful business model as BMW are bucking the trend in bike sales. |
|
Apparently, M&P is only opening Harley in Cardiff (for the time being anyway). They've not got a massive place in Swansea now with Harley, Kawasaki, BMW, KTM, Honda, Husquavarna, Can-AM and in April they've got Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Vespa and Piaggio opening too. |
|
|
|
Zitat von isaac hunt im Beitrag #14 I read on UKGSer they have had planning problems so are they opening using the existing building? Original plans were for a redevelopment with 2 franchises with a central atrium holding a cafe and reception |
