Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Ironingboard on 05 February 2008, 13:44:28

Title: Trade Club Membership Questions
Post by: Ironingboard on 05 February 2008, 13:44:28
I'm unsure if this is the right area for this question but I've read elsewhere on the forum that if I join Autobahnstormers I get some kind of trade card.

Is this the same one that the trade club uses or is it a Autobahnstormers club card that some VX's dealers accept and give trade club prices for?

Can someone provide more details to how I use this card if/when I get it and who accepts it?

I can just see my local Edinburgh VX stealers say Autobahn.... who and then laughing me out the parts department  when trying to get trade prices :-[

Thanks
Title: Re: Trade Club Membership Questions
Post by: Jimbob on 05 February 2008, 13:50:41
You get an Autobahnstormers card, which has the Vauxhall Trade Club details on the back.

Clubs that have VBOA (Vauxhall Beford Opel association) affiliation get complimentary trade club membership for all their members,  The club then hands out the details, not a genuine trade club card to all the members.

I have used this card at 3 dealers, all perfectly happy with it, Trade club prices on all trade club items, small discount on everything else.

not every dealer accepts it, they are listed at www.tradeclub.co.uk

well worth having! Saves a small fortune!



I'm sure one of our Scottish members will have used the same card at the same dealer....Expect confirmation if they read this....
Title: Re: Trade Club Membership Questions
Post by: hotel21 on 05 February 2008, 13:54:00
I've certainly used my ABS card at Arnold Clarkes in Fife, no reason why an Arnolds VX, Peter Vardy or similar over your way wouldn't either....   :y
Title: Re: Trade Club Membership Questions
Post by: Ironingboard on 05 February 2008, 14:00:40
Thanks for the info, it's nice to hear. Wasn't looking forward to shelling out a load of money for a new timing belt kit, water pump, HBV, rocker cover gaskets and other assorted bits and bobs.

How long does Autobahnstormers take to process a membership application?
Title: Re: Trade Club Membership Questions
Post by: Jimbob on 05 February 2008, 14:05:48
Despite paying by cheque.....

I had my pack within 3 days of posting the application form, this seems very typical!

Excellent service!
Title: Re: Trade Club Membership Questions
Post by: hotel21 on 05 February 2008, 14:10:50
Yup, a couple of days.  If you catch this evenings post, chances are you will have a card back by Friday...     :y
Title: Re: Trade Club Membership Questions
Post by: Bandit127 on 05 February 2008, 19:17:27
I posted my application to ABS (with cheque) yesterday. I will let you know when it arrives...

Jim
Title: Re: Trade Club Membership Questions
Post by: less on 05 February 2008, 22:42:31
I too paid by cheque and I think the card, magazine etc was here in 2 days! (Had saved more than the membership fee by 2 x days after that!)

Very quick return  :y
Title: Re: Trade Club Membership Questions
Post by: Bandit127 on 06 February 2008, 18:41:24
Quote
I posted my application to ABS (with cheque) yesterday. I will let you know when it arrives...

I am an Autobahnstormer! Application went in first post on Monday and I got the pack today. Amazing service  :y

Jim
Title: Re: Trade Club Membership Questions
Post by: Richard A on 06 February 2008, 19:20:58
Member of Autobahnstormers for two years, great value for £20, but not all items are 'trade club' price, but a discount should be possible on most parts.
regards
richard
Title: Re: Trade Club Membership Questions
Post by: Ironingboard on 12 February 2008, 14:45:48
well so much for getting discount prices from VX in Edinburgh with a Autobahnstormer membership card.

I'm planning to change the HBV and rocker gaskets this weekend, so I went in to my local VX dealer in Edinburgh with my new Autobahnstormer membership card and letter to get the various bits I needed .

The guy behind the parts desk looked at the card laughed a bit and said "It's not even a real trade card you get nothing with that", I even offered my Autobahnstormer letter which says any trade problems, etc contact so and so. He wasn't interested and then proceeded to quote £100 not inc VAT for HBV and gaskets only.

Full price for coolent, oil, etc. No 10% and certainly no Trade card discount.

I feel like a right fu*king idiot.  >:(

Spoke to someone else in the dealership regarding this and they said the tw*t at the parts desk is the person who deals with trade cards, etc.

Now what the hell am I gonna do :-/

Title: Re: Trade Club Membership Questions
Post by: alexandjen on 12 February 2008, 14:55:21
Sorry to here about your spot of bother with a muppet, I haven't got my TC card yet and only hope I get better treatment than that.

You could ask this guys advice as he works in the parts dept at Vauxhall.

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?action=viewprofile;username=andyc

He will post you the parts at TC prices if need be, very helpfull chap  :y

Edit:  In the meantime I would contact ABS and explain the situation as maybe they could contact the Vx dealer and resolve your problem.

Edit 2: Was it one of these dealers? Both of which are listed on the TC website...............

2 results for Edinburgh.


 Belmont

25 Seafield Road East
Edinburgh
Edinburgh, EH15 1ED
 
Parts Tel: 0131 527 2991
Parts Fax: 0131 527 2995
email: Pmagson@jmgroup.co.uk
 
  
 Evans Halshaw

2 Cultins Road
Off Calder Road
Sighthill Ind Est
Edinburgh
Edinburgh, EH11 4DL
 
Parts Tel: 0131 453 2299
Parts Fax: 0131 4535999
email: dave.spalding@pendragon.uk.com
 
  
Title: Re: Trade Club Membership Questions
Post by: Ironingboard on 12 February 2008, 15:14:35
Yeah it was the Evens Halshaw one, I get bits from there all the time. Looks like they don't value there frequent customers..... B**T**DS  

>:(
Title: Re: Trade Club Membership Questions
Post by: PaulW on 12 February 2008, 15:20:58
In all fairness I've only ever had gripes with Evans Halshaw.  The have the Ford dealership near me, and when trying to sort bits out for the Focus there always being arsey about it and trying to sell me stuff I know for a fact it doesn't need.

Never had issues with any Arnold Clarke VX dealers tho :)
Title: Re: Trade Club Membership Questions
Post by: Ironingboard on 12 February 2008, 15:36:54
Well there is only 2 near me in Edinburgh there's a belmont vx and evans halshaw. The belmont one is the other side of the city and takes me ages to get there. Difficult to do in a lunch time.  

The Evans one is ok if I get the usual guy who sells me parts. Always puts through a %10 discount whenever I buy parts, so the guy is 1st class. But I guess its the lesser of 2 evils since I've heard a lot of bad things about both dealers in general.
Title: Re: Trade Club Membership Questions
Post by: ians on 12 February 2008, 16:37:59
I have heard this several times about the ABS card - if the dealer has not seen it before it may take some perserverance but you'll get there in the end.    Have you tried the dealer management or ABS themselves?
Title: Re: Trade Club Membership Questions
Post by: x25xe on 12 February 2008, 16:50:29
My local dealer started to accept the card (but only after production of the  slip that came with the card).  All was well for a few months and I then went there to stock up on oil and filters and was told that it was off the system, the card was no longer valid (which it was) and not to bother trying to use it again (not the exact words but it was what they meant).

There is another dealer that I know accepts the card but that is in Slough, which is quite a distance (the dealer above is a 10 minute walk up the road).

It is all academic as I lost my ABS card when I was mugged in December so waiting for a new one which will arrive (I hope) early April.

It would appear that these cards are not as compatible with the dealers as would first appear......
Title: Re: Trade Club Membership Questions
Post by: Ironingboard on 12 February 2008, 16:54:32
I asked to speak to someone who deals with the trade club, but was told that the parts department is the people to speak to.

Thing that really annoyed me was the fact that I've spend hundreds of £'s on bits for my Omega at this dealership. The t**t who served me knows I'm in there all the time.

But rather than take pity on my constant buying of parts at full retail price and helping me to finally save some cash to keep their former flag ship model on the road, he decides that today is the day that he goes on a power trip and picks on the guy who is their f'in numero uno customer and makes him feel like some stupid idiot in front of a group of other people who were waiting for bits.

Man I'm so cheesed off, I should have jumped over that counter and tore him a new one.  >:( and then said to anyone watching "that’s what happens when they run out of furry dice"
Title: Re: Trade Club Membership Questions
Post by: shyboy on 12 February 2008, 17:23:33
My local Vx main dealer doesn't accept TC so I have to go to Ormskirk, a 10 mile trip. No problems there at all and they're more than helpful when I ring to pre-order parts, which minimises the trips I have to make. I also get a 15% trade discount on non TC items.
Doesn't the TC website list those dealers who are in the scheme? I'm afraid it's the dealers' option whether they participate or not.
Title: Re: Trade Club Membership Questions
Post by: Ironingboard on 12 February 2008, 17:30:45
the Evens Halshaw in Edinburgh accepts TC but the guy gave me grief when I showed my Autobahnstormer card and wouldn't give me any discount on items which were not on TC.
Title: Re: Trade Club Membership Questions
Post by: hotel21 on 12 February 2008, 18:19:42
I would suggest that you contact ABS as per the covering letter that came with the card.  They can then get in touch with their Vauxhall contact who in turn can advise your local dealer.  I know it takes time, but it can be satisfying to reappear at some future time and get the recalcitrant parts person to eat humble pie after getting hole poled by his boss.....