When it comes to excellent customer service and sales consultants with a passion for the vehicle industry who are headed by an energetic enthusiastic sales manager, buying a pre-owned vehicle is like a walk in the park.
From personal experience on Friday, an interview with newly appointed Westvaal Polo-kwane G2 Sales Manager Mark Barnes ended four hours later in the proud ownership of a well looked after Isuzu KB300 double cab. All the worries of being approved by a bank, the trade on my Volkswagen Polo, insurance and affordability were out the door the moment all relevant details and documents were handed to the dealership. A pleasant experience indeed.
Barnes was recently welcomed at the G2 team and his passion not only for the industry but for people and potential customers is visible the moment you set foot on the premises. “I started my career in the client service centre industry and within three year promoted to centre management. I was offered a position at another corporate call centre where I managed to turn the centre into a smooth running machine, reaching targets consistently,” Barnes said.
His passion for cars turned him into the direction of the vehicle industry where he was appointed as sales executive at CMH Toyota in Melrose in 2012.
“I knew my passion was for cars and that selling skills would come naturally. After a year in the new vehicle sales industry I moved to Automark, Toyota’s pre-owned department where I was appointed a manager within a year,” Barnes said.
He was then offered the position at Westvaal Polokwane G2 and is excited to make some waves in the local market.
“The pre-owned industry is awesome. Every day comes with new challenges from the moment of evaluating a vehicle to the point of delivery. I enjoy solving problems and taking on challenges. Joining Westvaal was one of the biggest opportunities given to me and I would like to makes difference,” he said.
Talking about challenges Barnes said various factors contribute to the success of a pre-owned dealership. “No matter how good a vehicle looks on the exterior there are always a chance of the vehicle given mechanical problems which can cause the dealership a lot of money to repair. This challenge goes hand in hand with dishonest clients who would say that the vehicle they want to trade was for example not in an accident, but after the deal is done the dealership would discover that the vehicle was indeed. This result in high recon costs for a pre-owned dealership,” Barnes said.
He added that the economy plays a big part in any business and establishing a sales team zealous about the industry with a will to succeed and to deliver excellent customer services, remains a challenge.
What makes him more passionate about Westvaal G2 is the promise he can give clients.
This promise include that the vehicle has undergone a 114 point check; the mileage is true; the age of the vehicle does not exceed five years and the kilometre reading is less than 120 000 km; no evidence of structural damage was found on the vehicle; the vehicle was not stolen before and that vehicle has been serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Barnes invited potential buyers to visit their showroom at 86 Schoeman Street to view their variety of vehicles available. Call them on 015 297 2377.
RC Myburgh
>>rc.observer@gmail.com
