Out of Sight—Out of Mind?
Page 59
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WITHIN the past Nw months, 1 haVe been more than " a little puzzled to find three vehicles of two nationally known manufacturing companies in dealers' yards. These lorries, I discovered, had been replaced by later models. Now, normally, 1 would not give a second glance at a "For sate "'notice on a vehicle, but When that vehicle happens to have the original owner's name, address, telephone number, type of goods sold and, in one case, the trade mark of a certain product, I am mbre than curious.
The danger of misrepresentation, of loss of prestige, of a hundred-and-one other undesirable features, iMITICcliately spring to mind. Fortunately, such happenings are the exception rather than the rule, but, as I have already pointed out, I can personally vouch for having seen two such eases. Perhaps I would not have noticed them so readily were it not for the fact that the organizations in question are both good customers of my company and their vehicles are frequently collecting valuable cargoes from our works.
The moral is plain enough, but I. feel it needs emphasis. Paint out such details when dispensing with vehicles. This is preferable to leaving the job to someone else; someone who may possibly fall down on the work. The expense of the painting involved will be more than offset in the long run.
Apart from the question of deleting the name, address, telephone number, class of goods, etc., I think it is worthwhile to give a vehicle a thorough change of " livery " if it is being sold; particularly if, as is so often the case, their drivers have been encouraged to drive courteously and to maintain a standard which sets one's "vehicles in a class of their own. The most disturbing factor about one of the lorries which I saw in its former " colours " is the fact that the fleet to which it formerly belonged has 'a reputation to be envied; in fact, it has been publicly commended by the authorities on many occasions.
Vehicles are a power for good on the road in many ways: In the wrong hands they can do irreparable damage to goodwill in just as many.
Southend-on-Sea. ' FITET MANAGER.