Vehicles Made as Good as New O NE of the largest
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service stations %-/devoted to a single make of vehicle —the Austin—is that of The Car Mart, Ltd. It is at the Welsh Harp, Edgware Road, Hendon, London, N.W.9. and we visited this during the company's special Austin service week.
Practically half the works is given over to commercial vehicles, which are repaired on the line system. The company specializes in fleet service for operators. The usual arrangement is for the latter to do their own weekly maintenance, and for vehicles to be sent to The Car Mart for monthly attention. Advice is given to users regarding what is required daily and weekly, and they are told what is done Monthly. The vehicles concerned also receive a more extensive quarterly treatment.
It is considered that service in these days counts almost more than sales. There is a special receptionist who is responsible for progressing the vehicles right through, so that an inquirer can be informed immediately as to when his vehicle will be available. Another progress man deals with outside bodywork repairs, as not many in this class are carried out by the company. Considerable use is made of the unitexchange system.
As regards used vehicles, each sold is given a three months' complete guarantee, and we learned with interest that the company often spends as much as £150 on a vehicle in respect of the mechanical side alone, so that the result will be satisfactory. Repaired vehicles are turned out looking practically as good as new, and those we inspected had a first-class finish. Each had two coats of varnish, the first being of synthetic. The lettering was of a particularly high standard.
This week a similar Austin service demonstration is being staged by Shaw Motors, Ltd., 666-678, Garrett Lane, London, S.W.I7. This will no doubt be a convenient centre for many who may have missed the previous show. The sales director is Mr. J. N. Mellor.