Coach Guild wants to rent
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• Coach operators in the 21-strong Guild of British Coach Operators have told dealers and manufacturers that they want to rent coaches for next year rather than buy them.
The Guild, which includes leading operators such as Armchair, Len Wright Travel, Yorks, Premier of Cambridge and Grey Green, says that the present system of coach financing by hire-purchase or leasing is outdated, and its members have had enough of it.
They do not think operators should have to support the purchase of new coaches from their balance sheets and are asking for a short-term rental scheme similar to those operated on other commercial vehicles.
Guild spokesman Don Swinard, of Swinards of Ashford, said: "We are looking for the use of new coaches over an agreed period on a simple monthly rental scheme. And it is up to the market to cater for our needs".
He says that brand loyalty could be a thing of the past if a good rent-abus scheme gets off the ground. We are in the market for basic luxury coaches and executive coaches".
The Guild would like to hear from anyone interested in providing such a scheme, and says it is looking to place an order for around 100 vehicles if the right deal comes along.