Prospective
buyers meet with salespeople at neutral tables
The
entrance boulevard on Highway PP is for customers only.
New Fords decorate the median and a sparkling vintage
Ford classic winks of progress at entrants to the dealership.
Inside
and outside of the new facility, lighting is the order
of the day. Sunlight and halogens warm up the white-tile
showroom floor and provide security and safety to the
lot and to the back-end of the dealership.
A
receptionist greets and directs customers and phone calls
through a silent pager system.
"All
the managers, all the salespeople, anybody that's taking
calls during the daytime, has a silent pager system on
their belt." said Burkart.
This,
he feels, shields both the customers and the employees
from the distracting interruptions of intercom paging.
A
customer waiting area is drenched in sunlight at the
base of a 20-foot-high glass wall. Amenities include
coffee and a 32 inch television with satellite dish.
Nearby,
another 20-foot-high glass wall towers over a customer
work station, where waiting customers can plug in their
laptops.
Still
in sight of the receptionist is a child's play area to
entertain children while their parents shop.
On
the showroom floor, amid the new cars, Burkart utilizes
a customer-friendly dealing area.
Instead
of seating customers at a salesman's desk, this "quad" of
tables divided by walls and plants provides neutral ground
for the customer and the salesman to negotiate. Its intent
is to make the process of car-buying less intimidating
for the customer.
All
office walls facing the showroom area are glass to allow
the business manager, sales managers and Burkart himself
to be in touch with the showroom at all times while still
allowing for private conversation.
In
fact, it is the hub of the facility, located almost in
the center to be accessible to all departments.
The
Dealership now offers computerized vehicle registration
and license plate purchasing.
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