Salvage Companies Deliveries - Essay Example

Research into Salvage Companies Deliveries Bluecycle limited (ltd) is an organization which established its website in 2000, and has expanded ever since. Bluecycle has a policy of storing the vehicle for 10 days after a bidder wins. The customer has to collect the vehicle from the yard. However, there is a possibility for customers to form and agreement with the salvage partners to get the vehicle delivered. This is of great advantage to the customers and to the salvage partners. Customers, who live far, benefit by getting their purchased vehicle at their homes. Further more, they get about 15 minutes to inspect the product, which makes the entire process of great convenience to the customer. Additionally, the firm benefits as a lot of customers get attracted to this offer. Besides, firm may also benefit as it will not need to stock it for long, hence space would be free for other activities. There are other firms which operate in the same industry and offer auction services and delivery services. Being competitors, Bluecycle needs to be aware of competitors’ delivery services, their terms and conditions and the prices they charge. Thus, this paper discusses all these pointers. Furthermore, it stresses on the Copart Company, which is one of the biggest rivals of Bluecycle in this industry. This too is an established organization. Other firms, operating in the same industry and offering delivery services, include Holding and Barnes Plc (HBC), RideSafely and ASM auto recycling. Company Service Cost Normal T+C Other T+C Bluecycle.com Ltd x x 1. Customer must collect vehicle within 10 days of winning the bid. 2. Bidders get 15 minutes to inspect the car when collecting. N/A Copart x x x x Ridesafely Delivery x 1. Get 15 minutes to inspect the car on delivery. 2. Shipping done by an affiliated company. 1. Complaint can be registered within 7 calendar days of delivery. 2. Get credit on the next purchase for the damage. ASM Readily available in limited areas. N/A x x HBC Delivery £1 vat with £25min x x HBC had been trading since 1959, and is a firmly established salvage organization. This firm provides delivery of vehicles to its customers. Although there are no defined terms and conditions of delivery, it is obvious that as the firm itself provides the service, it also ensures safe delivery. Further more, it charges delivery amount depending on the type of vehicle and the place where it is being delivered. Approximately, £1 per mile + VAT with a £25 minimum (Holding and Barnes Plc, web). Ridesafely operates on global level, and it auctions automobiles. It also offers customers the service of transportation at a global scale. Ridesafely is affiliated with a transport and shipping company known as Haulmatch.com. As ridesafely delivers as national and international levels, the prices vary according to the location. Due to its affiliation with the shipping and Transport Company, Ridesafely can be contacted and a complaint registered if the car delivered has more scratches or is further damaged than that showed in the picture while purchasing. The firm will then take an action, as clearly stated on the official website, and offer credit for the next purchase. However, this does remain a problem as customers can not get a refund. On the other hand, the customer must place complain within 7 calendar days after the pick up date .This gives them a competitive advantage over other firms including ours. As the firm has affiliations with delivery companies, it is easier for customers to order delivery directly. Same goes for HBC, which offer direct delivery services. It saves the bidders the hassle of making an arrangement with the dealers as is the case with Bluecycle ltd. Furthermore, the fact that Ridesafely clearly mentions it’s after delivery service so clearly on its official website builds confidence in the customer and promotes the trust factor. As the internet crime is dangerously rising, trust factor is essential for online businesses. ASM auto recycling has been trading for more than 20 years. This firm does not offer direct delivery everywhere. However, it does deliver cars to the catchment areas. These areas are Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Oxford shire, Northampton shire, Middlesex and West London. Furthermore, it latest addition of 1-6 car transporters ensure availability of the product on time of pickup. Although not as competitively advantaged as HBC and Ridesafely, this firm still benefit as products are readily available in these areas. Other firms mentioned above are competitors and operating for a very long time. But the fact that Copart was the first organization with physical locations which offered individuals to bid online is a definite strength for the company. Being oldest, established and successful in a particular field encourages skilled staff and valued customers to work with the firm. Furthermore, Copart operates on a very large scale and bids over 50,000 vehicles a day, as stated on its official UK website. Thus, the firm may benefit from economies of scale, that is, a reduction in unit cost. (http://www.copart.co.uk/c2/aboutCopart.html) I believe, in order to be competitive with all these and other firms in the industry, Bluecycle ltd need to develop and provide a delivery system to its customers. This would build the trust factor in customers and save them the hassle. After all, it is ease of online shopping which forces the individuals to shop online. Further more, the company will earn an additional income of delivering the product. Introducing a new branch of delivery may take time as finances and expertise needs to be invested in it. However, Bluecycle can form affiliations and keep a track of deliveries. If incase product is further damaged upon delivery, it may also take action upon it as Ridesafely does. But it is essential that customers should be given 15 minutes to half hour to inspect the vehicle and get satisfied with the purchase. It may cost and add to expenses in the short term, it will be profitable in the long run as it will eventually build upon the customer base of loyal and satisfied individuals and be equally competitive to other leading organizations. References All the official websites of the organizations mentioned above. http://www.bluecycle.com http://www.asm-autos.co.uk http://www.ridesafely.com http://www.hbc.co.uk/ http://www.copart.com Read More