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| I never thought my own personal interest in cars went much beyond asking questions like, “Will it get me around safely without breaking down?” and “How much does it cost?” However, after a recent visit with Scott Sutton, general sales manager at Performance Volkswagen here in Omaha, I realized that perhaps my generalizations were slightly skewed and my apathy was misdirected. Performance Volkswagen is located at 7108 S. 124th Circle just off I-80 at the Harrison Street exit. It is the largest Volkswagen dealer in Nebraska and the Omaha area, Scott tells me, and it has hundreds of new Volkswagens in stock in addition to a large inventory of certified pre-owned Volkswagen vehicles. Its full line of vehicles currently includes the Jetta, Passat, CC, Beetle, Golf, Eos, GTI, Routan, Tiguan, and Touareg. Easy to find, the Volkswagen dealership is in the same area as Performance Chrysler Jeep Dodge of La Vista, Performance Toyota of La Vista, and SmartCenter La Vista. Performance Volkswagen’s service and parts department is also located here, providing customers with a one-stop shop for all their automotive needs, Scott says. When you enter Performance Volkswagen’s showroom, it is hard to miss the restored Volkswagen Bus sitting out front. Painted glossy dark red, it looks a little nicer than most other Volkswagen Buses. I have to admit that it stirs up memories—even for me. Scott tells me that nearly everyone who comes in the dealership has a story about a Volkswagen Bus, whether it is about one they owned, or a friend owned, or a relative owned. Fortunately, I found Scott to be very personable and I admitted that car shopping makes me somewhat uncomfortable. He tells me that most people feel the same way I do, so he and his staff work diligently to make the process less stressful for their customers. For example, while they are in the business of selling cars, his sales staff is encouraged to focus primarily on providing exceptional customer service. Regardless of the day of the week or the month, customers receive the same treatment and the sales team is motivated to make the same deals, Scott explains. As a team, he adds, they have projected monthly goals to meet in terms of sales volume, but the only requirement for each individual is to ensure that every customer (and potential customer) has the best possible experience at Performance Volkswagen. “We are successful because we take care of our customers, which in turn makes it possible to specifically focus on customer service,” he says. “We want to ensure that our clients experience as little anxiety as possible.” There are 14 salespeople on the staff, and half of them have been with the dealership since the location opened in August of 2005. Every employee goes through a two-week training program in which they learn everything from specifics on the Volkswagen line of vehicles to the importance of providing outstanding service and developing long-term relationships with customers. In fact, Scott adds that customer loyalty is a big deal at Performance Volkswagen and it is heavily promoted. Once a customer closes a deal and drives off the lot with his or her new car, their business is still important. This could be related to service and maintenance on the vehicle, continued satisfaction with their purchase, or that they come back the next time they are in the market for a new car. Scott tells me, “If a customer has a problem it is no problem. We will do everything we can to make it right.” Along with nostalgia and service, Scott says that Volkswagen as a manufacturer has a tradition of quality. As a German car company, Volkswagen shares a reputation for creating high-end products along with other manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Unlike more expensive brands, however, Volkswagen’s line of vehicles ranges in price from just over $16,000 for a basic Jetta to just under $70,000 for a high-end Touareg hybrid, according to Scott. “We have a car to fit almost any buyer, taking into consideration a wide range of personalities, needs, and lifestyles,” he tells me. “Volkswagen has a logical procession to their line of vehicles, which really fits in with our clientele’s changing needs as they go from a young professional to having a family to enjoying a higher income and more freedom in their later years.” When I ask Scott if he has seen any effects of the economic recession in terms of business, he answers that they have been somewhat insulated from it. The Nebraska area as a whole is a fairly consistent market, which has translated for Performance Volkswagen into continued slow, steady growth year after year. People are still buying cars to fit their needs and benefits, he says. Volkswagen’s Carefree Maintenance Program, which comes with every new vehicle and offers free routine maintenance like oil changes for the first three years, only sweetens the deal, he adds. Volkswagen vehicles are also known for retaining their value quite well, which is nice when owners go to sell or trade it in. Performance Volkswagen has a selection of pre-owned vehicles to choose from, many of which are certified pre-owned Volkswagens. These cars go through a rigorous inspection and come with a two-year or 24,000-mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty in addition to 24-hour roadside assistance. Other pre-owned vehicles are also given a thorough 125-point check by trained and experienced mechanics before being put on the lot for sale; these cars come with a 60-day, 3,000-mile warranty. By the way, when I was a little girl my aunt had a Volkswagen Bus and I remember how cool I felt when I was riding around with her. The outside was some kind of 1970s color (goldenrod, olive green, or brown maybe?) and the inside was a little beat up, but there was so much space and so many large bright windows. She has owned several fancier vehicles over the years, but like many former Bus owners she still reminisces about that car. So do I! For more information about Performance Volkswagen, visit the showroom. It is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. You may also wish to visit the Web site at www.performancevolkswagen.net for further details about the dealership, its vehicles, and the service and parts department. The phone number is 866-308-5082. |
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