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#1
7th April 2010, 10:41 AM
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Even cheaper servicing at av performance
THIS IS A FEELER THREAD ONLY
Many of us know (or know of) Ben Williamson who owns and runs AV performance. Some of you will have read his thread here. If not it's worth a read before reading on. The condition he has is Cone-Rod Dystrophy a short description of which can be found here. The prognosis is invariable and as of now there is no cure. Ben's sight will eventually go. Faced with that most people would be in a bucket. Not Ben. I was with him the other day as he is providing a lot of technical help on my project and we spent the whole day laughing and taking the P!ss. The crux of this thread. Ben is a one man band. He does all right and supports his family. But his sight is his livelihood and when it starts to go he will not be able to do what he does best, maintain and tune our cherished VAG cars. But he does have other skills. One of which is management. He has managed a much larger independent garage with a multi skilled workforce and did it well. Having set up on his own, his expectation was always to expand the business and build a company with a reputation that he himself enjoys (and deserves). Now though, the one thing he may not have is time to make the incremental jumps, building a strong business with the reputation for high standards he wants that would normally be the way of doing it. After a long chat which we have had a couple of times, Ben agrees he needs to make a quantum jump, and for that he needs capital. I have suggested, that instead of burdening himself with traditional debt, that he (for want of a better description) mortgages his skills and reputation by selling service plans to his regular customers. The suggestion is simple. He will offer, for an up front payment, a significant discount on his labour charges and parts at cost until the up front payment is expended. For example: An A8 3.0TDI with a fixed service annually costing £300 a time could be done for a one off payment of £500 for 2 years servicing. A saving of 17%. If you are a member of the A8oc this would be on top of the 15% you already enjoy. Remember this is a capital raising venture, so up front payment is what Ben needs. This is not a monthly plan. I have put this up here so that I can get comment on the plan from agroup of Ben's clients so that Ben can get feedback on the idea. Sincerely, Mike (CtL)
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Conan (the Librarian) Watch it if you dare Currently, 2000 S8, Merlin Purple, Leather Pack 1, Winter Pack 1, SPAX adjustable suspension, AP Racing 6 pot front caliper, 385mm fully floating disks, EBC Yellow Stuff Pads, Black Diamond grooved rear disks and predetor pads, D2 Doctors Brake Block. 1997 4.2 A8SQ - the Projekt. 12 years and ongoing! 1997 4.2 A8SQ - Ming Blue. Restoration sat waiting; saved from the Scrapyard 2003 C5 Allroad 4.2Q - Cobolt Blue. Towing car. Laid up awaiting manual conversion. 2005 C5 Allroad 2.5TDi FE - Grey - Workhorse. 2015 Q3QS SLine - Daytona Grey. Lots of extras! Long Haired Admirals cutter. Previously 2003 C5 A6 1.9TDI FWD - Loaner from D2 Doctor Lifex 1997 S8 - Ming Blue. Loaned out and written off. I loved that car. My first engine swap after cambelt failure. 1996 4.2 A8SQ - Ming Blue. 178k on a cambelt! Trader's 8. Delivered to A8Parts at Lifex. 2003 2.8 A8SQ - powder blueish. Fill in for a while. Sold on. 1998 1.8T A4 Avant FWD. Ming Blue (there's a theme here), PEX for the 97 S8. And a list of non VAG going back 40 years before I saw the light. 
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#2
7th April 2010, 12:32 PM
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I haven't used Ben but I am hoping to, and from my point of view, I would be happy to "buy" an upfront service plan. Particularly if it helps him achieve a business goal given his situation.
I'm all for "Random Acts of Kindness" although this wouldn't be random!
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Jeremy 2000/X Silver 2.8 D2 Sport 
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#3
7th April 2010, 02:45 PM
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I concur, I would sign up for a 2 year plan of servicing of some description, although I'm not very good at keeping cars for two years !! - so it will need some flex - If Ben needs some cash up front then it all seems like a very worthwhile cause as his reputation is second to none, I'm currently going to extreme lengths to get my car down to his for some work doing......
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For parts enquiries and Forum User Administration please contact customer services directly, not me  - enquiry@a8parts.co.uk, www.a8parts.co.uk, or call 01642 783537The Daily Town Car - 2023 Tesla Model Y Performance. Black with Black. Giant ipad screen, huge sunroof, 4 wheel drive, Tow bar, lots of ooomph and made in China, so actually built properly unlike the Californian ones. The Family Wagon - 2018 Tesla Model X. Black, 7 Seats, Towbar, Homelink, Enhanced Auto pilot with Summon and self park, Heated front seats, CCS Charger upgrade, MCU2 Upgrade, Falconwing Doors, Self opening / closing doors, Netflix, Spotify, toys, Air suspension, alcantara roof + lots of other stuff...... The 17 year old Driver Wagon 2015 Skoda Citigo Monte Carlo. Alloys, Power steering, Aircon, Leccy windows, Sat Nav, bluetooth, central locking, cup holders, 59 whole bhp. Million times better than my first car. Well jealous..... The First 20 Audis: 2001 D2 4.2 QS Silver, 1997 D2 S8 Silver, 1999 D2 4.2 Silver, 2002 D2 S8 Dolphin Grey, 2003 C5 RS6 Blue, 1998 D2 S8 Black, 2000 D2 4.2 QS/S8 Ming Blue, 2003 D3 4.2 Ming Blue, 2005 B7 S4 Blue, 2006 D3 3.0 Tdi Black, 1999 D2 4.2 Silver, 2003 D3 4.2 LPG Crystal Blue, 2000 D2 S8 Silver, 2007 3.0 Tdi Q7 Black, 2009 B8 S4 Black, 1998 D2 S8 Agate Grey, 2006 D3 4.2 Tdi Blue, 2006 D3 S8, 2007 Q7 3.0 Tdi, 2006 C6 S6, The Second 20 Audis: 2011 A7 Sline, 2001 A2 1.4 Tdi Black, 2002 A2 1.4 Tdi Silver, 2006 A8 4.2 Tdi Blue, 2007 4.2 Tdi Q7, 2006 S4 Cab Silver, 2010 RS6 Saloon Black  , 2007 TT Roadster, 2010 A8 D4 4.2 Silver, 2006 C6 A6 2.7 Tdi Quattro, 2000 D2 4.2 QS/S8 Ming Blue (again), 2008 Q7 4.2 Black, 2009 C6 RS6 Saloon Daytona Grey, 2001 Fully Loaded A2 Tdi, 2006 Avant S6 Black, 2007 VW Caravelle Exec Black (almost an Audi) 2009 TT Roadster Daytona, 2015 Q7 4.2 tdi lava grey, 2002 GmbH D2 demonstrator, 2006 D3 A8 LWB 4.2 Tdi Black Most Recent Audis: 2001 A2 1.4 Tdi Black, 2007 4.2 FSi Q7 ABT Blue, 2016 S5 Coupe Launch model, 2004 S4 B6 Cabriolet, 2016 Q7 Sline White, 2006 Q7 4.2 FSi Black, 2012 Q7 Sline+ 4.2Tdi White, 2008 Blue Audi S8 Everything Else 1989 Subaru Justy, 1986 Vauxhall Cartlton 2.0 GL, 1985 Vauxhall Carlton 2.2 CDi, 1987 Ford Sierra XR4x4, 1983 Vauxhall Senator, 1985 Vauxhall Senator 3.0i, 1997 Polo Saloon, 1997 Peugeot 306 1.9 TDi, Ford Sierra Sapphire 2000E, 1990 Subaru Justy, 2000 Subaru Impreza, 2000 Subaru Impreza RB5, 1993 Range Rover LSE, 2005 VW Bora, 2003 Skoda Superb, 2003 VW Passat V6 4 Motion, 1996 Peugeot 106, 2000 Range Rover 4.0, 2019 Tesla Model 3 Performance
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#4
7th April 2010, 03:36 PM
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i would sign up for a up front payment on the basis i need a cambelt swap (don't NEED but want) and also a gearbag oil swap....i'm not sure what kind of a bill i'll catch for those but they are both on my list as jobs i can't do myself (special tools required and a ramp) that i want sorting ASAP...............
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