PARTS COLLEGE

[Robert a Bamert jr]

I would like to know how many people have taken GM'S (sandy corp) classes.The training has stopped just about,because of the new training & not letting enough people know about it,and there's not much for parts with the new system,for management,or counterpersons.
But i just feel that we should be getting together on this one guys.This is a very good program that sandy corp. does for parts and service ,and it's not going to be around much longer.

[Richard]

I took weeks 2 & 4 a few years ago, and then the dealer decieded that his money and my time were better spent getting me into a 20 group. I would love to have finished the course, but was at a great disadvantage not taking week 1 1st....week 4 was a review of the previous 3 classes, and I felt like I learned quite a bit, the instructors were wonderful and helpful. I want to finish the courses, but the P&S director has basically told me no way......

[mark vandersteeg]

i did 1-3 weeks of svc mgr college and was set up for week 4 for may 2000, i feel really cheated. there is no replacement for getting together with other dealership employees to get their input on your operation (like a 20 group). Sandy classes had hands on excersizes that cannot be duplicated online. if you don't know the basics, you won't even know what kind of questions to ask in a 20 group. we went through the svc consultant training on i.d.l. this week and i found it to be time consuming, frustrating and tedious communication.

[This message has been edited by mark vandersteeg (edited 04-06-2000).]

[CWS]

I was fortunate enough to take all four parts management classes in a row back in 1996 even though I was only a counter person then. I learned as much from spending four weeks with the other managers as I did from the teachers. When I was made a manager a few years later I was much more ready to take over without making alot of beginner mistakes. The classes are expensive but I feel they are worth it. I would want my replacement to have gone through the classes.

[jnewlin]

Sounds like you guys think that the UAM is going away. I have completed the service managers courses. I am taking Parts week four the first week of May. I was real pleased with the service courses and I am sure that I will feel the same with the parts course. I just found out that my instructor is going to be Ron Garrity, a great plus. He is very knowledge and very helpful. If you would like to talk to Ron you can contact him through uam. He would probably be heplful talking to who ever it is that needs to get you back in the course.
The last time I talked to Ron he stated that the classes just would not be at the traingin centers, but would be at hotels or conference rooms. Any how I would recommend it.

[Robert a Bamert jr]

Guys i wrote this topic just to raise awareness.The uam training will go away if we as a group don't start telling our APM'S that we want it,use them to open the conversion to your dealers.I've just completed wk 4 and grad.i my opinion it the best thing you could do for your career,and not to mention the advantage to the dealer who has A well trained team.if they cann't see that then you might be working for the wrong co.And i must say my thanks to dealers edge for this site,for without it we would not have the venue to stick together and talk about what is going on out there, this is the real secret to success.And for those who mentioned they had went but not finished, go and finish what you started you deserve the certificate for which you worked so hard for already,use the APM ,and guilt the dealer into it ,i have a friend who told his dealer that if they wouldn't send him that he was still going to be there,and it worked!
of course you must choose your moment,but we all know when it best to ask for something,after a good sls mth.LOL

[jfinnerty]

In response to jnewlin
I would like to know why he gets all the courses and his parts manager doesn't.
Seems to me if you have a new parts manager just learning the business you would want him to learn as much as possible, unless you are not going to keep him.