Sales are slow due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no doubt about it, but people have still buying cars and trucks in Estevan.
Brad Pierson, general manager at Murray GM, said, 鈥淲e鈥檝e seen a decrease, but we鈥檙e still active.鈥�
The province has declared automotive dealers, auto repair and auto body shops to be an essential or allowed business. To that end, Pierson said, 鈥淥ur service department isn鈥檛 doing what it normally would be, but we鈥檙e still busy.鈥�
He pointed out that people still need their vehicles to be functional. 鈥淭hey need their vehicle, be it farm or oilfield or needing medical care. It鈥檚 important to them.鈥�
He added some people take their servicing more seriously than others, and some are putting off service.
Rod Sands, dealer principal at Estevan Motors, said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 very slow. There鈥檚 the odd car moving. I鈥檓 sure the numbers are down across town.鈥�
As for being an essential service, Sands said, 鈥淭here鈥檚 still people moving, and cars driving. They need repair. We鈥檙e here for them.
鈥淲e鈥檙e steady in the service department.鈥�
Over at Power Dodge, dealer principal Trevor Knibbs said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely slowing down,鈥� but added, 鈥淭here鈥檚 still interest.
鈥淭oday we鈥檝e done two,鈥� he said on Friday.
Sunshine and warm weather have brought people out, he noted.
He added, 鈥淧eople are uncertain, if they鈥檒l be laid off, and how long this will last.鈥�
With regards to the service department, Knibbs said, 鈥淪ervice has been normal. No drop off in service.鈥�
Randy Senchuk, dealer principal at Senchuk Ford, said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 been quiet. We鈥檝e had a decent month.鈥�
More recently he noted, 鈥淲e鈥檝e had a couple leave the lot.鈥�
As for being an essential service, Senchuk said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 understandable. People need their vehicles. People need to be able to move around.
鈥淚 think as long as everybody practices precautions, we can get through this.鈥�
When it comes to service, he said they鈥檝e been wiping down touch points like door handles, steering wheels, shifters and the inside. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been told by Ford that鈥檚 the best practice,鈥� he said.
The service department is down about 40 to 50 per cent, such that they used to have enough to fill out a full day, but now most of the work is getting done earlier in the day.
鈥淲e are picking up vehicles and dropping them off. That keeps us busy, too,鈥� Senchuk said.
Late last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would be willing to subsidize up to 75 per cent of wages for people working for small businesses. Asked about that, Senchuk said, 鈥淭hat looks like it could be a godsend.鈥�
