UK Toyota centres claim customer service titles

Three of the UK’s top Toyota dealers have been recognised for their excellence in this year’s Toyota Ichiban awards.

RRG Stockport, Oakmere Toyota Northwich and Snows of Honiton were among the 42 businesses across Toyota’s European operations that were honoured in this year’s awards. Their success reflects their achievement in building customer satisfaction in both sales and after sales – from the showroom floor through to the service and repair bays.

Around 2,300 retailers were assessed through continuous monitoring of their performance against a demanding range of criteria, including Toyota’s own businesses standards and its “customer first philosophy”.

The centre principal from each of the UK’s winners attended the Ichiban presentation ceremony, held in Athens last week (22 May). The awards were presented by Didier Leroy, President and CEO Toyota Motor Europe, who said: “‘Toyota is deeply committed to bringing superior products and services to ensure customer satisfaction. Our thanks go to our Ichiban winners for continuing to lead and set the example of how to make our customers happy.”

Dean Watson, Centre Principal at RRG Stockport, said: “All my team work extremely hard to ensure that every one of our customers is delighted with the experience they receive at RRG Stockport. This prestigious award is testament to the commitment and dedication of everyone at RRG Stockport.”

Richard Golsworthy of Snows of Honiton said: “I feel an immense amount of pride, both personally and for the hard work of all our centre staff who do so much to make sure the customer is always put first. Since I joined the centre four years ago we have worked extremely hard to improve the service we provide, and this award is a great acknowledgement of our achievements.”

Ichiban comes from the Japanese term okyakusama ichiban which means ‘customer first’, with ichiban meaning ‘first’ or ‘number one’. Since the annual Ichiban Awards were introduced in Europe in 2007, customer satisfaction performance by Toyota retailers has improved by around 43 per cent in sales and 34 per cent in after sales, according to an internal Toyota survey conducted in Europe.

4 comments

  1. Well done to the succesfull dealers.
    I had a orrible experience with the dealers in St Albans I recomend to think twice before taking your car there. I took my car in for a recall on faulty hair bag and I came home with a damaged car.Zero customer service only a lot of attitude. I suggest that even if you have to travel a little more ..it s better be safe than sorry. Steven Eagell Toyota Radlet Road St Albans is a no no trust me

    1. Hi Rita,
      Thank you for getting in touch. We’re sorry to hear of your previous experience with Toyota. We’d like to know a little more, please send us an email to (toyota.contact@tgb.toyota.co.uk) with the details, (vehicle registration number and contact details) and we’ll investigate this for you.
      Kind regards.

  2. I am writing regarding my disappointment from the service I have got from Toyota Hendy at Bournemouth. To simplify things , I have made the time line below:

    Saturday 6 /11/21
    I visited Toyota Hendy branch at Bournemouth, I reviewed a Toyota Rav 4 . I went for a test drive and all seemed well to me, I was informed that the car had 152 checks and nothing to worry about.

    Monday 8/11/21
    I paid the full price of the car / exchanging my old car and collected it nearly 5:30 pm

    Tuesday 9/11/21
    I noticed the driver door is not opening automatically and the door sensors are not working, I went to Toyota Hendy and I was booked for a service on Friday 12/11.

    Wednesday 10/11/21
    I noticed the tailgate is not opening when I used the car keys.

    Thursday 11/11/21
    I dropped the car to Toyota Hendy to be fixed.

    Friday 12/11/21
    I collected the car after fixing the door and tailgate problems.

    Saturday 13/11/21 (The main issue)
    At 8 Am when going to Bournemouth hospital for my work , the car did not want to change gear inspite of restarting the car multiple times giving a message (Shift into P ), then the message (Higher power consumption warning on the screen rendering the car powerless)

    images available

    I am currently left without a car , I am really disappointed and frustrated with the service I have received, I am a surgeon by profession so I use the car daily to commute between hospitals. I am raising this concerns as I am a loyal customer for Toyota and this never happen to me before.

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