Enter eMobility with BusStore
A used Mercedes-Benz eCitaro for Stadtwerke Eberbach.
Borderless service
In cross-border pre-owned bus and coach purchasing, BusStore offers competent support
At BusStore, there are always around 500 pre-owned buses and coaches available to customers. Every third vehicle is exported – a proportion that is rising. But how does cross-border bus or coach purchasing work? We asked the experts.
“The days are behind us when customers would go on a weekend tour to look for vehicles,” says Dr. Bernhard Neef, head of the European pre-owned vehicle business. “Our website is usually the first contact point for our customers. That is why we have now redesigned it to make it more transparent in 20 European languages.” Via the homepage, interested parties can click through to the 25 European BusStore locations.
All relevant information on the vehicle online
“We offer as much information as possible about the pre-owned vehicle on the BusStore website. Our goal is to make selection easier for the customer. Thus, there are usually at least eight standardised photos showing the vehicle from all angles,” Neef continues. On the right next to every vehicle you can find useful FAQs, linking, for example, to regional BusStore employees. Modern functions like a favourites list with a comparison function and email search agents make online searching easier.
The BusStore vehicle classification is particularly helpful when searching for used buses and coaches. The premium category with binding, tested quality features creates orientation and security.
Step by step with the customer
“Naturally, we cannot fulfil all vehicle requirements at every location. This is simply in the nature of things. And that is why we intelligently network our European range. Around ten per cent of our German vehicles go direct to other BusStore service points for onward sales.”
“Our concept is to support the customer from the very beginning and bring them together with contacts at the overseas location.” Often, first contact does not take place via the Internet but directly through a BusStore employee in the target country or the customer’s home country. As a rule, language barriers do not arise. “We are able to cover nearly all the European languages with our BusStore sales team.” says Neef.
Competent support during purchasing
In the next stage, the customer receives further information from their BusStore advisor on the desired vehicle, such as a detailed workshop report or service history. If desired, an on-site viewing and test drive can be offered. Here, the BusStore advisor also offers support, often travelling abroad to aid the customer. “We never let ourselves lose direct customer contact on site,” Neef emphasises. If the decision on the vehicle has been made, then the process gets going. “Often, the customer needs our active support in homologation, import and approval. These are no simple tasks,” Neef continues.
The customer also decides whether the vehicle will now be serviced again and prepared for use. Often, homologation requires technical alterations to the vehicle—here, the manufacturer is the best partner. Neef says, “Many customers find this difficult. That is why we have created country-specific bundles including approval and everything that goes with it. Because a bus or coach is a capital good that has to make financial sense for the customer. That is why we offer the customer the best value for money.” And that across European borders.
