Merlin Car Auctions Ireland
Recent News
Naas Company Great Workplace
May, 18th 2012
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Merlin is Officially One of the Best Places to Work in Ireland!
May, 18th 2012
The team are celebrating today because Merlin was named officially as one of the Best Small Workplaces 2012, according to a detailed assessment by the Great Place to Work® Ireland. This prestigious honour was announced at an awards ceremony in the Burlington Hotel Dublin, attended by over 500 guests last night.
Speaking at the awards CEO of Great Place to Work John Ryan congratulated Merlin Group on this achievement: “I wish to congratulate you on the superb achievement of being recognised as one of the Best Small Workplaces in Ireland 2012. Your ongoing commitment to your people practices within your organisation has been an inspiration to many and has set a bar for other organisations. This is an achievement worth celebrating and communicating because by creating a great workplace you are establishing a firm base for business success in 2012 and beyond”.
The Best Workplaces study, which is now in its tenth year, uses confidential employee feedback to identify employers who follow a policy of creating positive workplaces in which management build high-trust relationships with their employees, based on mutual respect. Great Place to Work conducts similar studies in forty-five countries worldwide.
We have won a number of awards over the last two years including the Deloitte Best Managed Company in 2011, Innovation of the Year trophy at the SIMI Awards in 2010 and being nominated for an Eircom Spider award.
Dave Byrne, Managing Director of Merlin Group commented, “We are delighted to have won this accolade, especially as it is the first year that the Great Places to Work Awards have included a category for businesses with less than 50 employees. We constantly strive to provide a happy and engaging environment for our employees. We scored 84% in the staff confidential surveys which reflects the work we put in to maintaining good working relationships and support for all of our employees.”
Fantastic Deals Promised At Merlin
May, 18th 2012
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Fantastic Deals Promised at Merlin’s Massive No Reserve Ex Fleet & Trade Car Auction
May, 18th 2012
Following on from a number of very successful reserve auctions, we are expecting buyers to flock from all over Ireland as over 200 ex-fleet and trade in vehicles with an estimated value of €1,200,000 go under the hammer on Saturday October 22nd at 11am. The auction is being held on behalf of Windsor and Windsor Fleet due to an increase in traded in and ex-fleet vehicles in recent months. The catalogue features a car to suit every budget and we are expecting hundreds of buyers at the auction. With all cars being sold with “No Reserve”, it is certain that massive savings on retail prices will be achieved. All vehicles must go so it will be a case of highest bidder on the day wins!
The event promises unbeatable value on a wide range of cars. The lots feature a fantastic selection including nearly new and high quality vehicles that will appeal to every buyer type. Prestige car owners will be interested in the 2008 Audi A4 2.0 TDI Saloon 4DR, 2007 Land Rover Range Rover 2.7TD Sport Auto 5DR, 2008 BMW 318I 4DR with family buyers enticed by 2010 Nissan Qashqai Plus 2 1.5DSL 5DR, 2008 Ford Mondeo 1.8TDCi LX 5DR, 2007 Skoda Octavia 1.9TDi Elegance 5DR. The auction also promises lots of choice for those seeking a smaller engine size with 2011 & 2010 Opel Corsa SC 1.2I 5DR, 2011 Nissan Micras & 2009 Toyota Yaris NG 1.0 Luna 5DR for auction. Commercial drivers have a wide selection of choice to include: 2010 Volkswagen Caddy 2.0 DSD 6DR, 2006 Nissan X-Trail 2.2DSL 4X2 City Commercial. The sale will feature in excess of twenty different brands of car.
David Byrne, Group Managing Director said “We are delighted to host this auction on behalf of Windsor and Windsor Fleet. There is a massive interest in the October 22nd auction with a very high level of calls coming through to our sales team. We are expecting a huge number of bidders looking for a bargain and we would encourage bidders to arrive early to get ahead of the crowds. There has been a shortage of high quality used cars in the Irish market for a number of months and this event promises to deliver quality cars at very affordable prices. The choice and quality of vehicles on offer exceeds many of the auctions held this year.”
Merlin Car Auctions is the largest auction house in Ireland with 2 weekly auctions in Naas, Co. Kildare every Wednesday at 7pm and every Saturday at 11am. All Merlin auctions are open to the public.
A full catalogue is available at www.merlincarauctions.ie/windsor and the vehicles are available to view prior to the auction.
New car sales down in July following Scrappage but remain ahead for the year
May, 18th 2012
Figures just released from the SIMI (Society of the Irish Motor Industry) show that in July 2011, 4,067 new cars were sold, a decrease of 2,231 on last year, that’s a fall of 35% on July 2010. Over 1,200 Scrappage scheme cars were included in the figure for July 2010, whereas the scheme ended in June this year.
Director General of SIMI, Alan Nolan (pictured) says, “the overall market remains very fragile. The months immediately following the ending of Scrappage were always going to be challenging. However, the year to date figures are still quite positive; with New Cars (+10%), Light Commercials (+12%) and Heavy Commercials (+3%) all remaining ahead of last year’s figures at this stage.”
In summary:
- New car sales up 10% for the year, 81,176 sold so far this year
- July sales down 35% on last July (First Month after ending of Scrappage Scheme)
- 22% increase in number of diesel cars sold (now represent 71% of all new cars sold)
- Petrol accounts for 27% of all new cars sold this year, reduction of 8% on last year
- Silver is still the most popular car colour
- LGV up 12% year to date
- HGV up 2.5% year to date
Merlin Awarded Top Accolades!
May, 18th 2012
We are delighted to announce that Merlin Car Auctions were awarded the highly respected accolade of Deloitte Best Managed Company at an award ceremony held in the Burlington Hotel in Dublin on Friday (4th March 2011). The Deloitte Best Managed Companies Awards Programme recognises indigenous Irish companies across the island of Ireland that are operating at the highest levels of business performance. The programme seeks to identify best-managed companies through an evaluation process that extends beyond financial results.
We were bestowed a second award on Friday by Dr. Tom Mc Carthy of the Irish Management Institute in special recognition of our application and we have been rewarded with the opportunity for a member of our management team to undertake a post graduate diploma course with the IMI.
We underwent a number of phases in the competition and benefited from the advice and feedback of coaches, Ronan Nolan and Pascal Brennan from Deloitte and Irish Life Corporate Business during the process.
This is the second award that we have received in recent months. We also received the Innovation of the Year award at the Irish Motor Industry Awards in November. This was for the Merlin Live Online facility which has revolutionised auctioneering by allowing interested parties to log on from anywhere and partake in the auction taking place in Naas or Kylemore.
We are delighted to have received the very prestigious award. We have been working hard to keep our company operating at the highest standards for our customers at all times. We continue to push the boundaries of innovation. Just last week we held our first exclusively online auction which was a fantastic success. Our objective for our online sales is to extend our service to reach more people and make buying a car online a simple and convenient purchase.
Deloitte’s Ronan Nolan, who acted as Merlin’s mentor in preparation for the awards commented “I was most impressed with Merlin’s management style from our very first meeting with David Byrne and his colleagues. They demonstrated a very clear approach to planning and communication, and in particular have a great ability to adapt to challenging business conditions. I believe Merlin Car Auctions are very worthy winners of the Deloitte Best Managed Companies Award.”
New Year, New Wheels at Merlin
May, 18th 2012
New Year, New Wheels at Merlin
Motorists looking to buy or sell their car should head to Merlin Car Auctions this month as there is a hugely exciting line up for auction. Thursday January 13th will see the launch of the weekly “GIMME 5” sale at Merlin’s Dublin auction centre. Merlin will also host what they believe will be their largest “Massive No Reserve Liquidation & Ex Finance Auction” in Naas on Saturday January 15th.
GIMME 5 offers the bidder a chance to drive away with a fantastic car for anything between €500 and €5,000 which includes all auction and registration fees. To celebrate the launch of the weekly GIMME 5 sale, Merlin are offering sellers a New Years treat, with the opportunity to enter their car for free! Usually the cost to enter a car into the auction is €90 so it’s a great way to showcase your car to thousands of buyers at no cost. Merlin will auction a large selection of cars every Thursday in Kylemore at 7pm. Further details are available at www.merlincarauctions.ie/kylemore.
The Massive No Reserve Liquidation & Ex Finance Auction will have over 350 vehicles up for auction to include over 150 ex-finance and liquidation vehicles. In 2010, Merlin held a large number of liquidation sales but believe that the sale on Saturday 15th from 11am will offer the best selection and value to date.
Huge savings are on offer at both auctions with many cars going under the gavel for up to 50% less than their recommended retail value. Bidders who are unable to attend the auctions need not worry as they can bid online from the comfort of their home or office with the award winning Merlin Live Online.
David Byrne, Managing Director of Merlin Car Auctions said, “The new year is a great time to invest in a new car or free up some cash by selling your car. We are catering for different budgets by offering fantastic bargains for under €5,000 with GIMME 5 and an outstanding selection of ex finance and liquidation vehicles.”
January’s auction calendar with an exciting run of auctions promises unbeatable value on a wide range of cars at Merlin’s two auction centres. With auctions running every Thursday in Kylemore and every Wednesday at 7pm and Saturday at 11am, over 1000 vehicles will be auctioned weekly at Merlin Car Auctions. All Merlin auctions are open to the public.
Scrappage Scheme 2010
May, 18th 2012
Figures released by SIMI today show that 17,272 reclaims were made under the government Scrappage Scheme in 2010. (Some Scrappage Scheme cars sold in December 2010 will not be processed until January/February 2011 so these are interim results pending the processing of the final December Scrappage refunds). These statistics are based on data compiled by Revenue.
Speaking about the scheme, Alan Nolan, Director General of SIMI says, “With close to 17,500 scrappage cars sold last year, the Government Scheme provided the Industry with a real boost which saw overall business increase by over 50%. Ending the year with car sales up 55% on 2009, there is no doubt that this was directly due to the stimulus provided by the Scrappage Scheme. With the continuation of the scheme for the first six months of this year, we predict that a further 10,000 cars are likely to be sold under the Scheme. It will again, offer customers incredible value and will deliver significant additional revenues for the Exchequer. Last year, Scrappage Scheme cars alone generated €57m for the Government.”
“Remember that Scrappage cars represented only around a fifth of total new car sales last year. The real benefit of the Scheme is the positive knock-on effect it has had on the overall new and used car sectors. As a result of the positive sentiment generated by the Scheme, non-scrappage new car sales also increased from 57k in 2009 to just over 71k last year, an increase of a quarter on the previous year.”
“Although it is very early days to be drawing any conclusions, so far this year, footfall in showrooms has been strong, again largely due to the Scrappage Scheme, and this bodes well for the year ahead.” Nolan says.
Cork Car2Cash - Make Some Cash This January
May, 18th 2012
Calling all those in Cork looking to make some extra cash this January. Merlin Car Auctions is bringing its hugely popular Car2Cash Road Show back to its busiest stop on the roadshow, Cork. If you are looking to sell your car in a quick and easy way you can make an appointment to come along to the Merlin Car2Cash road show at Tesco in Mitchelstown on Brigowen Road on Saturday, 22nd January from 9am to 6pm and Wilton Shopping Centre in Cork City on Sunday, 23rd January between 11am and 6pm.
Due to the huge crowds at the last Car2Cash road show in Cork, Merlin are asking those interested in selling their cars to make an appointment to avoid disappointment on the day. Interested car owners can book an appointment by registering on www.car2cash.ie or by calling 045 988 700.
Car sellers are asked to bring their car to the shopping centre not forgetting to bring along their vehicle licensing certificate and two forms of personal ID (either a passport or drivers license and a recent utility bill with their current address), along with details of the vehicle history. All vehicles are accepted and the Merlin Sales Executives will complete a vehicle appraisal on arrival. On acceptance of the valuation, a sales order will be processed and Merlin will issue a cheque for the value of the vehicle, followed by the transfer of ownership of the vehicle to Merlin Car Auctions. It couldn’t be easier!
David Byrne, Managing Director of Merlin Car Auctions said, “We love coming to Cork because we get such a great reaction. This will be our 8th time to bring the road show to Cork. It’s a great opportunity for people to exchange their cars for cash on the same day! We had huge crowds when we came in November so we are asking everyone to make an appointment in advance to avoid disappointment this time.”
For details on the Car2Cash Roadshow locations and dates visit www.car2cash.ie or call 045 988700.
Make Some Cash This January
May, 18th 2012
Make Some Cash This January at the Limerick Car2Cash Roadshow
Calling all those in Limerick looking to make some extra cash this January. Merlin are bringing their hugely popular Car2Cash Road Show back to Limerick City. If you are looking to sell your car in a quick and easy way you can make an appointment to come along to the Merlin Car2Cash road show at Parkway Shopping Centre on the Dublin Road on Saturday, 15th January from 9am to 6pm and Sunday, 16th January between 11am and 6pm.
Due to the huge crowds at the last Car2Cash road show in Limerick, Merlin are asking those interested in selling their cars to make an appointment to avoid disappointment on the day. Interested car owners can book an appointment by registering on www.car2cash.ie or by calling 045 988 700.
Car sellers are asked to bring their car to the shopping centre not forgetting to bring along their vehicle licensing certificate and two forms of personal ID (either a passport or drivers license and a recent utility bill with their current address), along with details of the vehicle history. All vehicles are accepted and the Merlin Sales Executives will complete a vehicle appraisal on arrival. On acceptance of the valuation, a sales order will be processed and Merlin will issue a cheque for the value of the vehicle, followed by the transfer of ownership of the vehicle to Merlin Car Auctions. It couldn’t be easier!
David Byrne, Managing Director of Merlin Car Auctions said, “We love coming to Limerick because we get such a great reaction. This will be our 7th time to bring the road show to Limerick. It’s a great opportunity for people to exchange their cars for cash on the same day! We had huge crowds last time so we are asking everyone to make an appointment in advance to avoid disappointment.”
For details on the Car2Cash Roadshow locations and dates visit www.car2cash.ie or call 045 988700.
Luxury At It's Finest At Merlin!
May, 18th 2012
Luxury At It's Finest At Merlin! Looking For Something Extra Special This Christmas, Choose One Of These:
2008 Porsche Cayman S 3.4 Petrol, Black
2005 Bentley Continental Flying Spur, 5.9 Petrol
2005 Bentley Continental GT Coupe, 6.0 Petrol
Don't Miss Merlins BIG One From 11am This Saturday. Over 500 Vehicles & Bicycles For Auction at Ireland’s Only All Day Auction! BIG Selection Of Vehicles To Include Ex-Finance, Prestige, No Reserve, GIMME 5, Vans Large & Small, Jeeps, MPVs, Commercials plus many more
SIMI welcomes continuation of Scrappage
May, 18th 2012
SIMI welcomes continuation of Scrappage and says scheme could net close to €40million next year
SIMI today welcomes the continuation of Scrappage following its announcement in today’s Budget.
The scheme will run until 30th June 2011. Motorists will receive a €1,250 government discount off the price of their new car under the scheme.
Alan Nolan, SIMI’s Director General says, “the continuation of the Government Scrappage Scheme for the peak buying season for next year will guarantee increased Government revenues and safeguard the increased level of employment in the sector. As a direct result of Scrappage we have seen an additional 3,200 jobs created this year and the Industry is also engaged in a national program aimed at recruiting an extra 150 new apprentices over the coming weeks.”
Nolan continues, “The impact of the Government Scrappage scheme this year exceeded our expectations. We predicted that in total, 70,000 new cars would be sold this year. Today, the figure stands at 88,095 and we expect to finish up the year around the 88,500 mark. But it is not just about new cars. Scrappage also stimulates activity in used car sales and also positively impacts on servicing and repairs.”
To date (end of November) 16,468 Scrappage Scheme cars have been sold, representing a government tax take of €57.6 million. If 10,000 Scrappage Scheme cars are sold next year, this will net the Government between €35 and €40 million.
President of SIMI and MD & Chairman of Ford, Eddie Murphy says, “An increase in consumer confidence and spending will no doubt transfer to other sectors of the economy. Scrappage scheme cars only represent around one fifth of total new car sales, which shows that the main benefit of the scheme has been the knock on effect to the overall sector. Manufacturers and dealers have added further discount to the Government’s this year and that will no doubt continue into next year.”
And Then There Were Two
May, 18th 2012
Four apprentices faced four tough interviews in the penultimate episode of The Apprentice last night. Will, Panos, Niamh and Michelle took time to prepare for the interview making themselves look pretty before being taken in four separate Merlin cars to the interview venue. We can tell you that those four cars were quite tense as each candidate spent their last few minutes of preparation before facing into the grilling of their lives.
Independent HR consultant Sheena Clohessy was asked to probe each candidate’s personalities. Media mogul Gavin Duffy was asked to dig deep into their pasts and to grill them. Mairead Fleming, Deputy Managing Director of Brightwater was asked to evaluate their CVs while David Bloch, Managing Director of Brightwater gave his recruitment expertise. Each candidate had a harrowing four hours of interviews with these guys and unlike regular interviews they were asked very personal questions.
Niamh was deemed “unflappable” but Gavin did his very best to flap her by berating her as “bland” and “boring”. She was also seen not to be a risk taker. Sheena did not like her interview answers leaving Niamh to insist she never prepares answers for interviews which Sheena refused to believe. This really seemed to be nitpicking to the Merlin team!
Poor Will was given a difficult time on all sides. He was told that he says “you know” too much by Gavin and went on to use it again not even realising that he was still saying it! Mairead told him that his was one of the worst CVs she had seen in a very long time. She then became frustrated when Will referred to what Bill would do in answer to her questions. Will was also asked about his background. He went out to work at the age of 17 to support his family and has worked hard ever since. What a nice guy.
Panos was asked by Mairead about a gap in his CV which was his time in the Greek Army where he was a sergeant commanding 250 troops. We all know by now that Panos is an emotional guy and it didn’t take long for him to get upset thinking back on being a gay man in the army and how difficult it was to win respect from his troops. Gavin spoke to him about his fear of tools and was highly amused by his “traumatic childhood incident” where his father almost, but did not, lose 2 fingers after using a power tool! David saw red when he saw Panos’ response to what he would do if he could get away with it. Panos had written that he would use someone else’s credit card for a month long holiday in the Maldives and didn’t seem to realise why David was disturbed by this answer.
Michelle had spelling errors in her CV and Mairead pointed out that she obviously did not have great attention to detail. As she was grilled on her past Michelle divulged that she left home pretending to be going for a weekend away at the age of 15 and never went back. When asked why, she revealed that her family were Jehova’s Witnesses which she didn’t agree with. The worst came when Gavin told her that he had done some digging and was worried that her modelling and dancing in her past may affect Bill’s reputation if she were to get the job. He repeatedly asked her for anything in her past that could damage Bill until she finally admitted that she had entered a competition to be a Playboy Bunny TV presenter.
Will and Panos were both seen as very likeable people with some great strengths. However, Panos’ “laziness” and lack of commitment in previous tasks coupled with his emotional side led the panel to rule him out as a valid candidate. Will’s hardworking attitude and loyal personality were recognised but the team felt that this was not the job for him.. yet.
Will seemed as loyal to Bill as ever when he took his last trip in a Merlin car bringing him back to see his family for the first time in 12 weeks. He said that he hopes to meet Bill some other time and eventually to work for him.
Panos was upset at being fired but held no grudges as he admitted in the back of his car that the two remaining girls were the best candidates and deserved to win.
All will be revealed next week as we find out who will be hired!
Jump in motor trade employment
May, 18th 2012
Naas Car Auctioneers Scoop Online Innovators Award
May, 18th 2012
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Government Scrappage Scheme continues to support recovery
May, 18th 2012
SIMI today released the official registration statistics for November 2010:
- 87,988 new cars sold so far this year
- 54% increase on last year
- 195% increase on last November
- 16,468 Scrappage Scheme cars sold*
- 10,420 New Light Commercial Vehicle Sales so far this year
- 15% increase on last year
*Many Scrappage Scheme cars sold in November will not be processed until end of December
Commenting on the figures, Director General of SIMI, Alan Nolan said, “No matter what happens in the Budget, the Motor Industry is very grateful for the positive impact of Scrappage during 2010. This has fuelled the recovery in new car sales and in business overall, including an increase of over 3,200 employees over last year but this recovery is clearly fragile as we have seen from some recent business failures. We believe that the benefits of extending Scrappage are very clear.”
For a full breakdown of statistics visit: http://www.beepbeep.ie/stats ...the official statistics of the Irish Motor Industry
“Merlin’s Big One”
May, 18th 2012
“Merlin’s Big One” Cars, Bicycles and Miscellaneous Items Including Garda Auction in End of Year Auction Extravaganza
Are you on the lookout for some great Christmas presents at reasonable prices? Why not come along to Merlin Car Auctions in Naas on Saturday, 11th December for our all day Christmas extravaganza auction catering for all tastes and budgets with bicycles, cars and Garda miscellaneous items.
Ireland’s only all day auction will herald the end of 2010 with a spectacular 500 vehicle and bicycle auction featuring ex-finance, commercial vehicles, exceptional value Gimme 5 cars and a selection of very special Prestige cars. This will be followed by one of the highlights of the auction calendar, the famous Bike and Miscellaneous auction on behalf of An Garda Siochana. The popular auction features recovered and unclaimed items and bikes that are auctioned off with a no reserve price selling to the highest bidder. You can pick up bikes for all the family for less than €50 each!
Other miscellaneous items include cosmetic sets, watches and cameras, all great stocking fillers!
For those of you in the market for a car, perhaps as a Christmas present for a loved one or yourself, there will be a fantastic selection of cars to cater for every buyer. Ex-finance cars, multi purpose vehicles and passenger jeeps (to get you and the family through the Christmas snow) will be first off the mark at the 11am auction. Business owners may be interested in the commercial jeeps, small and large vans going for auction at 11.45am. Those looking for a luxury car perhaps as an impressive Christmas present won’t want to miss the Prestige auction at 12.30pm. Anyone looking for a great deal should not miss the 1pm Gimme 5 cars which must go for less than €5,000 and that’s including all fees!
Bring along the kids to meet Santa Merlin who will arrive with special Christmas treats at 1.30pm. Next up at 2pm is a special selection of no reserve vehicles, followed by non runner vehicles at 2.30pm.
Timetable, Saturday 11th December 2010
11.00am Selection of ex-finance cars, MPVs and passenger jeeps
11.45am Commercial jeeps, small vans and large vans
12.30pm Selection of prestige vehicles
1.00pm Selection of GIMME 5 Cars. Buy any car at auction for less than €5,000 including all auction and registration fees.
1.30pm Santa Merlin will be arriving with special Christmas treats
2.00pm Selection of No reserve vehicles
2.30pm Selection of non runner vehicles to include vans, cars, jeeps
3.00pm Bicycle and miscellaneous items auction on behalf of an Garda Siochana
Merlin Car Scene of Fusion Tension
May, 18th 2012
It would seem a lot more went on, off screen rather than on screen in the latest task for the Apprentice applicants. A large part of the drama supposedly took place in the back of our Merlin car from what we can gather from last night’s episode!
Following last week’s shocking double firing nobody seemed safe in the Apprentice this week, and the nerves were showing. Bill decided to put Barry and Michelle together on Team Fusion to face the remaining candidates Niamh, Panos and Will on Team Elev8 in a website and social media challenge involving Carry Out Off Licence.
Barry and Michelle did not get on well as a team. They decided not to appoint a Project Manager on the first day until Barry became PM on day two. Michelle seemed to hold her tongue and give in to Barry’s charge until he bought some gold tacky table cloths to use for the event in the team’s designated off licence. The event was a wine tasting evening launching a website and members club with a particular focus on women. Michelle put her foot down on the tablecloths and insisted on getting new cloths so as not to bring down the tone of the event.
Although Michelle won on the tablecloth argument, neither did well in the presentation to the gathered wine enthusiasts. Barry flitted back and forth through the presentation and repeatedly talked over Michelle. The crowd were less than impressed.
Team Elev8 won the task hands down for their website and logo design as well as the presentation. Michelle and Barry were left to fight for their remaining place on the show. This is when our Merlin car took on the off screen role! Michelle reported that Barry had been angry at her for bringing up the tablecloths in front of the camera and that she had embarrassed him. He told her to stop playing up for the cameras. Barry denied this but Bill seemed certain it had happened.
Ultimately Bill felt that Barry was not a team player as he did not trust anyone else in his tasks. Also Barry’s political incorrectness came to the fore as he called every female housemate ‘babes’ . Not very professional Barry!
Next week we will chauffer the remaining 4 candidates to be grilled for a full day by Bill’s advisors. Good luck guys.
Exclusive Range of Christmas Gifts Up for Auction This Wednesday
May, 18th 2012
Looking for a Christmas present for a loved one? Why not come along to the Pre-Christmas Prestige Luxury Vehicle Auction, this Wednesday, 1st December at 7pm in our Naas premises. This Prestige auction is an ideal opportunity to buy a luxury Christmas gift for a loved one or even yourself! This will be the final prestige auction of the year to feature a selection of top of the range vehicles that will be sold at exceptionally competitive prices.
The auction itself will feature over 300 lots including the luxury vehicles, ex-finance vehicles, private entries and dealer part exchange. The Prestige catalogue will appeal to car enthusiasts on all levels with lots that include makes and models ranging from a 2008 Mini Cooper Clubman 1.6 5dr, through to an exclusive 1980 Bentley Corniche Convertible, of which only 77 were made between 1977 and 1981. The extensive range of vehicles for auction, features models from Chrysler, Lexus, Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar and Audi. The full catalogue can be viewed at www.merlincarauctions.ie/prestige and highlights include;
* 2009 Audi A4 2.0TDI S Line 6 Speed Manual
* 2008 BMW 520 M Sports Diesel
* 2008 Landrover Range Rover Sport TDV6 SE
* 2006 Jaguar Z-Type XJ 2.7 Executive Auto
* 1980 Bentley Corniche Convertible
Tf the snow keeps you from taking to the roads you can always bid and buy live online from the comfort of your warm home or office on our award winning online facility, Merlin LiveOnline.
Merlin O’Reilly, CEO of Merlin Motor Group said of the upcoming auction, “The prestige auctions have given car enthusiasts the opportunity to realise their goal of buying their dream car at an affordable price. This year has seen a substantial increase in the numbers of top of the range cars going under the hammer”.
Merlin Car Auctions Celebrates Award Win
May, 18th 2012
- Merlin Live Online (Merlin Car Auctions) Kildare was declared Innovation of the Year at the inaugural Irish Motor Industry Awards
Merlin Car Auctions was presented with the Innovation of the Year trophy at the first ever awards ceremony for the Irish motor industry.
The honour was awarded to Merlin’s online business for depth of commitment to online investment that delivers sales performance, cost efficiencies and enhanced purchasing experience.
Backed by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), the official voice of the motor industry in Ireland, and sponsored by Castrol Professional, the specialist lubricants and business improvement solutions provider, the awards took place at Killashee House Hotel in Naas, Co. Kildare.
David Byrne, MD of Merlin Car Auctions said: “We are absolutely delighted with our award. Innovation has been a key contributor to the success of our business in recent years and our Merlin Live Online facility is a state of the art platform that enables our customers to bid, view or buy from their office or home in real time. We pride ourselves on our innovative services and our investment has been substantial over the past 12 months in online service enhancements for our customers, which include our new website, shortlisted for the Eircom Spiders Retail Excellence award. We would like to thank the SIMI and Castrol Professional for this highly prestigious award, which will have pride of place at our auction branch in Naas”.
Alan Nolan, Director General of SIMI, said: “I’d like to congratulate Merlin Car Auctions. The winners of these inaugural industry awards are very deserving of the recognition they received and they represent the pinnacle of success in what has been a difficult period for the industry. Everyone at Merlin Car Auctions should be very proud of their achievements over the last year and of winning this award.”
Dave Watson, Head of Castrol Professional in Ireland, said: “It was exciting to see the industry coming together to celebrate best practice and I congratulate Merlin Car Auctions because I understand the shortlist was of an exceptionally high standard. Businesses such as Merlin are at the leading edge of the industry’s recovery from the recession and are a shining example of the innovation, hard work and quality of service exhibited by those in the motor trade.”
The full list of winners at the inaugural SIMI Irish Motor Industry Awards in association with Castrol Professional are:
- Retail Operation of the Year: Cunningham Higgins, Galway
- Aftersales Operation of the Year: Joe Duffy Motors, Dublin
- Innovation of the Year: Merlin Car Auctions
- Unsung Hero of the Year: The Drogheda SIMI Members
- Franchise Dealer of the Year: Cavanaghs of Charleville
For full details of the 2010 SIMI Irish Motor Industry Awards in association with Castrol Professional, please visit www.irishmotorindustryawards.ie.
The Apprentice
May, 18th 2012
There are almost as many Merlin SUVs as there are apprentices left, as this week saw the Magnificent 7 sharing four cars between them.
It was more than the coffee that was brewing in this week’s Apprentice and what an end as Bill dramatically delivered a double eviction! The task was an exciting but challenging one, to create a 30 second cinema commercial to launch the new Phillips coffee machine.
Once again Team Elev8 worked well together, particularly after Bill appointed Panos as PM and Barry putting his creative skills to good use, generating great ideas for the task. Fellow team mates Niamh and Will supported really well and worked hard to bringing it all together, and particularly during the presentation stage. Although the commercial had a James Bond theme, which the panel didn’t think very original, it was good enough for them to be chosen as winners.
The tension was building in Team Fusion and when Ciara was placed in charge as the project manager, Jamie was not too happy. Together with Michelle they created what task sponsor Harvey Norman described as ‘ taste of 70’s …’. A totally unimpressed Bill Cullen was very decisive as he fired Ciara, who for the fourth time was in the final three line up. Then without warning Bill went for the double and also fired Jamie with the words ‘You are not for me’. Then there were 5 !
Awards Celebrate Success and Excellence In Motor Industry
May, 18th 2012
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Cars For Cash Roadshow Comes To Cork
May, 18th 2012
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Turn That Clanger Into Christmas Cash
May, 18th 2012
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Irish Motor Industry celebrates excellence
May, 18th 2012
The Irish Motor Industry converged this week at the inaugural Irish Motor Industry Awards to celebrate the successes of the last year.
Backed by SIMI and sponsored by Castrol Professional, the awards ceremony honoured those businesses who have demonstrated excellence and best practice in the face of very challenging market conditions.
Over 250 of the Motor Industry’s senior figures attended the first ever awards ceremony of its kind, held at Killashee House Hotel in Naas, Co. Kildare. Legendary Irish international football star, Ronnie Whelan, presented the trophies to the award winners.
The winners of the 2010 SIMI Irish Motor Industry Awards in association with Castrol Professional are:
- Retail Operation of the Year: Cunningham Higgins, Galway
- Aftersales Operation of the Year: Joe Duffy Motors, Dublin
- Innovation of the Year: Merlin Car Auctions
- Unsung Hero of the Year: The Drogheda SIMI Members
- Franchise Dealer of the Year: Cavanaghs of Charleville
Addressing delegates at the SIMI’s National Franchise Dealers Conference 2010, Director General of SIMI, Alan Nolan highlighted the turnaround the industry made in the last year. “We are extremely grateful that the Government introduced scrappage in January; without a shadow of a doubt its introduction has lifted the industry. It is fantastic to see 3,200 more people employed in our industry. We are certainly one of few industries in the country who have seen such a jump in employment and we expect that trend to continue to the end of the year. From speaking to dealers around the country there is a renewed sense of excitement and positivity back in the trade.”
Nolan continued, “3,200 new jobs is hugely significant not just for our industry but for small businesses around the country. Having to let go staff last year was a very sad time for employers across the country. On top of that, the 150 apprentice vacancies is something which the industry hasn’t seen for many years. It’s great to see members giving young people the opportunity to kick start their career at such a difficult time in our country.”
Dave Watson, Head of Castrol Professional in Ireland, said: “It was exciting to see the industry coming together to celebrate best practice and congratulate those who have achieved exceptional things this year. We work with a large number of businesses in the sector and have seen how they have adapted and toiled to make progress. The whole industry should be proud of what has been achieved over the past year and can feel positive about the outlook for 2011.”
For full details of the 2010 SIMI Irish Motor Industry Awards in association with Castrol Professional, please visit www.irishmotorindustryawards.ie.
Pictured at the presentation of the award for Innovation of the Year to Merlin Car Auctions at the SIMI Irish Motor Industry Awards 2010 in association with Castrol Professional were (l-r): Dave Watson, Head of Castrol Professional in Ireland; David Byrne, Managing Director, Merlin Car Auctions; Special Guest at the awards, Ronnie Whelan; and Alan Nolan, Director General, SIMI.
Pictured at the SIMI Irish Motor Industry Awards 2010 in association with Castrol Professional were (l-r): Dave Watson, Head of Castrol Professional in Ireland; Hugh Sheehy, Marketing Manager, Cavanagh’s of Charleville Ltd, Franchise Dealer of the Year; Mark Bradley, Dealer Principal, Joe Duffy BMW, Aftersales Operation of the Year; Special Guest at the awards, Ronnie Whelan; David Byrne, Managing Director, Merlin Car Auctions, winner of the Innovation of the Year award; Merlin O’Reilly, CEO, Merlin Motor Group; Niall Cunningham, Managing Director, Cunningham Higgins Specialist Cars Ltd, Retail Operation of the Year; and Alan Nolan, Director General, SIMI.
Pictured at the presentation of the award of Franchise Dealer of the Year to Cavanagh’s of Charleville Ltd at the SIMI Irish Motor Industry Awards 2010 in association with Castrol Professional were (l-r): Dave Watson, Head of Castrol Professional in Ireland; Hugh Sheehy, Marketing Manager, Cavanagh’s of Charleville Ltd; Special Guest at the awards, Ronnie Whelan; and Alan Nolan, Director General, SIMI.
Pictured at the presentation of the award for Aftersales Operation of the Year to Joe Duffy BMW at the SIMI Irish Motor Industry Awards 2010 in association with Castrol Professional were (l-r): Dave Watson, Head of Castrol Professional in Ireland; Mark Bradley, Dealer Principal, Joe Duffy BMW; Special Guest at the awards, Ronnie Whelan; and Alan Nolan, Director General, SIMI.
Pictured at the presentation of the award for Retail Operation of the Year to Cunningham Higgins Specialist Cars Ltd at the SIMI Irish Motor Industry Awards 2010 in association with Castrol Professional were (l-r): Dave Watson, Head of Castrol Professional in Ireland; Niall Cunningham, Managing Director, Cunningham Higgins Specialist Cars Ltd; Special Guest at the awards, Ronnie Whelan
Elephant in the Car
May, 18th 2012
We are half way through the series now with 8 failed candidates and 8 remaining hopefuls. Things have been heating up with arguments, personality clashes and rivalries.
Following last week’s spat between Panos and Jamie we were sure that Bill would split them to two separate teams. The candidates woke early and had to be ready to drive away from their luxury digs in our Merlin cars within half an hour. As they sat in the back of our car in transit to Croke Park, Jamie and Panos decided to acknowledge the elephant in the car, so to speak, and eased the tension a little by joking that Bill would keep them on the same team because they “work so well together” and “make a good team”!
They really did seem shocked when Bill not only kept them together but moved both of them to Fusion to join Michelle and Ciara while Barry, Niamh and Dave joined Will on Team Elev8. Perhaps Bill wanted to see more sparks fly but PM Michelle made sure to split the two just in case further friction caused them to lose the task.
This week, the teams were asked to meet entrepreneurs and to pick an innovative food product that they would approach Spar about stocking and selling nationwide.
Barry and Niamh both nominated themselves as PM for Team Elev8 but Barry won backing from Will and Dave. Meanwhile Niamh became PM for Fusion with Panos insisting he could not manage the task as they had to find an Irish product and he was not in tune with Irishness as he is Greek!
Barry and Will had 60 minutes to meet 10 different entrepreneurs to decide which product to pick. Barry did not use his time well as he spent too long with the first few entrepreneurs leaving himself too short on time to discover the last product. Jamie and Ciara met the entrepreneurs on behalf of Fusion in a very organised time schedule but failed to impress the business men and women as they came across as cold and clinical.
When it comes to innovation Elev8 chose the best product with a self heating dinner costing €5. Fusion on the other hand went for Irish cakes and biscuits from a team of brothers. It seemed that Elev8 would be clear winners for their product alone but things went downhill from there. Niamh and Dave fell down when it came to redesigning the packaging. They did not really change the prototype black and yellow packaging at all. They also came up with Irish flag footprints to highlight the point of sale to customers. Not the brightest idea ever..
Both presentations had faults with serious questioning of the point of sale for the Fusion confectionary and a fairy awful presentation from start to finish from Barry and his team. Neither team really conveyed what each product was and how they worked.
Barry was fairly economical with the truth when it came to question time. For one he kept calling it a Michelin star meal. The creator of the range told Barry that he had worked at one or two Michelin star restaurants but Barry decided to go one further and call this meal Michelin star quality cooked by a Michelin chef.
Bill was disappointed in Elev8 as they had a fantastic unique product but did not work on its packaging or marketing and that the presentation was very unimpressive for the judges. Although Niamh worked on the ‘rebranding’ of the packaging and the marketing Barry did not take her back to the boardroom when they lost their task.
Will, Barry and Dave were quite gentlemanly as they tried to save themselves from getting canned. It looked to us like Will might go as he didn’t seem to do much on this task but Dave was chosen by Bill as this week’s firee. This is probably more to do with his track record and the fact that Bill felt he was not passionate enough about the role of Apprentice.
It looks to us that Will needs to pull his socks up or he’ll be out next week!
Merlin Come First for Innovation at Motor Industry Awards
May, 18th 2012
Merlin Car Auctions today, received the 2010 Innovation of the Year Award at the Society Of The Irish Motor Industry Annual Conference. The award was received for the Merlin Live Online facility which has revolutionised auctioneering by allowing interested parties to log on to our website from their office, home, another country and partake in the auction at Merlin’s branches in Naas or Kylemore. Customers can view and bid in real time on vehicles.
David Byrne, Managing Director said this afternoon, “We are delighted with the recognition we have received from our esteemed colleagues at the SIMI in association with Castrol Professional. Merlin Live Online has made our auctions much more accessible to a wider market of interested bidders. Many regular bidders have commented on the ease and flexibility this facility has brought them. Innovation is key to our business success. We are currently working on a number of exciting new services to be launched in 2011.”
7.5 Million handed over to car sellers next stop - Wexford
May, 18th 2012
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May, 18th 2012
Vinyl or is it Viral!?
We found ourselves cringing from behind our hands last night as we watched the car crash that was episode 8 of The Apprentice. How could it have gone so wrong and how was it so difficult for team Elev8 to understand the concept of a viral??
This week our cars arrived at the Apprentice house to take the candidates to the National Museum for their briefing on their 8th task. In order to create publicity and drive consumers to the new Appleby website, both teams were challenged with creating a short viral. If successful and quirky enough the viral would be circulated by web users by email to friends, family and colleagues.
Twenty four year old property surveyor Tara Lee put herself forward as team leader for Team Elev8. Thirty-three year old Panos Zametakis also put himself forward due to his extensive experience in the online world as Senior Online Advertising Manager at Google. Although Panos obviously had the best skills to lead the task he was outvoted by Will and Jamie. The lads said that they felt Tara would be more organised and would bring structure to the team. What a mistake!!
On Team Fusion, 23 year old Marketing Coordinator Niamh McDonald was unanimously voted as PM. The team quickly came up with an idea for the viral and got to work. Barry and Michelle worked on making the viral while Niamh and Dave looked after the event. All ran very smoothly while on Team Elev8 things were not going so well.
Firstly it took an entire day for Will, Jamie and Tara to understand exactly what a viral was. Panos seemed blue in the face trying to explain the concept to them but nobody seemed to want to listen to him. Will spent much of the day calling it a ‘vinyl’!! Eventually with 10 minutes to go on their first day, Will seemed to grasp the idea. Tara later admitted that she never fully understood what it was…
Will and Jamie came up with the concept for the viral overnight but kept changing the idea until they only had less than 3 hours to film the piece. Panos and Tara were ferried around town in a Merlin car as they grabbed a sexy nurses outfit (the significance of which was never quite explained in the piece), talked to buskers on Grafton Street and organised the event.
Tara chose to have live music at her event but did not have much luck with this. The busker she approached on the street had to pull out as he did not have a work permit so she was sent into a panic as she tried to source other musicians at the last minute. When she finally secured a duo she could not afford to pay the musicians. What is wrong with the apprentices this year? It seems that managing their budgets is proving difficult for some!
Fusion outshone Elev8 in every aspect with a funny viral and a slick event with a champagne breakfast in a nicely branded room. The 25 Appleby members of staff then moved on to Elev8’s event where they were greeted by a far less glamorous event. Tara insisted on doing the presentation but seemed to lose her nerve as she began.
It was not difficult to bet on a winner in this task. It was no surprise when Bill told the teams that Elev8 lost. Bill told Tara that her presentation was the worst that he had seen in the history of the show.
Tara battled until the end as she insisted that Panos was to blame. She claimed that she, Will and Jamie were not stupid so the fault lay on Panos’s side for not explaining things properly. This did not wash with Bill who fired Tara without much hesitation.
It would seem that Panos has made a few enemies over the last few weeks which was plain to see from this episode. We will see what happens next week but it might be wise for Bill to mix up the teams again to avoid major confrontation between Panos and Jamie!
Licence to thrill at Naas Auction
May, 18th 2012
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And the prize goes to…
May, 18th 2012
Merlin Car Auctions were delighted to welcome this week’s task winners as guest auctioneers at our Naas auction house. The show started off with a mix up of the teams. Bill asked Michelle and Dave to move to Fusion, while Jamie and Will moved to Elev8. Neither Will or Michelle had acted as PM yet so Bill appointed them both to lead the teams in a challenge that involved organising a free Cadburys community event in two towns.
Michelle had put herself forward twice before to act as PM but was outvoted each time. This was her time to shine and her effort ensured a win for Team Fusion. The win was not just down to Michelle however as Barry really put everything into the task this week and went hell for leather in an effort to create a large footfall at the community event.
Panos supplied comic relief once again as he was seen picking up dog poo while wincing, had to abandon his difficult role of holding a stick in a place due to paint on his face and also for his attempt to describe how baa baa trap sheep was played. Even stern faced Bill could not help but laugh at this.
Will proved to be a very nervous PM with almost all of his team referring to him as “panicky”. Panos and Nagaite were the final two he chose to take back into the board room to face Bill. It seemed that Nagaite ran out of steam and passion as she could only say that she didn’t know who should be fired when asked. Will and Panos fought like dogs to retain their places in the competition which left Bill deciding to fire Nagaite.
Meanwhile, there was great excitement in the Merlin camp as winning team Fusion celebrated their win at our auction. Michelle, Niamh, Barry, Dave and Ciara each had the opportunity to choose from a selection of prestige cars for auction. Barry chose a Volkswagen Touareg with Dave choosing a Ford Mustang. The girls mixed it up with Niamh selecting a Range Rover Vogue, Ciara choosing a beautiful Mercedes S350 while Michelle chose to auction a stylish Audi A4 convertible.
The Apprentices learned from the best with Ireland’s most famous auctioneers Norman Colfer and David Kehoe putting them through their paces before the big event. Ciara was up first and looked very confident with the gavel in her hand. A natural at auctioneering, her Mercedes was literally gone in 60 seconds! Niamh was super confident and sold her Range Rover Vogue to a flurry of excited bidders. Michelle’s Audi A4 Coupe attracted a lot of interest from bidders and a frenzy ensued for the gorgeous car.
Unfortunately both Dave and Barry spotted friends and family in the crowd at the auction. Regrettably the show’s producers were not able to let Barry or Dave auction their cars as their anonymity had to be protected. The lads were bitterly disappointed so Merlin has invited both Barry and Dave to return and have another go.
Following their super efforts on the rostrum, the apprentices were presented with a personalised bottle of champagne to congratulate them on their win and also for their stellar performances as guest auctioneers. They were then whisked away in the Merlin cars to enjoy a lavish lunch at the Anglers Rest.
Licence to Thrill at Naas Auction
May, 18th 2012
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Licence to Thrill at Naas Auction
May, 18th 2012
We have been receiving a number of excited calls this week as a 2005 tungston silver Aston Martin DB9 V12 Touchtronic with only 3,000 miles on the clock will be going under the hammer at our Naas premises next week, Wednesday, 3rd November at 7pm.
The 2 door, automatic coupe with a wood effect trim, air conditioning and a customised Aston Martin Iron Ore interior may not have all the gadgets that Q demonstrated to 007 in Aston Martin scenes from Goldfinger, Thunderball, The Living Daylights, Goldeneye to Die Another Day. However, the car worth €85,000 - €90,000 is expected to go for €70,000 and has features such as a navigation system, reverse parking aid, Xenon headlights, Red Calipers, alloy wheels, headlight washers, tracking system, trip computer and is complete with a full service history.
Merlin O’Reilly commented, “The Aston Martin really is a classic car that appeals to all Bond fans. Many motor lovers trace the beginning of their petrolhead interests to those scenes as they watched Q introduce the stunning Aston Martin to Bond showcasing all the fantastic MI5 gadgets. Of course we all knew that 007 would eventually trash the car in a number of high-speed chases. That is something that none of these interested bidders will be doing! It will be well cared for and treasured by the winning bidder. With power, beauty and soul this Aston Martin DB9 gives a licence to thrill!”
The prestige auction will feature over 300 vehicles including a large selection of luxury prestige vehicles, ex-finance vehicles, private entries and dealer part exchange offers. Other cars expected to draw the crowds are a 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 (997), 2006 Bentley Continental GT 6.0 2 door, 2008 Audi A5, a 2007 Lexus IS200 as well as a selection of Range Rovers, Porches, BMWs and Mercedes Benz models.
You can see a full catalogue of the prestige cars on auction at www.merlincarauctions.ie/prestige. Don't worry if you cannot be there in person, you can also view, bid and buy online from home or the office with Merlin Live Online.
The auction begins at 7pm on Wednesday, 3rd November at the Naas premises of Merlin Car Auctions. Get there early to avoid disappointment. You can also view the prestige cars for auction this Saturday from 9am.
Two Kildare Companies in running for "best managed"
May, 18th 2012
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Merlin Unimpressed with Results from Motoring Task
May, 18th 2012
We took a special interest in this week’s episode of the Apprentice to see how the remaining candidates handled the motoring task and were a little disappointed with the results. Sarah O’Neill stepped up as project manager for Elev8 while popular Jamie Moran took the lead for Team Fusion. Each team were asked to go to a music festival, take photographs and design a calendar for Ford Fiestaval. The criteria of the calendar was to reflect the fun and vivacity of the brand and to communicate the details of the competition with a call to action for the Facebook campaign.
Sarah was faced with a difficult task as two members of her team turned ‘renegade’. Telco Sales Consultant, Michelle Massey put herself forward as Project Manager for the second time and lost for the second time. Perhaps this is why she turned on Sarah. Sales and Retention Agent, Nagaite Farag seemed to go against all of the ideas while brainstorming saying they were not unique, however she failed to come up with any ideas herself!
As the team split with one half going to the festival and the other staying in the city to work on the design, tensions began. Michelle, Nagaite and Tara took some good shots but none involved the car which was the main focus of the calendar! We witnessed Sarah repeatedly asking over the phone for photos involving the car while the girls argued her down until finally taking a few snaps with the car at the very last minute. Although Sarah received the images with 35 minutes to spare she refused to open the files to her detriment.
Team Fusion had their own difficulties as Jamie, Barry and Ciara set about organising the photographs while Will and Niamh looked after the design. Jamie, Barry and Ciara seemed to be having a whale of a time setting up fun photographs while Niamh and Will bit their nails waiting for the photos to arrive in time for the calendar. This proved disastrous with no photograph arriving in time for the month of December.
Panos provided comic relief once again as he was “injured” and therefore could not really assist on the task. A crick in his neck led to our Greek ex-army man “feeling light” on painkillers!
Jamie proved himself by presenting a great pitch to the client and covering for the botch job by saying that the missing month of December would feature the winning photograph from the Facebook competition. Marketing Director, Joanne Sheehan and her panel were won over by this pitch but also with the photographs for the remaining 11 months which seemed to reflect the characteristics of the car more than Elev8’s calendar.
Sarah never thought to add the logos to the calendar which meant that Elev8 lost to Fusion’s 11 month calendar!
Merlin O’Reilly, Managing Director of Merlin Motor Group appeared on the panel of You’re Fired as a motor industry spokesperson. Merlin felt it had been slightly unfair to sack Sarah as her team were so unruly and refused to follow her direction with photographs. When asked on who Merlin thought should win, he replied that his money was on Barry. “He’s strong, he’s abrasive but yet he’s very good with people, particularly the customers.” He went on to say “he’s got a great manner and a great way about him.” Customer service is very important to Merlin.
Check Out Rare Bentley and Many Other Stunning Cars ...
May, 18th 2012
Check Out Rare Bentley and Many Other Stunning Cars at Exclusive Luxury Prestige Car Auction in Naas
Calling all car lovers.. A classic 1980 Bentley Corniche Convertible will be one of the main attractions at the Merlin Car Auction Prestige Sale in Naas next week, Wednesday, October 6th 2010. Classic car fans from far and wide are expected to attend to bid for this rare vehicle or to take a look at some of the stunning cars on offer.
One of only 77 Bentley Corniche Convertibles built between 1971 and 1984, this rare motor is a bronze 2 door convertible with a tan leather interior, air conditioning and automatic transmission. The V8 6750cc engine is in immaculate condition with 45,586 miles on the clock from new.
Bidders will have a choice of 35 other prestige vehicles including Audis, BMW, Mercedes, Jaguars, Porches and a Rolls Royce Silver Spirit 11 to name but a few at this exclusive Merlin auction. Overall there will be more than 300 vehicles up for auction on the night including ex-finance vehicles, private entries and dealer part exchange.
Merlin O’Reilly, CEO of Merlin Car Auctions said of the upcoming auction, “Our prestige auctions are incredibly popular as we showcase luxury prestige cars at very reasonable prices. As a car lover myself, I will be very excited to see who bids for the classic Bentley. The car is a fantastic piece of workmanship and its owner obviously kept it in immaculate condition as it is incredibly rare”.
Don't worry if you cannot be there in person, interested parties who are unable to attend the Naas auction can view, bid and buy online from their own home or office with Merlin Live Online.
The auction begins at 7pm on Wednesday, 6th October at the Naas premises of Merlin Car Auctions. Get there or go on line early to avoid disappointment.
You can check out the full catalogue at www.merlincarauctions.ie/prestige.
On Your Bike!
May, 18th 2012
Heading to college, thinking of cycling to work or just want to keep fit and need a bike? Well head to Auction in Naas for the absolutely best value bikes to be found at the Bicycle and Miscellaneous Auction this Saturday 18th September at 12.30pm.
The Bicycle and Miscellaneous auction always attracts great interest. Everyone knows that you can really find a bargain and pick up bikes for the whole family for as little as €50! This is a no reserve auction, which means every one of 80 lots will sell to the highest bidder, so there will be real value to be found. There is a great selection of mountain bikes ranging from a number of kids BMXs to bikes for women and men from the leading brands including Planet, Apollo and Kawasaki. The miscellaneous items always attract great attention and this auction features three sets of golf clubs, a selection of mobile phones, leather jackets and cameras.
The auction starts at 12.30pm, immediately after the usual car auction at 11am, which features over 300 ex-finance, private entries and dealer part exchange vehicles.
Car2Cash Cork
May, 18th 2012
Are sick of trying to offload your car to disinterested buyers? Why hang on to your old car when you could be trading it for cash on the spot, with no hassle and no fuss! If you’ve tried to sell your car recently, you know how frustrating it can be to try to get a good price… until now!
Due to popular demand, Merlin Motor Group’s phenomenally successful Car 2 Cash scheme is gearing up for the autumn with a repeat of their popular roadshow, which visits Tesco in Mitchelstown on Saturday 25th September between 9am-6pm and at the Wilton Shopping Centre on Sunday 26th September from 11am-6pm.
Car owners can get instant payment for their car without the hassle of advertising or test-driving with potential customers. To date Merlin has paid over €7.5 million on the spot to car owners as part of the instant car sell.
Our experts will be ready to give a cheque for your car. All that is needed is the vehicle-licensing certificate together with two forms of identification, either a passport or drivers license and a recent utility bill with your current address.
All vehicles are accepted, and our experienced Sales Executives will complete the vehicle appraisal and you the car owners will be required to provide details of the vehicle history. On acceptance of the valuation a sales order will be processed and Merlin will issue a cheque for the value of the vehicle and will transfer the ownership of the vehicle to Merlin Car Auctions. It couldn’t be easier!
We have also introduced a Car2Cash Fast track service where sellers can register in advance online. Log onto www.car2cash.ie and simply fill in the details about the car you want to sell and one of our Merlin representatives will call to arrange to a time that suits you to meet and value your car.
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