A Blow To the Volvo-enthusiasts World-wide and Against Volvo's Heritage

1997 was thought of as festive year, with Volvo's 70-year anniversary, but the party ended before it began. 

Why?

   Volvo has given its spare parts for PV, Amazon and P 1800 to a company that neither has a genuine feeling for Volvo and its value nor any understanding of the cultural inheritance that the Volvo clubs has acquired.

   All clubs around the world ideally work as PR-ambassadors to give Volvo goodwill and status, and everyone is diligently using their rolling billboards. This activity is even financed out of our own pockets!

   The clubs and their members have up 'til now been loyal to Volvo, but now the limit is reached as to what one can put up with. The company that has been given the rights to take over the older spare parts, Genuine Classic Parts (hereafter abbreviated to GCP), has since 3/3/97 increased the price of spare parts by 21% and upward. Even Volvo retailers have reacted by calling it insanity. Certain parts have become so dear that it is impossible for normally salaried people to purchase them (a rise of 300% is known). And even worse, many for the vehicles' essential elementary functions spare parts are gone and the tools destroyed.

   This in turn leads to many negative effects. For many who own veteran Volvo cars as a hobby, this for example can lead to giving up one's interest or move on to another marque. Many older, classic Volvo vehicles will consequently simply be junked.

   GCP's actions is a good example of how to kill a cultural heritage and a hobby for almost 20,000 enthusiast in Sweden, Holland, Belgium and many more the word over.

   A few persons maybe still won't give up, and instead use pirated parts in the restoration of their vehicles. This was probably not the idea behind the concept of "original Volvo parts"?

   A philosophy that Volvo used in their advertising for a number of years.

   Volvo's shortsighted actions is a puzzle. A study of for example BMW's spare parts and pricing policy would have been of value and even serving as a guide.

   But instead, to give GCP responsibility of maintaining the heavy burden of, with spare parts, contribute towards keeping our Volvo treasures rolling, is like, to put it bluntly, giving a blind person a drivers license and allowing him out alone in traffic.

   Trust in GCP is gone, and it can never be regained.

   Even after conversations with GCP, it seems like they don't understand what they have done, and maintain their cold attitude towards the clubs' views. They lack genuine Volvo feelings and Volvo's service spirit.

   Why did Volvo let this happen?

   Why did You not listen to the persons inside the Volvo company and the clubs that had other ideas and how the spare parts support system for these older Volvo cars should be managed?

   Why did You not pay any heed of the consumers, i.e. the clubs and their members?

   Why was a letter from SVIS, Swedish Volvo clubs United, sent to Volvo in May 1996 not answered?

   Why was moreover no heed given to SVIS that was even formed at the request of Volvo? Or to V-44 Onderdelen Depot? Both well functioning spare parts sources for the clubs.

   Yes, the questions are many! 

   Volvo's and GCP's dealings have awaken disturbances not only in Sweden and Europe. People are heard from the world over, and want to write and collect petitions. Concerned members call their clubs daily. The Swedish and Dutch Volvo clubs have decided to together form an international umbrella organization for all Volvo clubs. 

   Company officials and other responsible people must realize that this is a public opinion against Volvo that is very serious and hurts Volvo's reputation and good name both in Sweden and world wide. What Volvo has to know by now is that 85 -90% of these enthusiasts, who put their heart and soul in the care and renovation of these quality products, use a new or newer Volvo as their daily drivers. How do You think this market is going to be affected by this blow?

   If there is no change soon, the storm of protest is not going to abate, neither in Sweden nor universally. On the contrary, this is only the tip of the iceberg!

   We hope that You swiftly take action to restore our trust in Volvo's good name. We take it for granted that You will not let short sighted marketing executives kill Volvo's cultural inheritance and deny us the joy of owning a veteran Volvo car and contribute to furthering Volvo's history.

   For the concerned Volvo clubs in Sweden, Holland and Belgium,