MEET CONSUMER HERO SEAN BUCKLEY

SEAN BUCKLEY...CONSUMER HERO

Successful international businessman, entrepreneur, consumer hero, thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder, investor, philanthropist and the man behind Australia’s most controversial television commercials, Ultra Tune Executive Chairman Sean Buckley is a man of many parts.

He took over the Ultra Tune car service franchise in 1994 when it had 50 outlets and was losing money. He famously accepted only $100 a week in wages so he could invest back into the business. Now there are 290 Ultra Tune car service centres across Australia and in 2016 Ultra Tune was named Australia’s highest rating, most trusted and value for money car service chain by independent consumer research and ratings company Canstar Blue.

Buckley is an outspoken consumer advocate when it comes to new car retailers ripping off the general public. He gave evidence at a special ACCC hearing on the despicable practices of Australia’s new car dealers and manufacturers. The hearing was chaired by Commissioner Sarah Court and ACCC Chairman Rod Sims was also present. " Australia's new car retailers are ripping off consumers and costing the public billions of dollars " says Buckley.

His horses are champions including 2013 Cox Plate winner Shamus Award and Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year in 2007, Miss Andretti, who is the only thoroughbred in history to simultaneously  hold a total of 5 track records in Australia and England.

His controversial TV advertisements over the last 3 years featuring the Ultra Tune Rubber Girls and in 2017 aided by Hollywood star Jean-Claude Van Damme have made headlines worldwide, yet despite the record number of complaints, have all been given a clean bill of health and tick of approval by the nation’s Advertising Standards Bureau ( ASB). “I’m the first to admit that the TV ads are not everyone’s cup of tea but they do garner attention and more importantly our customers are voting with their feet and  their cars with both brand awareness as well as revenue increasing by a whopping 17% and 19% respectively for our 290 Ultra Tune outlets nationally. The decision by the ASB is a good one. It justifies what I have been saying all along that these ads aren’t vilifying and sexist but entertainment and fun. The complainants are a well organised group  who are personally attacking Ultra Tune and myself. They have their own agenda and do not reflect the general consumer sentiment. To put it simply,  the commercials catch enough attention to be talked about long after the ad has finished. It is a conversation starter - bring it up to your friends in conversation, ‘Have you seen that Ultra Tune ad?’ and watch the engagement” says Ultra Tune CEO Sean Buckley.

TO INTERVIEW SEAN BUCKLEY email max@marksonsparks.comor call Max Markson 0412 501 601

ABOUT THE ACCC INVESTIGATION

The ACCC study is investigating the following issues:

• The car industry’s compliance with consumer guarantees obligations and the ability of consumers to enforce their rights

• False, misleading and deceptive practices in performance, fuel efficiency, fuel consumption and emissions

• The effect on competition and consumers of post-sale care arrangements (such as servicing)

• Whether consumers and businesses could be affected by any restrictions on vehicle access to data

Mr Buckley provided evidence of the difficulties and additional costs his business incurs in obtaining the repair and service information their technicians need to work on late model cars as well as the role that Ultra Tune franchisees play in supporting their customers with technical advice when legitimate warranty claims are denied by car manufacturers.

" If independent repairers don't have access to information they will increasingly not be able to repair modern vehicles. Simple supply and demand economics will see the price of car repair escalate for every one of the 17 million motor vehicles on our roads, and household expenditure on vehicle running costs will increase. When the cost of vehicle maintenance and repair increases, so too does the cost of every single consumable good and professional service " says Sean Buckley.

" In the US and many other countries around the world the same car manufacturers are freely sharing their new car data and service information with aftercare markets service providers. However, in Australia, despite having given assurances to the ACCC they would comply and share this data they are deliberately avoiding doing so, to the enormous detriment financially to car owners everywhere. Stop this rip off! It's a disgrace and un-Australian! " concludes Buckley