Honda West wins Honda President’s Award

From the moment you walk into Honda West's service area, it's apparent the staff is having fun. Silly string shoots across the air while employees exchange quips and playful elbow nudges.

It's not unusual for the staff at Honda West to be cheerful, but on Feb. 6 they had something extra to celebrate:They had just won Honda's President's Award, given to dealerships that rank in the top 15 percent of their peers.

Honda West ranked in the 11th percentile in its region and was the only Honda dealership in Nevada to win the award. Out of 100 possible points gauging sales and customer satisfaction, among other things, the dealership on Sahara Avenue scored 95.

In addition, Honda West scored consistently high in 2008 on Customer Service Index surveys, which measure customer satisfaction, and the dealership's high scores continue into this year. Honda West also won a Customer Service Excellence award from the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce in 2008.

"It's all about morale," said Service Manager Wayne Kortlang. "Happy employees give you happy customers.

"Everybody likes coming to work, everyone likes doing what they do. Do we have our days? Everyone has their days. But for the most part, the service job, I couldn't ask for a better drive, and I couldn't ask for better technicians."

Kortlang said the Express Service Center has played a large role in Honda West's success. In the last 21/2 years, the number of cars serviced per month at the express center has doubled from 700 to 1,400.

The Express Service Center's eight technicians handle oil changes and routine maintenance and promise to have customers in and out of the shop within 30 minutes with a free car wash. Typically, it takes about 20 minutes, said Express Service Manager Shawn Cherry.

"We have been told that our express service is bar none by Honda," Kortlang said. "They have people coming from all over the country to look at our express service, which is a good feeling."

Mechanical work, repairs and services such as window tinting take place in the main shop, which is staffed by 15 technicians.

New and returning customers are able to schedule service appointments online at www.hondawest.net.

Honda West is located at 7615 W. Sahara Ave. For more information, to schedule an appointment or to browse service specials, visit the Web site or call the dealership at 728-0379.