Welcome to Webwatch, a regular series in which we rate places on the web to buy used trucks. Today it's the turn of Gloucestershire-based Peter Gilder & Sons.
Company: Peter Gilder & Sons
Address: www.gilder.co.uk
Homepage
The Peter Gilder & Sons website gets off to a promising start with a clear, bright, professionally designed homepage (shown below).
The central panel contains information about the Gloucestershire-based family firm, and navigating around the rest of the site is simply a matter of selecting the appropriate link from the menu on the left.
It is almost impossible to get lost - but should that happen, just click on the 'Home' link at the top of the menu.
Product search
To look for a vehicle, select the 'Trucks' link from the homepage. The next page will show thumbnail images of some of the items available (see below), from Daf and Volvo tractor units to stepframe semi-trailers. The firm promises that it has "many more items in stock" and if so, it is just a shame it hasn't put all of these on the website for your perusal.
There is no specific search function, although one is hardly necessary given that all the items of stock fit on the same screen.
The thumbnail images on the 'Trucks' page aren't labelled - but should one catch your eye, simply click on it to see a larger version, along with details of the product in question.
These vary from vehicle to vehicle, but usually include year, spec, mileage and condition. As is often the case with used truck websites, no prices are given; you need to phone for a quotation or use the contact form elsewhere on the website.
The photos themselves are clear enough. Very few of the items in stock have multiple images available.
You will notice, on the main stock page, a few thumbnails that say 'Image unavailable'. Click on these mysterious icons to find out about the type of stock that Peter Gilder & Sons is currently looking to buy - or perhaps to pretend that you are playing a game of 'Concentration'.
Other pages
Elsewhere on the website you can find out more about Peter Gilder & Sons' other services, including trailer hire (shown below) and parts supply. Rather logically, this is accessed by clicking on 'Trailer Hire', 'Service' or 'Parts'.
Also useful is the contact form: select the 'Contact Us' link and complete the form with your details. Alternatively, the firm's telephone and fax numbers can be found on the bottom of any page.
However, conspicuous by its absence is a map to Peter Gilder & Sons' Bourton-on-the-Water base: for once, potential visitors will have to resort to old-fashioned methods (or Google Maps).
We like
- Clear, professional design
- A doddle to navigate
We're not sure
- Limited selection of stock displayed
- Not that much information on each vehicle
- No map to the firm's base
Conclusion
Despite the lack of an extensive stock listing, this is still a simple, easy-to-navigate site that offers a flavour of what Peter Gilder & Sons has to offer.
The foundations are in place, but now the dealer just needs to increase the information that is available.
Web rating
Appearance: 8/10
Information: 6/10
Navigation: 9/10
Check out our other recent Webwatches, including:
If you would like your used truck website to be considered for a future Webwatch and appear on this blog as well as in Commercial Motor magazine, please email james.clark@rbi.co.uk