Soldato
- Joined
- 9 Dec 2009
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- 5,458
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- Bristol
This thread reminds my why I do all my own servicing and, where I can, all the repairs.
My latest Garage experience
- Thread starter easyrider
- Start date
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I sympathise @easyrider, it sucks when you pay for a service and trust that the garage has the expertise and integrity to do their job. A company should be judged just as much by how they put things right when they've done wrong.
I had a terrible experience with a garage that I won't name but suffice to say they were neither quick nor fit to work on my car
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I had a terrible experience with a garage that I won't name but suffice to say they were neither quick nor fit to work on my car
.
I sympathise @easyrider, it sucks when you pay for a service and trust that the garage has the expertise and integrity to do their job. A company should be judged just as much by how they put things right when they've done wrong.
I had a terrible experience with a garage that I won't name but suffice to say they were neither quick nor fit to work on my car
People are trying to be hip by defending shoddy work.
Precisely why the Garage industry feels they are untouchable as these so called motorheads haven’t got the balls to complain.
Something like this is a matter of principle to me. It doesn't matter if it's for £23 or £23,000. **** service is **** service and it should be called out.
Took car for mot, service and tyres, garage 1 subbed the mot work to garage 2, noticed the next day that rear lights weren't working, got annoyed because garage 1 didn't accept it was their fault, garage 2 fixed it for £20, easyrider got one step closer to a stroke
I wish...
It was £24
Years ago, i bought a brand new Polo R line for the free insurance because the Mrs had only just passed her test.
Within months, the seat bolster worn really bad to the point of where you could see foam inside. Anyway, the car developed a fault whereby the HT leads were knackered and would put the car into Limp mode.
No biggie, done under warranty. Upon speaking to them, i mentioned the seat and they told me it was wear and tear and it would be over £800 to replace. At the time, there was no chance I could pay that sort of money.
anyway, i get the car back and on the passenger side, the fabric on the door card was all worn and pulled out which i assume happened when it was being cleaned.
I went back in and told them immediately, more out of courtesy than anything else (i hate complaining) as it wasn't my original service rep, they told me to email in and see where it goes.
She got a bit arsey saying that they cant prove it wasn't done in their care but to bring it in and they will have a look.
I replied back being as nice as possible basically saying that i bought a VW because of the brand reputation and that £18k for a car might not be a lot to some people, but at the time (with a young family) it was a big financial decision and given the mechanical issues and aftercare, i would find it extremely difficult to bring myself to buy another car from them. But thanked them for at least looking into possibly repairing the door card for me.
I dropped the car off and got a call a few days later advising me it was ready and to come and collect it.
When I got there, she told me that they had done the door card and the full seat repair free of charge.
Sometimes its how you approach the situation as to whether it becomes stressful or not.
Kill them with Kindness and you might have just saved yourself £24.
Within months, the seat bolster worn really bad to the point of where you could see foam inside. Anyway, the car developed a fault whereby the HT leads were knackered and would put the car into Limp mode.
No biggie, done under warranty. Upon speaking to them, i mentioned the seat and they told me it was wear and tear and it would be over £800 to replace. At the time, there was no chance I could pay that sort of money.
anyway, i get the car back and on the passenger side, the fabric on the door card was all worn and pulled out which i assume happened when it was being cleaned.
I went back in and told them immediately, more out of courtesy than anything else (i hate complaining) as it wasn't my original service rep, they told me to email in and see where it goes.
She got a bit arsey saying that they cant prove it wasn't done in their care but to bring it in and they will have a look.
I replied back being as nice as possible basically saying that i bought a VW because of the brand reputation and that £18k for a car might not be a lot to some people, but at the time (with a young family) it was a big financial decision and given the mechanical issues and aftercare, i would find it extremely difficult to bring myself to buy another car from them. But thanked them for at least looking into possibly repairing the door card for me.
I dropped the car off and got a call a few days later advising me it was ready and to come and collect it.
When I got there, she told me that they had done the door card and the full seat repair free of charge.
Sometimes its how you approach the situation as to whether it becomes stressful or not.
Kill them with Kindness and you might have just saved yourself £24.
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I think the only option is small claims court, they owe you £24 after all you have irrefutable proof they damaged your car as you know the lights didn't work when you picked the car up from their garage but didn't want to raise it because, well you know you're such an easyrider 
Sadly also depends on the person, my grandad somehow had a certain presence and/or way with people and would get things like free upgrades on airlines or problems with car dealers sorted almost without asking whereas for someone else it might be like dealing with a brick wall.
Happened when i went to vegas a couple of years ago. We booked last minute and when we checked in we were sat apart. I wasnt too fussed about it but through the booking I tried to get a bit of an upgrade but it kept failing.
while boarding, i told them there was a problem with the APP and i couldn't get the seats which i wanted to pay for (exit seat) he sorted it out there and then free of charge. Saved me about £150.
The power of charisma.
I didn’t go with all guns blazing….I was relatively calm…I’ve experienced great customer service in the past from my BMW Indy who went above an beyond to help me save a small fortune on my 3 series…used him for years.
But the guy in this Garage just clearly didn’t give a ****
It was like talking to a brick wall….he just didn’t want to know on any level…
I know all about staying calm and being friendly to get results….but this was a complete shrug off…zero empathy..untter contempt from his part.
I didn’t go with all guns blazing….I was relatively calm…I’ve experienced great customer service in the past from my BMW Indy who went above an beyond to help me save a small fortune on my 3 series…used him for years.
But the guy in this Garage just clearly didn’t give a ****
It was like talking to a brick wall….he just didn’t want to know on any level…
I know all about staying calm and being friendly to get results….but this was a complete shrug off…zero empathy..untter contempt from his part.
I bought a Dell laptop online….had it around 13 months and the screen failed. I emailed Dell.
A Dell support guy rang me a day later explaining my Laptop was out of warranty but in this instance they would repair it for free.
I gave them my service tag number expecting to have to post it back to them…but they Dell guy just asked what address was convenient for a Dell tech guy to visit and perform the repair on-site.
I gave them my work address…
The next day I was work…reception emailed me saying Dell was here…I went to meet him… I found him a room to work in gave him my laptop and he not only repaired the screen…he swapped the keyboard over for a new one and replaced the top chassis part as he said it looked a bit worn. Basically my laptop looked new again.
Superb customer service….
A Dell support guy rang me a day later explaining my Laptop was out of warranty but in this instance they would repair it for free.
I gave them my service tag number expecting to have to post it back to them…but they Dell guy just asked what address was convenient for a Dell tech guy to visit and perform the repair on-site.
I gave them my work address…
The next day I was work…reception emailed me saying Dell was here…I went to meet him… I found him a room to work in gave him my laptop and he not only repaired the screen…he swapped the keyboard over for a new one and replaced the top chassis part as he said it looked a bit worn. Basically my laptop looked new again.
Superb customer service….
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