I was in waitng for a couple of recalls to be done on my car (Mitsi dealers). Had the pleasure of having to wait for 3 hours (told it would be 90 minutes max) and could over hear the service guy ringing customers to "advise" them on what's wrong with their cars. The worst had to be him calling a lady and telling her the problem for her car low on power is where the throttle cables goes through to the engine is stuck solid. She will need the throttle boddies replacing at a charge of £695 + VAT for parts and he'll have to get back to her on labour. Surely some carb cleaner and a toothbrush would clean up any throttle boddies!!! She gave him the go ahead cos he said he'd order in the parts for tomorrow.................

 

Also told me that they'd topped up my oil and I needed a new air filter when they obviously didn't noticed the old filter sitting on the back seat, to which I told him it was replaced 2 weeks ago. He replied "oh" lol

 

Just makes me angry having to listen to the crap some places tell people.

 

Vijay

I was in waitng for a couple of recalls to be done on my car (Mitsi dealers). Had the pleasure of having to wait for 3 hours (told it would be 90 minutes max) and could over hear the service guy ringing customers to "advise" them on what's wrong with their cars. The worst had to be him calling a lady and telling her the problem for her car low on power is where the throttle cables goes through to the engine is stuck solid. She will need the throttle boddies replacing at a charge of £695 + VAT for parts and he'll have to get back to her on labour. Surely some carb cleaner and a toothbrush would clean up any throttle boddies!!! She gave him the go ahead cos he said he'd order in the parts for tomorrow.................

 

Also told me that they'd topped up my oil and I needed a new air filter when they obviously didn't noticed the old filter sitting on the back seat, to which I told him it was replaced 2 weeks ago. He replied "oh" lol

 

Just makes me angry having to listen to the crap some places tell people.

 

Vijay

 

Its not just main dealers who do that, when i worked at kwik fit, had some woman in for a brake test, i over heard my work college saying that her rear brake pads were low and that they would need changing and that the pads had scoured the disks and she would need new disks as well. when the guy went to get the prices, i went and had a look, and advised her to take it somewhere else, the pads were fine and no scouring on the disks.

 

I know i was working with the guy, but i have pride in my work, and did not want to be working with a bunch of dodgy gits who were just in it to make the company profit. she took the car somewhere else, they advised her that her pads and disks were fine, and that all she needed was a brake pipe changed that cost her just £10 instead of the £159 per wheel for brake and pads that kwik fit were looking to charge for something she didn't even need and ignored the rear problem associated with her brakes.

 

She bought me in a bottle of wine to say thanks. shame i don't drink lol

 

Needless to say, i moved on to a better place of work.

Its not just main dealers who do that, when i worked at kwik fit, had some woman in for a brake test, i over heard my work college saying that her rear brake pads were low and that they would need changing and that the pads had scoured the disks and she would need new disks as well. when the guy went to get the prices, i went and had a look, and advised her to take it somewhere else, the pads were fine and no scouring on the disks.

 

I know i was working with the guy, but i have pride in my work, and did not want to be working with a bunch of dodgy gits who were just in it to make the company profit. she took the car somewhere else, they advised her that her pads and disks were fine, and that all she needed was a brake pipe changed that cost her just £10 instead of the £159 per wheel for brake and pads that kwik fit were looking to charge for something she didn't even need and ignored the rear problem associated with her brakes.

 

She bought me in a bottle of wine to say thanks. shame i don't drink lol

 

Needless to say, i moved on to a better place of work.

 

 

 

i also worked at Kwikfit, and im ashamed to say i sold numerous of parts to customers to people who didnt need them at all. However, this is because the manager gets pressured by headoffice to meet targets, which in turn makes him pressure the other staff to "miss sell" things that arnt needed. And if you dont comply with the manager then he shows you the door. So what do you do? sell people things they dont need, or loose your job and risk not being able to get another one? This is sad really, but its the case in most kwikfits. I also worked at ATS for a few years. there much better, they dont sell anything thats not needed, however this is probably the reason there in massive debt troubles.

 

I think if you find a private 'local' type garage with a good reputation then your guaranteed a better service and more than likely at a cheaper cost than the big garages or main dealers. For example, ive never taken my car to zed world, but when i do i know i can trust them as they have an amazing record and reputation on this club site alone. And when a garage has that sort of reputation, they try there absolute hardest to keep the customers happy to uphold their good reputation.

Must be difficult for you guys when you worked there cos I've always heard the same thing, was even on Watchdog the other week about having to sell stuff that wasn't needed or you were out :( Just sad that places are happy to blatently rip people off :(

 

People go to main dealers cos they're supposed to look after their cars/customers and know how to work on the cars. Shame that joe public doesn't realise what they can actually be like

there was a program a couple of weeks back (as above... lol..) on Kwik fit and just how bad they are, not only selling stuff that was not needed but also missing things that were!

(so the report said)..... i always stay well clear.... lol...

There is so much inconsistencey with any garage, its not just main dealers. There are honest ones and not so honest ones. Unfortunetly times are hard and everyone is out to make extra money.

 

Im watching my service manager having a breakdown as we speak!