Came across this youtube link about a certain chain of garages that are quick to fit parts that you may not need, I am shocked by the senior management staff who after seeing the evidence roll out the usual corporate dross of lessons learnt and implementing more training...... seems their mechs need feeding more nuts !! be careful guys.

 

 

Jeff

Not surprised at this at all Jeff. A lot of garages out there saying you need work done when you dont.

Not surprised at this at all Jeff. A lot of garages out there saying you need work done when you dont.

 

Yes shocking, the garage trade as a whole has a terrible rep and was the bain of my business life that these kind of fool`s just keep reaffirming in the mind of the general public to be suspicious of all garage`s, that why I used photographs and write ups to demonstrate to owners by e-mail or here of the real issues and they could see them real time then.

 

I know that things do not go right 100% of the time despite your efforts and some even here may not of "liked " Zedworld we NEVER did this, I mean to say work needs doing when its not required should be a criminal offence its like theft actually.

 

Jeff

It is hard to maintain a good rep as a garage, despite all your best efforts to explain things about the way cars work to customers some will always go away feeling ripped off that you have charged them a sum of money to repair their car(which most people despise spending money on). For example things like timing belt replacements, most manufactures do not advise replacing timing belt driven water pumps during a timing belt change, but seriously the water pump bearings have done the same work as the rest of the rotating parts whilst holding back coolant under pressure, who wouldn't replace it while changing the timing belt, but some customers will go away and explain this to friends as "they told me I needed a new water pump too" the same customer who would happily return fuming if the water pump failed after the timing belt was replaced because we didn't replace it.....

 

We have one policy at my garage, be honest and be informative, we always try our best to explain why we suggest the things we do.

 

As with many trades there are people who should just not be trading the way they do, leave it to the people who are prepared to do an honest job for an honest pay.

It is hard to maintain a good rep as a garage, despite all your best efforts to explain things about the way cars work to customers some will always go away feeling ripped off that you have charged them a sum of money to repair their car(which most people despise spending money on). For example things like timing belt replacements, most manufactures do not advise replacing timing belt driven water pumps during a timing belt change, but seriously the water pump bearings have done the same work as the rest of the rotating parts whilst holding back coolant under pressure, who wouldn't replace it while changing the timing belt, but some customers will go away and explain this to friends as "they told me I needed a new water pump too" the same customer who would happily return fuming if the water pump failed after the timing belt was replaced because we didn't replace it.....

 

We have one policy at my garage, be honest and be informative, we always try our best to explain why we suggest the things we do.

 

As with many trades there are people who should just not be trading the way they do, leave it to the people who are prepared to do an honest job for an honest pay.

 

You hit the nail on the head there Chris. Its hard to please everyone but good garages will prosper with the good work they do even if there are people out there who complain at work they know nothing about.

far too many who get away with it

Should I also point out the video was uploaded in 2011? Things might have changed by now? I wouldnt know, I dont go to that particular garage.

I have not used this firm for over 25 years!

I use the same local garage for my daily runabout.

The Z is a different matter.

Whilst they may be better now? From my bad experience 25 years ago! There forecourt is a big No! No! For me.

Only last week someone I know was "advised" to replace her tyres at £90 each, because they only had 3-4mm of tread left. That alone is bad enough as they tyres were only half worn, but the "real" price for the tyres in other places was only about £61. Fortunately, she declined.

It's not just garages think how many times you come out a main dealer thinking, what have you actually done. I know a few years back my fathers car went in for a service, a week later it failed its MOT because oil was sloshing out the sump pan from a 1p sized hole, corroded from the inside out. How you fail to spot that whilst performing an oil and filter change is beyond me. I've heard multiple stories from dealer workers who say they just stamp the book and reset the service indication, other than than your paying to park the car up for the day. That said I dunno if anyone else has had this yet but VW now send you a video of what they have done and point out things for you, this is sent via email before you collect. Brilliant.

 

It's not like theft Jeff, it is theft. Or I suppose really it's fraud, the offender is actually obtaining money by decieving the client. As you know I've had some horrendous service in the past on more than one occasion. A much less annoying time than that though. I remember paying for my clutch to be changed on my Capri, I just didn't have time, the garage round the corner quoted really reasonably, no brainier. I was mighty pissed off when I realised I'd lost reverse in the process because they hadn't put the shifter together properly. We're talking a really simply job here. I threw a wobbler as you can imagine. I've come home to find my wife paid £300 for some front discs, on a Kia! (I was busy at work so she just paid it) There pence to buy. The list goes on and it's one of the reasons I'm glad I know which end of the spanner is which enough to not get done these days.

 

There is also a valid point here though that chris pointed out. People hate spending money on cars. The amount of people who buy budget tyres when premium ones were an extra £10 beggars belief. That's the bit that keeps you on the road!!! Sure if it's double and you go mid range that's fair enough but for most euro boxes it's a few quid a corner. I even see this on high end cars, 3 year old merc, 50k car something like that on tyres you've never heard of. They will pay £600 a month in finance so the Jones think they are doing well but looking after the expensive motor, hell no.

 

If you find an honest garage stick with it because they are like gold dust these days. If your one of those people that think it's fine to run around on the same oil for five years and drive around with no tread on your tyres, I doubt you will enjoy a Z32 very long.

It's not just garages think how many times you come out a main dealer thinking, what have you actually done. I know a few years back my fathers car went in for a service, a week later it failed its MOT because oil was sloshing out the sump pan from a 1p sized hole, corroded from the inside out. How you fail to spot that whilst performing an oil and filter change is beyond me. I've heard multiple stories from dealer workers who say they just stamp the book and reset the service indication

 

My dad bought his car from a dealership (pre-owned) and they claimed to have done a full service and stamped the book.

Asking for the invoice the only thing they did was change the oil and then clogged up the rest of the invoice with things like switching the number plate to one with their website on.

 

Needless to say he wasn't happy, but it wasn't out of his pocket and he got a great car so...

I took my Z to kwik fit in Wakefield last year for tracking but they told me I needed two new tyres I asked if they were legal and he said only just and they wouldn't do it without new tyres so they were a bit shocked when I said I'll go else where I went to another local garage and they said there is 4 MM. on tyres and I'll never go to Kwik fit ever!!!

Edited March 29, 20169 yr by johnyboy
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