Kwik-fit... fooking hell!
Discussion
This weekend I'm down in London visiting my Mum. We came down in the Beemer which has a "performance backbox" fitted. It's fairly loud. Not so much when around town but once on the motorway, it just drones and is just a pain in the arse.
I was planning on getting an OEM spec backbox and fitting it myself at some point but the "performance" jobbie pissed me off so much on the way down that I thought I would nip down to kwik-fit and see if they could fit me something for the journey back.
Drove down this morning. Spoke to the bloke behind the counter -
Me - Hi, Could you give me a quote on a new backbox please.
Kwikfit man - What car?
Me - 3 series compact
kfm - Ok bring it in and we drive it onto that ramp
me - no its ok, I just want a whole new backbox section.
kfm - But we need to see what's wrong with the old one!
me - there's nothing wrong with it, I just want a new one as that one is too loud...
kfm - There might be something wrong somewhere else.
me - There isn't. I just want a new backbox please.
kfm - You need to put it on the ramps.
So, I gave in and put it on the ramps for him. Que him under the car umming and ahhing at various points, taping the pipe with a hammer. He told me it was blowing in 3 places (which it isn't), would fail MOT (which it wouldn't as it passed last month) and needed replacing...
REGARDLESS WHY YOU THINK IT NEEDS REPLACING, I f
kING ASKED YOU TO REPLACE IT IN THE FIRST PLACE YOU fkING RETARD... THAT'S WHY I'M HERE!
Back in the office, he asks if its the 1.8 or 2.0. I tell him it's a 1.6. But no, apparently they didn't make a 1.6 compact... a quick search in his parts guide confirms that they do actually make a 1.6 compact. He looks on his computer and makes a phone call. Halfway through phone call he asks if I want it fit today or not to which I reply "yes, but how much is it?", to which he continues his conversation on the phone and tells them to bring the part in.
He comes off the phone, taps away on his computer and then informs me £212.68...
Apparently "all BMW parts are expensive"... IT'S NOT A BMW PART THOUGH, IS IT!!!?? IT'S A fkING BOSAL OEM SPEC THING, WHICH I CAN BUY ONLINE FOR £40!!!
me - Well, it's a bit expensive.
kfm - The part is ordered now though. If you come back this afternoon we will do it for you while you wait
me - No, that's ok. I'll try somewhere else
At which point the printer goes and he hands me an invoice thing and at this point, I walk out...
I feel sorry for people that use these people as their main garage. I didn't expect it to be cheap but the quote was at least £80 more than I expected! I understand I have to pay for labour + extra because it's kwik-fit but come on, If I can get the part for £40, I'm sure they can get it cheaper... £150+ labour for 20 mins work is not on.
I can't believe that some people would take that as the norm, which it probably is, but it's just a joke. And, I can't believe how he tried to force it on me, and pointed out problems which didn't exist. I noticed him checking out the tyres too but they are pretty much new so couldn't try to sell me those aswell.
What a bunch of tts.
I was planning on getting an OEM spec backbox and fitting it myself at some point but the "performance" jobbie pissed me off so much on the way down that I thought I would nip down to kwik-fit and see if they could fit me something for the journey back.
Drove down this morning. Spoke to the bloke behind the counter -
Me - Hi, Could you give me a quote on a new backbox please.
Kwikfit man - What car?
Me - 3 series compact
kfm - Ok bring it in and we drive it onto that ramp
me - no its ok, I just want a whole new backbox section.
kfm - But we need to see what's wrong with the old one!
me - there's nothing wrong with it, I just want a new one as that one is too loud...
kfm - There might be something wrong somewhere else.
me - There isn't. I just want a new backbox please.
kfm - You need to put it on the ramps.
So, I gave in and put it on the ramps for him. Que him under the car umming and ahhing at various points, taping the pipe with a hammer. He told me it was blowing in 3 places (which it isn't), would fail MOT (which it wouldn't as it passed last month) and needed replacing...
REGARDLESS WHY YOU THINK IT NEEDS REPLACING, I f
kING ASKED YOU TO REPLACE IT IN THE FIRST PLACE YOU fkING RETARD... THAT'S WHY I'M HERE!Back in the office, he asks if its the 1.8 or 2.0. I tell him it's a 1.6. But no, apparently they didn't make a 1.6 compact... a quick search in his parts guide confirms that they do actually make a 1.6 compact. He looks on his computer and makes a phone call. Halfway through phone call he asks if I want it fit today or not to which I reply "yes, but how much is it?", to which he continues his conversation on the phone and tells them to bring the part in.
He comes off the phone, taps away on his computer and then informs me £212.68...
Apparently "all BMW parts are expensive"... IT'S NOT A BMW PART THOUGH, IS IT!!!?? IT'S A f
kING BOSAL OEM SPEC THING, WHICH I CAN BUY ONLINE FOR £40!!!me - Well, it's a bit expensive.
kfm - The part is ordered now though. If you come back this afternoon we will do it for you while you wait
me - No, that's ok. I'll try somewhere else
At which point the printer goes and he hands me an invoice thing and at this point, I walk out...
I feel sorry for people that use these people as their main garage. I didn't expect it to be cheap but the quote was at least £80 more than I expected! I understand I have to pay for labour + extra because it's kwik-fit but come on, If I can get the part for £40, I'm sure they can get it cheaper... £150+ labour for 20 mins work is not on.
I can't believe that some people would take that as the norm, which it probably is, but it's just a joke. And, I can't believe how he tried to force it on me, and pointed out problems which didn't exist. I noticed him checking out the tyres too but they are pretty much new so couldn't try to sell me those aswell.
What a bunch of t
ts.Edited by Deluded on Saturday 1st May 10:59
utter monkeys.
Went in for a blow on the exhaust of a £500 W124 Merc Estate.
Me: Patch?
Them: Ramps
£784, new system invoice.
My local garage, £5 beer money, still going strong.
I'll only go there for tyres, paid for online, seem to be the cheapest.
Rip off merchants, do Trading Standard have a file on them?, does anyone know of a successful prosecution against these guys?
Went in for a blow on the exhaust of a £500 W124 Merc Estate.
Me: Patch?
Them: Ramps
£784, new system invoice.
My local garage, £5 beer money, still going strong.
I'll only go there for tyres, paid for online, seem to be the cheapest.
Rip off merchants, do Trading Standard have a file on them?, does anyone know of a successful prosecution against these guys?
Edited by sday12 on Saturday 1st May 11:12
I once had to go there as I got a puncture and there was nowhere else local open. They stung me for two new tyres, fitted them and when I got home the boyfriend went mad. They'd fitted two completely different sized tyres to what was on the back. When I actually looked at them from a distance they looked silly.
Unfortunately we took the OH's '97 Audi V6 cab in to our local Kwikfit the other Sunday morning to get an opinion/quote for the blowing exhaust. After a while on the ramp we get 'you need a complete exhaust and down pipes but the parts aren't on the system, we'll get back to you'
5 days later they call and say 1100 quid fitted.
Went to a smaller place to get a quote for a stainless system and they said it's all ok just the cat blowing.
That'll be the last visit to Kwikfit.
Oh, forgot, while we were in there they were telling a lady that her BM could only have run flat tyres fitted.
5 days later they call and say 1100 quid fitted.
Went to a smaller place to get a quote for a stainless system and they said it's all ok just the cat blowing.
That'll be the last visit to Kwikfit.
Oh, forgot, while we were in there they were telling a lady that her BM could only have run flat tyres fitted.
Edited by Ozone on Saturday 1st May 11:13
I went to kwik fit for an MOT he failed me on corroded bushes (they were poly bush) a bald tyre (No part of the tyre was bellow 2.5 mm) a blowing exhaust. (They fitted in another depot 2 weeks prior). They also said that dog pee on my alloys was a leaking brake part!!! I am not being funny but come on kwik fit.
edited as I can spell quick.
edited as I can spell quick.
Edited by The Black Duke on Saturday 1st May 11:25
Anecdotal I know, but a number of years ago a friend of mine was at a dinner with the MD of kwikfit. The topic of conversation came round to kwikfits image as rip-off merchants etc and the MD was questioned as to why he wasn't trying to turn around that image.
His answer was along the lines of "as long as X number of thousands of people are passing their driving test every month, why should he?"
£822 million in debt in May 2009. That's why.
His answer was along the lines of "as long as X number of thousands of people are passing their driving test every month, why should he?"
£822 million in debt in May 2009. That's why.
jon- said:
Anecdotal I know, but a number of years ago a friend of mine was at a dinner with the MD of kwikfit. The topic of conversation came round to kwikfits image as rip-off merchants etc and the MD was questioned as to why he wasn't trying to turn around that image.
His answer was along the lines of "as long as X number of thousands of people are passing their driving test every month, why should he?"
£822 million in debt in May 2009. That's why.
I was about to doubt your figures... well I did, then I went on line......BLOODY HELL!!!!!!!! £822million in debt!!! How do they manage that?His answer was along the lines of "as long as X number of thousands of people are passing their driving test every month, why should he?"
£822 million in debt in May 2009. That's why.
I was delivering to one a few months ago when a young woman in old Punto walked into the office, whilst i was sorting the delivery i overheard her asking about tyres and the guy behind the counter gives her prices for some budget ones, they were £63 each but as they were only budget and harder compound would only last 6-7000 miles, he recommended Continentals at £127 each and said buying a set of 4 would be better as the car would handle better. I looked outside at her £500 Punto and nearly laughed out loud. The guy walked back into the workshop and i told her to go half a mile down the road to a local tyre place where i know the guys and she could have the pair she wanted originally for less than the cost of one at Kwik Fit
Anyone use Charlie Browns ? I have to say our local branch are spot on. They will always match prices and are very careful with your alloys.
Last year I popped down for a tyre repair. They werent very busy. Did the repair and balanced the wheel.
When I asked how much he looked at his watch. It was about dinnertime. Said how does a tray of fish and chips sound ? 20 Yard walk to the Chippy and sorted :-)
Last year I popped down for a tyre repair. They werent very busy. Did the repair and balanced the wheel.
When I asked how much he looked at his watch. It was about dinnertime. Said how does a tray of fish and chips sound ? 20 Yard walk to the Chippy and sorted :-)
Kwik fit's bread and butter seem to be people who know very little/nothing about cars.
The type of people that will blindly pay an extortionate bill, as they dont know any better. These days though, people must be getting wise to it, as Kwik Fit have a shedload of debt.
Incidentally, Ive used both ATS and Nationwide Autocentres (recently bought out by Halfords) with no problems.
The type of people that will blindly pay an extortionate bill, as they dont know any better. These days though, people must be getting wise to it, as Kwik Fit have a shedload of debt.
Incidentally, Ive used both ATS and Nationwide Autocentres (recently bought out by Halfords) with no problems.
A King's Lynn quick kwick fitter has just been in court facing animal cruelty charges because of his inhumain pest control with wild pigeons. What makes you think the knuckle dragging would treat a customer any better?
BMW = £££££
Whatever garage you go to but that was extortionate and bull at best.
Get the box on line and if you're near by I'll fit it for you. Then take the reciept to kwick fit via the trading standards office. I'll accompany you in a giant Pigeon costume.
would treat a customer any better?BMW = £££££
Whatever garage you go to but that was extortionate and bull
at best. Get the box on line and if you're near by I'll fit it for you. Then take the reciept to kwick fit via the trading standards office. I'll accompany you in a giant Pigeon costume.
jon- said:
Anecdotal I know, but a number of years ago a friend of mine was at a dinner with the MD of kwikfit. The topic of conversation came round to kwikfits image as rip-off merchants etc and the MD was questioned as to why he wasn't trying to turn around that image.
His answer was along the lines of "as long as X number of thousands of people are passing their driving test every month, why should he?"
£822 million in debt in May 2009. That's why.
Interesting.His answer was along the lines of "as long as X number of thousands of people are passing their driving test every month, why should he?"
£822 million in debt in May 2009. That's why.
The thing is it was known for shoddy service throughout the 90s yet it must have been making money then because the owner and founder Tom Farmer sold it for £1 billion in the late 90s/early 2000.
The Black Duke said:
jon- said:
Anecdotal I know, but a number of years ago a friend of mine was at a dinner with the MD of kwikfit. The topic of conversation came round to kwikfits image as rip-off merchants etc and the MD was questioned as to why he wasn't trying to turn around that image.
His answer was along the lines of "as long as X number of thousands of people are passing their driving test every month, why should he?"
£822 million in debt in May 2009. That's why.
I was about to doubt your figures... well I did, then I went on line......BLOODY HELL!!!!!!!! £822million in debt!!! How do they manage that?His answer was along the lines of "as long as X number of thousands of people are passing their driving test every month, why should he?"
£822 million in debt in May 2009. That's why.
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