Bamford Rose radio silence.....Cambridge alternative?

[ST12AT]

I’m getting the usual no answer from Bamford Rose, phone calls and email so exploring an alternative.

I’m on the Essex/Suffolk border so Cambridge seems the best option, although Brentwood isn’t much further in the other direction. I’ve never experienced main dealer so just looking for others experience with either Cambridge or Brentwood.

Car needs a service (40k) and a few little things looking at and I’m concerned I’ll, to a degree, pay twice as much and get half the service. Should I continue to press Bamford Rose or am I overthinking it?

Cheers.

[V8LM]

Rikki Cann, Shoeburyness.

[LMV600]

Nicholas Mee are between Hatfield and Hertford , maybe an option .

[S1-NOS]

Just sent you a message (email) ST12AT

[AMVSVNick]

ST12AT said:

I’m getting the usual no answer from Bamford Rose, phone calls and email so exploring an alternative.

I’m on the Essex/Suffolk border so Cambridge seems the best option, although Brentwood isn’t much further in the other direction. I’ve never experienced main dealer so just looking for others experience with either Cambridge or Brentwood.

Car needs a service (40k) and a few little things looking at and I’m concerned I’ll, to a degree, pay twice as much and get half the service. Should I continue to press Bamford Rose or am I overthinking it?

Cheers.

Very much doubt you will pay twice as much.

[paulrog1]

Mike's very busy at the mo, i think there flat out for May but keep trying I'm sure you'll get through.

There's just not enough hours in the day.

[ds666]

Why don't they employ someone to answer the phones / emails , log the calls and then return them later .
No point making good you tube videos about your company if you can't meet the demand they create .....

[paulrog1]

The reason why he hasn't employed a receptionist is most of the discussions to customers are a technical nature and so the receptionist would have to transfer to Mike anyway.

Think of the decat, different cars have different options depending on the owners requirements etc so a non technical receptionist would struggle with these questions, not to mention the more techncal engine mods.

As the cars get older allsorts of niggles are creeping in so its not just the case of a easy oil change service.

Remember the UK is now coming out of an almost year long lockdown, many many AM owners havent had the cars serviced/mods done etc so its gunna be a busy summer.

Bit of patience maybe, its your choice.

Edited by paulrog1 on Thursday 13th May 12:04

Edited by paulrog1 on Thursday 13th May 13:15

[ds666]

I'm 1 for 1 with BR - 1 call , 1 discussion with Mike . Never replied to emails though , so I take your point about passing messages , would probably not work either ..

[bullet7]

paulrog1 said:

The reason why he hasn't employed a receptionist is most of the dicussions to customers are a technical nature and so the receptionist would have to transfer to Mike anyway.

Think of the decat, different cars have different options depending on the owners requirements etc so a non technical receptionist would struggle with these questions, not to mention the more techncal engine mods.

As the cars get older allsorts of niggles are creeping in so its not just the case of a easy oil change service.

Remember the UK is now coming out of an almost year long lockdown, many many AM owners havent had the cars serviced/mods done etc so its gunna be a busy summer.

Bit of patience maybe, its your choice.

^^^^^ This
I was there Tuesday collecting my car from service and he is simply flat out. In spite of all the trolls that seem to have nothing nice to say, there is a huge demand for his services. I have to say also that I could not fault it and I was delighted with the work they did on my car.

[AdamV12V]

paulrog1 said:

The reason why he hasn't employed a receptionist is most of the dicussions to customers are a technical nature and so the receptionist would have to transfer to Mike anyway.

Think of the decat, different cars have different options depending on the owners requirements etc so a non technical receptionist would struggle with these questions, not to mention the more techncal engine mods.

Surely he could employ somebody with a technical / engineering mind who could answer the phones, not be just a receptionist? They don't actually have to do the work, just understand the issues and be able to communicate to customers and book jobs in. For instance I could discuss many such problems myself with a good degree of understanding, but please don't ever put a spanner in my hand!

If he did that he would surely get more work, grow the business and income and hire additional mechanics to oversee. The number of times people just here on PH seem to give up on BR through lack of ability to get in touch, must indicate that the scale of the problem is holding back growth?

[ds666]

bullet7 said:

^^^^^ This
I was there Tuesday collecting my car from service and he is simply flat out. In spite of all the trolls that seem to have nothing nice to say, there is a huge demand for his services. I have to say also that I could not fault it and I was delighted with the work they did on my car.

I don't think I've every heard anything but praise for BR ( apart from the contact issue ) - which trolls are you referring to?

Edited by ds666 on Thursday 13th May 13:43

[AdamV12V]

ds666 said:

bullet7 said:

^^^^^ This
I was there Tuesday collecting my car from service and he is simply flat out. In spite of all the trolls that seem to have nothing nice to say, there is a huge demand for his services. I have to say also that I could not fault it and I was delighted with the work they did on my car.

I don't think I've every heard anything but praise for BR ( apart from the contact issue ) - which trolls are you referring to?

Use google search. BR polarise people like nowhere else does, we have had some major fights here from members who are total fanatics and others who hate them with a passion.

To be clear I have no opinion either way, and I'm not likely to form one as I am very much a MD only kinda person.

NB - and dont forget its against forum terms to bad mouth any company here, so such threads may even get deleted, it certainly puts people off from posting such, leaving just the good reviews in situ. Same applies to comments for any other garage of course..

Edited by AdamV12V on Thursday 13th May 14:45

[Brave Fart]

ds666 said:

I don't think I've every heard anything but praise for BR ( apart from the contact issue ) - which trolls are you referring to?

Edited by ds666 on Thursday 13th May 13:43

Have a look at a couple of AM owners groups on Facebook. In the last couple of days, words such as "arrogant" and "vile" have been used to describe Mike. "A horrible ahole" was another charming insult.
No doubt BR's communications could be better, but some of the nasty comments recently are just horrible. That's social media for you, I guess.

[ds666]

Brave Fart said:

ds666 said:

I don't think I've every heard anything but praise for BR ( apart from the contact issue ) - which trolls are you referring to?

Edited by ds666 on Thursday 13th May 13:43

Have a look at a couple of AM owners groups on Facebook. In the last couple of days, words such as "arrogant" and "vile" have been used to describe Mike. "A horrible ahole" was another charming insult.
No doubt BR's communications could be better, but some of the nasty comments recently are just horrible. That's social media for you, I guess.

Agree that is well out of order .

[ds666]

AdamV12V said:

ds666 said:

bullet7 said:

^^^^^ This
I was there Tuesday collecting my car from service and he is simply flat out. In spite of all the trolls that seem to have nothing nice to say, there is a huge demand for his services. I have to say also that I could not fault it and I was delighted with the work they did on my car.

I don't think I've every heard anything but praise for BR ( apart from the contact issue ) - which trolls are you referring to?

Use google search. BR polarise people like nowhere else does, we have had some major fights here from members who are total fanatics and others who hate them with a passion.

[/footnote]

Nowhere else ? Try discussing electric cars - every thread is ambushed by Tesla owners ...... lol

[AdamV12V]

ds666 said:

Agree that is well out of order .

Yup, absolutely agree which is why I avoid FB, indeed all social media platforms. Tried FB briefly a while ago, and soon realised my long held stance of not doing any social media was the correct one, so prior rule was reinstated.

[4Q]

paulrog1 said:

Mike's very busy at the mo, i think there flat out for May but keep trying I'm sure you'll get through.

There's just not enough hours in the day.

There hasn’t been enough hours in the day for the last 10 years. They’ve had plenty of time to hire someone to answer the phone. I gave up trying years ago.

[cayman-black]

4Q said:

There hasn’t been enough hours in the day for the last 10 years. They’ve had plenty of time to hire someone to answer the phone. I gave up trying years ago.

Yes, Mike is an arrogant fat bd who should pick the fking phone up every time i ring what the hell is the matter with the ahole????













Just trying to make PH,s more social media like!!!!! Only joking Mike!

[bullet7]

AdamV12V said:

Surely he could employ somebody with a technical / engineering mind who could answer the phones, not be just a receptionist? They don't actually have to do the work, just understand the issues and be able to communicate to customers and book jobs in. For instance I could discuss many such problems myself with a good degree of understanding, but please don't ever put a spanner in my hand!

If he did that he would surely get more work, grow the business and income and hire additional mechanics to oversee. The number of times people just here on PH seem to give up on BR through lack of ability to get in touch, must indicate that the scale of the problem is holding back growth?

Yes, of course he could do this, but then this is part of a general consideration about where he takes the business. Do you expand and take on all the additional cost (which would mean larger premises amongst everything else) when there are so many unknowns about the economy, or do you continue with what you have? Just taking on someone that has the ability to answer technical questions on the phone would not necessarily add to his business if it can't take on any more work either. All it does is add to the wage bill.