Service experience, very positive.
Discussion
Well as servicing threads pop up regularly and are of interest to all of us in the main, thought I'd share my experience with Aston Workshop, Beamish in County Durham.(Mods - I have no affiliation with this organisation, purely spreading good experience for the benefit of other PH users)
http://www.astonservicing.com/
My V8V is 2 year old now (don't know where the time has gone!) and I approached the main dealer for a service price. It came in nearly £300 more than the first year service so I thought I'd try Aston Workshop in Beamish, Chester le Street County Durham. Obviously a bit far for those in the south, but ideal for Yorkshire northwards and especially the North East.
Aston Workshop is not an independent but an approved Aston Service Centre which I understand to mean it does everything a main dealer does apart from selling new cars. It features on the Aston Martin website under find a dealer. In addition they refurbish classic cars, especially old Astons and have a showroom full of them. Craftsmen (and women) rather than technicians?
Now in the main a service is very standardised so really it's the human element and price that will differentiate one place from another. Let’s just say I was delighted with the quotation given because it was significantly less than the main dealer, so that was the price differentiation sorted. What about the human element
Well, first class really. The young lady at the other end of the phone was very helpful and pleasant - I didn't feel I was a bother to her like you do with some organisations (and for those of you who may have fell into the Aston forum from the Lounge or General Gassing, I don't have a picture of her before you ask ).
She checked with the Service Manager to verify I could bring my own oil (yes, as long as the containers are sealed to preserve warranty is what I was told)and he even said they could fit me in the next day (today) to sort it before Xmas.
They provide a collection and drop off service if required and within 30 miles of the Centre, and that suited me as we had a funeral to attend this morning. I assumed it was to be driven away but instead a covered wagon arrived with 2 very friendly blokes. They photographed and examined the car (in case of pre-existing damage to protect both parties) and fastened it into the wagon. Off went my PAJ for its second year service.
I was promised a phone call when it was finished which duly came - they even allowed for me to spend time at the funeral, nice of them to remember.
I decided to collect it myself (for the drive home of course ) and again I can only report everybody was really friendly and helpful, with a full explanation of what had been done, the paperwork and an Aston calendar for 2012 too waiting on the seat. They would have given it the ubiquitous wash but I had asked them not too purely because I prefer to do it myself.
There was plenty of room in the car park meaning the cars were not crowded into each other like my main dealer reducing the risk of door dings etc. Normally I need a shoe horn to squeeze my car in at the main dealers, something I am not comfortable with after they dinged the door when it was in earlier in the year.
The car was handed back to me along with a meal voucher for a nearby pub/restaurant for my first booking with them (although I understand this benefit may be ending now so don't expect it!).
So, to sum up, excellent customer service where they went the extra mile and at a greatly reduced cost than the main dealer.
If you wanted to they also have a showroom with lots of classic cars there, including Astons of course, which to be honest is worth a run out for anybody just to see them and walk among them. They have a small Aston shop and waiting area too, if you want to spend a few quid while you are there.
Result for me is that they will now be my first choice for service and any warranty work that may arise (fingers crossed not mind!) So a good telephone manor and helpful attitude, plus friendly approach and the extras given highlight that even in the standardised world of yearly services a good manager can make his or her organisation stand out. If you are in the north, give them a try. And if you are looking for a run out in your Aston, then give them a look!
http://www.astonservicing.com/
My V8V is 2 year old now (don't know where the time has gone!) and I approached the main dealer for a service price. It came in nearly £300 more than the first year service so I thought I'd try Aston Workshop in Beamish, Chester le Street County Durham. Obviously a bit far for those in the south, but ideal for Yorkshire northwards and especially the North East.
Aston Workshop is not an independent but an approved Aston Service Centre which I understand to mean it does everything a main dealer does apart from selling new cars. It features on the Aston Martin website under find a dealer. In addition they refurbish classic cars, especially old Astons and have a showroom full of them. Craftsmen (and women) rather than technicians?
Now in the main a service is very standardised so really it's the human element and price that will differentiate one place from another. Let’s just say I was delighted with the quotation given because it was significantly less than the main dealer, so that was the price differentiation sorted. What about the human element
Well, first class really. The young lady at the other end of the phone was very helpful and pleasant - I didn't feel I was a bother to her like you do with some organisations (and for those of you who may have fell into the Aston forum from the Lounge or General Gassing, I don't have a picture of her before you ask ).
She checked with the Service Manager to verify I could bring my own oil (yes, as long as the containers are sealed to preserve warranty is what I was told)and he even said they could fit me in the next day (today) to sort it before Xmas.
They provide a collection and drop off service if required and within 30 miles of the Centre, and that suited me as we had a funeral to attend this morning. I assumed it was to be driven away but instead a covered wagon arrived with 2 very friendly blokes. They photographed and examined the car (in case of pre-existing damage to protect both parties) and fastened it into the wagon. Off went my PAJ for its second year service.
I was promised a phone call when it was finished which duly came - they even allowed for me to spend time at the funeral, nice of them to remember.
I decided to collect it myself (for the drive home of course ) and again I can only report everybody was really friendly and helpful, with a full explanation of what had been done, the paperwork and an Aston calendar for 2012 too waiting on the seat. They would have given it the ubiquitous wash but I had asked them not too purely because I prefer to do it myself.
There was plenty of room in the car park meaning the cars were not crowded into each other like my main dealer reducing the risk of door dings etc. Normally I need a shoe horn to squeeze my car in at the main dealers, something I am not comfortable with after they dinged the door when it was in earlier in the year.
The car was handed back to me along with a meal voucher for a nearby pub/restaurant for my first booking with them (although I understand this benefit may be ending now so don't expect it!).
So, to sum up, excellent customer service where they went the extra mile and at a greatly reduced cost than the main dealer.
If you wanted to they also have a showroom with lots of classic cars there, including Astons of course, which to be honest is worth a run out for anybody just to see them and walk among them. They have a small Aston shop and waiting area too, if you want to spend a few quid while you are there.
Result for me is that they will now be my first choice for service and any warranty work that may arise (fingers crossed not mind!) So a good telephone manor and helpful attitude, plus friendly approach and the extras given highlight that even in the standardised world of yearly services a good manager can make his or her organisation stand out. If you are in the north, give them a try. And if you are looking for a run out in your Aston, then give them a look!
Edited by steveatesh on Thursday 22 December 19:36
in the office. Oops 
Mako V12V said:
Great write up. Thanks for sharing!
+1 Excellent summary Steve.I was a student in Newcastle many lunar moons ago (21 years), and I lived in such places as Longbenton, West Jesmond and South Gosforth. Fantastic place, where the men are hard and the women even harder - ref, Big Market on a Winter's Night.
We used to travel to Beamish Museum every now and then - old coalmining village? - with some friends from Chester-le-Street. Good times.
If I were a bit closer, I most certainly would take a look at this Workshop
Had the 4 year service on the V12V carried out by the Aston Workshop yesterday and it was well worth the 4 hour round trip.
I can only echo Steve's experience in the original post - very friendly - very accommodating and very competitive pricing (unfortunately don't do the own oil thing anymore) plus if you like DB4s / DB5s
- there are quite a few to look at in the showroom/restoration area (which I was given a full tour of).
Definitely one to consider if you are in the North
I can only echo Steve's experience in the original post - very friendly - very accommodating and very competitive pricing (unfortunately don't do the own oil thing anymore) plus if you like DB4s / DB5s
- there are quite a few to look at in the showroom/restoration area (which I was given a full tour of).Definitely one to consider if you are in the North
Was going to until all the fall outs occurred on here basically and to be honest it put me right off.
However, appears the protagonists have settled down and things are back to a more normal level of civility so I am happy to pick it back up and see whether a visit there is still possible.
Enough interest for those able to reach the north east of England, (soon to be the far outpost of civilization when Scotland reverts to Pictland?) ??
However, appears the protagonists have settled down and things are back to a more normal level of civility so I am happy to pick it back up and see whether a visit there is still possible.
Enough interest for those able to reach the north east of England, (soon to be the far outpost of civilization when Scotland reverts to Pictland?)
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