Discussion
'Apparently' the refurbed starter motor arrived tuesday afternoon. Was told should be ready end of buisness on Wednesday - they let me down - said it was going 'slow'.
Then told thursday morning at 1100am that they were 99% sure it would be ready at 3.30, so i said ok call me if there are any probs. Arrive at the garage at 3.30 to find the car on the ramp, gearbox, starter motor, exhaust on the floor!! Now in my very limited mechanical experience it looked like f
k all had been done!! 
So after a moment of stunned silence on my half to compose myself i politely ask would it be ready at the same time tomorrow?? To which he replied 'maybe more like 6, but i guarentee you will have it for the weekend even if i have to work until midnight'. Great. I live 15 miles from the garage so im now faced with an expensive taxi home.
They have had the car since the 8th of march and i have asked them to also fix the leak on the exhaust manifold and fit decat pipes and sports exhaust while the car is in. Is 17days a reasonable time period for this work to be done??
I have a 40mile drive everyeday to work i have already had to take unpaid holiday for it. After repeatedly asking for a courtesy car im told none are available. Although when i asked them to call a taxi for me they found a car to drop me home in.
The work (exluding the exhaust) is being covered under the 'in-house' 6months part and labour warrenty.
I will be putting the car up for sale at the beginning of may (they are aware of my situation) and so the few weeks i have left with the car are precious.
Have i been patient enough??
Sorry guys rant over!!
>> Edited by andyjmac on Friday 24th March 08:57
>> Edited by andyjmac on Friday 24th March 08:59
Then told thursday morning at 1100am that they were 99% sure it would be ready at 3.30, so i said ok call me if there are any probs. Arrive at the garage at 3.30 to find the car on the ramp, gearbox, starter motor, exhaust on the floor!! Now in my very limited mechanical experience it looked like f
k all had been done!! So after a moment of stunned silence on my half to compose myself i politely ask would it be ready at the same time tomorrow?? To which he replied 'maybe more like 6, but i guarentee you will have it for the weekend even if i have to work until midnight'. Great. I live 15 miles from the garage so im now faced with an expensive taxi home.
They have had the car since the 8th of march and i have asked them to also fix the leak on the exhaust manifold and fit decat pipes and sports exhaust while the car is in. Is 17days a reasonable time period for this work to be done??
I have a 40mile drive everyeday to work i have already had to take unpaid holiday for it. After repeatedly asking for a courtesy car im told none are available. Although when i asked them to call a taxi for me they found a car to drop me home in.
The work (exluding the exhaust) is being covered under the 'in-house' 6months part and labour warrenty.
I will be putting the car up for sale at the beginning of may (they are aware of my situation) and so the few weeks i have left with the car are precious.
Have i been patient enough??
Sorry guys rant over!!
>> Edited by andyjmac on Friday 24th March 08:57
>> Edited by andyjmac on Friday 24th March 08:59
It's not so much how long things might take but the misinformation that would annoy me. Sometimes things take a while to come in etc and that is beyond the control of the garage. However if they have told you the parts are in and more importantly as good as told you it would be ready at a certain time, then yes I think you have every right to be pissed off.
Decat and sports will be worth it when you get it back though, was a bit anxious about doing both myself (especially as mine is a long term keeper).. All I can say is "Once you decat there's no going back"
Decat and sports will be worth it when you get it back though, was a bit anxious about doing both myself (especially as mine is a long term keeper).. All I can say is "Once you decat there's no going back"
Vote with your feet mate.
Wait until they present you with a bill then keep them waiting until just before they issue a summons before paying. When you do pay, put a note in saying something along the lines of 'see, it's not nice to be waiting for something you are promised over and over'.
If they expect payment of invoice as you pick up, make an excuse of left credit cards/chequebook at home will post on the cheque,etc,etc.
Wait until they present you with a bill then keep them waiting until just before they issue a summons before paying. When you do pay, put a note in saying something along the lines of 'see, it's not nice to be waiting for something you are promised over and over'.
If they expect payment of invoice as you pick up, make an excuse of left credit cards/chequebook at home will post on the cheque,etc,etc.
touchingcloth said:
It's not so much how long things might take but the misinformation that would annoy me. Sometimes things take a while to come in etc and that is beyond the control of the garage. However if they have told you the parts are in and more importantly as good as told you it would be ready at a certain time, then yes I think you have every right to be pissed off.
Decat and sports will be worth it when you get it back though, was a bit anxious about doing both myself (especially as mine is a long term keeper).. All I can say is "Once you decat there's no going back"
I have to say i feel the level of service i have recieved very poor!! I payed the full screen price on the understanding that the owner would to quote 'look after me' for the short period (6 months) i would have the car.
After the car was carted off on the low-loader the garage owner said he would keep in touch and let me know the diagnosis asap. NOT ONCE has the guy phoned me/e-mailed me to keep me informed of whats happening over the last few weeks. E-mails asking how things are going have been ignored and iv had to ring every few days to see whats happening.
Ranting again!!
Daftlad said:
Should be able to turn it around in an hour if a new starter motor is available. If it's been sent off for a refurb then a week or so.
Unless as in this case, where it appears the flywheel has gone walk about as a consequence of the motor failure.
In which case they shouldn't be promising what they are unable to deliver. moreover, they should be keeping their customer informed of what is happening/delays.
Good customer service actually costs nothing but courtesy.
Tyre Smoke said:
Should be able to turn it around in an hour if a new starter motor is available. If it's been sent off for a refurb then a week or so.
Unless as in this case, where it appears the flywheel has gone walk about as a consequence of the motor failure.
In which case they shouldn't be promising what they are unable to deliver. moreover, they should be keeping their customer informed of what is happening/delays.
Good customer service actually costs nothing but courtesy.
Dont have a pop at me, I'm not defending anyone, I responded only to the post reffering to a very short time scale to do a starter. You get nothing done in half an hour anywhere, by suggesting you can just winds-up people who are not wordly wise in these issues.
Tyre Smoke said:
I wasn't having a go at anyone.
I was just saying that if the job had run into difficulties/delays then the customer should have been kept informed. It would appear from his post he has not. That's all.
Sheesh!
Oops, over re-acted. My stance was that many repair shops wouldnt start the job till the parts have arrived. Only when they started the job would they know the ring gear was mashed.
Managing customer expectations is key to happy punters - I agree.
Not that I'm defending the lack of communication, but if the starter motor has damaged the flywheel then that would have to have been removed to remachining / rework / replacement as well and they can't refit everything else without that. So perhpas your flywheel had been away for repair? and when you turned up they'd only just re-fitted it?
Mabye
Matt
Mabye
Matt
350matt said:
Not that I'm defending the lack of communication, but if the starter motor has damaged the flywheel then that would have to have been removed to remachining / rework / replacement as well and they can't refit everything else without that. So perhpas your flywheel had been away for repair? and when you turned up they'd only just re-fitted it?
Mabye
Matt
It is possible BUT i doubt it. He talked through what needed to be done and i would think he would be the 1st to give 'excuses' for the delays. The general 'excuse' i got was 'its going slowly'.
Tyre Smoke said:
I'm with Andy on this, they simply haven't kept him informed and have been a bit vague at best as to what's going on. I really do recommend the witholding payment thing. Imagine them asking for payment and you reply that it's 'going slowly'
"I started writing the cheque but there was a small problem with one of the numbers, I have sent out for a new one and it should be ready by next Tuesday I think, it's just going slowly I'm afraid." >> Edited by touchingcloth on Friday 24th March 14:58
touchingcloth said:
I'm with Andy on this, they simply haven't kept him informed and have been a bit vague at best as to what's going on. I really do recommend the witholding payment thing. Imagine them asking for payment and you reply that it's 'going slowly'
Im 99% sure the cheque is in the post??
andyjmac said:
I'm with Andy on this, they simply haven't kept him informed and have been a bit vague at best as to what's going on. I really do recommend the witholding payment thing. Imagine them asking for payment and you reply that it's 'going slowly'
Im 99% sure the cheque is in the post??
I'm 99% certain your car can stay where it is unless you pay the bill first.
O/T Daftlad just noticed you have an Avon Sunbeam 
what number is yours?
Oh man, what a car!
I remember a mate had two in succession and I had to drive one from Stratford to Cornwall. I vowed then that one day I'd have one, what a glorious car. I'm still half looking and if the right one came up the deal would be done!
what number is yours? Oh man, what a car!
I remember a mate had two in succession and I had to drive one from Stratford to Cornwall. I vowed then that one day I'd have one, what a glorious car. I'm still half looking and if the right one came up the deal would be done!
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