When your car is in the garage
Discussion
My current car is in the garage having a faulty pulley replaced under the bonnet. It went in on Saturday and was diagnosed that afternoon. The mechanic said that he has ordered the part and the car should be sorted sometime this week.
While my car is in the garage I am having to get public transport everywhere and its a right royal pain in the arse.
I was just wondering what fellow PHers do when there car is in the garage, do you make follow up phone calls to see if they've received the part and started work? Or do you just sit tight and wait for the phone call to say it's done? Where's the line where you end up being a pushy customer and they resent having your car in the workshop?
I suppose the only reason I really want to know is because I like to plan out my week and knowing if I will have the car back or not helps with that.
Oh...and one more thing...it's a warranty job (hopefully) so I'm also scared its going to be pushed to the back of the list of things to do.
While my car is in the garage I am having to get public transport everywhere and its a right royal pain in the arse.
I was just wondering what fellow PHers do when there car is in the garage, do you make follow up phone calls to see if they've received the part and started work? Or do you just sit tight and wait for the phone call to say it's done? Where's the line where you end up being a pushy customer and they resent having your car in the workshop?
I suppose the only reason I really want to know is because I like to plan out my week and knowing if I will have the car back or not helps with that.
Oh...and one more thing...it's a warranty job (hopefully) so I'm also scared its going to be pushed to the back of the list of things to do.
I ask them how long they are going to need, if its reasonable i tell them i will be there shortly after they have finished to pick up and ill continue to make my plans.
If its not ready, and its not through fault of my own and I havent been informed i will cause hell.
Surely this is what everyone does?
If its not ready, and its not through fault of my own and I havent been informed i will cause hell.
Surely this is what everyone does?
I use a garage that my family have been using for many years. They do a good job at a fair price and don't make promises they can't keep. I tend to get around by either using another car or getting lifts. Not ideal but generally it's only for a day or two and the garage visits tend t be planned, so there's no last minute rush to make alternative travel arrangements.
russy01 said:
If its not ready, and its not through fault of my own and I havent been informed i will cause hell.
Surely this is what everyone does?
A phonecall to let you know there will be a delay is good manners but 'causing hell' at the drop of a hat does little to help build a good working relationship. They themselves may have been let down by a supplier, etc.Surely this is what everyone does?
I'd say a polite phone call will be fine. You can explain to them that you have have to get to work etc. and need to make alternative arrangements for transport. I'm sure they'd understand and wouldn't consider you pushy and less of a pushover.
Of course if they were really customer focused they'd have rung you by midday yesterday to update you on when the part will arrive and how long it will take to fit. But as with most garages/builders/traders that usually never ever happens unless you live in Utopia.
Of course if they were really customer focused they'd have rung you by midday yesterday to update you on when the part will arrive and how long it will take to fit. But as with most garages/builders/traders that usually never ever happens unless you live in Utopia.
I'm fortunate in that I have another car to use when one is getting fixed and the local garage I've taken to using is only about a ten minute drive away from my house so they don't mind running me back in the car when I've dropped it off.
I'll generally ask how long something will take when I drop it off and/or tell them when I need it back and see what they say. Other than that, if it's been a few days I'll call by on my way home and see how its getting on but generally just leave them to get on with it and then give me a call.
I'll generally ask how long something will take when I drop it off and/or tell them when I need it back and see what they say. Other than that, if it's been a few days I'll call by on my way home and see how its getting on but generally just leave them to get on with it and then give me a call.
I ran into the same problem last week - had to hire a car for 2 days. Car was in workshop from Wednesday to Saturday and in that time I phoned maybe 3 times to confirm what needed doing, and then to confirm that it would be ready on Saturday as I would need to make alternative arrangements on Monday if it wasn't. Polite 30 second phone calls (if that) which put my mind at rest and the workshop seemed fine with that.
I can imagine calling 3 times daily would be somewhat annoying, but nothing wrong with the occasional call.
I can imagine calling 3 times daily would be somewhat annoying, but nothing wrong with the occasional call.
One of mine is in for a service today. I just phoned to see if it was Ok to pick up as discussed yesterday, checked to see if new pads had been fitted as the boss was out and I wanted them done but thought the message may not have got through, glad I did as they had not got it in the book. they don't mind but don't phone every hour or so, as it will get to be a pain. I have my customers phoning to ask if things are ready a day or so before we said they would be, it can be a pain, but we are always polite. "the customer is always right" doesn't matter how much they piss you off.
Risotto said:
I use a garage that my family have been using for many years. They do a good job at a fair price and don't make promises they can't keep. I tend to get around by either using another car or getting lifts. Not ideal but generally it's only for a day or two and the garage visits tend t be planned, so there's no last minute rush to make alternative travel arrangements.
Yea fair enough, i wouldnt go crazy. But if i had driven to collect my car (nearest dealer is 30mins or so) and it wasnt ready i really wouldnt be pleased and i would defo have a moan before i left. russy01 said:
If its not ready, and its not through fault of my own and I havent been informed i will cause hell.
Surely this is what everyone does?
A phonecall to let you know there will be a delay is good manners but 'causing hell' at the drop of a hat does little to help build a good working relationship. They themselves may have been let down by a supplier, etc.Surely this is what everyone does?
The garage I use has amusingly bad courtesy cars. The one I had last week was a P-reg (!) Nissan Micra. The radio didn't work, the wipers didn't park, the steering had loads of play, the clutch was knackered, the brakes were a bit floppy and the shock absorbers didn't absorb any shocks at all. But it was still much better than the bus. 
t out of amusing/shockingly bad courtesy cars........The two garages I use are really good.
Dropped car off at 9:30am...advising them it sounded like the crank pulley was on the way out, agreed price if that was the case. Call at 12:15pm, correct, crank pulley replaced, car ready, happy to show me the old one and how it had gone.
Other garage is across the road from my house. MOT time. Droppped car in for 10:30am appointment. I didnt even have time to finish the coffee I'd made and the phone was going telling me the car was ready.
Good service really does go a long way. Complete contrast to the large chain of dealers I had my last Mondeo into for caliper replacement and MOT on the basis of them being across the road from work... 3 days to get a caliper... I had 2 factors happy to deliver to dealer same day....
Dropped car off at 9:30am...advising them it sounded like the crank pulley was on the way out, agreed price if that was the case. Call at 12:15pm, correct, crank pulley replaced, car ready, happy to show me the old one and how it had gone.
Other garage is across the road from my house. MOT time. Droppped car in for 10:30am appointment. I didnt even have time to finish the coffee I'd made and the phone was going telling me the car was ready.
Good service really does go a long way. Complete contrast to the large chain of dealers I had my last Mondeo into for caliper replacement and MOT on the basis of them being across the road from work... 3 days to get a caliper... I had 2 factors happy to deliver to dealer same day....
It depends who is doing the car. Sometimes have to use different places, and find often they're not reliable. For example you'll call when they said the car should be ready, and they haven't started it, come out with some excuse, but you have to keep on top of them to get things done!
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