The Wheel Specialist - Fareham
Discussion
Well, what an absolute pile of crap this has been.
First attempt by them was pretty shocking, with clear bits of dust/ debri under the paint on all 4 wheels. The wheels supplied were genuine OEM, had no damage whatsoever in terms of curbing or large chips, they just needed a freshen up. I went back to speak to them and the workshop manager gave a 20 minute lecture on how they paints wheels but agreed to do them again free of charge, conversation was polite and not awkward at all.
Second attempt is actually worst than the first. New issues now include paint missing around the valves which is clearly visible even when standing a few feet away, wheel weights are completely different colours even on the same wheels, it looks like a mix and match of whatever was on the floor at the time with some of them clearly reused.
I do not understand, everything I have read has been great reviews and nothing but praise for this branch. I was polite, got along with the staff when we chatted and even when going back to explain I wasn’t happy the first time it was a polite chat with no awarkness at all.
I used the Wheel Specialist for their great reputation and happily paid the premium to avoid issues and poor quality. Starting to think I should have just got a man in a van round to do them on the driveway.
I really cannot be driving the trip again to go back and loose the car for another 2 days, booking time off work etc to arrange it. At a loss of what to do. Do they need a third attempt? Small claims court? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Alternatively, am I being too picky and these are acceptable issues when paying £110 per wheel? At this stage I really am unsure.
First attempt by them was pretty shocking, with clear bits of dust/ debri under the paint on all 4 wheels. The wheels supplied were genuine OEM, had no damage whatsoever in terms of curbing or large chips, they just needed a freshen up. I went back to speak to them and the workshop manager gave a 20 minute lecture on how they paints wheels but agreed to do them again free of charge, conversation was polite and not awkward at all.
Second attempt is actually worst than the first. New issues now include paint missing around the valves which is clearly visible even when standing a few feet away, wheel weights are completely different colours even on the same wheels, it looks like a mix and match of whatever was on the floor at the time with some of them clearly reused.
I do not understand, everything I have read has been great reviews and nothing but praise for this branch. I was polite, got along with the staff when we chatted and even when going back to explain I wasn’t happy the first time it was a polite chat with no awarkness at all.
I used the Wheel Specialist for their great reputation and happily paid the premium to avoid issues and poor quality. Starting to think I should have just got a man in a van round to do them on the driveway.
I really cannot be driving the trip again to go back and loose the car for another 2 days, booking time off work etc to arrange it. At a loss of what to do. Do they need a third attempt? Small claims court? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Alternatively, am I being too picky and these are acceptable issues when paying £110 per wheel? At this stage I really am unsure.
Edited by clarky92 on Monday 19th October 18:51
SaintsPaul said:
Good friends of mine do a lot of cars to concours standard and always took their wheels to here. Now they are so disappointed with the standard of work that all their wheels go to Lepsons. Some of the horror stories I have been told would make your hair curl !!
Thank you for this comment, makes me feel like I’m not being so overly fussy.Had another good look at their second attempt on my wheels today and there are lumps and bumps all over the place, looks horrific
Going back tomorrow morning to speak with them
normalbloke said:
I have used these people. Luckily, I’ve never been in the market for many refurbs in my motoring career. So I did the asking around and these guys in Southampton were recommended. They did 6 Mk1 Focus RS alloys. Removed tyres,blasted, repaired any kerb damage,crack tested,powder coated the whole wheel, then applied a wet paint finish of my choice (anthracite). They then refitted tyres with new valves, balanced using black adhesive weights due to the dark paint and also painted 6 centre caps to match. Absolutely perfect finish. Drive in/drive out in a day. £340.
I have absolutely no doubt they can do a fantastic job, just in my specific case it hasn’t gone to plan.I went back yesterday and they swapped over all the wheel weights. No apology or anything of the sort, felt like I was a pain in their back side the way they dealt with it.
Hopefully other people don’t have the s
t service or finish I’ve had and it’s just a one off crap job they have done. Update - Barely done 1000 miles/ cleaned a handful of times and now paint is just flaking off the wheels.
I don’t use £5 car washes with harsh chemicals. Normal clean is snow foam/ fall out and two bucket method using and very soft wheel brush for wheels and Dodo juice shampoo. Where the paint is flaking there are no chips or signs of damage at all. I haven’t driven on gritted roads/ anywhere near a gritter lorry as not driven car since the weather turned.
Would say I’m shocked but half expected this given what’s happened already. How on earth these cowboys are still in business with repeat customers is beyond me. If there weren’t more important things in the world to worry about right now, I think I’d be taking this to small claims.
I don’t use £5 car washes with harsh chemicals. Normal clean is snow foam/ fall out and two bucket method using and very soft wheel brush for wheels and Dodo juice shampoo. Where the paint is flaking there are no chips or signs of damage at all. I haven’t driven on gritted roads/ anywhere near a gritter lorry as not driven car since the weather turned.
Would say I’m shocked but half expected this given what’s happened already. How on earth these cowboys are still in business with repeat customers is beyond me. If there weren’t more important things in the world to worry about right now, I think I’d be taking this to small claims.
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