bad experience at local garage
Discussion
Hi,
quite a long story but please bear with me.
I booked my car in for an exhaust, tyres and tracking at a local garage which I have used in the past. They have never been great but are always cheap and friendly.
My first attempt to have this work done was Friday. I had pre booked the work, turned up at the arrnaged time and handed over the keys.
When I clarified what work needed to be done, the mechanic/ manager pulled a face when I mentioned the tracking. I left the keys with them, asked what time I should return and continued with my day. I returned at the arranged time to find that the exhaust had not been done as they had ordered the wrong part and that the tracking had not been done as the bolts were siezed.
I'd discussed the exhaust with them and explained that on this car there are 4 sections, down pipe, front maifold, flexi centre and rear manifold and that the part I required was the flexi centre with no silencers on it. I gave them the reg and engine number and good description of the part. I can only imagine they had not ordered the part and used the wrong part been ordered as an excuse.
As for the tracking being siezed, I had fitted new track rod ends for the last MOT (6 months ago). I used copper greese as always on all the joints so they is no way they would have siezed. I did an oil change yesterday so checked the bolts and was going to give them a spray with oil spray to loosen them up and they came off with minimal effort, another excuse.
I took the car back today, again at the pre arranged time, to again be greated by the same face pulling. I left the car with them for the requested 2 hours to find only that on my return the mechanic had put the car on the ramps and gone for dinner without doing anything. I'd explained I was in a hurry so couldn't afford to wait all day.
He would be back in 30 mins and would start straight away, but it was anyones guess how long it would take. I said I had to go now and would take the car but could they check that no work had been done to be sure the car is safe?
"oh, it will be fine I was told, he won't have done anything". I requested clarification but was told the same again. The car was bought out, I reluctanly engaged in arranging a 3rd visit when a mechanic appeared holding my locking wheel nut. "I found this on the floor near the Saab" he stated. The garage owner passsed it back to me. I asked if this might suggest that the wheel nuts had been removed/ slackened. "oh no, I dont think so" I was told. Can we check I asked. Unfortunaltey I couldn't see what happened but the other owner disappeared with the locking nut for a little while in the direction of my car. Proably just cjhecking but who knows.
I left, seriously pi$$ed off at another waste of time and possibly a very dangerous situation!
This is not the first bad experience I've had with this garage, needless to say it will be the last.
I'd be happy to PM the name of this Garage if any N.East members are interested.
Cheers,
Richard.
quite a long story but please bear with me.
I booked my car in for an exhaust, tyres and tracking at a local garage which I have used in the past. They have never been great but are always cheap and friendly.
My first attempt to have this work done was Friday. I had pre booked the work, turned up at the arrnaged time and handed over the keys.
When I clarified what work needed to be done, the mechanic/ manager pulled a face when I mentioned the tracking. I left the keys with them, asked what time I should return and continued with my day. I returned at the arranged time to find that the exhaust had not been done as they had ordered the wrong part and that the tracking had not been done as the bolts were siezed.
I'd discussed the exhaust with them and explained that on this car there are 4 sections, down pipe, front maifold, flexi centre and rear manifold and that the part I required was the flexi centre with no silencers on it. I gave them the reg and engine number and good description of the part. I can only imagine they had not ordered the part and used the wrong part been ordered as an excuse.
As for the tracking being siezed, I had fitted new track rod ends for the last MOT (6 months ago). I used copper greese as always on all the joints so they is no way they would have siezed. I did an oil change yesterday so checked the bolts and was going to give them a spray with oil spray to loosen them up and they came off with minimal effort, another excuse.
I took the car back today, again at the pre arranged time, to again be greated by the same face pulling. I left the car with them for the requested 2 hours to find only that on my return the mechanic had put the car on the ramps and gone for dinner without doing anything. I'd explained I was in a hurry so couldn't afford to wait all day.
He would be back in 30 mins and would start straight away, but it was anyones guess how long it would take. I said I had to go now and would take the car but could they check that no work had been done to be sure the car is safe?
"oh, it will be fine I was told, he won't have done anything". I requested clarification but was told the same again. The car was bought out, I reluctanly engaged in arranging a 3rd visit when a mechanic appeared holding my locking wheel nut. "I found this on the floor near the Saab" he stated. The garage owner passsed it back to me. I asked if this might suggest that the wheel nuts had been removed/ slackened. "oh no, I dont think so" I was told. Can we check I asked. Unfortunaltey I couldn't see what happened but the other owner disappeared with the locking nut for a little while in the direction of my car. Proably just cjhecking but who knows.
I left, seriously pi$$ed off at another waste of time and possibly a very dangerous situation!
This is not the first bad experience I've had with this garage, needless to say it will be the last.
I'd be happy to PM the name of this Garage if any N.East members are interested.
Cheers,
Richard.
Be careful Richard, it's obvious who you are, full name and list of cars with reg numbers on your profile. You could find yourself being sued for libel, many local garages read PH.
Suggesting which garages you think people should use is the only way to have this debate on a public forum. It'll be apparent by the absence from your list which garage you wouldn't use.
Suggesting which garages you think people should use is the only way to have this debate on a public forum. It'll be apparent by the absence from your list which garage you wouldn't use.
Gassing Station | North East | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff