WTF is wrong with seat dealerships

[markmck]

Markmck

£25 ph sounds an absolute bargain. My ex-Audi chap working from a lock-up, albeit a very tidy one is charging £40 plus Vat ph and still works out cheaper than the Main Dealer. The thing I like is that he uses genuine parts but passes on a discount on them. However, just had cam belt, together with tensioner, tensioner damper and waterpump done (I insisted on supplying aftermarket pump with brass impeller so thanks to the Forum for that tip, VAG are still supplying plastic ones, whereas most aftermarket parts seem to have upgraded!) All that cost £368 all in, I think the dealer was at £400 + the damper which is about £65.

I don't seem to have much luck though as Audi who supply his parts sent the wrong tensioner to him twice, poor bloke was finishing my car at 8:00pm. How many main dealers would have stayed late?!

On the subject of clutch your guy sounds very cheap, but other wise would recommend using a gearbox specialist, as they do nothing but whip gearboxes in and out and replace clutches they tend to be cheaper.

Also would recommend GSF (German Swedish and French) for parts, just got new standard Brembo disks and Pagid FR Pads for project brake upgrade. The lot cost just over £200. But, that's for another thread.

The £25 / hour is ex vat but its still good - Car's in for a couple of strut top mounts this morning so i'll be out a few more ££

 

[Chewbacca]

Do you have to use main Dealers?

no mate, i was just using them out of habit

 

[Ruddmeister]

no mate, i was just using them out of habit

Apart from the 'Warranty Work' I would use independent specialists too then, particualrly if there is a good one local.....

 

[cheshire cat]

no i ment alsager, is ther a place that can do it there?

the other local option is PSI Tuning at Park House Ind' Estate Chesterton.

 

[ALTEA]

Its kind of a vicious circle.

Dealers make no money on sales now thats not a secret. All profits come from aftersales. Now with people straying away from dealers they have less money which means they can't pay for the good staff and techs etc leave. Level of knowledge drops and it goes around again. It ends in dealers closing which means if your in warranty you have to travel further for rectification.

And as for apprentices doing the services and techs not touching them, not where I work. I grab all the services I can. Its the only thing I earn money on.

If dealers did a good job of the work and customer service then surely they would'nt find themselfs in this downword spiral as people would continue to use dealers.

 

[gorebrush]

Interesting read here. I think I was wrong by taking my old Skoda to a dealer. As someone rightly pointed out, £55 +VAT an hour. I had the car serviced, 2 days later had engine management. They had it back, cleared the light free of charge. Light came back on. They had it all day thursday, couldnt find fault. Friday morning they ring me up and find a hairline crack in the inlet manifold. I get the car back on MONDAY (good job I had a courtesy car) and an eye-watering £650 repair bill.

Needless to say, questions were asked about it, as it was only 2 days after a service.

In fact, the ol girls going today...

But At least I know I dont have to be stuck to a dealer anymore. I think they're a damned ripoff!!

 

[evo2345]

iv had probelms with Barlows in wolverhampton before, Service Manager was so unhelpfull just fobbed me off time and time again, I recommend Midlands VW just up the road from me in cannock. My car goes thereif any works needed

 

[SpareMan]

Interesting read here. I think I was wrong by taking my old Skoda to a dealer. As someone rightly pointed out, £55 +VAT an hour. I had the car serviced, 2 days later had engine management. They had it back, cleared the light free of charge. Light came back on. They had it all day thursday, couldnt find fault. Friday morning they ring me up and find a hairline crack in the inlet manifold. I get the car back on MONDAY (good job I had a courtesy car) and an eye-watering £650 repair bill.

Needless to say, questions were asked about it, as it was only 2 days after a service.

In fact, the ol girls going today...

But At least I know I dont have to be stuck to a dealer anymore. I think they're a damned ripoff!!

i can't imagine there are many dealers (or anyone) that would spot a hairline crack in the inlet manifold as part of a routine service. Its just one of those things and the timing was a coincidence. Bill looks a bit steep though even for a dealer

 

[gorebrush]

No, it wasn't spotted during a service.

The engine management light came on TWO days AFTER a Service.

A week after I had the light come on, they couldnt not find the fault after 3 HOURS (@ £55 + VAT per hour)... was disappointed. I know it's just one of those things and was probably a genuine fault, but never mind..

 

[Funkyfin2000]

www.midlandvw.co.uk

thats all i can mate

Speak to Jody and tell him Rich sent ya!

Top dog!

 

[Chewbacca]

the other local option is PSI Tuning at Park House Ind' Estate Chesterton.

where is it?

i have just had my 100k service at a dealer again becuase im a d1ck! & yeah it was rubbish again!

they wanted nearly 600 quid for front disks & pads & back pads so they got told to not do the work & i will find someone else to do it

 

[Empi5]

Chewy, also try Votex in Congleton. VAG Specialists, Revo Dealer and Very helpfull.

 

[Ruddmeister]

where is it?

i have just had my 100k service at a dealer again becuase im a d1ck! & yeah it was rubbish again!

they wanted nearly 600 quid for front disks & pads & back pads so they got told to not do the work & i will find someone else to do it

Fight back Chewie, it's cos your only 4ft 7in tall they think they can take the mick

 

[Chewbacca]

Fight back Chewie, it's cos your only 4ft 7in tall they think they can take the mick

lol good luck finding your handles

 

[Ruddmeister]

lol good luck finding your handles

sorry

 

[Chewbacca]

sorry

...

 

[cheshire cat]

where is it?

i have just had my 100k service at a dealer again becuase im a d1ck! & yeah it was rubbish again!

they wanted nearly 600 quid for front disks & pads & back pads so they got told to not do the work & i will find someone else to do it

head for Newcastle thro Talke lights, over the 500, and either right or left at the next roundabout, don't know exactly where but it's not that big. For £600 I'd do 'em myself

 

[SpareMan]

where is it?

i have just had my 100k service at a dealer again becuase im a d1ck! & yeah it was rubbish again!

they wanted nearly 600 quid for front disks & pads & back pads so they got told to not do the work & i will find someone else to do it

Front Discs and pads alone for an LCR (Brembo) cost £375 through a dealer. Rear pads no more than £35. Seems like they are stinging you on labour time. Look elsewhere in this forum and you will find cheaper alternatives

 

[Stealthdave]

i complained to seat uk about a local dealer, they didnt really do much, just said oh ok thanks we've logged it...........

local dealer damaged my car twice whilest carrying out warranty work.....

I did the same to Ford UK about sandicliffe after cr**y workmanship, and they too said they'd log it...

Can anyone recomend somewhere good in notts\derby area for servicing etc? Main problem I guess is when you get faults that you think will be covered under warranty, you really need to take it to a main dealer for diagnosis as independent youd still have to pay for diagnosis right?

 

[Chewbacca]

found a place in cannock called midland vw or something like that guy callled jody.. very helpfull & reasonanbly priced too