Car dealers: over the years I have had a lot of company cars. The longest manufacturer to have my patronage is VW. Three years on a 'V' plate Passat, and a year on a 53 plate. How do I rate the garages that I have used for servicing? From dire to not bad. Now when I decided to actually write this, I struggled with my conscience as to weather or not I should name and shame; I am going to name them all.
Let's start with the worst of the bunch: Willenhall Coachcraft. This has to be the worst garage I have ever been to for service. I booked my car in for a service and asked them to collect it, which they did. I had the day off and was painting a room in my house. I received no phone call all day to say it was ready or that anything was wrong. At 5.10 pm I actually thought I better give them a ring and see what was going on and when they were going to deliver the car back. It turns out that they could not deliver the car back tonight, as staff members had gone home and they were short staffed anyway. The guy on the service desk informed me that I would have to collect it and I better be quick as they close in a short while. I explained that I had no transport as they had my car. His response was: "what do you expect me to do about it?" When quizzed as to why no one had bothered to call me to inform me of this, I got a "well we are busy." Laugh? I could have crushed a walnut!
I asked to speak to the owner, who kindly informed me that his staff were not delivery drivers and that if I wanted the car back I had to get there myself. Once again telling him that I had no transport because they had my car he replied: "get a taxi." Luckily I had a visitor who would take me to the garage to get the car back. The service reception geezer looked sheepish to say the least as he handed me back my keys.
Next on my hit list would be the Ford Garage in Walsall - Reg Vardy on the Pleck Road. I had a Mondeo Estate Ghost Busters Wagon in white at the time, and it had a dickey speedo and rev counter. Basically I never knew how fast I was going. I could not get it to replicate at any of the times I actually took it in, and finally bullied the lease company to get it fixed for me. OK, so parts ordered and I wanted to wait for the car to be fixed; busy boys us reps you know. So off I trundled to the garage, gave them the keys, watched the snow fall outside and waited four hours, then to be told that they had ordered the wrong part and I would have to come back.
The service manager refused me a courtesy car, because there was none available. When I asked what I was expected to do, they wanted me to drive the car, with no speedo working at all. I gave up and drove home, phoned my boss and told him that I would be working from home until they got the car fixed. The leasing company talked to the garage and got them to order the right part, overnight it and it was fixed the next day. Why on earth could they not do that in the first place?
Renault garage in Wolverhampton: not much better. No call to say the car was ready and a large scratch down the side that they said was there.
Good garage: VW in Rotherham. 7/10 for them for effort at least. They would call and were courteous. 0/10 when they dropped a large jack on the wing of my car and bodged the repair. As soon as a garage find out it is a company car all the service goes out the window.
Finally, let's mention the Jaguar garage in Wolverhampton. I dropped in because I could choose my company car and thought an X-type would be nice. I turned up in jeans and a t-shirt and looked at the diesel. I was given 40 seconds courtesy "can I help you", a brochure and looked at like I was something you would scrape off the sole of your shoe. Jaguar want to attract people like me to their brand, and it isn't working with dealers like that.
Thought for this week
If you windows are steamed or frosted up, don't just drive off, GET 'EM CLEANED FIRST! Take a minute from your busy morning to get them frost free and drive safely.
Your Travelling Salesman - 7 Apr 2004
