The White Dog

[Rashman]

I don't do patience , so I just called John at the bodyshop..

He has received the bracket today (nice of him to let me know, but the main things is they have it!).

His manager has apparently just walked in the door.

John will arrange for him to inspect the bumper and if he is happy with it, he will give Darren a call to come and check it over too.

I asked John again what he thought of the paintwork..

He said he is happy with it and that it is fine.

We shall soon see if there is a difference between his interpretation of fine and mine!

John said he will call me later to let me know how things stand...

 

[V12]

Remind me never to sell you anything

 

[Rashman]

Remind me never to sell you anything

lol!

 

[sjmaxwell]

Hi Rash, been away for a couple of weeeks so catching up!

It seems to be progressing nicely and I hope Maidstone do a good job.

If your OCD gets the better of you then the "red devil" could do with a clean!!

 

[Rashman]

So after finding out that the bodyshop had received the bracket and that John at the bodyshop was happy with the paint, I contacted Darren at Mercedes to let him know.

All that needs to happen now is for the bumper to be fitted.

I awaited a call to tell me that this was underway.

It got to about 5.30pm and hadn't heard from either the dealers or the bodyshop.

Tried to call Darren but no answer. But I know he has had a busy day with things today so I'm not stressing too much about that.

So I decided to call John at the bodyshop to find out when the bumper was going to be fitted. I'm hoping to have things done and dusted by tomorrow.

Recepitionist answered and said John will call me straight back.

Waited.... no call. Then they closed for the day.

I can't wait to get this crap over with.

I'm thankful to Darren and David at Mercedes for looking after the car but I am growing evermore sick and tired of waiting.

First the bodyshop mess up the paint job, meaning they had to re-do it.

Then they neglected to order the securing bracket for the bottom edge of the bumper (which I mentioned to them when they inspected the car in the begining - to which they responded "yes, we'll order that as part of what's needed")

Now, when we are close to getting things sorted, I can't get hold of them.

To be honest, it's the same old gripe that seems to be the cause of most peoples frustration.. lack of communication! Calls not being returned.

It winds me up more than the bumper needing to be re-sprayed!

I am going to try and chill out and call Darren tomorrow morning.

All that needs doing, is the bumper to be fitted so I'm hoping to have the car back tomorrow.

Should have had it back last week and it's the bodyshop that have delayed things

I hope to have better news tomorrow.

 

[Dieselman]

Then they neglected to order the securing bracket for the bottom edge of the bumper (which I mentioned to them when they inspected the car in the begining - to which they responded "yes, we'll order that as part of what's needed")

Is there a reason they couldn't have reused the old one?

Just chill for a bit, it will get done soon.

At least this way it's not getting dirty...

 

[sjmaxwell]

So after finding out that the bodyshop had received the bracket and that John at the bodyshop was happy with the paint, I contacted Darren at Mercedes to let him know.

All that needs to happen now is for the bumper to be fitted.

I awaited a call to tell me that this was underway.

It got to about 5.30pm and hadn't heard from either the dealers or the bodyshop.

Tried to call Darren but no answer. But I know he has had a busy day with things today so I'm not stressing too much about that.

So I decided to call John at the bodyshop to find out when the bumper was going to be fitted. I'm hoping to have things done and dusted by tomorrow.

Recepitionist answered and said John will call me straight back.

Waited.... no call. Then they closed for the day.

I can't wait to get this crap over with.

I'm thankful to Darren and David at Mercedes for looking after the car but I am growing evermore sick and tired of waiting.

First the bodyshop mess up the paint job, meaning they had to re-do it.

Then they neglected to order the securing bracket for the bottom edge of the bumper (which I mentioned to them when they inspected the car in the begining - to which they responded "yes, we'll order that as part of what's needed")

Now, when we are close to getting things sorted, I can't get hold of them.

To be honest, it's the same old gripe that seems to be the cause of most peoples frustration.. lack of communication! Calls not being returned.

It winds me up more than the bumper needing to be re-sprayed!

I am going to try and chill out and call Darren tomorrow morning.

All that needs doing, is the bumper to be fitted so I'm hoping to have the car back tomorrow.

Should have had it back last week and it's the bodyshop that have delayed things

I hope to have better news tomorrow.

Sorry I spoke to soon in my previous thread!

I must admit that I get fed up with Maidstone saying they will call and then they don’t but it seems to be the way of the world now.

I remember attending a sales seminar many years ago and the one thing that stuck with me has always been "do what you say you will do, as the customer will always appreciate that". It's a shame that people don’t seem to get taught that in sales/customer service anymore!!

 

[whitenemesis]

I think I'd rather it be a week late through things being done properly and double checked than rushed to be on time and then finding something needs to be redone!

 

[Rashman]

Hi Rash, been away for a couple of weeeks so catching up!

It seems to be progressing nicely and I hope Maidstone do a good job.

If your OCD gets the better of you then the "red devil" could do with a clean!!

Hey Steve, hope you are well bud

Things are progressing.. But the days passing by is starting to get to me now.

We're very close to getting things concluded but there doesn't seem to be much urgency about it, which is frustrating me.

It's not completely over yet because I still need to inspect the bumper myself.

It may be that I find things I am not happy with which will mean they'll have to start all over again.

I'm trying not to think about that prospect too much at the moment.

I don't want things to turn out that way, which is why I have asked various people to inspect the work before I even get down there.

But if I'm not happy with the work, there will be no other option other than for them to do it again.

I'm praying that they are keeping this in mind and that John at the bodyhop is not just telling me "I'm happy with the paint work" without actually asking himself if I would be happy with the paintwork!!

I won't be able to declare everything as finished until I have actually inspected it myself.

Even then, it may be that I'll spot something I am not happy with a few days after, when I have seen the car in different light and after I have gone over the bumper inch by inch when it's back home and in the garage.

I will go over it finely when I collect the car, but the real up-close inspection is likely to be when it's back home.

OCD will be in over-drive when I get the car home again. If I have any left over, Red Devil can have it. lol!

 

[Rashman]

I think I'd rather it be a week late through things being done properly and double checked than rushed to be on time and then finding something needs to be redone!

Hey bud,

Yes, I completely agree.

I guess I'm just getting alittle frustrated and itchy, that's all.

But when they finally ring me and tell me it's all done and to a first class standard, it better be just that.

Otherwise I'm going to be properly p'd off - at them not being able to do the simple job of spraying and fitting a bumper, and for wasting all of our time.

Trying to keep calm... I'm sure it'll be fine

 

[Rashman]

Is there a reason they couldn't have reused the old one?

Just chill for a bit, it will get done soon.

At least this way it's not getting dirty...

Hey Will,

The securing bracket was completely destroyed in the impact with the white dog.

I was able to rescue the broken bumper section and the wheel arch liner from the roadside, but the securing bracket was in the middle of the road being run over repeatedly by stupid dumb ar$e drivers, who clearly didn't give a sh#t what they drive over. I really can't believe the mentality of people

The bracket is a simple piece of plastic that is about a foot long. It secures the wheel arch liner to the bottom edge of the bumper under the fog light area. Was completely smashed up.

As I mentioned, I told John about this when he first inspected the car. He didn't bother to look at what I was referring to and said "yeah, I know the bit, I'll order that" (or words to that effect).

Winds me up. If people just assessed things properly, so much time would be saved in this world
What's the saying?..."measure twice, cut once"?!

The bracket alone has set things back by 4 days

As simple look under the bumper would have saved the time!

Sigh.... I am trying to chill bud. And yes, it will get sorted soon.

I just hope that it is plain sailing now. The kick in the nuts will be going down there to find faults/ flaws that will need further correction.

But yes, at least the car is indoors and not getting subjected to the weather!

 

[trapperjohn]

I mean this in the nicest possible way Rash.

Rome was not built in a day. The perfection and level of supervision you have demand and involved includes quite a phalanx of people. People take time to talk to each other and bob back and forth to paint shop and garage.

I'm sure it will be done to your standards eventually - I just wonder if you are putting an inordinate amount of pressure on this phalanx and it could actually have a unconscious negative effect on the people working on your car.

What you did at the beginning of the thread and how you treated the dog owner must not be over looked. That was stand-up stuff and I take my hat of to you. I just wonder if you are overcooking the tail end of this job. Just my thoughts and non intended.

 

[Rashman]

Sorry I spoke to soon in my previous thread!

I must admit that I get fed up with Maidstone saying they will call and then they don’t but it seems to be the way of the world now.

I remember attending a sales seminar many years ago and the one thing that stuck with me has always been "do what you say you will do, as the customer will always appreciate that". It's a shame that people don’t seem to get taught that in sales/customer service anymore!!

I'm completelty with you.

I've lost count of how many times I have read on this forum alone about how frustrated people get by not having calls returned.

It is one of my top-ten hates!

I know I'm alittle ratty tonight, but I must say that the guys at Maidstone have been good.

I was annoyed at not being able to get hold of people towards the end of the day, but as you say, it's the world these days and I'm sure can be applied to any aspect of life nowadays.

 

[Dieselman]

The kick in the nuts will be going down there to find faults/ flaws that will need further correction.

And that was supposed to be the Silver Lining...

 

[AMGBlack]

Hi Rash,

Sorry that it is dragging on a bit. . feel for you mate, I know what thats like lol.

To help matters .. grab a nice cool glass of something...

And:

Chinese Proverb
Patience is power; with time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown.

Therefore your car will soon be purring, in the garage. . to um, keep dry.

 

[Rashman]

I mean this in the nicest possible way Rash.

Rome was not built in a day. The perfection and level of supervision you have demand and involved includes quite a phalanx of people. People take time to talk to each other and bob back and forth to paint shop and garage.

I'm sure it will be done to your standards eventually - I just wonder if you are putting an inordinate amount of pressure on this phalanx and it could actually have a unconscious negative effect on the people working on your car.

What you did at the beginning of the thread and how you treated the dog owner must not be over looked. That was stand-up stuff and I take my hat of to you. I just wonder if you are overcooking the tail end of this job. Just my thoughts and non intended.

Hey bud,

Yeah, I hear ya

You're probably right.

I even thought the same a while back.. thinking if I put it in their minds that I am not going to expect anything short of 101%, it will make the painter nervous! lol

It may also mean that they may find a minute spec on the paintwork and deem it a fail because of what I'm like and state they need to do it again

I know what you mean.

But the curse of it is, I couldn't accept anything but perfect

Call it OCD, too much respect for the car, whatever... can't help it

Maybe I expect too much

But I feel that if I don't maintain my standard, the car will no longer be special. I want to give the car the respect it deserves, that's all.

Weird sod, aren't I.

I said before that I'd rather they took longer on the car if it means getting it back in the condition I want (as Whitey pointed out a moment ago), and I still stick by that.

I just hate waiting and I hate not knowing stuff.

 

[Rashman]

And that was supposed to be the Silver Lining...

LOL!

I make it harder on myself, don't I?



I'm sure it'll be ok..

 

[Rashman]

Hi Rash,

Sorry that it is dragging on a bit. . feel for you mate, I know what thats like lol.

To help matters .. grab a nice cool glass of something...

And:

Chinese Proverb
Patience is power; with time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown.

Therefore your car will soon be purring, in the garage. . to um, keep dry.

Heeey!

Hope you are well bud

Thanks for posting up.

I hear you bud. Patience... must learn me some of that stuff

I will chill... and I will have good news to post tomorrow.. I will!

 

[trapperjohn]

Has vision of Rashman pacing up an down his empty garage at home tomorrow with mobile/ipad in hand waiting for the call to say. "Yes it is reborn come down and be reacquainted with your love child"

Also has vision of expectant phalanx at a certain Mercedes garage either queuing up for praise on the rebirth or doing a runner if The White Dog repair turns out to be a bit of a mongrel

 

[Rashman]

Has vision of Rashman pacing up an down his empty garage at home tomorrow with mobile/ipad in hand waiting for the call to say. "Yes it is reborn come down and be reacquainted with your love child"

Also has vision of expectant phalanx at a certain Mercedes garage either queuing up for praise on the rebirth or doing a runner if The White Dog repair turns out to be a bit of a mongrel

Hahahaha!!

My garage floor will need repainting from all the pacing!

I know what I'm like and it is never my intention to add pressure to a situation because of my ways. People are scared to even move my car now, allowing me to park/ move the car myself

If they do a cracking job, I will have nothing but praise for the guys.

Call me and tell me it's ready only to have me arrive and find it's not...... oooo, don't go there....



All I ask is that the car is given the respect and care it deserves.

People who work on the car are in a position where they can either help preserve it, or contribute to its decline.. and this always makes me incredibly nervous.

You give your car to someone to work on it with the hope that they take onboard at least half of how much it means to you. It scares the hell out of me.