Very minor grumble....

[Satch]

Just picked up my car after a D service. The good news is that they managed to find and fix an annoying "eek-rattle-eek" noise from the rear suspension (iffy bushing) and everything else I had asked to be dealt with was done properly. Hurrah.

It had been cleaned inside and out. OK I will have to clean the winscreen with Meths. to get the "wax" contained in the shampoo off but was expecting that.

Now do not wish to appear ungrateful or overly picky why, oh why, would anybody think the following would make me a happier bunny?

(1) Coating the tyres in a really horrible sticky black dressing gunge. Half an hour to clean them up and apply something better.

(2) Spraying the engine covers and anything else rubber or plastic looking in the engine compartment with vast amounts of a silcon based "enhancer" for cosmetic purposes. Taken a entire roll of kitchen paper to get the excess off!

Sigh.

 

[BlackC55]

Most customers like it. I've never heard one complain

 

[Sp!ke]

I wouldnt let a garage wash my car.

If they did it would likely take me more time removing the swirl marks than it would have taken if I had done the service myself on the car.

 

[BlackC55]

I used to work on this guys 560SEC and he used to watch me do the work on it in the workshop. He used to get a chair from the showroom and sit next to my ramp and watch me. He used to insist on me taking my shoes off when I drove it too.

I could not use wing covers either; just in case they scratched the paint. After I did the work on it he used to inspect it and check it over and over again. A two or three hour service used to take me double the time.

He used to talk like Alan Partrige off the TV. Very annoying. He should have stuck to driving Rovers

 

[Sp!ke]

Why did it take you twice as long because he was watching

Couldn't cut corners perhaps Its not a dig, just an observation.

 

[BlackC55]

I had to wait while he checked everything. And couldnt cut any corners.... Only joking

 

[jaymanek]

to be honest i agree, it always seems to take much longer with someone watching a mechanics every move, its just not as comfortable as everyone works in their own ways and usually just causes the technician to make more mistakes...

 

[esox]

why, oh why, would anybody think the following would make me a happier bunny?

(1) Coating the tyres in a really horrible sticky black dressing gunge.

(2) Spraying the engine covers and anything else rubber or plastic looking in the engine compartment with vast amounts of a silcon based "enhancer" for cosmetic purposes.

Sigh.

Because it gives the impression that they have treated your car to a thorough and meticulous service,and is an attempt to convince you that all that money you spent was worthwhile...

 

[Rose Chap]

I used to work on this guys 560SEC and he used to watch me do the work on it in the workshop. He used to get a chair from the showroom and sit next to my ramp and watch me. He used to insist on me taking my shoes off when I drove it too.

I could not use wing covers either; just in case they scratched the paint. After I did the work on it he used to inspect it and check it over and over again. A two or three hour service used to take me double the time.

He used to talk like Alan Partrige off the TV. Very annoying. He should have stuck to driving Rovers

You did well not to wrap an especially heavy torque wrench round his head!

Some people are FAR too precious about their cars. Denting it or kerbing it is one thing, but telling them off for washing it the wrong way or insisting shoes be taken off before entering seems a little OTT.

 

[Gucci]

I used to work on this guys 560SEC and he used to watch me do the work on it in the workshop. He used to get a chair from the showroom and sit next to my ramp and watch me. He used to insist on me taking my shoes off when I drove it too.

I could not use wing covers either; just in case they scratched the paint. After I did the work on it he used to inspect it and check it over and over again. A two or three hour service used to take me double the time.

He used to talk like Alan Partrige off the TV. Very annoying. He should have stuck to driving Rovers

That's hilarious, he sounds like a right laugh to live with.

 

[BlackC55]

He was very over the top with his car. I can understand passion but he was taking it to another level.

 

[fuzzer]

ah well , at least they wash your car.

i was lucky to get a wash quite a lot of the time

At the end of the day they are only trying to help, as c55 says 9 times out of10 most people wouldnt mind that.

 

[pammy]

If there are things you don't want them to do that you know they might then you should tell them upfront. I tell them not to fill the wash wipe - capable of doing that myself for a fraction of the cost for example. If you don't think they can wash/prepare your car to your standards - tell them not to do it.

But as Fuzzer says - the majority of people would be delighted to see their car looking almost new

 

[Satch]

ah well , at least they wash your car.

i was lucky to get a wash quite a lot of the time

At the end of the day they are only trying to help, as c55 says 9 times out of10 most people wouldnt mind that.

Yes, they were trying to give good customer service. Not worth complaining about but it sort of took the edge off what was otherwise a very good performance.

There was so much spray put on the engine it was wet (not just wet look) all over. Puddles of the stuff had collected in nooks and crannies and run down into the engine undertray. What first alerted me to this was a stench very much like somebody boiling a pan of WD40!

Same OTT treatment with the tyres. A light coating of dressing would have been OK but it was like the tyres had been coated in underseal that had not dried.

More is not always better!

 

[Ian_C]

Totally agree and very dangerous.,..

I hope you rang them up to complian and point out they can save money by using less product.

The cheek of some people...Where will this end

 

[stats007]

I won't let a dealer wash my car. I've also had too many kerbed wheels or fresh damage done to let them drive it anywhere either.

Tyre black is a pain if it isn't applied properly - it spatters everywhere when you drive and rubs off on your clothes ahould you brush against it.

Watching someone service your car is a bit **** but do you blame him for the horror stories that get posted on forums?

 

[glojo]

Most customers like it. I've never heard one complain

You have now

Yes, they were trying to give good customer service. Not worth complaining about but it sort of took the edge off what was otherwise a very good performance.

Hi Satch,
I disagree; surely if you thank them for carrying out an excellent service which your very impressed with, then simply request they do not apply whatever you don't like? That way you keep them happy, but more important, it keeps you happy. If you write a letter of appreciation, it gets passed onto the folks that worked on your vehicle, they will note it and hopefully remember you.

Take care,
John

 

[GazCaff]

to be honest i agree, it always seems to take much longer with someone watching a mechanics every move, its just not as comfortable as everyone works in their own ways and usually just causes the technician to make more mistakes...

Very true, it's not just mechanics this happens to either.