13 replies to this topic

[DGW]

Birchwood Skoda
Lottbridge Drove
Eastbourne
East Sussex,
BN23 6PX


Tel: 08433 193648
Fax: 01323 739688


Services:  New, Used, Repair

[Mike C]

I could have the first review here!!

Cars going in on 30th January for 50k service and Cam Belt change.

First impressions are very good. I popped in yesterday and had a chat with the salesman who I bought my VRS from at Saltdean Skoda before it went down the pan. He's very knowledgable about Skodas and tells it like it is which I appreciate, especially as I have just ordered a second VRS as a company car through work.

He advised that although the dealership has only been up and running about 6 months they have the master technician from Saltdean and from Saunders Abbot in Bexhill which is where I have always taken it for servicing up until now and he has in excess of 8 years experience working on Skodas.

Phoned them today for prices and so far the service has been up to scratch. Will report back once the car is done.:thumbup:

[GMC555]

First used in 2008, and again this year.  In 08 their sales people seemed to be on the ball, and service couldn't have been more helpful.  A more recent purchase revealed a lot of complacency on the sales side, with late or un-returned phone calls and emails, misleading date of supply of the new car and some doubts about their product knowledge on Octys.  Sometimes wondered why I was spending a great deal of cash (to me) with them.  However, their service dept remains very good and always ready to assist, even if not much notice has been given.  

Not sure I will want to buy another new car from them in future unless they can become much keener to please and less inclined to take their customers for granted.

[richieboy]

I took my Fabia in not very long ago to get a simple fault sorted. In the process of repairing this (at an already extravagant cost compared to some other quotes i had, but this was the nearest place to me), they broke a part that cost £70+ and would not budge at all to help out with the cost even though they broke it. I found their staff rude, unhelpful, and unprofessional. NEVER AGAIN!

Edited by richieboy, 26 February 2011 - 20:20.

[scowlsandgrowls]

Not actually used them for servicing but phoned them up for advice and found them to be helpful (see my post re remote key fob under octavia II).

[PeterJCP]

richieboy, on 26 February 2011 - 20:20, said:

I took my Fabia in not very long ago to get a simple fault sorted. In the process of repairing this (at an already extravagant cost compared to some other quotes i had, but this was the nearest place to me), they broke a part that cost £70+ and would not budge at all to help out with the cost even though they broke it. I found their staff rude, unhelpful, and unprofessional. NEVER AGAIN!

[PeterJCP]

Hi Richieboy
Sorry I have only just joined this forum. I am Director/head of business for Birchwood Skoda/West Sussex Motors and now Azur in Chichester.
It goes without saying that I am sorry that we seem to have got it so wrong with your booking. Its a while since it happened so am going to struggle to be able to give a valid response to your case. I would however like for you to give us a second chance? I am happy to give a competitive quote for your next service or repair which I have no doubt you will cross check. On top of this as we are virtual neighbours (I live down the road in Danehill), would personally collect the car from you and deliver it back. I dont know if my proposition will suffice but I am would like the chance to make amends and prove out the high standards which we usually deliver?

I am on 07753 931347

Many thanks

Pete

[PeterJCP]

richieboy, on 26 February 2011 - 20:20, said:

I took my Fabia in not very long ago to get a simple fault sorted. In the process of repairing this (at an already extravagant cost compared to some other quotes i had, but this was the nearest place to me), they broke a part that cost £70+ and would not budge at all to help out with the cost even though they broke it. I found their staff rude, unhelpful, and unprofessional. NEVER AGAIN!

Hi Richieboy
Sorry I have only just joined this forum. I am Director/head of business for Birchwood Skoda/West Sussex Motors and now Azur in Chichester.
It goes without saying that I am sorry that we seem to have got it so wrong with your booking. Its a while since it happened so am going to struggle to be able to give a valid response to your case. I would however like for you to give us a second chance? I am happy to give a competitive quote for your next service or repair which I have no doubt you will cross check. On top of this as we are virtual neighbours (I live down the road in Danehill), would personally collect the car from you and deliver it back. I dont know if my proposition will suffice but I am would like the chance to make amends and prove out the high standards which we usually deliver?

I am on 07753 931347

Many thanks

Pete

[Caspian]

Hi,

Just like to record my appreciation for Tom Paddock and the rest of the team at Birchwood Skoda Eastbourne who researched and sorted out a problem with the Columbus unit on my Superb. They were all very helpful, very friendly and very professional. Thanks again guys.

[V6TDI]

Just used 'em today for the first time.  Intermediate service, brake fluid change and investigate slow cold startup (turns over once more than I'd expect it to and I get a puff of diesel, first start on cold mornings).  All done with no drama's.  Friendly crew.  Told me about tyres and brakes, which I knew about, told me about a not so yellow indicator bulb (passed MOT 2 weeks ago).  Missed my u/s parking sensors.  Advised that the suspect glowplug(s) - which I concur as it seems like it's running on 5 for the first 10 seconds or so, then settles down. Gave it back to me clean, when I'd given it to them with a layer of overnight dust on it.  Thought it good their quoted prices were inclusive of VAT.

Thumbs up from me

Gaz

[V6TDI]

I might have been a bit quick to complement

Text from my completing their web enquiry form this evening:

'Complaint.

I'm writing to express some disappointment following my Superb being serviced by yourselves last Tuesday, 5th March 2013.

I was told about rear tyre wear, which I was aware of.  I was told about an indicator bulb losing its orange colouration.  But I was not told that my engine undertray was damaged.

The undertray sustained significant damage in yesterday's snow.  I accept this is just one of those things - the car is lowered and I certainly hit some ice in the channel between tyre tracks on my journey home.

My concern is that you would have been the last garage to have taken the undertray off and it was put back on with cable ties and at least eight of the securings completely missing. This in itself is not my main concern, but the way that where the undertray way secured to the wheel arch liners (front edge - where there would normally be four 1/4 turn plastic pins going in to four square female locators) only two cables ties were used and they'd been put on in such a way as to allow the undertray to 'sag' by about an inch and a half (photo's as I found it are readily available).  This may well have contributed to the untimely demise of my under tray.
I'm a member of Briskoda (amongst others) and am fastidious about my cars.  I bought the car in February last year and had a full cambelt kit change at the time of purchase.  When I looked the car over I found four wheel arch liner screws had not been re-fitted, so bought several more from yourselves.  I'll have the invoice.  At that time I can confirm that  all the correct undertray fixings were in place.  Only one other garage has had the undertray off since then.  I'm not interested in finger pointing as to whom it was who removed and did not re-install the correct fixings.
My beef is why on earth would you tell me about an indicator bulb having lost some colouration, yet not tell me that you were unable to re-install my front under tray correctly and that it would be sitting lower than it should?  Very disappointing indeed.
I've just spent over an hour outside removing impacted ice from the engine bay and adding cable ties to tide me over until I can replace it, once again with all the correct fixings.
I'd have appreciated it if the call about tyre wear and bulb discolouration could have included 'your undertray is cream crackered, would you like it replaced?'.
I'm sorry to say that my first experience of using Birchwood Skoda does not inspire me to be a returning customer.

Yours sincerely

Gary W'

C'est la vie.  One to notch up to experience.

Gaz

[rebelwriteruk]

Just purchased my 61 plate Fabia from Birchwood, the salesman I dealt with was friendly and knew the answers to all my questions, however when I picked the car up yesterday he was busy and passed me on to someone else who to to be honest didn't seem anywhere near as proficient. I asked what I thought was a simple question about how the car regenerated itself in normal operation he looked a little blank, he fetched the service manager who also couldn't answer my question, he then went and googled it and still gave me a vague answer, call me old fashioned but I think speaks for itself, dont think i will be using them again.

[caddymatt1380]

Mk1 Octavia bra went in for coil pack recall yesterday. Absolutely superb in every way. They changed all 4 packs for free even though it had non oem ones on it. Very pleased. Thank you

[caddymatt1380]

Vrs not bra