Just contacted a local dealer (no names mentioned) to order a few 'simple' parts e.g, 2 x bumper grille inserts, a vRS front grille badge, an exhaust gasket - turbo to DP - and a rev 4 divertor valve, I was armed with all the part numbers so thought it would be easy!! how wrong was I? :no:

The guy on the phone said he couldn't find any of these parts without my chassis number, so I dug out the log book and reeled it off........he says "so thats a 57 reg then!" "no, its a 56" I reply "not according to my system" he barks, " are you sure you've given me the right number?" anger now building, I check the number on the car itself, which is the same, and explain this to Mr Helpful, his final comment before hanging up on me was "well I can't find that number, but the grille inserts are £3.93 including the vat, you would be better off phoning Canterbury TPS" click...............ring tone!!!! CHARMIN!!!

After a fruitless internet search I rang idiot boy back, and after a bit of persuaion he was forth coming with a contact number for Canterbury TPS. Just got off the phone with one of their sales guys, all he needed was my vehicle index, 2 minutes later all the parts ordered for collection Monday. He did explain that they are a trade counter but will deal with retail providing you don't ring and ask for a bit that goes on this bit etc, etc!

So for any one in my area who doesn't already know, if you ever need VAG OEM parts and you've got the part number or a very good description forget the Stealers, speak to Canterbury TPS on 01227 378510.

Yes TPS Canterbury are very helpful .

Can you PM the dealer who you phoned - i assume it was the small dealer closest to you? So i know who to avoid.

I had an experience in the same kinda theme once.

I've put the Elegance spec draw in my dash where the car shipped with a cubby hole.

It's actually out of my old Elegance Fabia and so the rubber inside is yellow, not black or grey.

I took the rubber matt in with me, handed it to the parts guy and asked for the same part in black.

2 days later it comes in so I go to collect, I go to fit it and it won't go in, he's sold me the rubber mat for the cubby that shipped in the car, not the draw I've fitted!

I go back in, tell him this (all smiley and nice) and he rufuses to give me a refund as he's supplied the right part for the car and it's not his fault I changed it! After about 10 minutes of pointing out I gave him the part that I wanted in a different colour he finally gives me a re fund but then won't quote me on the price of some parts I'd like to order as, again.. they're not what shipped on the car! GRRRRRRRR

So, not loudly, but obviously I proclaim "So your refusing to sell me parts that didn't ship on my car"... Then he changes his mind and tells me the price, which was really odd.. as it was a left hand and right hand version of the same part.. one at £9 and one at £20???

I never did get the rubber matt in the right colour for my drawer, good job it's hidden :(

Edited 9 July, 201015 yr by Rob.

Is this the local dealer who happens to also have a branch in NW Kent?????

I had a similar problem when trying to order the under-seat box for a LHD Octy to fit to my RHD car's driver seat. Local dealer said they couldn't sell it to me it as it wasn't for the UK market and kept saying that I already had one under the seat (no I didn't, that was the passenger seat). Next nearest dealer ordered one for me but then when I got it home it turned out to be an instrument cluster! Had to wait another week to get the right part.

Jeez...

Is this the local dealer who happens to also have a branch in NW Kent?????

No idea mate, PM me the dealer your thinking about and I will confirm or deny!!

When I had my Bravo new in 96, I had it serviced at sunwin Fiat in Bradford<I can name them,they closed!> and I wanted Pollen filter changed as part of service, so paid and checked filters in car park, they had bust the band that holds it in! This was a retro fit carrier ,as fitted to the ELX model.Guy on service said dont you trust us? Me/ no with good reason! so he opens the bonnets of five sx models while I protest you cant take one from there it is only on a Elx that is standard , he finaly cottons on and reluctantly gives me a carrier from an Elx. Also the day after my one year warranty expired my water pump failed, metal housing attached to plastic pipe then hoses? Go figure ! Plastic pipe part of pump middle of nowhere so AA take me to nearest Garage £245 fitted .I thought I would at least recover cost of part Last Fiat owned after 4 on the trot!

Is this the local dealer who happens to also have a branch in NW Kent?????

No idea mate, PM me the dealer your thinking about and I will confirm or deny!!

Nice to see it was not one of the ones i have been recommended , the parts guy at Caffyns knows his stuff and is really helpful, not used Motorline other than for a test drive, they were also really helpful too, but unfortunatly could not get close enough to Broadspeed's price for my next car.

Nice to see it was not one of the ones i have been recommended , the parts guy at Caffyns knows his stuff and is really helpful, not used Motorline other than for a test drive, they were also really helpful too, but unfortunatly could not get close enough to Broadspeed's price for my next car.

Is that Caffyns at Ashford Orbital park? They have been excellent in the past! Should have stuck with them.

Yes thats the one.

Yes thats the one.

Thank goodness!! I have ordered my scout from them and was getting worried for a minute.

FIAT = Fix It Again Tomorrow.