Is it me or are the Skoda dealers getting worse.

I only wanted new exhaust hangers

- The phone manner for a start seems that you are just a pain for calling.

- then you quote reg and my car came up with a Ambiente instead of a RS which is rubbish as I changed DVLA due to this 3 years ago.

- Then i tell him ignore reg and trust me it is a VRS and gave him year , then tells me there is more than one hanger type for that car(rubbish)

- then he wants chassis number. I am at work so tell hime engine Code AUQ

- He finally gets to the part and gives me a price for the pair

- then states not on shelf and will take 2 days to arrive from ordering

- I say don't bother

I call TPS

- The phone manner great

- Checks reg and bingo a Octy RS comes up.

- Check parts drawing , only 1 type for that year VRS(2001 to 2005)

- gives better price and i go ahead with order

- Not in stock but next day delivery

How come a main dealer can't beat a part trade centre.?

P.S Normally I have been using local VW dealers to get parts shared / common parts on VAG cars and they deliver parts next day to.

Go figure....

Did you get the part number? So I can order one from the local dealer in Wellington

The parts guy here is really good. Friendly, helpful, even responds quickly to email requests..

Got to say mine aint bad at all, looks up parts all the time for me and usually gets them next day.

I can't understand why anyone would waste time at a "Skoda" dealer other than for parts specific to this clone. My dealer didn't even have a rear interior light bulb for my Superb.

VW/TPS no problems. Why don't the idiots have a combined spares and service facility for all clones?

rotodiesel.

I've been using TPS for years & they have always been helpful & knowledgeable. Parts always there the next day if ordered before 3.30 too.

First time i went to dealer for some parts they took reg number it didnt come up, lucky i was in car so they took chassis number and been fine since altho they dont seem that interested in selling parts altho i think most dealers are same

Did you get the part number? So I can order one from the local dealer in Wellington

The parts guy here is really good. Friendly, helpful, even responds quickly to email requests..

Let you know Part Numbers when i pick the parts up....

I can't understand why anyone would waste time at a "Skoda" dealer other than for parts specific to this clone. My dealer didn't even have a rear interior light bulb for my Superb.

VW/TPS no problems. Why don't the idiots have a combined spares and service facility for all clones?

rotodiesel.

Hi Roto,

I am sure you won't be surprised to hear that some dealers stock no parts at all for walk-in customers. All parts are ordered in.

It took me three attempts from the dealer near me to get one of those little blanks that covers the hole in the scuttle panel for the windscreen wipers. After the first attempt I was presented with completely the wrong part (some sort of interior trim I think) and was told "well that's what you ordered".

TPS on the other hand have been very helpful, they even managed to identify the alternator pulley for a ford galaxy over the phone.

I won't even go to the dealers. No point in my mind. I had a friend who used to work for them and he said the guys there didn't have a clue and it is overpriced. TPS is about 10 mins less of a drive, they are all VAG specialists/enthusiasts who work there and all you have to say is Trade, TidyVAG and you get it cheaper.

I don't really have a choice here :(

Also most stuff is ordered from Auckland (overnight), Singapore (3 days) or Germany (10 days).

I have a habit of wanting things that have never been ordered in NZ before :p

I find it's completely dependent on the person at my local Skoda garage.

I've been through 4 people over the last 3.5yrs. 3 have been great, and one has been totally useless.

The annoying thing is every time they change the staff I lose my discount, which winds me up! Thankfully I've gained back my 20% discount now.

I always go armed with part numbers, drawings, my VIN and reg number just incase!

The award for worst "parts guy" has to go to Suzuki though. They get literally every part wrong on my '91 Samurai, and constantly try and claim that the VIN doesn't come up on their systems. I've spent a lot of time sat with them going through microfiches! Old skool!

Sounds like "some dealers" are employing chimps instead of properly experienced "parts men". The real parts man would repond to "I want a sproggle washer for a 2025 Thripps Thunderbolt please?" with the part or a question like "Which engine sir?", vanish into the store room, and return with the part.

It took me three attempts from the dealer near me to get one of those little blanks that covers the hole in the scuttle panel for the windscreen wipers.

Could you let me know the part no. for this please, as one of mine is missing.

Save me the hassles that you encountered.

TIA

Damo

Could you let me know the part no. for this please, as one of mine is missing.

Save me the hassles that you encountered.

TIA

Damo

Thats another damo requires that part number Ta!

I had a very simular problem with my local skoda garage when i phoned for exhaust hangers for my car earlier this week. Allthough the lad didnt seem to know what he was on about.

Car went into garage for some warranty work today and I got quoted

£160 to change spark plugs? SeriouslY?

I'll change them for you Luke

I have never used the dealer for spares,I prefer using TPS,and the service is 1st class. Last thing I bought was a coolant temp sensor and it was delivered within 10 mins of order. Apparently they keep common spares on the delivery van,and it just happens to be nearby.How's that for service.

I need to take them out to see if they are causing the misfiring issues

were they ever any good, my local dealer is soooooo flipping slow it hurts!

Its like they are doing you a favour when you go in and try to buy parts, i try to never use them to be honest..

I think dealers in general are getting worse. The motoring public expect main dealerships to be the experts, but in fact they are a million miles from it. Often the face of the dealership is the reception staff. They are so full of their own self-importance that they don't give a hoot about the customer, and the very people who keep them in business. Many are just plain rude, and most are clueless at best. We must remember that they are NOT 'Skoda' or 'Ford' or 'Peugeot'. They are franchised dealers and independent businesses. Receptionists treat the workshop technicians like second rate citizens, forgetting exactly who is keeping who in a job. The technician is considered bottom of the pile where in fact he is the most valuable member of staff, and good ones are not easy to replace. Rather than the dealer providing hand tools for the workshop staff they have to buy their own which runs into many thousands of pounds, and they receive no gratitude for it. I’ve never heard of a receptionist ever having to provide their own photocopying machine or desktop computer, or even a pen or a stapler. The motor trade is largely years behind itself living in prehistoric times. Training is completely inadequate and often non-existent. Staff experience is based on having become familiar rather than on sound knowledge and education, which might provide some kind of explanation of why so many faults go misdiagnosed. The vehicle manufacturers provide very poor support for the dealers, and none whatsoever to the smaller independent garages. Much of the time the dealer after-sales representative doesn't have much of a clue either, and so there's no hope for anyone.

I worked in a Vauxhall main dealership from 1980-1995. I was an apprentice for the first four years, and altogether in the remaining eleven years I went to the Vauxhall College in Luton for training on just four occasions, each for a duration of two days. Eight days training in eleven years can hardly be described as sufficient. Like most technicians I used to pride myself on my knowledge of Vauxhall cars and vans, but it's only what comes from working on them everyday.

A complete change of attitude is what's required if the motor trade is to regain the credibility it has so obviously lost over the years. They must remember that the customer comes first every time.

I guess it depends what dealer you go to, mine is pretty good, a smallish local main dealer but a family owned one and they tend to look after you, especially if you're regular. They worked especially hard to get my custome recently when I was buying a new Octavia, I rang about 15 dealers in total and they still gave me the best deal. I have had bad main dealer experiences in the past though, mainly with volkswagen, had arguments with pretty much every single vw dealer within a 30 mile radius to me, as a result I don't buy new vw's anymore!

Edited 26 March, 201115 yr by nuts

Could you let me know the part no. for this please, as one of mine is missing.

Save me the hassles that you encountered.

TIA

Damo

I will try and find the reciept, but which one are you after because they are different because of the shape of the scuttle panel, I got the passenger side one.

I will try and find the reciept, but which one are you after because they are different because of the shape of the scuttle panel, I got the passenger side one.

That's the one, passenger side

Cheers

Damo