I have seen mentioned b4 about members getting parts from these, but have just been on to get timing belt & it says not for public, so how do you go about getting the bits, are they the cheapest or one of? have been looking at "skoda parts" and they have the timing belt kit so was wondering in comparison what the price dif would be?

Some branches have a dummy "account" set up for cash/card sales, and will sell to the public. The one on Pride Park in Derby definitely does, I've been down there loads. It's at the managers discretion though so your local branch may not, best to have a ring around.

As for prices, they're not necessarily the cheapest, but you know you're buying OEM quality. You might think it doesn't matter for little things, but the reverse light switch I had on my Fabia packed in and wouldn't work, that was an aftermarket one even though the genuine one was only about £7 anyway, someone had skimped on a £7 switch and got something of a slightly different design which failed prematurely. With OEM, you know exactly what you're getting and I'll always try and use OEM parts unless there's a very good reason not to.

As for prices, they're not necessarily the cheapest, but you know you're buying OEM quality. You might think it doesn't matter for little things, but the reverse light switch I had on my Fabia packed in and wouldn't work, that was an aftermarket one even though the genuine one was only about £7 anyway, someone had skimped on a £7 switch and got something of a slightly different design which failed prematurely. With OEM, you know exactly what you're getting and I'll always try and use OEM parts unless there's a very good reason not to.

going to try & blag by saying I'm a mobile mechanic, fingers crossed ah

And chesterfield you can use,I've used them loads

Yup, i've used my local dealer & no problem

You will be fine buddy, like you said just say your a handy man doing up a few cars in your spare time. Polite friendly staff so no worries!

Yup pride park deffo do and the young lad who serves ya is a top lad....ordered several things today 110 later lol

the reverse light switch I had on my Fabia packed in and wouldn't work, that was an aftermarket one even though the genuine one was only about £7 anyway

Conversely the reverse switch for mine was quoted at a crazy price at a dealers, something like £50 - so I bought elsewhere.

Yup pride park deffo do and the young lad who serves ya is a top lad....ordered several things today 110 later lol

Depends who you get tbh, one of them is alright, one's a bit arsey. Generally speaking they don't care though as long as you're paying.

I also think Derby do 10% discount for ClubGTI members, so with an order that size you probably could have paid £10 for CGTI and got 10% off (so paid almost the same) but saved 10% off anything in future. I keep meaning to sort it out for when I go in, but never remember to do it before I need something.

Conversely the reverse switch for mine was quoted at a crazy price at a dealers, something like £50 - so I bought elsewhere.

That could be insane dealer markup, and why I go to TPS directly. Parts in Derby VW/SEAT pretty much go up 20% in value by travelling 100 feet across the carpark from the TPS office out the back...

Tps are very cheap by me, as I get full trade discount and delivery etc. They are always cheaper than main dealer on parts for my vrs. For instance my boot lock was £23 which is pennies! Worth getting parts there if you can blag it!

Make a letter headed receipt/invoice for your home address and make a trade account, thats all they ask for.

TPS centres can offer better discount because v.a.g give them better discounts when they purchase of them.

You will be fine buddy, like you said just say your a handy man doing up a few cars in your spare time. Polite friendly staff so no worries!

Phoned um today, said various people from briskoda say they use TPS, at 1st he said no sorry, only deal with trade, so I then began to plea, he kept me hold for a while then said gaffer said on this one occasion yes.... can't believe the price differance, got everything for a service + cam belt kit,well chuffed, will be hibernating under the car very soon

I used to work at a TPS, we would sell to anybody who came in (TRADE CASH ACCOUNT) just got a rear caliper for the fabia (green) for £85, not bad for a genuine part!