Poor quality work from Dealership

[P6uly]

Having only owned my Octavia Vrs for 5 weeks I was very annoyed at having to take it to my local Skoda dealer to have the rear Skoda badge replaced under warrant due to corrosion . I collected my car left in the customer bays, it appeared to be covered on what looked like concrete dust with dirty marks all over the new badge and boot lid , to top a simple job off whatever "skilled" technician carried out the job had now left a dent just below the badge, obviously where they had used a tool to lever it off. I went straight back to the service desk, somone came out to quickly view my car, agreed they had damaged the boot , no apology , not even a sorry. They have agreed pay to rectify the damage ( to be expected) but this is not the point ! Simple job carried out my complete muppets. I will set foot in that Dealership again .

[Grizzle]

name and shame, it shouldn't take much with a trim removal tool.

[Sarge]

Having only owned my Octavia Vrs for 5 weeks I was very annoyed at having to take it to my local Skoda dealer to have the rear Skoda badge replaced under warrant due to corrosion . I collected my car left in the customer bays, it appeared to be covered on what looked like concrete dust with dirty marks all over the new badge and boot lid , to top a simple job off whatever "skilled" technician carried out the job had now left a dent just below the badge, obviously where they had used a tool to lever it off. I went straight back to the service desk, somone came out to quickly view my car, agreed they had damaged the boot , no apology , not even a sorry. They have agreed pay to rectify the damage ( to be expected) but this is not the point ! Simple job carried out my complete muppets. I will set foot in that Dealership again .

I know exactly what you mean. I'm now scared to put my car to garage because I know it'll likely come back with some new mark or bit of damage to it. Drives me mad that they're not 1) more careful and 2) more honest when things do happen. But I don't think it's just Skoda - had similar issues with my local Volvo dealer which was one of the reasons I jumped ship.

Sarge.

[Jane_i10]

Welcome to scam that is main dealers. I have never dealt with them before, actually avoided like the plague as they charge the earth but i bought my vRS from a dealer as i wanted a PD with warranty, it had FSSH so i wanted to continue this so had it served at main dealers with a service plan.

A simple oil change took 3 weeks to book in, then they took 6 hours (no joke!) to get the oil change done and then they over filled it, forgot to turn the service light off and then the woman at the service desk had a face like a slapped arse and spoke to me like dirt. Safe to say i never went to that dealer again.

Dealer number 2 (both Skoda) Booked in for service and confirmed service plan was all in check and there would be no problems.Drop car off, get phone call hour later to say that there is no service plan on car, they have to ring VW finance and get them sort it...this will take 5 working days, once this is confirmed that i was correct they could not get it booked in for another 2 weeks. Tbh the guy who sorted it out for me did his best but the over all experience is shocking..

[silver1011]

Badge replacement = a job for the apprentice / trainee

[booke23]

Badge replacement = a job for the apprentice / trainee

This is the problem with dealers and large garages. Oil changes and minor stuff is often done by teenagers.

[JulieD]

This is the problem with dealers and large garages. Oil changes and minor stuff is often done by teenagers.

Everyone wants their car looked after by somebody who is experienced, but that experience has to come from somewhere. Our local dealer (West End Garage, Uphall) has a very good apprentice who takes care and pride in his work and I'm more than happy for him to work on our cars. Not all dealers are shoddy, and neither are all teenagers.

[mr_awol]

Everyone wants their car looked after by somebody who is experienced, but that experience has to come from somewhere. Our local dealer (West End Garage, Uphall) has a very good apprentice who takes care and pride in his work and I'm more than happy for him to work on our cars. Not all dealers are shoddy, and neither are all teenagers.

There's nothing wrong with the apprentice working on your car - as long as they are properly supervised and/or their work is checked properly. The problems occur where a garage leave them to it too much.

[silver1011]

Teenager, master tech or OAP, I assume there is a procedure to follow to remove the badge, which I'm guessing wasn't followed in this example..?

[booke23]

Not all dealers are shoddy, and neither are all teenagers.

Of course not, but when paying dealer rates (£90/hr) you expect the trainee to be supervised/instructed properly.

And you absolutely do not expect any dealer to be shoddy in the first place.

[JulieD]

Of course not, but when paying dealer rates (£90/hr) you expect the trainee to be supervised/instructed properly.

And you absolutely do not expect any dealer to be shoddy in the first place.

Agreed. Not only should they not have damaged the car in the first place, but they should have owned up to their mistake and offered to make good. Keeping quiet and hoping they might get away with it is disgraceful.

[Blackline Stu]

I have been in my local dealer 3 times in 3 weeks and have always been treated kindly. Tom the guy who sold me the car is always up for a chat when not busy and there is some 'talent' behind the service desk which is an added bonus

[Gregie]

I have been in my local dealer 3 times in 3 weeks and have always been treated kindly. Tom the guy who sold me the car is always up for a chat when not busy and there is some 'talent' behind the service desk which is an added bonus

Which dealer is this? I usually get the gay guy or the old woman Behind the service desk LOL

[Blackline Stu]

Which dealer is this? I usually get the gay guy or the old woman Behind the service desk LOL

I love how you don't care about the service but if there is a pretty lady serving you all is well .

Its skoda aberdeen btw.

I may have to drop in to get some screenwash to 'find out' that I have to go to the seat garage just down the road for it. I think I have to go to seat for it . Owell I may as well pop in to ask and say hello .

[Gregie]

Brilliant!!! Skoda Aberdeen is my local dealership. I have often been to seat for parts. Weird setup they have going.

Aberdeen service is pretty good. I never had any bother with them other than trying to get parked near by in a safe spot

[Gregie]

Also Wallace performance is a good garage too just next door o seat. I hear they have 20-% off revo remaps just now too. Tempted.

[Blackline Stu]

Brilliant!!! Skoda Aberdeen is my local dealership. I have often been to seat for parts. Weird setup they have going.

Aberdeen service is pretty good. I never had any bother with them other than trying to get parked near by in a safe spot

Sounds like I made your day . Will you be popping in to say to her?

Oh god, the parking is terrible. I had to do a shunt forwards to park in one of the spaces outside the showroom and even once I was in it was a tight fit (no more than 10 inches either side ). They are moving in feb/march time to a new site 'just down the road'. Not entirely sure where it is tho.

Edited 24 December, 2012 by Blackline Stu

[Nick P]

I had a new grille from a main dealer after they damaged the old one when swapping out the badge under warranty. I think it's quite common. It shouldn't be, because when you take just a bit of care, it's a really easy job.

[drefaldwyn]

Find a trusted local independent!!!

I did this many years ago and haven't regretted it.

I use DSB Autocare (Nottm - so no use to you guys north of the border!).

I have no connection with DSB other than being a VERY satisfied customer.

Have a good New Year.

Dave

[FUBAR]

This is the problem with dealers and large garages. Oil changes and minor stuff is often done by teenagers.

You should have seen some of the jobs I used to do in a multi franchised main dealers when I was an apprentice mechanic, I expected to be sweeping the floor and making the brews and watching a lot to start with....... Instead I was servicing 60K+ RangeRovers and PDI'ing everything in sight from first day. The cost to get a RangeRover serviced which took 90 min to 2 hours of my time was about the same as I got paid per month the early Freelanders were the scourge of the place especially the 1.8 petrol and the Mondeo Mk3 with its handbrake recall.......... Many reasons why I left and the gashness of the owners (service manager was ok not his fault personally). I was genuinely the only one there who didn't abuse customers cars also (bar some of the oldies working there). From that experience I saw in that multi franchise and in regular communication with 4 or 5 other big main dealers in the area apprentices were relied on to do a lot of work way above their pay grade. The one I worked in was near a 6 week wait to get booked in for a service. The 2 Skoda dealers I use one in UK one in NL I actually trust.

Being a very trusting person the rules when I bring a car in are "no one drives it without me in the car" that leads to either me driving it or mechanic doing so like they were on their driving test.

[Gregie]

Sounds like I made your day . Will you be popping in to say to her?

Oh god, the parking is terrible. I had to do a shunt forwards to park in one of the spaces outside the showroom and even once I was in it was a tight fit (no more than 10 inches either side ). They are moving in feb/march time to a new site 'just down the road'. Not entirely sure where it is tho.

i will be in after the new year, i wonder if its the younge girl with the dar hair you refer too?? I heard they were moving but wasnt sure when, hopefully it will have a car park just for customers that holds more than 3 cars.

[Gregie]

Did you post pictures? I cant see them, just the words "posted Image" :S

[mr_awol]

Find a trusted local independent!!!

I did this many years ago and haven't regretted it.

I use DSB Autocare (Nottm - so no use to you guys north of the border!).

I have no connection with DSB other than being a VERY satisfied customer.

Have a good New Year.

Dave

In my experience the better 'trusted local independents' are excellent when it comes to servicing, engines, mechanical repairs, etc but a lot of them do tend to be poor when it comes to bodywork, trim, etc.

Even the headlight removal on the Octy confused one VAG specialist I visited (and when I showed him how to take it out he damaged it putting it back). This was a trustworthy place with a solid reputation when it came to servicing VAG engines but he clearly didnt see that many Octavias, or if he did, then he can't have had to take the lights out.......

Sorry for the rant but I think it's a bit dangerous sometimes how people slate a dealer and tell people to go independent when there are good and bad in both sectors and, in all honesty, probably a larger percentage of shoddy garages in the smaller, independent sector.......

Edited 25 December, 2012 by mr_awol

[Blackline Stu]

i will be in after the new year, i wonder if its the younge girl with the dar hair you refer too?? I heard they were moving but wasnt sure when, hopefully it will have a car park just for customers that holds more than 3 cars.

Yep got it in one. I'm sure she groans every time I come in even tho she always says hi and has a smile (thats half the battle with dealerships these days). I have been in 4 times in 3 weeks with various electrical issues (drivers window, hazard lights going off when locked as if the alarm is going off but no horn and issues with the climatronic, the whole dash is getting ripped out in feb to find the problem so I'll be seeing even more of her .) and when my wing mirror was snapped off I was in another couple of times. I must be one of their most common customers (I have been in 6 times in 2 months ).

Did you post pictures? I cant see them, just the words "posted Image" :S

No. I'm not that familiar with her. Yet .

Nope no images just smilies

Can you see the smilies above?

[Nick P]

Can you see the smilies above?

No, it looks like you're using T-Mobile and their deep packet inspection / proxying has gone wrong.