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Simpsons Skoda (Preston) Ltd - Preston..


DGW

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Guest ProfesorDeBuceo

I thought I was doing too well...

 

Recently I got a quote for a stone chip repair but, not unreasonably, I wanted the job to be as good as new, after all it's a nearly new car.
I was amazed when the service department replied with "<Simpsons> was unable to get our body shop to do the repair and Guarantee it would be as new"
WT#.!!!!! :thumbdown: 
Needless to say it's been done elsewhere, for less dosh, ... and it is "as new".

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Guest ProfesorDeBuceo

The body shop they use is quite fussy mind...

In that case a guarantee should be no problem...

 

Incidentally, they never said which body shop they use.

Edited by ProfesorDeBuceo
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Well..........I did say........ 

When Phil was service manager there was no problem with paint jobs as I recall. Maybe the money was not enough....or....they are too busy doing services on Yeti's.......but not mine. LOL

Time you found another 'garage' me thinks?

Regards Midnight Sun

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Guest ProfesorDeBuceo

To be fair, they did resolve the rattle issue, and it's the "body shop" (whoever that may be) that seems to have been the let down on this occasion. I just find it crazy that a garage would be so honest (?) about their shortcomings, most would find some excuse to keep their reputation in tact.

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They usually have a regular 'paint man' under contract to them, or that's the way it used to be as I understood it.

Why book you in, or offer the service if this is the result?

Now HERE is a body repair shop. (Hope this works!)

http://autobotanik.livejournal.com/31952.html

 

Paste this link into your browser.

Some paint chip eh?

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Guest ProfesorDeBuceo

Their work is very good, but expensive, and they're quite picky about jobs.

 

Certainly their quote would support the "expensive" bit, but as for "...very good..."; just not good enough to guarantee "as new" it would seem...

Edited by ProfesorDeBuceo
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HB Panelcraft  was the company that Simpsons suggested I try AFTER they changed their mind about doing my paint job which had been booked in for over a week. The price was £380-00 as opposed to Simpsons original quote of £230-00. Slightly higher!!......Looks like they are 'handing off ' jobs to HB!

Maybe Simpsons just want quick service and odd warranty jobs? More money in it? Perhaps a change in policy along with change in management? One of life's mysteries........

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  • 5 months later...
Guest ProfesorDeBuceo

Recently I had a small problem with the handbrake not holding completely when the car's parked on my driveway. It tended to creep a little unless also in gear.

Simpsons had a look at it and came back with "the brakes are within manufactures specifications..., we can find no fault..., see how it goes".

 

Well, as they did absolutely nothing, it continued to go downhill!

 

Not happy I contacted Skoda UK, and after 4 days they replied with "do you still want our help?"  I mean, what is that about?

 

Being light on brakes in general it was logical that the rear pads may have needed a bit of roughing up, and sure enough after a few tactical drives the handbrake now holds as it should.

 

I even suggested to Simpsons that may have been the problem but they took no notice.

 

Between them Simpsons & SUK were frankly useless, and not for the first time. Recommend them.... I don't think so! :thumbdown:

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  • 4 weeks later...

My Girlfriend bought her Fabia from Simpson Preston

 

Brilliant deal, Brilliant service, We went away not having any doubts and feeling confident in the purchase,

 

They have some amazing deals but you have to be quick ! Thanks to Craig Passmore and to Simon Nixon !

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  • 1 month later...

Three years ago I ordered my Roomster from Simpsons, and frankly it turned into a nightmare. Since then their service has improved considerably each year. In February I ordered, and last Friday collected, my Yeti from them. What a complete change in three years, excellent communications and service from Michael Cahill. They also held the delivery over for 3 weeks because I didn't want it parked up at Manchester Airport for a fortnight.

Edited by P6bJOHN
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  • 3 weeks later...

First warranty niggle, 'oil change now!', warning message and loud "Bong" every time I started the car. I checked the oil, it was on max, rang Simpsons and they said just pop in when you're passing. I called in on Friday, told service reception, in less than 5 mins a techie had it logged into his laptop, he found a spurious code had been typed in at Skoda, sorted it, and I was on my way in 10 minutes. Excellent.

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My first experience of Simpsons was back in 2008 when I leased my first Skoda.

Then they had a small dealership, keen prices, service standard similar to independent garages with only the essential service items undertaken. In summary, a very personal service and good attention to detail.

Fast forward to my second Skoda in 2011...

Second major service at 2 years and they tried to book me in for

- An air con service at £35

- Brake fluid change at £35

that according to the service manual are not required until the vehicle is at least 3 years old.. These were never quoted on the service for my 2008 vehicle.

They also wanted to charge £60.00 to load a DVD into the Columbus to update the SatNav.

The trick of adding non-essential items to each service is an old main dealer trick to enhance profit.

Thus, the service advantage that I thought I was always getting over the owners of other marques by purchasing a Skoda has now been banished.

The most recent service experience at 3 years left me feeling like just another number...

Thus, there is no advantage of choosing a Skoda over any other brand as I can see.

I have now managed to lease an Audi estate for the price of a Superb estate.

I will be using Ian Collins Automotive of Preston to give me courteous and polite service at £170.00 for the first major service.

http://www.vwaudispecialistpreston.co.uk/

Thanks, Simpsons.

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  • 3 months later...

I have to say some of you people must be at a different dealer, because I simply have the best service ,My wife Is on her 3rd Yeti in 4 years, we took delivery of her 50th prezzie LK 1.8 4x4 . The past yetis and service great. I too had a brace of yeti and a Octavia Scout and again faultless.

Service are spot on as are the sales team.

Sometime it pays to be nice and you get nice....I was in Simpsons only a few weeks back and an elderly gent was very rude.....if it had of been me .....I would have put rude on his arse.

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Guest ProfesorDeBuceo

I have to say some of you people must be at a different dealer,...

Same dealer but clearly very varying levels of service provided. :moon:

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  • 3 months later...

Have just had my Octavia's first 10k service done at Simpsons Preston. Never dealt with them before,but will be quite happy to go back for next service. Car ready on time,everything explained,no probs at all.....However....I took my other half with me,as she is looking to update her 13 year old Polo,and has fallen in love with the Fabia Monte Carlo. We spent ages looking at two Fabia's in the showroom,and a 13 plate Monte out front. We were there over an hour,and none of the sales staff were interested! They even spoke to people who just walked in,never even acknowledged us! After 30 mins,my other half just turned to me and said.."well,I dfinately won't be buying anything from here!" As such,we are currently pricing a Fabia with another dealer! That's a shame,as my experience as a service customer was completely the opposite,as was my dads,when he bought a used Fabia TDi from them about 4 years ago. Oh well,I guess you can't win them all,can you.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Same dealer but clearly very varying levels of service provided. :moon:

Staff change round again? IF........ they have improved, it's about time! Maybe the 'elderly gent' had experienced some of their 'not so good' service?    :notme:

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Have just had my Octavia's first 10k service done at Simpsons Preston. Never dealt with them before,but will be quite happy to go back for next service. Car ready on time,everything explained,no probs at all.....However....I took my other half with me,as she is looking to update her 13 year old Polo,and has fallen in love with the Fabia Monte Carlo. We spent ages looking at two Fabia's in the showroom,and a 13 plate Monte out front. We were there over an hour,and none of the sales staff were interested! They even spoke to people who just walked in,never even acknowledged us! After 30 mins,my other half just turned to me and said.."well,I dfinately won't be buying anything from here!" As such,we are currently pricing a Fabia with another dealer! That's a shame,as my experience as a service customer was completely the opposite,as was my dads,when he bought a used Fabia TDi from them about 4 years ago. Oh well,I guess you can't win them all,can you.

Usual practice from what I've seen. Being invisible must have some perks I should imagine. LOL 

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Have just had my Octavia's first 10k service done at Simpsons Preston. Never dealt with them before,but will be quite happy to go back for next service. Car ready on time,everything explained,no probs at all.....However....I took my other half with me,as she is looking to update her 13 year old Polo,and has fallen in love with the Fabia Monte Carlo. We spent ages looking at two Fabia's in the showroom,and a 13 plate Monte out front. We were there over an hour,and none of the sales staff were interested! They even spoke to people who just walked in,never even acknowledged us! After 30 mins,my other half just turned to me and said.."well,I dfinately won't be buying anything from here!" As such,we are currently pricing a Fabia with another dealer! That's a shame,as my experience as a service customer was completely the opposite,as was my dads,when he bought a used Fabia TDi from them about 4 years ago. Oh well,I guess you can't win them all,can you.

 

Did you actually bother to ask for help? When I bought my Rapid last September (14) we went to the Colne showroom. I spoke with a guy who was actually from the Preston branch who was working there that weekend. We told him what we wanted & he sorted us out with a car on the day, no problems.

 

If I was looking to buy a car I will always approach a member of staff  for help & advise.

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Guest ProfesorDeBuceo

As they'd lost various settings (how is irrelevant) I asked Simpsons to reset them. One was unlocking all doors with a single key press. No problem, they said. After about 40 mins the service guy came back to me saying "We've coded it properly but can't get them all to work. We've sent a report to Skoda, when we get a reply we'll get you back in".

 

Naturally this amazed me as previously everything worked fine. Once home I checked the Maxidot. They only had it set to "single door"!!!

 

Changed to all and everything worked as it should.

 

As unbelievable as it sounds I swear it's gospel. :yes:

 

And it was their "master tech" on the job as well.

 

When I called in a couple of days later to point out their error the service guy must have wished the floor would open up and swallow him. He couldn't stop apologising. The heat from his embarrassment must have contributed to global warming!

 

Would I trust them with a big problem.....????

 

I never did hear how Skoda UK responded to the "technical problem".... :giggle:

Edited by ProfesorDeBuceo
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I suppose I will counter a lot of what is on here...

 

I am quite a frequent customer to Simpsons, my car gets work done in several guises throughout the year.

 

I am very particular about the way things are done, and the staff know this and acknoledge it.

 

The staff are always polite and knowledgeable, and will try their best to sort problems out.

 

Had engines replaced in the past by them, so I'm sure the staff are competent enough.

 

They do try it on with a few things, had a MOT advisory for brake discs, offered to replace front discs and pads for £280, politely declined, checked and there appears to be nothing wrong with them.

 

Apart from that, no real complaints from me :)

Edited by Stu vRS
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  • 4 weeks later...

'Apart from that'?!!!!

 

I would describe it as a scam, a fraud, whatever - trying to get money out of you for something unnecessary.

 

No wonder motor dealers get a bad name.

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