Things change, good garage mechanics and owners have bad days, bad ones may have the occasional fit of greatness. Even if a garage comes recommended, one should still be cautious.
Surprised Marky Mark's not ditched this one yet though!
Andy
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If in doubt about any garage (and HJ's list is just a guide not a guarantee) why not contact Trading Standards first. In my experience they won't actually tell you a garage, company etc. is bad but will be happy to confirm whether or not that garage is known to them and, if so, you can draw your own conclusions and steer clear.
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We had shocking service from a VW dealer last week. After arranging a Service we arrived to be told that the car had a service when we bought it 6 months ago and as such she would stamp the book and see us in 6 months. I mean, can you imagine turning our money down like that! :) A refreshing change!
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As your sign-in name is so different, I recall that you posted some time ago about your VW garage being a big "CON". Is this the same garage? In jest, I ask: Could it be that they remember you caused a stink last time with HJ's help and can spot you coming a mile away? That might explain the sudden change in quality of service they are giving you.
Seriously though, what happened to your original complaint raised with VW head office via HJ? I do not recall any update on the outcome.
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Sorry mate i'm new to this website and have not posted before. You must be confusing me with someone else!
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Sorry mate i'm new to this website and have not posted before. You must be confusing me with someone else!
Cos: I presume you are looking at the posts in "threaded view". If so, you will see that I was replying to Crombster (which is such a memorable/unusual avatar name). That should also have been obvious from the content of my note, but I do apologise for not having quoted the message I was replying to.
Crombster: So how about replying to my question?
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Before someone asks, the word "avatar" is derived from Sanskrit and has been adopted in the IT industry to refer to your cyberspace identity.
From: www.dictionary.com/search?q=avatar
av·a·tar Pronunciation Key (v-tär)
n.
The incarnation of a Hindu deity, especially Vishnu, in human or animal form.
An embodiment, as of a quality or concept; an archetype: the very avatar of cunning.
A temporary manifestation or aspect of a continuing entity: occultism in its present avatar.
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[Sanskrit avatra, descent (of a deity from heaven), avatar : ava, down + tarati, he crosses; see ter-2 in Indo-European Roots.]
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yeah, well, Marky Mark can't make his mind up on this one.
I normally remove such notes because of legal issues - typically someone is accused of illegal behaviour, or because we're going to catch hassle for it.
I haven't yet decided about this one. I don't mind criticism of suppliers, I just don't want to be in the firing line.
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I see your point on legal issues however if a garage is being advertised as good and honest then i have a right to voice my experiences to others.
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Absolutely with you cos.Whilst everyone should exercise caution with such Good Garage recommendations,it is only fair & just that such adverse experiences should be promulgated to permit discretion to be used.
Simon T.
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Things change, good garage mechanics and owners have bad days, bad ones may have the occasional fit of greatness. Even if a garage comes recommended, one should still be cautious
I agree. I've been fibbed to by an HJ recomended garage.
Even the best garages have bad days. Mistrust them all.
--
These are my own opinions, and not necessarily those of all Toads.
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I guess there's nothing to stop a garage entering itself on the list?
Having just looked at the list to see if any garages are listed in my area, there are a couple of "back street" ones that I recognise. One has got a good reputation, but the other, well I won't mention it for libel reasons, but having a mate that used to work there as an apprentice, and me dropping by now and again to see him, I was suprised to see it in HJ's list of recommended garages, having not only heard horror stories of the bodges that went on there, but also witnessing them for myself. Either the garage has since pulled up its socks, or somehow managed to get itself listed, as you suggest. Quite how the owner managed to stay sober & awake long enough to get himself listed is anyone's guess.
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Its not just 'bad' garages i want speak out against. Anyone heard of German,Swedish and French? They supply so called 'quality' parts at discount prices. I've got a few horror story about them too, not sure if i dare to speak!
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No, probably best that you don't. Horror stories are typically just that.
If you have had a personal exerience with them and wish to share it carefully then that will usually be ok.
Your best bet is to e-mail HJ ( mailto:letters@honestjohn.co.uk ) and explain to him. He will most certainly take any action he thinks is appropriate.
M.
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My personal experience with a certain parts company (which supply parts for german swedish and french cars ) are over a suspension kit for a golf vr6 where the springs on the front were not under compression when put together. The company suggested this was not a problem but i believe this would cause an MOT failure. Any comments??? The second issue is reconditioned rear brake calipers that don't even last a year!
I have complained to the head office but did not receive a great response. I would not use this company again.
As i said i want to avoid legal issues but if a company does give a bad service then people should be able to warn others.
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Some general points, not aimed at onyone in particular;
Firstly it is not neccessary to name a company or person to fall foul of the law. So any comment which makes a company or person identifiable, irrespective of whether or not naming takes place, is iffy.
There is also an issue with anything based on "they said......". Because, if someone wanted to make trouble, they could deny saying it and sue. And you may whether or not it is true, but I do not. And unless you can point me at a court decision or a letter of admission, then I have to assume that it is at least questionable, and quite possibly not true.
However, there is rarely an issue unless you suggest improper (typically illegal) behaviour. e.g. "Joe Blogg Inc. charged me for a new widget and didn't actually fit one".
The fact is that theoretically it also applies to positive comments; but who would sue because you were nice about them, and they would have trouble proving harm anyway.
On an interesting & similar note did you know that your employer is not permitted to increase your salary without your permission any more than they are allowed to decrease it ?
It comes down to the fact that without something proven in court, it is inevitably an opinion which can be refuted. And for all I know, and I am not suggesting anyone here would do it, it could be an unfounded and malicious opinion.
If you really want to pass on a bad reference typically it is better to say "Joe Bloggs strongly not recommended, further details available by e-mail or telephone".
If you are complaining about simply bad service, then there is rarely any risk for us, or yourself.
Even if you are correct, what can happen is that Joe Bloggs Inc. can say "we are going to sue you unless you print a retraction or apology and pay us $1000 compensation. It can cost more than that a day to defend yourself, and whether or not you win, you may not have the money to invest in the first place.
That's why it makes me uncomfortable.
Also, bear in mind that the most perfect company in the world will have at least one unhappy customer, even if they have thousands of happy ones.
Therefore one should take both negative and positive comments with caution, and make sure you check yourself about the service and/or product you will repair.
In conclusion, by all means report cases of bad service. For that matter, by all means identify the company. But, if you say something which worries me I will remove it irrespective of the accuracy of the comment.
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I agree with everything you stated above however.... several companied supply parts for german swedish and french cars. so it would be very difficult to sue in light of this fact.
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Not long ago, BBC's Watchdog or similar type programme investigated in depth a Company that supplies discount parts for manufacturers from three major European countries. They showed how copy-parts (sometimes labelled OEM "fakes") are made in Turkey without regard for engineering design considerations.
As ever, buyer beware. If something looks too good or cheap to be true, it frequently is.
OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer
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But we are not even suggesting that German, Swedish are in anyway involved.
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Mark, thanks for making that point clear - as my post was doing that obliquely. I did not name any Company deliberately, but anyone wanting to find out more can do a search for "counterfeit car parts" on the
www.bbc.co.uk/lifestyle/watchdog/
web site.
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Found the reference, but not the article, on bbc.co.uk:
">> Now you can find further information on this series - Lifting the Bonnet - if you visit our website, which is www. bbc.co.uk/motoring. And next week's programme you might be interested to know lifts the lid on Turkish companies who are selling counterfeit car parts - that's on Thursday 7th March, BBC 2 at 8.00 p.m., thank you. <<"
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