Very unhelpful supplier

[fred]

I maintain my car myself but can't be arsed to do the oil change so I sub that out to those who can do it cheaper than I can get the bits.

Setting old enmity aside I check out Kwikfit who say they will do it for a reasonable price but they have the wrong oil grade on their system and refuse to use any other than the one they have listed.

Wave owners' manual under their faces showing the manufacturer's own recommendation for oil grade and it makes no difference, the response is simply 'cumpootah says no'.

I could say this was a very unhelpful response but on reflection they have been very helpful in reminding me why I vowed never to cross teh threshold of their worthless shuttered premises again, so thank you Kwikfit for that reminder.

Praise where it's due, my local branch of National Tyres and Autocare were able to sort me out in short order, pleasantly and without the attitude, option of online booking and quotes too

[Phil L]

they buy their oil in bulk, like all the other big outfits, if you want an extra special expensive oil, it's customary to take your own with you.

So you got the stuff from the 45 gallon bulk drum then?.....should have stayed at kwikfit

I used to work at a large main dealer (won't say which make) and people used to bring their cars in for services and their own oil - if they didn't, they got rock oil, which is used by almost all the main dealers when doing oil changes, that said, most of those who brought their own oil in got rock oil too as the expensive stuff usually ended up in the mechanics car

[Mark]

What car is it? What oil do you think should be used? What oil do they want to put in it?

I'm not surprised. They have no idea what is the correct oil without looking at their system and I guess they could be fired for breaking the rules.

I once got a great deal from Kwik-fit. I needed a new exhaust on my car and I knew it was a bugger of a job so I took it to quick fit for free fitting. Took them nearly a whole day :-)

And there was another tyre shop that always told me I needed new brake disks even when they were fine.

[Mr Pounder]

I know for a fact that a Merc dealership in Blackpool used to just filter the oil and clean the plugs. The customer of course got charged for new.

[Mark]

I hope you reported this to the authorities.

[Huge]

Not as unhelpful as Churchill Insurance.

[fred]

In article , Huge writes

That's the spirit, praise the good, shame the bad!

Thought I'd keep the feel good and grumble threads separate.

[Andy Cap]

In 50 years of owning a car, I've only found two garages I trust to do an honest job and they were both basically one-man bands, though I do trust the MOT guy at the garage near me but I wont have work done there. I've always done as much as I can myself because it's the only way you know what's been fitted. The authorities should do far more to monitor their performance, because I suspect they've been ripping of car owners for years. Now I'm more restricted in what I want and can do, I've found a reliable mobile guy and it's good to be able to see him working on the drive.

Andy C

[Mr Pounder]

It closed down 10 years before I found out. My informant was reliable.

[Tim Watts]

I'm not going to deny what you know, but I really fail to see how cleaning the plugs and filtering the oil can be much of a saving over new parts - given the amount those places charge for labour.

Now - if they were filling up with Halfords value almost-oil rather than decent stuff, I could understand :-|

[ARW]

Well you are to blame then:-)

[Mr Pounder]

The money went into the head mechanics pocket. Do you understand how much this Merc dealership charged for "special" oil and "special" plugs? Have you ever seen oil filtered through a pair of knickers?

I once knew this girl that could filter just about anything. She once ripped my pants down and ..... by the left .............

[Adrian]

In message , Mark writes

I once availed myself of their life long guarantee[1] on an exhaust system from kwik fit. I sold the vehicle 10 years and several exhaust components later, I suspect I got the better side of the deal on that one.

[1] small print states that it is really until you sell the vehicle.

Adrian

[fred]

Totally.

Only benefit from shooting myself in the foot so often is that it's more difficult to hit the bits that are left.

[ARW]

I do not have the option of using the local KwikFit as I am banned from using them following a distress purchace on a Sunday.

They refused to give me back my punctured tyre.

[Peter Crosland]

So it was not fact but hearsay!

[Mark]

I have a long list: BT, Orange, Halfords, pixmania, Heritage Bathrooms, Vodafone ... I could go on.

[fred]

Huh, punch who, what, whay?

Can I guess that this followed a discussion about extras added to the price after they fitted the tyre, valve & balance fiver and tyre disposal 2 quid ?

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Why would they bother? It wouldn't change the appearance of the oil or serve any other purpose. Neither would cleaning the plugs - except perhaps the outside to make them appear new.

[Grimly Curmudgeon]

In contrast, my local tyre places are only too happy to give the customer back the old ones - lots of farmers find a use for them and many old car tyres find a new life on trailers. Apart from that, the disposal charge hits a raw nerve with some.