MK5 Golf GTI

General => Random Chat => Topic started by: garrardrj on May 20, 2013, 09:54:09 am

Title: VW Service Reception
Post by: garrardrj on May 20, 2013, 09:54:09 am
Dropped the ED30 off for its yearly service -  1213 miles since the last one !
Why are reception staff so condescending and fail to listen to what you say ?
or is it just the ones i have met ? He was only interested in offering me the VW Service pack at £379 , he did not listen to what i said and he asked when would i want the car back and i said a time 30 minutes into the future and he failed to even crack a grin .
I hate going to main dealers they always lack any kind of feeling i like and are false clinical places that lack staff that show any kind of passion about what they are doing
I will not use them again , but wonder who i would use that might be different ? Expect i will have to do my own servicing up until the next cambelt !
It really does put me off getting a newer VW where VW service history appears to be important for resale prices .
Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: Tortaruga on May 20, 2013, 10:09:34 am
Receptionists most likely know almost nothing about the mechanics and workings of cars. You wouldn't expect the receptionist in the doctor's surgey to understand much about the nature of your complaint.

You should only ask the receptionist to direct you to the service desk where they will know what you are talking about.

On the plus side they usually have good coffee and chocs.
Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: richtung on May 20, 2013, 10:11:02 am
I guess its all about profit margins and the commission the service staff receive for selling you a service plan.
Can i ask what was the main driver for taking your car to the dealers?

Personally, i would chose an independent specialist over a dealership any day!

Rich
Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: ArildStavrum on May 20, 2013, 10:35:20 am
Dropped the ED30 off for its yearly service -  1213 miles since the last one !
Why are reception staff so condescending and fail to listen to what you say ?
or is it just the ones i have met ? He was only interested in offering me the VW Service pack at £379 , he did not listen to what i said and he asked when would i want the car back and i said a time 30 minutes into the future and he failed to even crack a grin .
I hate going to main dealers they always lack any kind of feeling i like and are false clinical places that lack staff that show any kind of passion about what they are doing
I will not use them again , but wonder who i would use that might be different ? Expect i will have to do my own servicing up until the next cambelt !
It really does put me off getting a newer VW where VW service history appears to be important for resale prices .

are you just upset your gash joke fell flat on it's a*se?!

The guy will be targeted to sell the service plans, I dont have a problem with that! However not listening and the general aloof demeanour is very frustrating.

Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: garrardrj on May 20, 2013, 10:38:50 am
Well the choice is limited in Ipswich . I got the car from them and use them for the VW stamp in the book and the knowledge of the brand .

If there was an independent i would use them but cannot say i have heard of one locally.

The person at service reception i would expect to know everything about what the car was there for ?? or am i being naive ? Didn't seem interested in my car at all and as i hadn't taken his offer of the VW Service pack i then became a second class citizen in his eyes ! He had no conversation at all and when i told him it was my day off and i wanted the car back asap he said "so you haven't got to go to work" in a tone of that my time on my day off was less important .
Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: ARV_90 on May 20, 2013, 01:55:18 pm
I'm with the OP on this one... I have the same issue with my local VW dealer that is 1 mile from my house... Bunch of lying thieving muppets that I wouldn't take my wheelbarrow there for a service never mind my lawn mower, Had a very bad service experience best part of 10 years ago and have never purchased or taken my cars there again, Do what I did and find another dealer.... I drive 30 miles to Inchcape Shrewsbury cant fault them...Some of them are ok  :smiley:
Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: xjay1337 on May 20, 2013, 02:19:38 pm
Had the same thing.

Got told I needed a cambelt change because I didn't keep my service book in the car (I keep it at home safely) and oil change, they started the car with the HIDs on and it caused the right one to not illuminate.

Just need turning off and on again and they will come on fine.

But no apparently they needed to drop the bumper and remove the headlight as there was wiring fault.. !! I'm like mate you see my car and really do you think I'm clueless?

My local one has some proper miserable people.
Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: rich83 on May 20, 2013, 04:29:16 pm
Well... first mistake... You took your car to a Main Dealer.

Find a good specialist.  :happy2:
Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: garrardrj on May 20, 2013, 05:24:57 pm
Main Dealers are only really ok when stuff is under warranty amd when that runs out people should go elsewhere . I can quite easily do all jobs myself and have done so up until i could afford better cars . I paid £244 today for brake fluid change and oil change (interim service) and mot . When it comes to an oil change again i will do it myself on the ED30 as its a keeper i think , unless someone offers me silly money for it.

Had the MK7 as a courtesy car and that doesn't tempt me to one , but then it was a 1.6tdi se bluemotion , 63mpg while i had it though  :rolleye:
Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: paulw123 on May 20, 2013, 05:42:07 pm
Ipswich vw are quite small, i have used them, and still wodd if they were competitvely priced. I have found they quote max price, then you have to show them vw website prices and they match it. Recently asked for cambelt water pump change and they would'nt move on it, so i took it to vw chelmsford and saved £45.
Like you say, i was'nt impressed with the staff behind the parts/service desks, they all looked bored, dis-interested. But they are'nt the technicians, so for £45 i gave chelmsford a go and they did a good job. The service desk guy was training a new person up, and i got a good customer experience.
Not that all inchcape know what they are doing. I won't be going back to Colchester after they diagnosed a £1200 deisel pump on my MK4 after having it 4days, when it needed a £89 new egr valve diagnosed by colchester fuel injection. Even when i drove it away they said the egr was'nt the problem, but it was!!
Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: xjay1337 on May 20, 2013, 05:48:32 pm
Well... first mistake... You took your car to a Main Dealer.

Find a good specialist.  :happy2:

That's fine for most things.

I needed a radio code.

They said "we need the car here for several hours as we need to send information off to Germany" and I'm like, you need the VIN number and the radio serial number and you get it from the AUTOMATED SYSTEM.

Every other dealer I called would supply it for free but Ridgeway wanted a tenner.
barstewardss.
Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: GrayMK5GTI on May 20, 2013, 06:17:00 pm
There's a very cute girl at my local VW reception   :jumping:

Forgotten how many times I've asked where the parts desk is as an excuse to start a convo  :wink:

Thick as sh1t though  :sad1:
Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: jbc on May 20, 2013, 09:09:17 pm
It's poor customer service like this that made me stop taking my car into the dealer. Instead I use their free collection service - they have to come to me to collect the car, drive it back and ring me for payment. No waiting and nobody trying to sell me things - I don't even have to take the day off work. The only hassle is having to book the car in and answer silly questions like is it a hatch or estate - since when did VW make a mk5 GTI estate!
Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: Stanipkiss on May 20, 2013, 09:46:31 pm
I had a similar discussion with my local dealer on Saturday morning when I collected my car after they serviced it.
Bear in mind I cleaned the car on Friday night and topped up the screen wash with my sweet smelling stuff.
I dropped the car off and explained to the service reception that the fluid was filled yesterday and no need top it up, Ok they said.
When I collected my car the very same service receptionist was insistent that the washer fluid on my invoice was part of the "service package" and not refundable.
To cut a long story short 10 minutes passed and then the Dealer principle came over and apologised for his staff member and promptly removed the fluid from my invoice, explaining they were all expected to sell "add ons"

Makes me wonder sometimes how they are still in business!

Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: jonnym on May 20, 2013, 11:14:22 pm
I have had interesting dealings with VW. Never ever again will I set foot in their place apart from getting parts. I fought the mighty VW and they settled out of court!
Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: phil1975 on May 21, 2013, 09:32:29 am
I had a similar discussion with my local dealer on Saturday morning when I collected my car after they serviced it.
Bear in mind I cleaned the car on Friday night and topped up the screen wash with my sweet smelling stuff.
I dropped the car off and explained to the service reception that the fluid was filled yesterday and no need top it up, Ok they said.
When I collected my car the very same service receptionist was insistent that the washer fluid on my invoice was part of the "service package" and not refundable.
To cut a long story short 10 minutes passed and then the Dealer principle came over and apologised for his staff member and promptly removed the fluid from my invoice, explaining they were all expected to sell "add ons"

Makes me wonder sometimes how they are still in business!




Normally if they can't top up the washer fluid (i.e its full) they leave the bottle in the boot for you.

I find the service at vw ok, but I don't think vw is the premium brand or offers a premium service that they market to the public. Premium prices though!!  (just my opinion)
Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: Tamiyoman on May 21, 2013, 11:28:10 am
There's a very cute girl at my local VW reception   :jumping:

Forgotten how many times I've asked where the parts desk is as an excuse to start a convo  :wink:

Thick as sh1t though  :sad1:

My previous VW dealer had a cute reception girl (amazing body, not much in the way of brains tho), but the woman at reception was awesome, good looking, intelligent and quite witty, had I not been moving away I would have asked her for her number  :signLOL:
Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: Hedge on May 21, 2013, 11:47:29 am
Martins in Camberley were great.

They had several very nice young ladies and one in particular called Emma who noticed the Shocker on the side of my car asked what it was for.

I replied I couldn't tell her and she asked if it was rude.

I said I still couldn't tell her and then she just went bright red and said Oh my god.

Good girl.  :evilgrin:
Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: rich83 on May 21, 2013, 11:57:02 am
Martins in Camberley were great.

They had several very nice young ladies and one in particular called Emma who noticed the Shocker on the side of my car asked what it was for.

I replied I couldn't tell her and she asked if it was rude.

I said I still couldn't tell her and then she just went bright red and said Oh my god.

Good girl.  :evilgrin:

 :grin: :grin:
Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: paulw123 on May 21, 2013, 12:47:40 pm
It's poor customer service like this that made me stop taking my car into the dealer. Instead I use their free collection service - they have to come to me to collect the car, drive it back and ring me for payment. No waiting and nobody trying to sell me things - I don't even have to take the day off work. The only hassle is having to book the car in and answer silly questions like is it a hatch or estate - since when did VW make a mk5 GTI estate!

Had some fun with this option as well. Basically i get alot of value out of my cars, get a good one, keep it ten years, but look after it lovingly. So my old mk4 vw picked up for cam belt change, as they quoted the least. Get a phone call saying thay can't bring it back, as 2 tyres are under 1.6mm and they have a duty of care to their employees, so can't ask them to drive it back. Had to let them put 2 new tyres on first... :rolleye:
Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: Moschops on May 21, 2013, 03:51:05 pm
I'm with the OP on this one... I have the same issue with my local VW dealer that is 1 mile from my house... Bunch of lying thieving muppets that I wouldn't take my wheelbarrow there for a service never mind my lawn mower, Had a very bad service experience best part of 10 years ago and have never purchased or taken my cars there again, Do what I did and find another dealer.... I drive 30 miles to Inchcape Shrewsbury cant fault them...Some of them are ok  :smiley:

You are joking, this dealer is the biggest shower sh*te in the area.... :fighting:
Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: Tamiyoman on May 22, 2013, 10:58:02 am
Marriott group in Kings Lynn (Norfolk) we very good with my Ed30.

Rust spot on tailgate (bottom of window seal) in for repair under warranty (100% goodwill), tailgate off and glass out repair, courtesy car for 4 days (Golf Cabriolet), cost me nothing.

Always good with services.
Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: ARV_90 on May 22, 2013, 02:19:29 pm
I'm with the OP on this one... I have the same issue with my local VW dealer that is 1 mile from my house... Bunch of lying thieving muppets that I wouldn't take my wheelbarrow there for a service never mind my lawn mower, Had a very bad service experience best part of 10 years ago and have never purchased or taken my cars there again, Do what I did and find another dealer.... I drive 30 miles to Inchcape Shrewsbury cant fault them...Some of them are ok  :smiley:

You are joking, this dealer is the biggest shower sh*te in the area.... :fighting:

Ha ha really that bad eh...  Maybe it's because I bought the car from them that they give a better service, god knows... I feel the same about my local dealer, We should have a "sh*te dealer" thread to name and shame the issues people are having with dealers around the country.
Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: Mk5Dom on May 22, 2013, 03:51:44 pm
I've had no problems and I'm satisfied with Wayside Aylesbury, for both parts and servicing.
Quite a small dealership, which I think is better.
Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: jonnym on May 22, 2013, 04:08:27 pm
I've had no problems and I'm satisfied with Wayside Aylesbury, for both parts and servicing.
Quite a small dealership, which I think is better.

Wayside was the dealership that I went to court with (although it was VW UK)!
Title: Re: VW Service Reception
Post by: Mk5Dom on May 22, 2013, 04:35:13 pm
Ooo.

What was that over then mate? Was it the Aylesbury one too? Or Mk, St Albans, Letchworth or Towcester?