I think that if it were me, I would get a second opinion on the "buckled" wheels. Take your car to a reputable tyre fitting company (or a main dealer for your car), and ask them to put at least one of the suspect wheels on their balancing machine. Ask them to let you witness it being spun by hand, which should allow you to see categorically whether there was any runout in either an axial or a radial direction. Then make your decision as to what you are going to do. There may be a small charge for this test, but at least you would then know the truth, and hopefully will have seen it with your own eyes.
I remember an occasion when I needed a new tyre, and the supplier (a large nationwide company) said that they couldn't balance the alloy wheel and tyre assembly because the wheel was "distorted". I got them to spin it by hand, but it looked OK to me. I then went to the local main dealer for that car, where they confirmed that the wheel was OK and they then proceeded to balance the wheel to my entire satifaction ~ FOC.
--
L\'escargot by name, but not by nature.
|
I think that if it were me, I would get a second opinion on the "buckled" wheels. Take your car to a reputable tyre fitting company (or a main dealer for your car), and ask them to put at least one of the suspect wheels on their balancing machine. Ask them to let you witness it being spun by hand, which should allow you to see categorically whether there was any runout in either an axial or a radial direction. Then make your decision as to what you are going to do. There may be a small charge for this test, but at least you would then know the truth, and hopefully will have seen it with your own eyes.
The garage were very helpful and he did actually spin the wheel and show me the problem (I cannot fault them on anything other than the un-agreed charge) and both wheels are indeed damaged. He stopped the spinning wheel at one point and pointed out the dent - it was there :(
|
|
|
|
No garage should undertake additional work without obtaining your express permission.
However if you agree, for instance, to any work required to get a car through its MOT then you must be prepared to pay up.
An estimate is just that and any reputable organisation should make it clear that if problems are found and you decide not to have the work done, then a reasonable charge will be made for the estimate.
No business should be expected - nor can afford - to continually provide estimates for customers free of charge. Time is money and wages are normally the largest overhead of any business.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
|
No business should be expected - nor can afford - to continually provide estimates for customers free of charge.
I don't agree. They do it in the hope that you will accept their estimate and then do business with them. Estate agents give a free "no obligation" valuation of your property. (Most people get valuations from more than one agent. In fact anyone who only has one valuation is a fool.) There are lots of "industries" that give free estimates ~ car insurance, removal companies, mortgage providers, tree surgeons etc. etc. etc.
--
L\'escargot by name, but not by nature.
|
You might change your mind if you ran a business and wasted many valuable hours providing estimates for people and then get no work out of it....:-)
There's a vast difference between an estate agent, mortgage providers etc giving estimates and, for example, a garage mechanic or television set repairer trying to find an elusive fault that might take up several hours' time.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
|
I think the issue here is what the difference is between an estimate and a diagnosis.
No one can give an estimate for an undefined problem. An estimate or quote can only be given if they know what is involved. Now where that is clear, 'my suspension arm bushes have failed' they can quote for that, but if you turn up and say, something makes a noise ? I think its unreasonable to expect them to spend significan t time looking for the problem without charging. They may say, on a xyz that could be one of three things, we can have a 5 min look and tell you what we think (for free) and give you a free estimate.
In this case I think they should never have said that the estimate would be free. If you feel strongly about it complain to trading standards and the asa.
Who did you speak to about the free estimate - and was it someone likely to understand your question ? ie was it a mechanic or a 16yo receptionist ?
|
|
|
It's a form of advertising. It's a way of promoting your company, and of improving your reputation. In general, if you don't do these things you are limiting the business that you are going to get. The fact of the matter is that you have to keep the punters (both actual and potential) happy.
--
L\'escargot by name, but not by nature.
|
If an independent garage has to resort to offering gimmicks and advertising to get customers in through the doors, then it *may* not be of tip top quality or value.
If I wanted to rip people off, among the schemes I would consider employing is to use a yellow pages advert, with some enticing gimmick to attract people who, on average, haven't a clue. Then, the ripping off process would be so much easier.
A good independent garage will trade mainly on word of mouth recommendation.
number_cruncher
|
Michael, have a look on
www.fordmondeo.org
in the classifieds section, set of 4 'turbine' alloy wheels for sale on there.
|
I run a business carrying out repairs on property.
I offer free estimates for clients, however if work has to be done to see the problem in its full extent, for example floor repairs after damp and rot, then the client cannot expect to get that work for free. I always make sure my client understand the situation though. It's easy with me on my own as there can be no breakdown of communication between me and one of my employees - that I don't have.
The job I reffered to above; I couldn't give an estimate for. I simply said that I needed to spend a day or two to get to the root and extent of the damp problem, which would be chargeable, the only prediction of costs I could offer on the spot. Then I would then give him an idea of cost from then on. He accepted this upfront approach.
It sounds like the garage have spent time on your job to diagnose the problem. However they have let you down in not putting you in the picture when you arranged to take your car in.
What they should have said is that it would be necessary to put the car into the workshop four a couple of hours or more to diagnose the problem and the cost to do this would be X. That is the "free estimate" they should have given you.
Do you see my point?
Hugo
|
|
|
|
|
|
> No business should be expected - nor can afford - to continually provide estimates for customers
> free of charge. Time is money and wages are normally the largest overhead of any business.
Whether a business makes the business decision to provide a service free of charge or not is entirely up to them. It might be stupid idea or it might be an excellent loss-leader. As a consumer it's no concern of mine which - if it's a useful service, I'll make the most of it.
A garage near me offers MOTs at half price, with a free retest within 14 days (retesting anything, not just the things they are required to, e.g. bulbs). I take my cars there every year for an MOT. I do any rectification work myself over the next two weeks, and they retest it for free. I've been doing this for three years (since I discovered it). They still offer the service. Their choice - I guess they reckon it's worth it for the other people who get them to do the rectification work.
If they advertise the service, they have to go through with it.
-Mark
|
>>A garage near me offers MOTs at half price>>
Strangely enough, my Bora has just had its annual MOT this lunchtime at National.
It's the second time National has undertaken the test on a half price basis - last year it passed OK, this time it needed two new brake light bulbs.
Even more strange, they were working fine last night; I am always aware of them as I have to reverse out of my drive at an angle and, obviously, have to brake and then check for any pedestrians and passing traffic.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
|
|
|
|
|
|
