Trustworthy Mechanics

[power]

Hi all, I have the fto in with Paul Nolan at the moment, and really trust him with it. But today my girlfriend dropped her own car into a local mechanic who was recommended to her by a friend as Paul is a bit of a drive away from her.
She asked for a full service and was quoted €180 euro. I told her that didn't sound too bad if it was inclusive of parts and she said the mechanic said it was.
Well today she got the car back and I had a look at the Receipt and this is what it included:
Check front brakes
Check rear brakes
Check suspension
Check lights and tyres
Check pollen filter (what the hell is this?)
Change Oil + Filter
Change Air Filter
Change wipers ( which he charged an extra €40 for, and are crap quality btw)

I'm disgusted at this, which is basically just an oil change and a quick check for €221.60 Not even a new set of spark plugs!
It's been a while since I've paid for a service since I do the basics on the fto myself, is this what people are paying for such little work?

[StewyD32]

Man you got ripped my girlfriend had the exact same except the wipers for €75 from advanced pitstop.
I'd be down there Monday morning wanting an explaination.

What you have listed there isn't even a full service by any type of garage.

[colm_mcm]

When I worked in toyota we used to do a similar service for €99
Air filter was extra as was wiper.

Sounds a bit pricey. What oil did they use, what car is it?

[Dragonheart]

Rip off big time. Pollen filters don't even usually get changed, its in a little box around the wiper area, stops pollen getting into the vents I think it is.

[colm_mcm]

Pollen filter is usually behind the glovebox,
expensive little buggers.
2 minutes job to check.

[power]

Sounds a bit pricey. What oil did they use, what car is it?

It's an 07 golf, I don't know what type of oil they used, but if the wipers are anything to go by it was probably just some cheap stuff.
I plan on ringing them on monday to say how unhappy I am with their service. but I doubt I'll get anywhere with them.

[Muad_dib77]

Sounds a bit pricey. What oil did they use, what car is it?

It's an 07 golf, I don't know what type of oil they used, but if the wipers are anything to go by it was probably just some cheap stuff.
I plan on ringing them on monday to say how unhappy I am with their service. but I doubt I'll get anywhere with them.

the 07 golf as far as I remember uses REALLY expensive wipes. The wife has had two of these and I remember her getting quoted something insane for them as well.
doesn't sound like the guy is looking for repeat business anyways.
If at all possible I'd defo make the journey into Paul - and I live outside Ardee.

Next week the OPC is going to Newry for a wheelbearing replacement and Airside weren't doing anything to get the repeat business either. There are people out there that just haven't copped onto the fact that now more than ever it's important to go the extra mile in order to retain customers.

This mechanic of your girlfriends is clearly one of them.

[power]

just got off the phone to these, and they said that over 2 hours work was carried out on the car and the reason the spark plugs weren't done is because they are only done every 4th service! I told him him he won't be getting the car again. I'll just do the spark plugs myself

[StewyD32]

I'm sure he doesn't have repeat customers coming back if he acts that's way.
I'm sure there a rate my mechanic or garage site like other services somewhere.

What's the story with the overcharging if your girlfriend was quoted €180.

[power]

What's the story with the overcharging if your girlfriend was quoted €180.

He said the original quote only included wiper rubbers, and he had to put the whole arm on in the end!
I wouldn't mind but the ones he took off were better quality, and charged €40 to replace them with crap ones

[mivecmad27]

just got off the phone to these, and they said that over 2 hours work was carried out on the car and the reason the spark plugs weren't done is because they are only done every 4th service! I told him him he won't be getting the car again. I'll just do the spark plugs myself

At least they were truthful about somethin...vw have a 60000km spark plug interval

[Kace]

What's the story with the overcharging if your girlfriend was quoted €180.

He said the original quote only included wiper rubbers, and he had to put the whole arm on in the end!
I wouldn't mind but the ones he took off were better quality, and charged €40 to replace them with crap ones

Eh smells like BS - so why did he have to replace the arms then ? Were they broken ?

Did you ask whether he still has the ones that he took off to show you what was wrong with them - probably a bit late for this now.