Cheapest Oil & Filter Change

Road_Hog

TiTheRev wrote: »

Not sure where you worked, or who for, but that's pretty bad business
Im sure there's more guys out there like us, than the poor stockists you've experienced.

I worked for the manufacturer not a garage, so I was talking from a UK wide policy. I run a Ford Mondeo now, and Ford are exactly the same with regards to carrying stock as my old company were, even for parts that Mondeos are known to use, such as coil packs & leads.

You sound like you were for an independent garage (as opposed to being owned by a group). If you were part of a group, your DP would probably be questioning the Parts Manager over his stock levels.

TiTheRev

I work at a group of dealerships, containing 29 brands at 26 sites, and it was the DP of our site that asked us to keep this level of stock?!?

loofer

Had the oil and filter changed at a National Centre near to where I work (Stockport) a few weeks ago.

Rang up, got a quote, the kind chap confirmed it was the Castrol 5w/40 spec for my car (which is correct) and it would be £42. I asked him if he would match the online price of £37... he kindly agreed. So it was booked for the following day.

Dropped the car off, I didn't confirm which oil had to be put in as it was the same guy I spoke to the day beforeso assumed it would be alright. In hindsight that was a bad idea.

Upon collecting my car I paid and he printed off a reciept. I checked the reciept and it showed Castrol 5w30. I challenged this politely. He checked the the chart on the wall and read it off as my car requiring 5w30. I reiterated that the handbook stated VW 505.01 spec and that was Castrol 5w40 oil. He just brused it off saying they were both pretty much the same anyway.

I was extremely annoyed but just decided to walk away and deal with it another way. Phoned customer services who were extremely helpful. I told them that they had put the wrong oil in. Completely not what I had asked for and what the correct oil is anyway. I complained that the chap at the garage just brushed off my concern and said they were both the same oil anyway... if that really was the case (hich we know it isn't) then why did he just not do what I asked him to!?:mad:

Got call from the garage 2 days later asking me to book it in again. Went back to get it changed.

It only takes 1 opportunity (the first) to get it wrong for me to decide I will never use National Tyres again and also to post my experience on a public forum.

roddydogs

National Tyres-Had 3 oil changes, all done correctly, and i always mark the filter to check if its been changed, and topped up correctly to the "full" mark.

how on earth would you know if the oil used was the correct oil anyway,
even if you paid far more from say, a Ford Dealer?
Cost me £22- (£27 with a £5 voucher.)

ArsenalFC

Loofer - a better grade of oil for your car, I dont really know what you are complaining about.

loofer

roddydogs wrote: »

National Tyres-Had 3 oil changes, all done correctly, and i always mark the filter to check if its been changed, and topped up correctly to the "full" mark.

how on earth would you know if the oil used was the correct oil anyway,
even if you paid far more from say, a Ford Dealer?
Cost me £22- (£27 with a £5 voucher.)

On this occasion they put on the reciept exactly what they put into the car.
In future I will buy the oil myself and get local dud to do it whilst I watch eagle-eyed

steveo3002

buy a couple of spanners and some overalls and diy ...only way to know for sure its done right

i dont even have to jack my car up..i can reach under and loosen the drain plug

roddydogs

How does the receipt prove what the oil is? even if it says so?