Car servicing - how to choose a garage

Eliza_2

I know this is an age-old question but just how do you choose where to go to take your car for a service. I used to go to one near my work which was ok but I'm not in the area any more. I've tried asking people but just as many will like somewhere as have had a bad experience there. I see there are also some schemes, The Good Garage Scheme for example, which has reviews, but how can I know the reviews are genuine? All the garages in my local town have 5 stars (the highest score) so I'm sure that can't be right.

Is there a scheme which is really genuine? Not one that garages can buy into?

Or otherwise, how DO you find a good garage?

Thanks

gilbert_and_sullivan

Make specific forums are a good starting point, especially with makes like BMW and MB, but do your own reading to suss out who's who and who might have vested interests.

Some of the indies for those makes are more knowledgeable than the main dealers, we tend not sing their praises too much and sort of 'vet' potential customers in a protective way if that makes sense before disclosing where the gems can be found, most good specialist indies are constantly busy and don't need problem customers...not saying you come into the latter group you understand.

s_b

a good start is to find an established business that doesnt need lots of placards saying how good they are but look busy, charge fair rates and the ramps actually have cars on
the other extreme is places with lots of signs cheap get you in offers and to make the place look busy half the ramps always have staff cars on them weeks in weeks out
have a look next time you pass a fast fit type of emporium

word of mouth helps too as does possibly asking whos trustworthy in your local car spares shop/factors

Weird_Nev

Word of mouth, garages your neighbours use and have sucess with, specialist independants if your car is something a bit unusual.

girth

I think the first reply with specific forums is the best. It is a pain though. The saying "..a few rotten apples..." seems to be reversed with garages. I just don't understand the problem with being genuine and honest. Is 'fleecing' part of a mechanics training??? Where is the pride???

olly300

Eliza wrote: »

I see there are also some schemes, The Good Garage Scheme for example, which has reviews, but how can I know the reviews are genuine? All the garages in my local town have 5 stars (the highest score) so I'm sure that can't be right.

Is there a scheme which is really genuine? Not one that garages can buy into?

This is the online feedback form - http://www.goodgaragescheme.co.uk/feedback

Only people who get very good service, know the garage owners or get very bad service tend to complete such forms.

property.advert

How can online reviews be genuine when anyone can sign up and post ?

Just look at Trip Advisor !

Eliza_2

Thanks everyone. Yes I was thinking about the Tripadvisor problems too!

I'll have to drive around in the town tomorrow and have a look. I was looking at the AA scheme and there's a garage on there which closed down at least 10 years ago with a block of flats in its place now. That kind of thing stops me trusting these schemes as obviously no-one checks them out.

I used to go to an excellent Fiat independent garage in Tameside but don't have a Fiat now. So a starter for 10 - can anyone recommend anywhere in Buxton, Leek or thereabouts?

Thanks again for helpful advice

[Deleted User]

The Good Garage Scheme is a bit of a con. It is just a front for garages to sell Forte products. Only the good reviews make it to the website.

That doesn't mean every garage that is a member is crap. One of the garages I use is signed up to this scheme and is very good and honest.

red_eye

Eliza wrote: »

I know this is an age-old question but just how do you choose where to go to take your car for a service. I used to go to one near my work which was ok but I'm not in the area any more. I've tried asking people but just as many will like somewhere as have had a bad experience there. I see there are also some schemes, The Good Garage Scheme for example, which has reviews, but how can I know the reviews are genuine? All the garages in my local town have 5 stars (the highest score) so I'm sure that can't be right.

Is there a scheme which is really genuine? Not one that garages can buy into?

Or otherwise, how DO you find a good garage?

Thanks

another one to try is IMI ATA not sure if they list the garages but they do list accredited technitions