Great time for DIY

452

fred246 said:

If you take a vehicle to a garage for a service most people won't have a clue whether they have done anything or not. There is no incentive for the garage to do anything. If they don't do something and you go to trading standards then trading standards tell you to ask the garage to do it. The garage industry is unregulated. They aren't inspected. Mechanics have no registration. No need for experience or qualifications. It's up to the customer to check up on the garage. No one will do it for you. Easier to forget it and do it yourself for a fraction of the price and know it's done right.

Got you, so main dealers pay their staff to sit round and not service cars. You can evidence that can you?

motorguy

fred246 said:

If you take a vehicle to a garage for a service most people won't have a clue whether they have done anything or not. There is no incentive for the garage to do anything. If they don't do something and you go to trading standards then trading standards tell you to ask the garage to do it. The garage industry is unregulated. They aren't inspected. Mechanics have no registration. No need for experience or qualifications. It's up to the customer to check up on the garage. No one will do it for you. Easier to forget it and do it yourself for a fraction of the price and know it's done right.

Franchised main dealers are regulated by the franchiser (the clue being in the name).  The franchisees represent the franchise and there are standardards, policies and procedures to be adhered to.  There are secret shoppers in place and random spot checks as well as certifications to be maintained.  Failing any of these puts a franchise at risk.  I know of one franchisee who lost a Vauxhall franchise for not adhering to standards.

Secondly, whilst i know you're probably in the category of writing a firmly worded letter, the rest of us use the internet.  Almost all garages - franchised and otherwise - are rated somewhere by somebody.  Often you have to go no further than facebook to find out about a business, or simply ask a friend of family member for a recommendation.

Doing all your own repair work may suit you and thats fine, however most people have neither the time, inclination nor ability to do the work themselves.

motorguy

452 said:

fred246 said:

If you take a vehicle to a garage for a service most people won't have a clue whether they have done anything or not. There is no incentive for the garage to do anything. If they don't do something and you go to trading standards then trading standards tell you to ask the garage to do it. The garage industry is unregulated. They aren't inspected. Mechanics have no registration. No need for experience or qualifications. It's up to the customer to check up on the garage. No one will do it for you. Easier to forget it and do it yourself for a fraction of the price and know it's done right.

Got you, so main dealers pay their staff to sit round and not service cars. You can evidence that can you?

No he cant. 

neilmcl

452 said:

fred246 said:

If you take a vehicle to a garage for a service most people won't have a clue whether they have done anything or not. There is no incentive for the garage to do anything. If they don't do something and you go to trading standards then trading standards tell you to ask the garage to do it. The garage industry is unregulated. They aren't inspected. Mechanics have no registration. No need for experience or qualifications. It's up to the customer to check up on the garage. No one will do it for you. Easier to forget it and do it yourself for a fraction of the price and know it's done right.

Got you, so main dealers pay their staff to sit round and not service cars. You can evidence that can you?

In all the many posts he's come out with this nonsense he never has to date.

Scrapit

fred246 said:

If you take a vehicle to a garage for a service most people won't have a clue whether they have done anything or not. There is no incentive for the garage to do anything. If they don't do something and you go to trading standards then trading standards tell you to ask the garage to do it. The garage industry is unregulated. They aren't inspected. Mechanics have no registration. No need for experience or qualifications. It's up to the customer to check up on the garage. No one will do it for you. Easier to forget it and do it yourself for a fraction of the price and know it's done right.

I get a video message once the service is complete showing what has been done. Of course I also get to physically check, cos yunno, it's my motor. The service isn't cheap but it maintains my warranty, allows me to have free breakdown cover and will add desirability if not value to the vehicle when I come to sell. They do offer free coffee too but it's shocking so I don't partake. But I am satisfied the service is done ok.

fred246

Servicing standards are very variable. Video messages are sent  because the industry has a poor reputation and they are trying to improve it. If you want a car to last a long time it has to be:
1) Serviced correctly. There really are only oil changes that are critical to it's long life.
2) Regularly checked. Oil, water, brake fluid, washer fluid, tyres, tyre pressures, wipers, lights.
Everyone seems to have stopped 1) because it's too difficult on a modern car which it really isn't. It's much easier than it's ever been. They then seem to have stopped 2) as well. I think on cars under 3 you normally get away with it although it's not to be recommended. I hear of so many people who then extend it to older cars and they end up killing the engine. There are so many engine failures on this forum. In all my years of motoring I have never had the slightest problem with any of my engines. I am convinced it's because people don't check oil and coolant levels. MOT historys show which cars don't get checked. Illegal tyres, lights not working, washers empty. So by doing it myself I have cars that just go on and on, year after year. So reliable. So money saving. You save on servicing costs, but the biggest cost saving is on depreciation.

Scrapit

fred246 said:

Servicing standards are very variable. Video messages are sent  because the industry has a poor reputation and they are trying to improve it. If you want a car to last a long time it has to be:
1) Serviced correctly. There really are only oil changes that are critical to it's long life.
2) Regularly checked. Oil, water, brake fluid, washer fluid, tyres, tyre pressures, wipers, lights.
Everyone seems to have stopped 1) because it's too difficult on a modern car which it really isn't. It's much easier than it's ever been. They then seem to have stopped 2) as well. I think on cars under 3 you normally get away with it although it's not to be recommended. I hear of so many people who then extend it to older cars and they end up killing the engine. There are so many engine failures on this forum. In all my years of motoring I have never had the slightest problem with any of my engines. I am convinced it's because people don't check oil and coolant levels. MOT historys show which cars don't get checked. Illegal tyres, lights not working, washers empty. So by doing it myself I have cars that just go on and on, year after year. So reliable. So money saving. You save on servicing costs, but the biggest cost saving is on depreciation.

Who stopped oil changes, like you say easy? So easy even the lowliest of dodgy garages can get it right.

Mercdriver

fred246 said:

Call the fraud squad. Guilty of making sure his car is serviced correctly. Imagine if garage owners got prosecuted for not servicing cars correctly. There wouldn't be many garages left.

The fraud is presenting a car as having full dealer servicing when it doesn't.  But you knew that.  The other Fred would, also.

Dreambox

This is so true, so much time to work on the car, on the house, build something new and dedicate yourself to passions and I am very surprised when I read of people that say that they have nothing to do at home now, they stay all day on the sofa... I would never be able to be like that!! I also started doing some woodwork (never did it but always dreamed) but it doesn't come out well for now... Need some exercise, and now it's the perfect time. 

fred246

Scrapit said:

fred246 said:

Who stopped oil changes, like you say easy? So easy even the lowliest of dodgy garages can get it right.

A lot more people used to service their own cars than do now. If you ask them why it's always that they are too complicated. The drain plug is still on the bottom, the filler on the top and the filter somewhere between the two.