Mentalmac Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 Should probably name then something else, but the swear filter won't allow it! My sister is pregnant and fairly useless with cars and is in Kent for the moment (I'm 1.5 hours away so couldn't help her). She heard a bang and the car made some funny noises when driving so went straight to kwik-fit (The only garage she knew) who looked at the car and said her coil was broken. Next thing you know, guess what - the other side needs doing. Quoting her £750! She phoned me and I asked her to break the quote down and it was for: Two new tyres (even though the ones she has are only 6 months old with less than 2,500 miles on them) coils and shocks for front track rod end labour So she ended up just getting one side sorted and they done her for £380. Her starter is on the way out (solenoid is going), and I noticed her silencer was hanging on by a thread when I looked last week when she was visiting us - funnily enough they didn't notice that eh?!) - so I told her to go to a independent garage (I arranged it) and they looked at the car in depth and found that the other side is absolutely fine and doesn't need replacing at all, but the rear left (same side as the front) is damaged and could do with replacing (even showing her the damage via photographs on his camera as she can't bend too much). They were appalled that kwik-fit missed the exhaust and lied about the front right shock. Incidentally they only want around £250 for coil, shock, starter motor, silencer replacement (the hangers that are welded to can have rusted through can and are breaking) and labour which is not too bad a price. The worst bit is that she said the Kwik-fit man was really intimidating and salesman like to her being all "well love, if you drive this and only do one side it will go bang and you may end up in a ditch or worse" and "oh, I don't feel comfortable doing this job on one side only, I certainly wouldn't let MY wife drive this car. I feel an official complaint coming along... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rimotu66 Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 Usual kwik fit standards, I cant understand how they are still in business I guess its people that see the nice fluffy adverts and do not know any better (no offence to your sister). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentalmac Posted February 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 Usual kwik fit standards, I cant understand how they are still in business I guess its people that see the nice fluffy adverts and do not know any better (no offence to your sister). You are quite right. She is useless and also very shy so Kwik-Fit's fluffy adverts showing lots of nice helpful people in uniforms seems better than seeing 'one-eyed bob' the local mechanic in a disused business park which can be intimidating on the outside. Plus she knows hardly anything about cars. If you told her 'revs' was petrol that turns into little rev's like bubbled in fizzy pop she'd probably know no different. Perfect Kwik-fit bait. Such a con place. I said to her "why the heck didn't you ask them to show you how your tyres were so bad as they are so new" and she said "the bloke had 'already put his tyre depth thingy away so couldn't show me'.... what?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 (edited) If one front spring was weak enough to fracture, then I am sorry but I would insist "for her safety" it would be replaced too. Having just had this happen with a Pug 406hdi and it ripped out the ABS wiring, tore through the brake flexi pipe and obstruct the CV joint! It shows just what CAN happen. I was lucky! As for the Shocks! If they are genuinely showing signs of failure or weakness then while you have the coil springs off you may as well replace them. Also check the strut tops for bearing wear! Shocks contribute to good road holding, it is as important you have good operational shocks as it it good tyres! As with the Exhaust! If by hanging on by a thread you mean the back box is falling off the main pipe then the exhaust leaking should have been sorted the day you saw it. Carbon monoxide poisoning is not somerhing to be taken lightly. People have been poisoned behind the wheel in the past! Nodded off and crashed! Sorry! But I couldn't let My sis drive round in it until it was fully sorted, Even if I had to pay toward it! Edited February 13, 2014 by Lord Geordie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentalmac Posted February 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 If one front spring was weak enough to fracture, then I am sorry but I would insist "for her safety" it would be replaced too. Having just had this happen with a Pug 406hdi and it ripped out the ABS wiring, tore through the brake flexi pipe and obstruct the CV joint! It shows just what CAN happen. I was lucky! As for the Shocks! If they are genuinely showing signs of failure or weakness then while you have the coil springs off you may as well replace them. Also check the strut tops for bearing wear! Shock contribute to good road holding, it is as important yo have good operational shocks as it it good tyres! As with the Exhaust! If by hanging on by a thread you mean the back bix is falling off the main pipe then the exhaust leaking should have been sorted the day you saw it. Carbon monoxide poisoning is not somerhing to be taken lightly. People have been poisoned behind the wheel in the past! Nodded off and crashed! Sorry! But I coukdn't let My sis drive round in it until it was fully sorted, Even if I had to pay toward it! Point noted with the other side front shock - I will look into that. (if the garage deemed it safe, should I ask them to replace it for her anyhow?) The exhaust was just the hangers which are welded onto the back box are rusted at the weld (not gone through the skin of the box nor leaking any gases, just the welds become weak which is holding the back box on). The actually rod used as a hanger is also rusted and I advised it needs replacing, however you may aswell buy new back box as the hanger parts are welded on and the whole assembly is fairly cheap. My opinion is that she should have all coils and springs replaced, especially if one goes and they are all same age. My point isn'y that the car may need work doing, its more that Kwik-fraud seem to be trying to get stuff done that doesn't need it and trying to intimidate young women and feed them any old male cow excrete. (Oh and yes, I am actually paying for the lot anyhow for now). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Del T Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 They are cowboys. A friend of the wifes took her Audi TT in for some work against our advice. Two months later and the car finally got sorted! You really need to replace suspension parts in pairs. I had a spring let go and that trashed a brand new tyre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentalmac Posted February 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 They are cowboys. A friend of the wifes took her Audi TT in for some work against our advice. Two months later and the car finally got sorted! You really need to replace suspension parts in pairs. I had a spring let go and that trashed a brand new tyre. Cheers, as with Lord Geordie - (My auto correct nearly spelled Georgie then! haha - sorry). I will get the other side replaced to be on the safe side. May as well do the lot of them as I'm guessing the rear will need doing before long too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 No wonder she's pregnant if her coil is broken Kwik Fit are not the best - they can't even spell one of the words in their name properly. I may be wrong but I think they are franchises so individual 'garages' can vary quite a bit in their sales approach, either way it is plain wrong to scare people into spending money they don't need to spend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FatFreddysCat Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 Kwik Fit Fitters. The clue is in the name. They employ fitters who fit stuff. They are not mechanics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentalmac Posted February 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 No wonder she's pregnant if her coil is broken Haha bad joke of the day award goes to......... FalconFN! haha :-). It was certainly a shock. When she told us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super sharp shooter Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 I went there for a quote on pads and discs all round on my kia sorento £690. So i shopped around and got it done for £260 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepasty Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 I dont know why people even consider these big chain sales driven car places, they all much the same, will fleece you at any given chance mostly preying on the car ignorant, old, female etc. I do most car stuff myself but will only take it to a garage (always an independent) that has a good reputation or I've used before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 (edited) Local garage did 2 front springs on a fiesta I had for 140.Dont know wher ****fit get there prices from.They quoted me 760 for front cat on my old grand vitara.Same local garage that replaced the springs on the fiesta done the cat for 240. Edited February 13, 2014 by Davyo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 The OP doesn't say what sort of car it was ? But on certain cars (older Fiesta's, Escorts for example) broken coil springs are very common cause of breakdowns & recoveries Generally if one side has failed it can be false economy to replace just one side. To Supersharpshooter : You'll probably find that price includes Kwik Fits lifetime replacement scheme, obviously the initial expenses then covers subsequent replacements. Generally in the 'Fast Fit' business, Tthe basic wage/salary aren't great and are very much Commission/Bonus based, so 'fitters' are expected to 'sell up' and are paid commission/bonus accordingly and are expected to sell/push the products/services with the greatest profit margin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88b Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 I've seen this many times Formula 1 is as bad, they earn commission on what they sell. As for a broken front spring, it's fairly common at this time of year and the state of our roads don't help. After 35+ years in the industry it wouldn't worry me to change just one spring! it's not like discs. A woman on her own especially pregnant or with kids is their dream victim / customer sadly. You did the right thing sending her to an independent garage, although the motor trade has a bad name there are a lot of decent people in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 Mobility car drivers have to use them for tyres. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 Mobility car drivers have to use them for tyres. Theyre also given some credibility as they are RAC 'Approved Repairers' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodge911 Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 i worked there for a very short time [5 weeks ] before i wrapped as i couldnt get away with thier policies/sales techiques . your sis is BANG ON THE ULTIMATE TARGET. thier list of "PRIME TARGET CUSTOMERS " are; a lone woman driver woman driver with child/children lone pregnant woman elderly drivers this was preached to us every morning before the start of buisness then came the speech to give to the customer once thier car has been "inspected for free" with the obligatory while we checking your car we have noticed that the ...following items are faulty/dangerous and need repair.....blah.blah and so on because more often then not if you tell one of the prime target list that thier car is dangerous they will panik and ask for it to be repaired chuffing robbing toe rags believe me i know first hand i had to sit threw thier amercan style sales meeting with flip charts etc . coming from "small local garge back ground where you want a customer to return time after time regardless of fault kwik fit policy is most customers are ONE TIME PUNTERS SO GET AS MUCH MONEY OUT OF THEM AT THE FIRST VISIT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodge911 Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 Theyre also given some credibility as they are RAC 'Approved Repairers' because the rac get a percentage of each sale recommended Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentalmac Posted February 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2014 The OP doesn't say what sort of car it was ? But on certain cars (older Fiesta's, Escorts for example) broken coil springs are very common cause of breakdowns & recoveries Generally if one side has failed it can be false economy to replace just one side. Cheers Taxidriver - I'm a fairly local to you chap (Colchester) - It was a 2004 Fiesta 1.25 (New shape). I have now had the independant garage near her replace all 4 to just be safe and prudent now. Wheel bearings on two wheels too. Car's good as new and cost hardly anything to do with a decent garage in the end. The mechanics words to me were along the lines that they all showed signs of wear and should probably be replaced but could wait until more money comes in etc... our choice, and had the courtesy to email me some pics of them and I made the decision to just get all done to save me future hassle and some wheel bearings in a rear left wheel as they weren't too happy either. Cost me a chunk of cash for sure but it was still cheaper than Kwik fits first quote. (The front left and rear left were actually broken so needed doing, so it was prudent to do other side as you say) I've seen this many times Formula 1 is as bad, they earn commission on what they sell. As for a broken front spring, it's fairly common at this time of year and the state of our roads don't help. After 35+ years in the industry it wouldn't worry me to change just one spring! it's not like discs. A woman on her own especially pregnant or with kids is their dream victim / customer sadly. You did the right thing sending her to an independent garage, although the motor trade has a bad name there are a lot of decent people in it. Definitely, can understand why they do it - they are all trying to make enough to survive, but still. Puts a bad name on all mechanics. i worked there for a very short time [5 weeks ] before i wrapped as i couldnt get away with thier policies/sales techiques . your sis is BANG ON THE ULTIMATE TARGET. thier list of "PRIME TARGET CUSTOMERS " are; a lone woman driver woman driver with child/children lone pregnant woman elderly drivers this was preached to us every morning before the start of buisness then came the speech to give to the customer once thier car has been "inspected for free" with the obligatory while we checking your car we have noticed that the ...following items are faulty/dangerous and need repair.....blah.blah and so on because more often then not if you tell one of the prime target list that thier car is dangerous they will panik and ask for it to be repaired chuffing robbing toe rags believe me i know first hand i had to sit threw thier amercan style sales meeting with flip charts etc . coming from "small local garge back ground where you want a customer to return time after time regardless of fault kwik fit policy is most customers are ONE TIME PUNTERS SO GET AS MUCH MONEY OUT OF THEM AT THE FIRST VISIT Cheers for that, really hits home with what I thought - confirms my theory. Glad you are out of that and that you are decent enough to pass this message on. They once tried to sell my mm new disks all around as they were 'dangerous and could cause a fatality' but she told them my dad had JUST had them replaced 3 weeks ago by our family friend mechanic. Idiots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigger got stichs Posted February 14, 2014 Report Share Posted February 14, 2014 it,s nothing new there been caught doing this loads of times and nowt ever gets done makes me ashamed to be in the same line of work [all be it commercial vehicles instead ] the best thing to do is take ur story to the local paper / trading standards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark L Posted February 16, 2014 Report Share Posted February 16, 2014 It terrible these big company's trying to rip of people, in my whole time of motering I've never put a car into a garage for a repair (I'm a LGV mechanic ) Some of the quotes I have seen for family members or friends has been shocking!!!! Find a good small independent garage and still with them that would be my advise !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted February 17, 2014 Report Share Posted February 17, 2014 I went for a quote for a punto back box only and was quoted £97. That was nearly what I paid for a full system. I told them where to go. They're worse than double glazing sales reps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g fletch Posted February 17, 2014 Report Share Posted February 17, 2014 bleeding scanderous... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuey Posted February 17, 2014 Report Share Posted February 17, 2014 My wife took her car to KF for an MOT. It failed on worn from tyres, and as she couldn't get in touch with me to check what I thought, she panicked and handed over the cash for MOT and 2 Bridgestone potenza's at a cost of £140 each. When she eventually got through to me, I told her to bring the front tyres home as there was no way they were illegal. My dad took them to a VOSA mot station, and they put a jig on each tyre, measuring the tread at 6mm!!! A quick call to the area manager for KF and they had to refund all of the money we paid out for the MOT and the 2 tyres. I'm sure they have a target they are supposed to make out of each customer walking in the door, often met my scaremongering tactics for parts that don't need changing. Friendly independent garage is the way forward. Stu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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