Barretts Canterbury (Kent)
- Thread starter BusterDan
- Start date
They were excellent when they had their Citroen dealership. The customer service over five car purchases and subsequent services was super in my experience.
Bikes, as we know, are a totally different thing. As are the customers.
Bikes, as we know, are a totally different thing. As are the customers.
Babybert23
Registered user
I work for said company and currently looking at late feb early march 
I've had nothing but grief from T Wells since I bought my last bike from them in 2021. To the extent that I now refuse to use them and go to Sycamore in Witham instead.Maybe they'll coax over some people from Stratstone/Arden, not sure if that'll be a good or bad thing.
I found Tunbridge Wells to be quite poor, unhelpful, unable to answer the phone, and too busy to care, and so for my 12k service I used Brian Giles, BGM BMW, a private mechanic, whose service was very thorough and reasonably priced.
Brian is in Pembury, and I’d happily use him again, but Canterbury is less that half the distance. I shall do the 18k myself, and see how things are by the time I need the 24k.
Brian is in Pembury, and I’d happily use him again, but Canterbury is less that half the distance. I shall do the 18k myself, and see how things are by the time I need the 24k.
Just near the Westgate Towers ?
Remember them as BL, Austin, Rover dealers.
Cousin did his apprenticeship there.
Remember them as BL, Austin, Rover dealers.
Cousin did his apprenticeship there.
wasn't that Hallett's on the corner , with the train station at the other end of the road ?
Hallets was on the corner and was the motorcycle shop.
I have a pair of Belstaff Trialmaster waxed cotton gauntlets that I bought in there............somewhere......loft probably
I have a pair of Belstaff Trialmaster waxed cotton gauntlets that I bought in there............somewhere......loft probably
My GS is in Barretts Canterbury as I type.
A little disappointed that you can't make an appointment for a specific time - just "drop it off between 8 and 9 and we'll let you know when it's done." Sycamore Witham (bikes only, of course) gave you an appointment time for a service, and they did the work as soon as you arrived, so it made waiting for the work to be done a possibility.
Anyway, I dropped it off at 08:30-ish. No call from them, so I called them at 3-ish to be told "It's next into the workshop but we still hope to get it completed today." Doesn't fill me with optimism! There's no real excuse why a service - literally just oil and filter this time as brake fluid and rear drive oil was done last year - should not be able to be completed within an hour or two and ready for specified time. Apart from anything else, they won't be draining the oil out while it's warm.
BMW car service at Barretts Ashford last month went like clockwork - no delays (took a bit longer than expected because it needed new tyres) but still done by 2pm. Arden/Strathstone in T Wells always got reasonable reviews for car dealership but bikes were shocking. What makes the difference between bikes and cars in BMW's eyes? I'm sure car customers would not be expected to leave a car there overnight for a service.
I'm hoping this is just teething issues because bikes are a new venture for them and not that bikes will be seen as the poor relations to BMW cars and Mini at yet another dealership.
A little disappointed that you can't make an appointment for a specific time - just "drop it off between 8 and 9 and we'll let you know when it's done." Sycamore Witham (bikes only, of course) gave you an appointment time for a service, and they did the work as soon as you arrived, so it made waiting for the work to be done a possibility.
Anyway, I dropped it off at 08:30-ish. No call from them, so I called them at 3-ish to be told "It's next into the workshop but we still hope to get it completed today." Doesn't fill me with optimism! There's no real excuse why a service - literally just oil and filter this time as brake fluid and rear drive oil was done last year - should not be able to be completed within an hour or two and ready for specified time. Apart from anything else, they won't be draining the oil out while it's warm.
BMW car service at Barretts Ashford last month went like clockwork - no delays (took a bit longer than expected because it needed new tyres) but still done by 2pm. Arden/Strathstone in T Wells always got reasonable reviews for car dealership but bikes were shocking. What makes the difference between bikes and cars in BMW's eyes? I'm sure car customers would not be expected to leave a car there overnight for a service.
I'm hoping this is just teething issues because bikes are a new venture for them and not that bikes will be seen as the poor relations to BMW cars and Mini at yet another dealership.
Good to know as I'll be having my first annual service at the end of May, Stratstone are just down the road at Tunbridge but I'm not keen to use them for the bike. Although I have just put my 2 year old X1 into their Maidstone dealership to get the brake system replaced under recall. :/
Which GS do you own and which service/mileage/cost was it please?
Update: the bike was done and I got a call around 4:45. All seems to be well. It was the most basic of services though - 18k, just oil and filter. brake fluid and rear drive fluid were changed last year.
I gave them some feedback on the preferability of being able to get an appointment, even if it's just morning or afternoon. They said they'd pass it on. I didn't realise that the bike service dept had only been up and running for three days. They were very polite and friendly, in a genuine way. And getting in and out of Canterbury wasn't as bad as I'd feared it might be (though it is still school hols down here).
I gave them some feedback on the preferability of being able to get an appointment, even if it's just morning or afternoon. They said they'd pass it on. I didn't realise that the bike service dept had only been up and running for three days. They were very polite and friendly, in a genuine way. And getting in and out of Canterbury wasn't as bad as I'd feared it might be (though it is still school hols down here).
Yes I spoke to Ryan yesterday he seemed very friendly and helpful. Interestingly, he mentioned about the appointment times not being available but they will be looking into that.
For my GS - 1 year service they quoted £338 I think.... about £50 less than Vines of Guildford, where I bought my bike, but I do have a £150 referral bonus at Vines so i will probably go there in the end.
For my GS - 1 year service they quoted £338 I think.... about £50 less than Vines of Guildford, where I bought my bike, but I do have a £150 referral bonus at Vines so i will probably go there in the end.
Just to add the 1 year service on the 1300GS is oil, filter and brake fluid
I have used Brian for major services for years. I do the intermediate services myself. It's more ag taking the bike to him/elsewhere than doing an oil and filter change and brake service myself. I have had the bike for 20 years and 80K miles and it has very little service history
. It'll be a good buy for someone soon, honestly
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