"Extras" required at 600m service?

[WindyChuffer]

I agree with Johnny Dangerously.

If the SM is still Dean Buck, ex SPC, then he's an all round good guy. But there is only so much he can do. I am sure he'd like to hire more knowledgable staff and offer a more personal service but he's no doubt constrained by budgets set by the big cheese's there.

Trouble is that Park Lane is just so busy, large, and customer service just doesn't really scale. They don't have to try v hard for the work as its a captive market and too convenient for many customers.

Thankfully its more convenient for me to travel further to Vines, even though I live in W London.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

Well, that's certainly one option.

The other, of course, is that I ignore patronising and cuntish posts like that one up there, which is probably better all round.

do as you feel is best, its your perogative

 

[HondaMan]

Well, that's certainly one option.

The other, of course, is that I ignore patronising and cuntish posts like that one up there, which is probably better all round.

Point proved.

 

[NorthernBoy]

My point is this. If you want to test ride/drive a certain vehicle book it with the Sales Dept and not the Service Dept

That would be fine had they not agreed which bike I'd be getting when I made the booking.

I suppose that I have got too used to the level of customer service provided and received in my business, and forget that out in the real world, it just does not work like that.

 

[NorthernBoy]

I'll say it again. My advice would be too avoid park lane at all costs

I told them perfectly politely that I prefer to go somewhere else now, as they are so much worse than what I get elsewhere.

Cooper Tunbridge Wells have always been excellent with me, so I'll use them whenever possible form now on.

 

[NorthernBoy]

Point proved.

Proven old chap, proven.

No use your trying to appear superior if you then use words which you either don't understand or know how to spell.

If you want, you can p.m. me for help with your writing until it picks up a bit.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

I told them perfectly politely that I prefer to go somewhere else now, as they are so much worse than what I get elsewhere.

Cooper Tunbridge Wells have always been excellent with me, so I'll use them whenever possible form now on.

Ahem..................

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

That would be fine had they not agreed which bike I'd be getting when I made the booking.

I suppose that I have got too used to the level of customer service provided and received in my business, and forget that out in the real world, it just does not work like that.

Not wishing to sound like I'm splitting hairs here but who did you book the courtesy bike with?

You book courtesy bikes with the Service Dept and Demonstrators with the Sales Dept. If the Sales Dept think they're on to a sale then they'll move heaven and earth to make sure that the bike you want to demo with a potential view to purchase is available. If how ever you wanted a sales demo for the day while your bike is in being serviced then

I've lost count of the times that customers have said to me that they don't need a courtesy car whilst theirs is in for service yet on the day try and con a sales demo out of us

 

[NorthernBoy]

Not wishing to sound like I'm splitting hairs here but who did you book the courtesy bike with?

With the service department when I made the booking (sales and service are located in different parts of London with Park Lane). It was no disaster that they could not supply it, but as they had said that they could, it was a disappointment. I wanted to kill two birds with one stone, and if they cannot accommodate me there, I'm fine going somewhere else.

On the subject of car demonstrators, I'd booked a test drive with Docklands Audi a couple of years back to try the RS4 that I was thinking of buying. I travelled over to the dealer on the Saturday as agreed, and after the wife and I were kept waiting half an hour past our appointment, the salesman came over to tell us that the car wasn't in, as it'd been sent off for cleaning. When I looked surprised, and asked why he hadn't called me, he pointed out that he'd "been busy" that morning.

Again, I thought that that was a bit strange, when he decided that one minute of his time was worth more than an hour of his customer's, but it is his prerogative, of course.

Again, in that situation, I didn't bother complaining, I just arranged a test drive with Bexley Audi, liked the car, and told them to order one in for me.

Had salesman number one just done what he'd agreed to, he'd have had a £54,000 cash sale that morning, whereas instead this car, and the R8 that will likely replace it come form his competitor down the road.

 

[bumpy]

...such a difference from my dealings with Cannons, where I bought my bike! (ok...I know they're under a new regime!).

So what change of regime would that be?

 

[Dave Ford]

it is hard to judge what someone is really like, are they a pedantic pain in the arse or do they just have few social skills or is it just the way they type etc.....

Were you looking in a mirror as you typed that? NB's posts we're, in my humble opinion, quite clear and rational. Do you work for BMW or a dealer? More likely you're one of those people who views anyone who might have a different point of view as someone who must be a "pedantic pain in the arse", who has "few social skills" or who has some problem typing. NB's adjective describing your post was spot on - at least his tying isn't that bad! Do you by any chance drive a Volvo or vote for BNP or UKIP?

 

[Dave Ford]

When booking the bike in for the 6,000 mile service (9 month old bike), I was asked if I also wanted brake fluid and gearbox oil changed. This confused me, so I repeated to the receptionist booking it in that it was a 9 month old bike, had done 6,00 miles since the running-in service, and I wanted the 6,000 mile service done, and she repeated her question. I told her that I wanted everything done that BMW say should be done, and nothing extra (unless they found any problems), but again she asked if I wanted that to include gearbox oil, so I put the phone down (politely), and wondered when, exactly, the customer was supposed to tell the dealership what the service involves.

Is there anything that I am missing here? Surely saying that I want the scheduled work done is explanation enough, isn't it? She told me that I would need these fluids changed at a year anyway, but I said that as I'll have it back in for the 12k service by then, that is not a problem.

What gives?

Jumping in on the side of the dealers (definitely a first), Pidcock's in Long Eaton are happy for me to change my own plugs, oil and pads etc. In fact they even suggested it as a possible way to reduce the cost of the 12,000 service on my last GSA. They've warned of tyres being close to the limit but never tried to sell me one. So fair play to them.

However, don't get me started on replacing corroded parts under warranty and dealers' tendency (I suspect it's genetic) to look to "BMW" when it comes to correcting faults and meeting their obligations under the Sale of Goods Act.....

 

[deaninkl]

That would be fine had they not agreed which bike I'd be getting when I made the booking.

I suppose that I have got too used to the level of customer service provided and received in my business, and forget that out in the real world, it just does not work like that.

NB, I'm with you on many things you write on this forum, but to suggest that the banking industry gives good customer service is a crime (at least for the high street banking sector).

I've been an expat for close to 30 years and the service I have got from UK banks is a comedy of errors that i could write a book about.

BMW out here in Malaysia charge the same prices as BMW in the UK, other garages charge 20% of that for their labour.. I also vote with my feet as soon as the warranty is over.

 

[Dave Ford]

NB - Do I take it from the below that you work in the banking sector?

NB, I'm with you on many things you write on this forum, but to suggest that the banking industry gives good customer service is a crime (at least for the high street banking sector).

I've been an expat for close to 30 years and the service I have got from UK banks is a comedy of errors that i could write a book about.

BMW out here in Malaysia charge the same prices as BMW in the UK, other garages charge 20% of that for their labour.. I also vote with my feet as soon as the warranty is over.