Intermediate service voucher for Advance Pitstop

Dinky22

Hi. Was hoping to get a voucher for intermediate service at Advance Pitstop from internet - but no luck so far. Does anybody know of a website that would have the voucher - It costs about 45.00 euro? I know I would have to 20.00 euro for oil but it would still be a good deal. Thanks.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

Stay well away.

YbFocus

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

Stay well away.

I agree, wouldn't let them service a push bike

Dinky22

Why??. I rang around and others want to charge approx. 150.00 euro. Surely I can't go far wrong with oil change & filter change? Don't know of any reputible small family garages.

porsche boy

Best to steer clear, avoid Fast Fit also. There are numerous independent garages around so there's sure to one near you. Where are you based?

biko

You don't need Advanced Pitstop for
a full oil and filter replacement,
a top-up of your fluid levels -- windscreen washer, brake, and antifreeze --
and an inspection of your exterior and interior lights, horn, wiper blades, washers, battery, brake pads, and your tyres -- wear, pressure, tread depth, and condition.
Any mechanic can do this easy, in fact you can do it yourself.
For €45 you probably get a generic engine oil and filter, not the optimal stuff for your car.

For the "stay away" crowd, offhand slagging businesses isn't on. Please elaborate on what is your specific issue with AP is, or even better - make a recommendation based on your personal knowledge.

Dinky22

Firstly I am a female and I think garage see me coming!. I went for a full service to 2 small garages in Cork and I was taken for ride. The first one put in Timing belt, 2 shocks, break pads and the second small garage said that I needed a Timing belt, break pads, 3 new tyres & a battery (I had only got a new battery 8 months previously and of course, the Timing belt and shocks). I am now looking for a intermediate service with oil change (which I will pay for) and oil filter. I also need a full service on another car but do not know of any reputible garage that won't rip me off again. I can go to a garage in either Cork or Dublin as I will be in both places.

YbFocus

Sorry biko,

Just when you look at that price you know yourself that the parts will be the cheapest possible Crap going.
I'd be worried if the op needs the latest long life oil etc the car isn't getting it.
I can't get service parts for cars that cheap on trade, except older models.
Should have expanded on the post a bit sorry.

dh0011

If you want the details of a decent garage in Cork let me know. They arent the cheapest but only original filters etc.. no aftermarket parts. I also know a polish lad who has a lift for a car at the back of his house and makes his living out of mechanicing from there. The lad I share a office with took him oil filter and plugs he bought in a motor factors. He fitted them and had a look at the brakes suspension etc for about 25 quid (cheaper than you think as he brought the parts himself).

PM me for details if you want them.

coylemj

Dinky22 wrote: »

Firstly I am a female and I think garage see me coming!. I went for a full service to 2 small garages in Cork and I was taken for ride. The first one put in Timing belt, 2 shocks, break pads and the second small garage said that I needed a Timing belt, break pads, 3 new tyres & a battery (I had only got a new battery 8 months previously and of course, the Timing belt and shocks). I am now looking for a intermediate service with oil change (which I will pay for) and oil filter. I also need a full service on another car but do not know of any reputible garage that won't rip me off again. I can go to a garage in either Cork or Dublin as I will be in both places.

Have you considered going to a main dealer for a service? At least if they rip you off and/or do unnecessary work, you can complain to the distributor who can remove their status as an authorised service centre for that brand.

An independent service centre as you've discovered is often a false economy because they can rip you off and you have no comeback.

A main dealer won't do anything beyond the service without getting your 'ok' so you can (and should) refuse any sales pitch for batteries, tyres etc. which you can always get cheaper elsewhere.

porsche boy

The reason I didnt put names and details was that I thought I'd be lifted out of it, my experience is from working in one of the places named in my post. The companies work standards are poor, no real checks or best practice used, their parts and oils used are the lowest and cheapest quality, their staff are mostly indiffrent to maintaining personal standards. I could go on...

Main dealers are not much better to be honest. The facade of a fancy showroom and a well dressed salesman lends little to having standards or value for money in the service or parts departments.

As unbelievable as it may seem the best garages I have seen and worked in are the small independent guys who trade on word of mouth and reputation. You will usually get good value for money as they have less overheads.

If you feel like you have been taken for a ride or been ripped off then dont stand for it. There are plenty of ways to have your opinion heard but just be sure that you were actually ripped off and just not cought requiring more work than you expected.

To the person needing two cars worked on, I work in a small garage in Tallaght and would be delighted to help you out if that location is of any use. You can PM me if you want any further details.

bazz26

Will some people ever see the trees from the woods.

These places offering servicing for €45, etc. are not making money from that offer. They make money from the list of other things that they will advise you to get done once you are in there. These special headline offers are nothing more than ways of drumming up more business. And it's not limited to one particular business either.

dh0011

if this was the oil you got
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_907235_langId_-1_categoryId_165581
and here is an oil filter that will fit my car
http://www.micksgarage.com/service-parts/oil-filters/toyota/avensis/avensis-saloon/2003-2008/1.6-vvt-i/18879
i think that the company coould make about 35 euro profit from your visit. Also buying in bulk oil would be cheaper.

bazz26

dh0011 wrote: »

if this was the oil you got
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_907235_langId_-1_categoryId_165581
and here is an oil filter that will fit my car
http://www.micksgarage.com/service-parts/oil-filters/toyota/avensis/avensis-saloon/2003-2008/1.6-vvt-i/18879
i think that the company coould make about 35 euro profit from your visit. Also buying in bulk oil would be cheaper.

Nope. Don't forget overheads like employee salaries, premises rent & rates, equipment, VAT, etc.. The group deal company also takes a percentage of that €45. They won't run a profitable business by just changing oil and filter for €45 that's for sure.

Dinky22

Thanks everybody for all your replies and opinions!.

dh0011

where did you go in the end and were you happy with what you got?

Dinky22

Hi dh0011. Other options did not work out - either too expensive or too far away. I will go to Advance PitStop. Have not gone yet. Thanks for your help.