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An example of why this country is Screwed

Tony Soprano.

I was looking for a car part yesterday. I rang a few car breakers and got the usual response "Er, I'll have a look out back, and get back to you". Never heard anything (no surprise).

I then had a look on the net and came across a UK site. I filled in the request form (at 10:30pm). At 8:55am my mobile phone rang and it was a a guy from the UK, saying he had the part I wanted and to check my email. The price was also good (even with the crap exchange rate and posting).

You go to a breakers yard here and you will be greeted by a vicious Alsatian dog. :rolleyes:

I notice this all the time - far superior customer service from other EU countries, and especially the UK. The car part is just a small example.

I worked for an Irish plastics production company for 9 years, that made every possible building product available (PVC windows, land drainage, down-pipes). Probably the biggest in Munster. You wouldn't believe the quality control - absolutely shocking. Once a team of Germans visited, trying to sell us raw materials, and you could see the genuine shock in their faces of what was going on.

Okay, the major US companies here are well managed and profitable (and are here for the low corporation tax and nothing else), buts let's all pretend they're here for our education and skills.

The Irish can indeed be good workers when guided and trained probably. We just don't have the drive and know-how in this country. Something seriously missing.

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Kurz

I'd definitely agree re: mechanics, especially independent ones. You walk in the door and you're already down €100, they charge premium rates for the parts and then a huge amount for labour, then add it all together and round it up. Before you know it you're handing over €500 for a small problem to be fixed.

The service industry seems to be a bit like this too. Very large amounts of money is expected to change hands for dinner and a few drinks or a room in a bog-standard hotel.

The pricing of a lot of things here is way out of line with the rest of the continent and there always seems to be a whiff of chancer around.

A lot of the time it's the very same small business people that will jump at the chance to go on RTE and whinge about how hard they've been hit by the recession.

joemcg18

Cowboys ted, a bunch of feckin cowboys

Cee-Jay-Cee

Grimreaper666 wrote: »

Plenty of professional car breakers in Ireland who do ring back and are very well run businesses. Gerlan in Cork, Whelans in Portlaoise are just two that spring to mind.
I hate it when people make sweeping statements like this. I've dealt with plenty crooks in the UK who seem to think you're fair game when they hear you're Irish.

I'd correct that again to 'there are some very well run businesses'. I deal with them
on a regular basis and the biggest majority of them are as described by the OP.

okiss

I agree that in some business they still think it is boom time but they won't survive with this type of thinking or pricing.
I know a lot of people who are self employed, who price fairly for the type of job, service or product they provide. These people are working hard to keep there business going, keep on staff, pay the bills and keep the tax man happy.
Meanwhile some people are charging very low prices for the same but are not paying suppliers or the tax man. I have known suppliers who due to a few non paying customers are lucky to be still in business.
I have got items from companies in Ireland and outside Ireland. If I find a good place that I am happy with I will let other people know.
The companies that will stay in business now are the ones who look after the customers.

RATM

I hear ya OP as I started an identical thread over in Motors not too long ago. I needed a handbrake cable for a 04 car. Rang around the Irish breakers and got lots of being put on hold and then being told we'll call you back. I ended up having to call them back. Eventually got 2 quotes, one for €55 the other €65 + delivery costs.

I gave up and put it up on www.partsgateway.co.uk , within 2 hours I had a number of emails from UK breakers and a call saying he could have it in the post by close of business. I ended up going with him, he was based in Norn Iron and charged me £12 for the part and £4 for postage. Unbelievable.

Since then I've gotten all parts from the UK and wouldn't even bother looking at the Irish based businesses due to bad experiences. I wouldn't say that about all industries in Ireland but I would about breakers- they come across to me here as ignorant and as if you're a tyre kicker who isn't serious about making a purchase. In the UK they want your money and go the extra mile to get it. But it doesn't bother me because the Irish breakers who are lazy or have bad or non-existent customer service will sooner or later go out of business as cheaper products are to be had elsewhere. I no longer ask my mechanic to get a part as he'll add a mark up just for handling the thing, I just get them myself for cheaper from the UK and have him do the labour. More and more people will see the value in this way of operating (plus the guarantee on 2nd hand parts- doubtful you'll get that from an Irish breaker) and import parts themselves. It's cheaper and quite easy to do and you don't have to deal with people who never get back to you.

padser12345

This Country is surely pricing itself out of it...and the jobs that people can't normally do like fixing the Car is no exception!

You know that orange light that comes on with the little engine sign on it..it is linked to a sensor that has to do with the efficiency of the fuel being used (cat converter etc.)....the sensor is called a "lambda sensor". When one went recently on the car...asked mechanic for a price - he said €183 for the part and €30 for the Labour.......I went on to the web and you guessed it €43 posted from Drogheda, and fitted it myself within 15 min. and a little help from utube. It's just like a 'spark-plug' at the front of the engine!

Over pricing is rampant......it stops at the Internet for me!

Tony Soprano.

RATM wrote: »

I gave up and put it up on www.partsgateway.co.uk , within 2 hours I had a number of emails from UK breakers and a call saying he could have it in the post by close of business. I ended up going with him, he was based in Norn Iron and charged me £12 for the part and £4 for postage. Unbelievable. .

I used the same site. I couldn't believe it when one of them phoned me before 9am with a great price (even with overseas delivery and now the worst exchange rate ever).

A few UK dealers were fighting for £40 worth of business when I put up the request; but in the end I went with the guy that phoned me. Incredible, as not a single Irish dealer could be arsed getting back to me.

Thanks to all who agreed with me. I can't thank posts, as my own post count is too low.

meoklmrk91

Had a similar issue myself last week picking up some parts, was in touch with two places in Dublin and even though they couldn't help they were sound about Tina's rang back. Another place down the country actually answered the phone by saying "****ing phones". Was in touch with traynors up north and actually bought a part from them but won't be dealing with them again as they never let me know that the wing mirror I was buying was cracked and held together by masking tape.

vicwatson

Here's an example

Two slices of bread, buttered, one slice of ham - take away

Centra in Killeshandra Cavan €2.00

"Super"valu Cavan town €3.99 !!!!

That's why this country is fooked :mad:

Guy:Incognito

Tony Soprano. wrote: »

I was looking for a car part yesterday. I rang a few car breakers and got the usual response "Er, I'll have a look out back, and get back to you". Never heard anything (no surprise).

I then had a look on the net and came across a UK site. I filled in the request form (at 10:30pm). At 8:55am my mobile phone rang and it was a a guy from the UK, saying he had the part I wanted and to check my email. The price was also good (even with the crap exchange rate and posting).

You go to a breakers yard here and you will be greeted by a vicious Alsatian dog. :rolleyes:

I notice this all the time - far superior customer service from other EU countries, and especially the UK. The car part is just a small example.

I worked for an Irish plastics production company for 9 years, that made every possible building product available (PVC windows, land drainage, down-pipes). Probably the biggest in Munster. You wouldn't believe the quality control - absolutely shocking. Once a team of Germans visited, trying to sell us raw materials, and you could see the genuine shock in their faces of what was going on.

Okay, the major US companies here are well managed and profitable (and are here for the low corporation tax and nothing else), buts let's all pretend they're here for our education and skills.

The Irish can indeed be good workers when guided and trained probably. We just don't have the drive and know-how in this country. Something seriously missing.

I went to a breakers yesterday, got to mooch round at my own convenience, got the 2 parts I was after and was charged €20. All the breakers in the UK I contacted before wanted £40-50 for one of the parts.

1 example why the UK is screwed?

Wibbs

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

I went to a breakers yesterday, got to mooch round at my own convenience, got the 2 parts I was after and was charged €20. All the breakers in the UK I contacted before wanted £40-50 for one of the parts.

It defo depends on where you go alright. On the car parts front, I almost never buy parts here. When you get charged more for a spurious third party part than an original you have to wonder. A while back I was looking to replace a few oily bits on my car. Rang around locally and the cheapest came to around the 300 quid mark. Independent motor factors, third party parts. The main dealers wanted around the 500 quid mark, not including VAT. Online? Got the lot for just over 100 quid, all original manufacturer parts.

Seanchai

vicwatson wrote: »

Here's an example

Two slices of bread, buttered, one slice of ham - take away

Centra in Killeshandra Cavan €2.00

"Super"valu Cavan town €3.99 !!!!

That's why this country is fooked :mad:

Super Valu are robbing bastards everywhere, and worse in the places where there is little competition. They generally locate in such small rural towns that are too small for the bigger operators. Tomas Garvey's Super Valu in the English town of "Dingle" being the most repulsive example I've ever seen. It makes Joe Doyle's Donnybrook Fair look like a charity shop. No wonder the Garvey family appears on lists of Ireland's richest families. The best thing that ever happened that backward robbing hole of a town is that Lidl arrived recently. The horrifying thing is that prices in Garveys now are supposed to be more competitive. I felt physically sick the last time I walked through that shop.

Thank God for the Germans.

someuser905

Seanchai wrote: »

Super Valu are robbing bastards everywhere, and worse in the places where there is little competition. They generally locate in such small rural towns that are too small for the bigger operators. Tomas Garvey's Super Valu in the English town of "Dingle" being the most repulsive example I've ever seen. It makes Joe Doyle's Donnybrook Fair look like a charity shop. No wonder the Garvey family appears on lists of Ireland's richest families. The best thing that ever happened that backward robbing hole of a town is that Lidl arrived recently. The horrifying thing is that prices in Garveys now are supposed to be more competitive. I felt physically sick the last time I walked through that shop.

Thank God for the Germans.

you wrote that in english, therefore you are an english man

Bassfish

Totally agree with OP. I was trying to get our chimney swept last winter because we couldn't light the fire without it. Me and the wife both work and I must have rang every chimney sweep in Dublin and asked if they could come after 5 or on a Saturday.
Every one of them from the old men to the flashy professional companies said "ah no bud, don't usually work past half 4" and one of them lived about 300 metres from us.
God forbid they'd miss an hour in the pub. You'd swear they didn't want the money. Bet you'd see the same ****ers on tv bitching "me business is going to the wall, I blame the gubberment!"
I was actually scanning the phonebook looking for a chimney sweep with a foreign name because I knew they'd take the business but couldn't find one.

Grayson

i worked for a few Irish internet companies when i started working first. Then I moved to a large multinational. I was shocked by the difference in attitude. The multinational was incredibly professional and had an attitude that every single customer contact mattered. The Irish businesses had a "feck them" attitude towards unhappy customers.

To be honest it's not like Irish people can't do this properly. the fact that there are so many US based companies in Ireland is a sign that we are damn good workers/managers/etc... I think part of the problem is that in order to be good at something you need experience at it. And until the 70's we were very isolated with very few big businesses based here. That meant that our workers weren't exposed to the ethics that permeate other businesses.

The Celtic tiger saw many new start-up businesses being created. And a shocking number were dodgy shysters. And we see them in the news every day. But a large number were very professional. Most of them would have been people who were experienced professionals before they went independent. And they brought the skills and ethics they developed in industry to their new businesses.

It's sometimes said that one of the benefits we had from centuries of migration was that our young would go abroad but many would comeback with skills they learnt abroad.

Grimreaper666

Tony Soprano. wrote: »

Gerlans don't even answer the phone. They're also closed on Wednesday and Saturday (the busiest day for breakers).

I'm from Cork and Gerlans are hardest to get in contact with.

No idea of Whelans. Doubt they'd phone me @ 8:55am (like the crowd in the UK) though.

Try ringing during opening hours......

Tigger

Tony Soprano. wrote: »

I was looking for a car part yesterday. I rang a few car breakers and got the usual response "Er, I'll have a look out back, and get back to you". Never heard anything (no surprise).

I then had a look on the net and came across a UK site. I filled in the request form (at 10:30pm). At 8:55am my mobile phone rang and it was a a guy from the UK, saying he had the part I wanted and to check my email. The price was also good (even with the crap exchange rate and posting).

You go to a breakers yard here and you will be greeted by a vicious Alsatian dog. :rolleyes:

I notice this all the time - far superior customer service from other EU countries, and especially the UK. The car part is just a small example.

I worked for an Irish plastics production company for 9 years, that made every possible building product available (PVC windows, land drainage, down-pipes). Probably the biggest in Munster. You wouldn't believe the quality control - absolutely shocking. Once a team of Germans visited, trying to sell us raw materials, and you could see the genuine shock in their faces of what was going on.

Okay, the major US companies here are well managed and profitable (and are here for the low corporation tax and nothing else), buts let's all pretend they're here for our education and skills.

The Irish can indeed be good workers when guided and trained probably. We just don't have the drive and know-how in this country. Something seriously missing.

There are very good and also bad dismantlers here I would assume that this applied to other countries

Pottler

starbelgrade wrote: »

And by some of your more recent posts you're starting to sound like Bill Cullen.

I know which one I'd prefer.

Jasus, I'll do my best to stop immediatly. Harsh. Bill?? Jasus. As old Mammy Pottler used always say, first up, best dressed. And always mind the customer, customers king so he is, king I tell ya. Can I sell yis an apple?

Solair

There are plenty of Irish companies that are extremely professional and win orders all over the world.

There are some unprofessional outfits everywhere. There were a few who didn't actually have to try very hard during the boom. The recession will sort the wheat from the chaff.

I wouldn't really rate UK customer service as universally y wonderful either. I've had pretty horrendous customer service from several UK outfits. I wouldn't blame it on their nationality though, they were just crap companies.

I'm really getting a bit tired of these kinds of threads that all (insert nationality) are (insert trait).

It's just lazy, sweeping generalisations.

as for the country being screwed, you'll find it was the speculative, non productive economy- banking and property investment that caused the crash. The vast majority of Irish companies actually continue to be pretty good at selling and exporting products and services.

As for scrapyard, they're far far bigger in the UK due to the scale of the population and the much bigger motor trade.

The other companies mentioned supplied property developers in a bubble... You'd hardly expect them to have had high standards as it was very much build then fast and cheaply!

mikemac1

Such negativity

McDonalds source their beef here

Dawn Foods in Kildare won a 700 million euro contract to supply every Subway in Europe

Tony Soprano. wrote: »

The Irish can indeed be good workers when guided and trained probably. We just don't have the drive and know-how in this country.

You sound like a British administrator when Ireland was part of the Empire

Red Alert

Call it phoney, but the USA does have much better customer service. I love how you're not left waiting to get the bill or have the card processed in restaurants. The staff actually talk to you and get your order quickly instead of ignoring or grunting at you.

padser12345

mikemac1 wrote: »

Such negativity

McDonalds source their beef here

Dawn Foods in Kildare won a 700 million euro contract to supply every Subway in Europe

You sound like a British administrator when Ireland was part of the Empire

Just wait till you find sawdust in your subby......while holidaying in Paris!

How much money do you think Billy or Jack working on the floor get?

Originally Posted by Tony Soprano.
The Irish can indeed be good workers when guided and trained probably. We just don't have the drive and know-how in this country.

Show me the money!!

Solair

There are loads, and loads and loads of Irish businesses that perform extremely well and produce excellent products and services in areas ranging from IT, animation, engineering, food, etc etc.

We've a big, high-quality and very well-respected food industry both at the luxury / artisan end and at the bulk ingredients and meat ends of things.

I'm in Belgium at the moment and Irish beef and lamb are sold in supermarkets here as a premium branded product that costs about 4X the price of local equivalents. They're also listed as a premium product on restaurant menus.

I'm really sick of this slagging ourselves off attitude! It just starts to become depressing, defeatist and miserable. It was one of the things that held Ireland back in the past. We need to get back to the celtic-tiger 'can do' attitude again.

You got bad service because you got bad service, not because the company was Irish!

I've had rubbish service from Air France, but I don't blame everyone in France on it!

I've had sh1te service from various US, German, UK, and quite a few other companies too over the years, but I don't blame that on their nationalities either.

I think Ireland does actually have quite a strong customer-service culture and it also has a lot of companies that reach extremely high quality standards all the time.

Our REAL economy i.e. companies that actually do things is actually very strong and very competitive by international standards. It's stuck with a huge monkey on its back created by the banks, developers, and Government over-spending that's the legacy of a huge property bubble.
The situation we find ourselves in is not caused by Ireland's entrepreneurs or real work force. We do exceptionally well at all that stuff!

msg11

I have given up on breakers yards around Dublin, instead I just use donedeal and search for a private breaker. Cheaper and less hassle.

Solair

The issue with breakers is probably down to economies of scale and also because the UK industry is just more buoyant too. More scrap to work with.

Online's the way to go with all these obscure parts orders these days anyway.

wow sierra

Have you spoken to any Irish Emigrants lately? One of the most common experiences is amazement in the lack of work ethic/efficiency etc in the companies they are working for abroad.

Only quoting what I've heard.

Also OP is not comparing like for like. If he had a mate living in Birmingham or whereever who had rang a breakers yard on the phone for this part he could possibly compare the responses. A company that is bothered to do internet sales is by definition quite efficient.

Fulton Crown

Kurz wrote: »

I'd definitely agree re: mechanics, especially independent ones. You walk in the door and you're already down €100, they charge premium rates for the parts and then a huge amount for labour, then add it all together and round it up. Before you know it you're handing over €500 for a small problem to be fixed.

The service industry seems to be a bit like this too. Very large amounts of money is expected to change hands for dinner and a few drinks or a room in a bog-standard hotel.

The pricing of a lot of things here is way out of line with the rest of the continent and there always seems to be a whiff of chancer around.

A lot of the time it's the very same small business people that will jump at the chance to go on RTE and whinge about how hard they've been hit by the recession.

Spot on my friend ...absolutely spotttt on...what you left out is those same ***** drive around in brand new Mercs and expect us to feel sorry for them...

jetsonx

Solair wrote: »

Our REAL economy i.e. companies that actually do things is actually very strong and very competitive by international standards.

Can you name some that everybody would know?

sweeney1971

Wanted to spend about 30K on a new Shed to house some animals, tractors, peat etc. We contacted about five companies some off the Internet based in Ireland, some had to be chased up, some said they would turn up on site to give us a quote and never bothered to turn up or cancell, one person bothered to turn up and wanted 60K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! for a small shed 30x40 ft AND wanted a deposit in cash there and then!!!!!!! then another tried to give us a quote over the phone without even looking at the site that needed digging out.
Irish I worked with in the UK and across the World were always good workers and good to get on with.

Not here its as though they cannot be bothered.

Even a BL**DY Vet could not be bothered to turn up to treat an animal.

The only conclusion we have come to is that there is no recession and its all lies and the Government is just making it up.

Another thing that gets me is why does no one ever put prices on goods they are selling? My mind reading skills are not that good anymore.

OR when you do ask the price they look down their noses at you as if to say 'if you have to ask, you cannot afford it' (this once happened in a Charity shop selling video tapes, she wanted 3 euro per tape I kid you not!!!!!!!!!!!!

With this attitude towards customers no wonder the Country is on its knee's OR is it?

sweeney1971

sweeney1971 wrote: »

Wanted to spend about 30K on a new Shed to house some animals, tractors, peat etc. We contacted about five companies some off the Internet based in Ireland, some had to be chased up, some said they would turn up on site to give us a quote and never bothered to turn up or cancell, one person bothered to turn up and wanted 60K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! for a small shed 30x40 ft AND wanted a deposit in cash there and then!!!!!!! then another tried to give us a quote over the phone without even looking at the site that needed digging out.
Irish I worked with in the UK and across the World were always good workers and good to get on with.

Not here its as though they cannot be bothered.

Even a BL**DY Vet could not be bothered to turn up to treat an animal.

The only conclusion we have come to is that there is no recession and its all lies and the Government is just making it up.

Another thing that gets me is why does no one ever put prices on goods they are selling? My mind reading skills are not that good anymore.

OR when you do ask the price they look down their noses at you as if to say 'if you have to ask, you cannot afford it' (this once happened in a Charity shop selling video tapes, she wanted 3 euro per tape I kid you not!!!!!!!!!!!!

With this attitude towards customers no wonder the Country is on its knee's OR is it?

We got a Company in the North to build a shed for us in kit form and deliver. We put the shed up ourselves, total build cost 13k.