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Author: Subject: Is it me or are high street motor factors getting worse
sonic

posted on 10/9/10 at 09:06 PM Reply With Quote
Is it me or are high street motor factors getting worse

As title.

I have used a well known motor factors for a few years now for parts and never had a problem up until a few weeks ago.

They all seam to have installed bad computer systems that when you ring up for a part they want your reg number,in the last 7 times i have bought various things from wheel bearings for a BMW,brake pads for a Volvo etc and none have fit or been anywere near the right part.
It got that bad that they were reinbursing me petrol money for my trouble.

So i decided to go and try other outlets,and guess what it would appear i have the only S60 Volvo in the country with odd door mirrors as two shops now cannot get a glass or list the right one for the car!!.

So as a trader i contacted Pages and they had the right one straight away and didnt have any other listed for the car.

Anybody else had the same problem as i don't seam to be the only one locally

Thanks
Mick

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stevebubs

posted on 10/9/10 at 09:09 PM Reply With Quote
Never had a problem at Camberley Autofactors...
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MakeEverything

posted on 10/9/10 at 09:17 PM Reply With Quote
Yes. Shocking. Ive been sold the wrong part EVERY TIME i go into my local for the last 6 months.

Water pumps x 2
Cam Belt x 2
Cant get spark plugs
Cant get gasket sets
Cant get anything other than overpriced bolts, fuses and crap.





Kindest Regards,
Richard.

...You can make it foolProof, but youll never make it Idiot Proof!...

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Davegtst

posted on 10/9/10 at 09:31 PM Reply With Quote
Same here, probably the sames ones as yours though^^^^^. Partco is probably the worst in Stevenage i reckon.

[Edited on 10/9/10 by Davegtst]

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Andi

posted on 10/9/10 at 09:32 PM Reply With Quote
We are not meant to repair, its a throw away society
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Moorron

posted on 10/9/10 at 09:35 PM Reply With Quote
yeh my local is the same, they take the parts back but its annoying having to drive out when one car is on the drive in bits and they are wrong.

'computer says no!'





Sorry about my spelling, im an engineer and only work in numbers.

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whitestu

posted on 10/9/10 at 09:38 PM Reply With Quote
I'm lucky - have an excellent motor factors 100yds away and normally cheaper than anywhere else as well.
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Doctor Derek Doctors

posted on 10/9/10 at 10:24 PM Reply With Quote
Me: Can I have a Cam Belt and a Cam chain for a MK2 Golf GTI 16V please.

GSF Derby: No you can't have a Chain and a Belt

Me: The Golf has a cam belt and a Chain

Them: No it doesn't

Me; Yes it does, the belt drives the exhaist Cam and the chain drives the Inlet cam from that.

Them: No it doesn't, You can't have a Cam chain and belt.

Me: Yes it does

(Cuts out long argument)

Me: Can I have a MK2 Jetta GTi 16V Cam Chain and a Golf GTi 16V Cam belt then?

Them: Yes here you go.

Me: Morons

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Doctor Derek Doctors

posted on 10/9/10 at 10:24 PM Reply With Quote
Me: Can I have a Cam Belt and a Cam chain for a MK2 Golf GTI 16V please.

GSF Derby: No you can't have a Chain and a Belt

Me: The Golf has a cam belt and a Chain

Them: No it doesn't

Me; Yes it does, the belt drives the exhaist Cam and the chain drives the Inlet cam from that.

Them: No it doesn't, You can't have a Cam chain and belt.

Me: Yes it does

(Cuts out long argument)

Me: Can I have a MK2 Jetta GTi 16V Cam Chain and a Golf GTi 16V Cam belt then?

Them: Yes here you go.

Me: Morons

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Doctor Derek Doctors

posted on 10/9/10 at 10:25 PM Reply With Quote
Me: Can I have a Cam Belt and a Cam chain for a MK2 Golf GTI 16V please.

GSF Derby: No you can't have a Chain and a Belt

Me: The Golf has a cam belt and a Chain

Them: No it doesn't

Me; Yes it does, the belt drives the exhaist Cam and the chain drives the Inlet cam from that.

Them: No it doesn't, You can't have a Cam chain and belt.

Me: Yes it does

(Cuts out long argument)

Me: Can I have a MK2 Jetta GTi 16V Cam Chain and a MK2 Golf GTi 16V Cam belt then?

Them: Yes here you go.

Me: Morons

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MakeEverything

posted on 10/9/10 at 10:29 PM Reply With Quote
Bloody hell, you had that happen three times?





Kindest Regards,
Richard.

...You can make it foolProof, but youll never make it Idiot Proof!...

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loggyboy

posted on 11/9/10 at 01:04 AM Reply With Quote
I got frustrated with the 'number plate question' everytime. I told them - if i give you the plate, it will come up as a 1.2 nova, buts its got a 2.016v engine, so just look up the parts for a c20xe engine please - cant, need a plate.
I just ordered through ebay and alike, 90% of time its cheaper even with postage.

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expatkiwi

posted on 11/9/10 at 05:23 AM Reply With Quote
I went to Halfrauds some time ago to get a water pump for a B reg mazda rx7. Boy was I excited when 18yr old expert called mr pimple head said yes we have them available at 9.95 each. I ordered and paid for 2 as they are hard to get. 2 days later I go back and mr pimple heads assistant(zit face) presents me with 2 boxes the size of a d size battery.Upon inspection they have supplied water pumps for the windscreen washer bottles.you can imagine the reaction I gave.Refund thank you and I have not been back. There is also a small factors down the road and it used to be brilliant until a bloke bought it for his son to run(he was no relation to mr zit and mr pimple as far as I can tell) but he has now ruined it and is more interested in selling under car lights,bling for your thing that used to be a saxo,oh he also has a special on those beaded seat cover things.Now the shop is a total waste of time and is no doubt being run at a loss. I wish I could get my hands on it and specialise in the things that normal motorists and us kit car folk want.(we are not normal)





I have decided to call my Westfeild "The Caterhammer" Hopefully it will

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britishtrident

posted on 11/9/10 at 06:27 AM Reply With Quote
Yes ---- also I hate being asked for a registration number especially it always leads to being given the wrong part. It used to be most parts guys carried the quick moving parts numbers around in their heads.





[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]

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RAYLEE29

posted on 11/9/10 at 07:43 AM Reply With Quote
I work behind a parts desk and to be fair I do understand your frustrations but the when we look up manually on the computer it will give too many options there are so many variations on modern cars, where as the reg no normally gives us the date of manufacture more accurately and the engine fitted brake system etc
Ray

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Daddylonglegs

posted on 11/9/10 at 08:06 AM Reply With Quote
Must admit, my local GSF has always been excellent. Very quick, very knowledgeable and normally get the bits they don't have (which isn't very often) within 24hrs.

But I do think that the 'high street matorfactors tend to be a bit more about 'add-on' chavvy stuff and less about true spares and support. They are also damned expensive too (price of convenience I guess?)





It looks like the Midget is winning at the moment......

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vinny1275

posted on 11/9/10 at 08:24 AM Reply With Quote
We've got a pretty good factors near us, they don't stock that much, but I wanted a pinto thermostat gasket, he dug one out, it didn't even have a part number on it, he knew what it looked like! They're pretty cheap as well

CAF and GSF in Swindon have also been pretty good whenever I've needed stuff - they seem to stock odd tools as well






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jossey

posted on 11/9/10 at 09:16 AM Reply With Quote
never had an issue with beeston motor spares in leeds

or eurocarparts if you give them the reg of the donor.

sorry to hear your havin issues.

dave j

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britishtrident

posted on 11/9/10 at 09:30 AM Reply With Quote
The one that gets me is oil filters -----

Can I have a Rover K series oil filter ?.
What's your registration number ?
I haven't a clue the K series all use the same filter.
He goes off gets the book.
Give us a model and year then ?
OK look say a 2003 25 ?
What size engine ?
They all use the same filters look up say a 1.4
2 or 4 door ?
Petrol or Diesel?
Engine Type Code ?
EU3 engine ?

And on it goes for another minute or so until eventually he produces the right filter.

What really gets me is even if he didn't know the filter number off the top of his head one glance at the book would show all the Rover K16 engines use the same filter.



####

[Edited on 11/9/10 by britishtrident]

[Edited on 11/9/10 by britishtrident]





[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]

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40inches

posted on 11/9/10 at 09:59 AM Reply With Quote
Malc at Mosborough Motor Spares, south of Sheffield, if he doesn't know what it is he finds out, phones you back within 15 mins with a price and,if it's in stock at suppliers, you pick it up the same day. Doesn't get much better than that
Oh! and he is building his second Kit Car, so he knows the pain.

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speedyxjs

posted on 11/9/10 at 02:12 PM Reply With Quote
I dont generally have a problem with my local motor factors except when i order a part for one of out two Fiat doblo's. Anything from Brake disks and pads to air filters and it seems to be worse with the 1.3 vx engined one than the 1.9 jtd!





How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?

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L5W

posted on 11/9/10 at 06:31 PM Reply With Quote
Since I've been building, I've found the Wilco's store in sprowston, norwich really good having bought various sierra and zetec bits. As far as I can tell they tend to refer to the quinton hazel catalogue when given the vehicle make and model, I don't recall being asked for a vehicle reg plate number. When I bought a sierra steering column bush, one of their staff already knew the part code and picked it off the shelf there and then. Prices seem good too.

A couple of times they didn't have the part in the store but they have a warehouse nearby so I only had to wait 15 mins for them to go and fetch it.

Lee





http://l5w-mk-indy-zetec.blogspot.com/

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carpmart

posted on 11/9/10 at 08:29 PM Reply With Quote
Top Gear in Flitwick - top team and good value!


I guess I'm lucky!





You only live once - make the most of it!


Radical Clubsport, Kwaker motor
'94 MX5 MK1, 1.8
F10 M5 - 600bhp Daily Hack
Range Rover Sport - Wife's Car
Mercedes A class - Son's Car

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Benzine

posted on 11/9/10 at 08:33 PM Reply With Quote
There's about 5 I can think of in my town, you really have to shop around, the prices for the same item can be all over the place.





The mental gymnastics a landlord will employ to justify immoral actions is clinically fascinating. Just because something is legal doesn't make it moral.


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