A few days ago, She Who Must Be Obeyed's Stilo was backed into our front gate damaging the rear light. What idiot did that then? Alright, it was me. But it wasn't my fault. I'm a bloke, so obviously it wasn't my fault. Anyway, I went on the Stilo site and asked if anyone knew if I could just buy the lens or would have to get the whole unit. I'm afraid it was all or nothing. Some useful alternative suppliers were also mentioned.
I first tried to get one locally from a FIAT dealer. First up, tried Foxfields at Wigan. Went there for the 500 launch and they seemed friendly. Phone rang 3times then answered cheerfully. Put through to Parts Dept. Answered after 2 rings. Given a price, £68. Would have to order it and it would take 48 hrs. Apologised that they would have to charge me when I ordered it. Thanked me for my enquiry. Then rang Reg Vardy in Stockport. Seems they are now Evans Halshaw. After about 15 rings a bloke answered who sounded like he'd rather be sticking needles in his eyes rather than speak to me. Gave me the number for parts. I rang it but it was the wrong number. Rang the showroom back and this time the bloke obviously WAS sticking needles in his eyes as the phone wasn't answered at all. So I decided to go down in person.
As I drove past the Evans Halshaw Citroen showroom on the same road as the FIAT building, I noticed they were putting FIAT signs up next to the Citroen one. I drove into the car park and found one of only two parking spaces. Went into the showroom and asked at the desk marked "Parts". Was told the FIAT parts dept. was at the E.H. Vauxhall showroom up the road. This car park was even more crowded. The parts man was talking to someone else and ignored me. He then got up & with the other bloke started to walk out ot the showroom. One of the first things you learn on a customer care course is not to ignore customers. Contrast that with the attitude of Foxfields. Given the choice of Evans Halshaw about 3 miles away or Foxfields 25 miles up the M6, would anyone like to guess where we'll be going when the Panda & Stilo will be serviced in March?
Sorry this has been so long, but how often do we FIAT enthusiasts have to put up with crap service? I'm sending a more vitriolic version of this to the MD of FIAT Auto UK.
I first tried to get one locally from a FIAT dealer. First up, tried Foxfields at Wigan. Went there for the 500 launch and they seemed friendly. Phone rang 3times then answered cheerfully. Put through to Parts Dept. Answered after 2 rings. Given a price, £68. Would have to order it and it would take 48 hrs. Apologised that they would have to charge me when I ordered it. Thanked me for my enquiry. Then rang Reg Vardy in Stockport. Seems they are now Evans Halshaw. After about 15 rings a bloke answered who sounded like he'd rather be sticking needles in his eyes rather than speak to me. Gave me the number for parts. I rang it but it was the wrong number. Rang the showroom back and this time the bloke obviously WAS sticking needles in his eyes as the phone wasn't answered at all. So I decided to go down in person.
As I drove past the Evans Halshaw Citroen showroom on the same road as the FIAT building, I noticed they were putting FIAT signs up next to the Citroen one. I drove into the car park and found one of only two parking spaces. Went into the showroom and asked at the desk marked "Parts". Was told the FIAT parts dept. was at the E.H. Vauxhall showroom up the road. This car park was even more crowded. The parts man was talking to someone else and ignored me. He then got up & with the other bloke started to walk out ot the showroom. One of the first things you learn on a customer care course is not to ignore customers. Contrast that with the attitude of Foxfields. Given the choice of Evans Halshaw about 3 miles away or Foxfields 25 miles up the M6, would anyone like to guess where we'll be going when the Panda & Stilo will be serviced in March?
Sorry this has been so long, but how often do we FIAT enthusiasts have to put up with crap service? I'm sending a more vitriolic version of this to the MD of FIAT Auto UK.
