On Wednesday I thought Id pop into my dealer, Olympian Fiat, for a quote to get a rear spoiler fitted and painted to the Panda. Before I tell the tale I will say that in 1998, I had one fitted to my cinq; went into dealer who is no longer around, asked for a quote, got one in minutes, booked car in, job done...
Walk into dealer and say hello, ask for a quote for spoiler, paint and fitting. Told that they couldnt help, would have to go to their bodyshop 3/4 mile up the road... but first, I would have to go over the road 100 yards to their parts dept. to get a cost for spoiler. Thought this is weird, why cant they do all this? Walked over to parts dept. which is in Renault showroom! Wait in que for 10 mins, while people are ordering and collecting Renault parts, then parts man says, will be 5 mins mate, have to help fit a wiper to a Renault!!! Great, when he comes back he says cant help and fetches a Fiat parts man! So 15 mins waiting for nowt! Got a price, now off to bodyshop, first up they say I need appointment!!!! Told them Fiat sent me, they roll eyes and a man comes to talk. He asks how much spoiler is and also asks if its a bolt on or glued on, lucky I knew.... then asks me how much the glue is!!!! Anyway, this clown reckons 4 hours labour!!!! 3 hours to paint it, 1 to fit it. I tell him its primed and ready for painting, he says £250 all in, I bugger off cos I only got charged £150 by previous dealer.
Thing is how can they honestly think that was good service?
Walk into dealer and say hello, ask for a quote for spoiler, paint and fitting. Told that they couldnt help, would have to go to their bodyshop 3/4 mile up the road... but first, I would have to go over the road 100 yards to their parts dept. to get a cost for spoiler. Thought this is weird, why cant they do all this? Walked over to parts dept. which is in Renault showroom! Wait in que for 10 mins, while people are ordering and collecting Renault parts, then parts man says, will be 5 mins mate, have to help fit a wiper to a Renault!!! Great, when he comes back he says cant help and fetches a Fiat parts man! So 15 mins waiting for nowt! Got a price, now off to bodyshop, first up they say I need appointment!!!! Told them Fiat sent me, they roll eyes and a man comes to talk. He asks how much spoiler is and also asks if its a bolt on or glued on, lucky I knew.... then asks me how much the glue is!!!! Anyway, this clown reckons 4 hours labour!!!! 3 hours to paint it, 1 to fit it. I tell him its primed and ready for painting, he says £250 all in, I bugger off cos I only got charged £150 by previous dealer.
Thing is how can they honestly think that was good service?