Pinchbeck Andover

[andyb]

as you may know. My 10,000 miles service (just oil because its only 4mths old) took place this morning at Pinchbeck on the outskirts of Andover.


Well, I'm afraid that (some) seat dealers have hit an all time low. Quite an experience

First of all, they couldnt find any details registered on the database. (I had registered it done by Amethyst, but I'm aware that sometimes they need to be registerd three or four times, so not a problem I thought.... However Pinchbeck wouldnt register it, "we wont do that. Anyway, it would cost you £150 to do that" - Amethyst and other do this for free!!!

Then they opened the service book. "Oh so its an import, I wouldnt have agreed to service this if I had known, We wont do imports. There different spec, your going to find only a couple of dealers in the country who will be willing to service these"

" We've had loads of problems with imports, suspension falling off, trim problems, there not to the same standard"

I then advised him that it was a full UK spec etc but he then said that the PDI wouldnt have been done, all they do abroad is wash the car! He then re-iterated that he wouldnt service the car again ( Huzzey's in Newbury from now on.

,,,,but thats not the best. He kept going on that it wasnt registered with Seat UK. I advised him Amethyst had done it (or at least attempted to), well there probably not a proper dealer, not a very good.dealer. Explained that they were a very good Seat franchised dealer.

I'm afriad I started chuckling then!

Wanted to take the car somewhere else, but was right on 10,000 miles, so couldnt afford to book it in some where else.

When I booked the service, I was advised it would take 45 minutes. It took 1hour 50 minutes!


However, the service was cheaper than they quoted, although having now spend £180 there what with accesories, I wont be stepping in that dealer again.

At the end of the day, I can see why they could be a bit narked about it being an import, but EC laws state that you shouldnt have a problem importing your car.

so all in all, quite an experience! A letter of to Seat UK I think!

 

[doodle]

Sorry to hear about your troubles!

 

[Brian27]

These type of piss taking dealers are used to servicing company cars and fleecing the private customers who think "They are a main dealer, they know best and I trust them"

As soon as a knowledgable punter arrives at Service Reception this is panic time for them. They are trained to talk technical shite to baffle the less knowledgable and cannot deviate from this course.

IMO they do not want this type of knowledgable/clued up customer (us) as they are so used to fleecing the fleet accounts and taking the trusting private punters for a ride.

 

[Tigger II]

There are problems with registering imports. Graham at Amethyst registered mine in November but according to Great Covert 2 weeks ago it does not exist.

I've now been waiting a week to hear from Graham as to the state of the registration now.

 

[cordobabrendy]

how did you get you car insured if it didnt exist over here? or am i being silly and you aer talking about judt being registered with seat? also did it cost anymore for insurance seeing as it is an import?

 

[markmck]

Imported cars have to be registered with Seat UK for Warranty claims. You can do thie youself by post, according to Seat UK, but a dealer can also do it by computer.

I got mine registered by Agnew's in Belfast - £40.

As Seat UK said "we don't charge, but dealers are independent so can if they want."

Why Seat can't have a single European warranty registration system, who knows ? They have computer access via the parent Volkswagen group so I can't see this being a major problem.

As for different build standards - its either got EU conformity or not. The dealer was obviously talking out of his 'elbow' !!

Someone needs to get the hold of Seat and kick them up the ar$e until they sort all this crap out regarding warranty and importing from one country to another !!

On Insurance, You can insure a can based on its VIN if you are importing and don't have a UK reg plate. :devil:

 

[andyb]

yeap, i was talking about Seat UK reg.

Tigger, in same situation as you

 

[BlackFR]

Whilst looking to buy my leon Pinchebeck was one of the dealers I looked at. I was not impressed with the pushy git of a salesman that knew nothing about the cars and then proceeded to tell me that he was offering me the best deal in the world some 1000 punds more expensive that GC in Southampton.

Best bit of my whole experience was when they phoned me up and said they could offer me a real special deal if I said yes now, I faked an interest told um it was 500 short of what I wanted and that I had already ordered from Southampton.. The guy did a bit of a benny saying he didn't like being messed around and slammed the phone down...

I would never go anywhere near that place again. Its worth the extra drive to southampton IMHO.

ahh I feel better for that moan..

m

 

[Steve3961]

Don't get me started!

I went to The dealer in Camberley (sorry cant remember the name) last week and was disgusted with the service.

My car is also a import and was told by their workshop controller that "we don't work on imports here"

fine i said ill take it somewhere else and started to walk out,

"Well What did you want us to do" the man said
I explained that i wanted to get it registered for waranty work,

"You don't get a warranty on imports" the idiot told me, (obviously unaware that i work in a Audi francise and deal with imports all the time)

I explaind that my 02 Ibiza comes with a 2 year manufacturers warranty and he looked deppressed.

"Well you don't really save any money on Imported SEAT's anyway" the Tit told me

I replied, How much is a brand new cupra Ibiza here mate?

£13000 he told me.

Thats funny i said, i paid £10500 for mine and i don't see any of yours with full leather and sunroofs!

Once again the twat looked depressed,

By this time the service manager had heard all the comotion in his reception,

"is there a problem sir?" he asked

" no problem, your associate was just telling me that you don't work on imports here"

"Yes we do" the Service manager replied

To which the ******** workshop controller said "i never said that!"

Thats funny i said, me and my girlfriend just heard you say it,

Anyway the service manager registered the car for nothing and seemed a resonable bloke, and said he'd be glad to do any work i needed.

I will not be going back there to deal with the single most annoying ***** i have ever met!

Sorry about the long reply but i had to get that off my chest.
:devil:

Anyone got any good experiences with dealers fairly local to Basingstoke?

 

[BlackFR]

Great Covert in Southampton have seemed helpful so far.. I havent got import though... Worth a try though mate only a trip down the M3.....

 

[GarryGti]

I try and get parts from ANDOVER and the service is poor! i dont think my ibiza will be going into there at all if i can help it! water pump has just gone on my car so looking to find the specalist in bstoke as not drivin to jkm with no water cooling it down!

 

[djnemesis]

In fairness to Pinchbecks - I went there ages ago to complain about fabric wear on my Leon FR drivers side seat and heard nothing back for a while. I had cancelled a service in the interim due to needing the car for work but they called me the other day to say they had my replacement Seat cover and cushions for the seat and wanting to do the work under warranty - Parts alone came to over £200.

Even when SEAT uk f**ked my registration details i.e. they thought it was an import they sorted me out with good service on the 10K maintainence work

I don't know about the sale side but service / parts has always been alright for me...