my trip to kwick fit

[sb194114]

So I went to kwick fit today to get a quote for tyres and left with the knowledge that I may need a new ball joint on the near side front and they raised concern about axel/suspension mounts both sides at the rear bit no quote on my tires mechanic looking at it Thursday morning to see what is required wish me luck

[THE_Liam]

Wouldn't trust anything Kwik Shit tell you to be honest, I'd find a good independent garage.

[sb194114]

Yeah that's why after I spoke to them I went straight to my mechanic at Edinburgh retro cars he specialises in older vehicles and has worked on my last 3 cars and all my brother in laws cars just a shame he doesn't have a tire fitting machine

[procta]

one of the lads on . net had a citroen XM, he took it to kwik fit, they tried to say the citroen XM needed new springs, or something along them lines, he said ok, change them for me, and he even asked to see the old parts too. They tried to bull shit him, but he gunned them down in flames! Been another story too, when they have been caught out for not doing work, Brake pads I think it was, the lad came back the next day to get slow puncture sorted, the day after they done the brake pads. Only problem was, they had a right bother trying to get the front wheel off. They dropped them selves right in on it, as they said, Christ that's not been off since the time of dawn, The lads response to that, was really? well you pal there did the brakes on it yesterday!

[RetroPug]

I had tyres done at kwik fit once....never again. I waited 2.5/3 hours, at which point I returned and the car hadn't even been brought inside, I was told another 20 minutes and it took another hour and a half.

They also scuffed all four of my cyclones.

I should have just driven off but the car was on a lift and I still wanted it done and didn't want to waste another day another time.

[lolsteve]

Ive had alright experiences with Kwikfit doing my MOTs, didn't seem to push for all this springs and damper etc just told me once that there was a bolt missing from the suspension which they fitted a new one and shut up the noise that it was making

[Eeyore]

I got charged £30 for sealing an exhaust somewhere in London. That was after telling me I needed a full manifold back exhaust. The guy knew no english... only "need all new exhaust".

I waited at once place for fitting tyres and they wanted some rediculous price. Seems they can never balance cyclones either which is fair...

Just dont get conned by the bullshit!

[Tom]

Big chain companys are never normally much cop. Best off with a small independant garage, helps if you have a couple college/school mates that are now self employed mechanics

[Niall]

I would never use them through choice!
I have to use them with my work car and they are just con artists. I had one guy, draw circles on all 4 of my tyres which were only 3000 miles old saying all of them had bulges and should be replaced. When i had a look, they were dead flat. Then he told me i needed new front discs (about 10k old roughly) because they had a lip on them at which point he told me he shouldn't even give me my car keys back until the work had been done as it was unsafe. Dont think he appreciated me telling him he either gives me the keys or I'm taking them by force. I only went in to sort a slow puncture! In all fairness, the puncture was right on the edge so i t needed a new tyre so i took it to my local kwik fit where even the guy in there said he was taking the piss trying to get 4 new tyres, discs and pads out of me. It just didnt need them!
More recently, they took 4 hours to fix a puncture and couldn't even do that properly then again came out with a blinder...
"you need to change the tyres on this to van tyres because of the weight your carrying. I can do you a quote if you like"

[Eeyore]

oh niall that is quality. I cant believe the rubbish they come out with. Just.... arrrgghhhhh.... why cant they just do their bloody job instead of ripping people off? Do they all have personal targets or quotas to meet? If so that needs to change to stop them ripping people off!

[Toms306]

Of course they have targets and a bonus scheme...the more they con out of you the more they personally get!

[Niall]

I think they try it on with company car drivers more because they know its not my money and i don't care about it. Difference is, i do and will happily argue with them just because they treat me like a twat that doesn't know anything.
And yeah, its commission based as far as I'm aware!

[Dum-Dum]

I think they try it on with company car drivers more because they know its not my money and i don't care about it. Difference is, i do and will happily argue with them just because they treat me like a twat that doesn't know anything.
And yeah, its commission based as far as I'm aware!

Your so right there mate. We take our work cars in for tyres and bear in mind that they are checked 3 times a day and have to be changed like for like before they hit 2mm. Kwik fit always seem to find things wrong with other tyres on the car. They seem to know that when it's not your money and they are filling you up with free coffee that you wont argue.

[Niall]

I think they try it on with company car drivers more because they know its not my money and i don't care about it. Difference is, i do and will happily argue with them just because they treat me like a twat that doesn't know anything.
And yeah, its commission based as far as I'm aware!

Your so right there mate. We take our work cars in for tyres and bear in mind that they are checked 3 times a day and have to be changed like for like before they hit 2mm. Kwik fit always seem to find things wrong with other tyres on the car. They seem to know that when it's not your money and they are filling you up with free coffee that you wont argue.

Exactly. Our lease company change tyres at 2mm, won't do them more than that unless they are damaged. My first set of tyres on the kia were done at 20k. The rears were on 2mm admittedly on the inner edges but the fronts were still 4mm lol. He just said oh ill tell them they are 2mm to get them all done.
Thing is, if they are changed to often, the lease company will question my company as to why everyone else is getting about 30k out of theres and I'm not

[PUGNUT_XS]

one of the lads on . net had a citroen XM, he took it to kwik fit, they tried to say the citroen XM needed new springs, or something along them lines, he said ok, change them for me, and he even asked to see the old parts too. They tried to bull shit him, but he gunned them down in flames! Been another story too, when they have been caught out for not doing work, Brake pads I think it was, the lad came back the next day to get slow puncture sorted, the day after they done the brake pads. Only problem was, they had a right bother trying to get the front wheel off. They dropped them selves right in on it, as they said, Christ that's not been off since the time of dawn, The lads response to that, was really? well you pal there did the brakes on it yesterday!

Years ago i took my ford onion to kwikFit for 4 wheel alignment after i had fitted Spax gas shocks, the twat sprayed gear oil on my shock and tried to convince me that it was leaking, i got the manager and then explained to the assholes that they are GAS shocks and not oil, hence i got my 4 wheel alignment and wheels balanced for free as long as i didnt call trading standards. Said KwikFit in kent is now under new management, still would not trust them.

[Toms306]

Years ago i took my ford onion to kwikFit

[Dum-Dum]

Exactly. Our lease company change tyres at 2mm, won't do them more than that unless they are damaged. My first set of tyres on the kia were done at 20k. The rears were on 2mm admittedly on the inner edges but the fronts were still 4mm lol. He just said oh ill tell them they are 2mm to get them all done.
Thing is, if they are changed to often, the lease company will question my company as to why everyone else is getting about 30k out of theres and I'm not

LOL, I wish we saw that mileage out of tyres. When we got the Octavia VRS's they weren't lasting 24 hours, predominantly sidewall damage from speed humps. They still don't exactly last long on it mind.

[procta]

one of the lads on . net had a citroen XM, he took it to kwik fit, they tried to say the citroen XM needed new springs, or something along them lines, he said ok, change them for me, and he even asked to see the old parts too. They tried to bull shit him, but he gunned them down in flames! Been another story too, when they have been caught out for not doing work, Brake pads I think it was, the lad came back the next day to get slow puncture sorted, the day after they done the brake pads. Only problem was, they had a right bother trying to get the front wheel off. They dropped them selves right in on it, as they said, Christ that's not been off since the time of dawn, The lads response to that, was really?  well you pal there did the brakes on it yesterday!

Years ago i took my ford onion to kwikFit for 4 wheel alignment after i had fitted Spax gas shocks, the twat sprayed gear oil on my shock and tried to convince me that it was leaking, i got the manager and then explained to the assholes that they are GAS shocks and not oil, hence i got my 4 wheel alignment and wheels balanced for free as long as i didnt call trading standards.  Said KwikFit in kent is now under new management, still would not trust them.

haha that was cute of them! best one, my mates mum had a proper mini, there was a problem with the exhaust, I think an exhaust rubber had failed or something, so the system had dropped, It was only a minor repair if that.  So she belled the AA, who checked it over and said, yeah I will take you to a garage, as you will rip the system completely off.  They went to Kwik Fit, and they got the car on the ramps, they then tried to tell her. That it needed a new cat! Laugh was the car was F plate mini! She said your having a laugh right? it only needs a few rubbers etc.
They got bit arsey with her, she asked the AA bloke who was there. What he said on the matter, He said right O, he said drop the car back down off the ramps, and we will take it else where, The car doesn't need anything doing to the system bar a few rubbers, and another thing. The car doesn't have a CAT as its too old for one!
Took it to another garage, who pissed them selves laughing when they were told, what kwik fit and told her, They just sorted the exhaust for free.
 

[sb194114]

An update for you guys after a hectic few days I finally handed the car over to my mechanic today new near side ball joint required being fitted as we speak and it does indeed need a new rear beam he has tried to source one but had no joy last time I spoke with him he is willing to do the work if the parts can be sourced I will discuss price with him when I collect the car I hope it won't dent my wallet to much

[THE_Liam]

...at which point he told me he shouldn't even give me my car keys back until the work had been done as it was unsafe. Dont think he appreciated me telling him he either gives me the keys or I'm taking them by force.

Why do they do that? I had one say that to me after stupidly taking their offer of a free alignment check, he apparently found a "dangerously worn" tyre with about 3mm tread on it. "Yeah sorry pal, if I let you drive away I could be done for manslaughter if you crash"...
"Really mate? Well if you don't get me my keys in the next 30 seconds, I'm going to be done for murder..."

[Pebbles167]

Not had any bad experiences with these guys, though a few friends have had a mess made of their wheels and bolts left untightened.

They fit my tyres, job done. Couldn't grasp why I wanted them to fit my own set part worns, the concept of "track car" just went over their heads I guess.

[sb194114]

the brother in law went in for ball joint replacement they told him you cant just do one both need done he said o they did both and charged 400 pounds that was on his 1.2 corsa wich he has managed to destroy the engine in and spent 1400 getting a new one could have bought a new car for that but his choice money wated in my eyes

[mr_fish]

...at which point he told me he shouldn't even give me my car keys back until the work had been done as it was unsafe. Dont think he appreciated me telling him he either gives me the keys or I'm taking them by force.

Why do they do that? I had one say that to me after stupidly taking their offer of a free alignment check, he apparently found a "dangerously worn" tyre with about 3mm tread on it. "Yeah sorry pal, if I let you drive away I could be done for manslaughter if you crash"...
"Really mate? Well if you don't get me my keys in the next 30 seconds, I'm going to be done for murder..."

[Pebbles167]

...ball joint...

Cancel my last! I knew qwick prick did something to my car! They didn't tighten the pinch bolt on the ball joint, which then bored its hub recess out to 19mm. Pug only do sizes 16mm & 18mm. The car was trolley wheeling all over the place. I had to fit a whole new hub assembly!