A bad experience....

[tire 10]

I recently bought some stock, 2nd hand shocks off a reputable wrecker. Just wanted something in reasonable nick so I could get woffage.

Shocks arrived knackered. Leaking etc. The workshop doing the work for me refused to even bother putting them in as they would not pass a wof.

So I told the wrecker and he span off something about how they were fine and all shocks leak when they aren't in a car.... whatever! My mechanic was obviously saying the opposite and I was in the very awkward situation of having 2 auto specialists telling me different things, I could not go with one without offending the other.

After my mech spoke with the wrecker the wrecker agreed to refund me in the form of a discount on another pair of shocks. Some bilsteins.

So down come the bilsteins from North in very good time. The mech strips the strut down to put them in and what do you know.... Mr wrecker did not send the nuts with which to hold the billys in. The stock nuts are too small as billys are larger in diameter.

Another call to the wrecker and he says to retap the stock nuts as he has chucked the billys nuts out. Mech says no way is there enough meat on original nuts to retap. Mech goes off to the hutt to get some nuts from his supplier.

I'm ticked off because it has taken an extra week to get my car back and an extra hour of labor. Were the mech not a friend of mine it would have been a lot more as he did not charge for a lot of the time spent on this. He also tells me the wrecker was less than polite on the phone (hung up on him).

Obviously I will not be dealing with this wrecker again on anything important, but should I expect some sort of re compensation? At least for the extra $70 of labor?

[/essay]

Max

[bravo 35]

Chalk it up to bad experience. sh*t happens unfortunately.

You'll waste more time and money and get nowhere chasing after it IMO.

[*Glenn* 854]

We all have bad experiences from time to time...if its all sorted now...just learn from this and try and get over it.

Remember to, that wreckers are not necessarily technicians and may not know if the shocks were knackered or not....the distance doesnt help either.

We can run into the same problems too, but we generally go and get our parts ourselves so we know what we are getting.

After saying all this....I wouldnt use second hand shocks anyway

Just my 2 cents worth

[Silver Fox 43]

Shocks come in the same category as rubber bits, bushes and bearings etc, pays to spend a little more and buy new. Sometimes not as much as you expect if you look around. If you think about it, chances are that what you're buying is as old as what you're replacing, and no parts man is going to give you any kind of warranty on that type of part.

[Gus 5]

v true ^^ wrecker does sound like a wanker though

this is why i do my own work!

[Braeden320 0]

A bit unfortunate, just don't return to the wrecker again if you felt the service was unsatisfactory.

Good its all sorted now tho.

[jjs 64]

Are we not allowed to name and shame on here???

[kiwi535 538]

yes,a hard lesson for a young un....thats the price of buying second hand...all wreckers are like that its just pot luck for them too really!

[Apex 693]

Stink mate.

Like said, sometimes it’s more economical to buy new.

I once failed a WOF on a leaky shock so I instructed to tester to fit a second hand shock to amend the problem (I was selling the car and thought I’d save a few bob) which he did, after a few days of driving I was convinced the car was crab walking so I took it back to the mechanic who found he had been supplied a bent strut.

[bravo 35]

Are we not allowed to name and shame on here???

The problem with name and shame is the wrecker doesn't get a chance to tell his side of the story. There have been issues before where someone who was named/shamed threatened legal action and an apology had to be made.

I'm not sure what the official policy is, but be very careful with name/shame. If it were me I'd name them, but I would stick to the bare facts and try not to make it a personal attack.

ie:

"I have received some poor service from XYZ wrecker. Supplied me with leaking shocks. Had to spend considerable time on phone to receive a suitable replacement set and then top nuts were missing. Wrecker was not interested in supplying me with missing nuts as had thrown them out. Expect better service than this. Would not deal with again."

[*Glenn* 854]

I totaly agree with you on this Graham, Service providers and suppliers can't always get it right first time...sometimes sh*t just happens.

So long as the person takes responsibilty and sorts it...thats all that matters.

I dont agree with name & shame on this forum at all, no matter who it is. I dont think its the right thing to do because you can't always get both sides of the story.

On another note....If you go cheap, buy cheap, be prepared for problems, unless you really know what your doing or talking about.

Just my rant... 2 cents worth

[tire 10]

Shocks come in the same category as rubber bits, bushes and bearings etc, pays to spend a little more and buy new. Sometimes not as much as you expect if you look around. If you think about it, chances are that what you're buying is as old as what you're replacing, and no parts man is going to give you any kind of warranty on that type of part.

I agree for bushings etc where a new part is cheap as anyway, but with shocks I thought It'd be worth it..

v true ^^ wrecker does sound like a wanker though

this is why i do my own work!

Yes, i'm learning as much as I can so i too can do my own work. Did the steering rack myself which was neat.

Are we not allowed to name and shame on here???

See below

Stink mate.

Like said, sometimes it’s more economical to buy new.

I once failed a WOF on a leaky shock so I instructed to tester to fit a second hand shock to amend the problem (I was selling the car and thought I’d save a few bob) which he did, after a few days of driving I was convinced the car was crab walking so I took it back to the mechanic who found he had been supplied a bent strut.

Mhm cheers

The problem with name and shame is the wrecker doesn't get a chance to tell his side of the story. There have been issues before where someone who was named/shamed threatened legal action and an apology had to be made.

I'm not sure what the official policy is, but be very careful with name/shame. If it were me I'd name them, but I would stick to the bare facts and try not to make it a personal attack.

ie:

"I have received some poor service from XYZ wrecker. Supplied me with leaking shocks. Had to spend considerable time on phone to receive a suitable replacement set and then top nuts were missing. Wrecker was not interested in supplying me with missing nuts as had thrown them out. Expect better service than this. Would not deal with again."

This is exactly why I haven't named him.

I have tried to keep my OP as "unpersonal" as possible I hope it comes across as so.

As recommended I will probably just write it off as bad debt. At least I can be thankful that my mate of a mate Kevin at Auto Care Kilbirnie / Wellington Performance Vehicles (plug) was such a champ. I know there was a lot of time and phone calls which he had every right to charge me for but didn't. Highly recommended!

Edited June 26, 2008 by tastic

[*Glenn* 854]

Compliments and appreciation is what we all like to see on here.

Promotion of the good guys is better to read than a one sided rant.

And good on you Tastic for not doing the name & shame bit.

[Lubed 55]

Shocks come in the same category as rubber bits, bushes and bearings etc, pays to spend a little more and buy new. Sometimes not as much as you expect if you look around. If you think about it, chances are that what you're buying is as old as what you're replacing, and no parts man is going to give you any kind of warranty on that type of part.

Does this include idle valves?