mutant_matt

Like you say Matt, I've heard nothing but good things about TN and Mark has always been very helpful @ Trackdays. However, from the sound of it, there can be very little that could be said in mitigation on their behalf, in your case....

You should mail Mark (chizzer on this board) and ask if he would like to respond on this post....

Matt

P.S. Why don't you get a dealer to fit them for you locally?

[Edited by mutant_matt - 5/1/2002 9:09:58 AM]

Neil Smalley

Again i've only heard and had good experiences with TN. Hopefully Mark will be able to explain about this apparent and rare (i'm sure this is all it is) lapse.

Every company has them, it's how they deal with them that's the real test.

I'll move to dealer and third parties later on, once you've had a TN reply.

[Edited by Neil Smalley - 5/1/2002 9:40:10 AM]

StanS

iTrader: (3)

Very sorry and disappointed you had a bad experience. I am one of the thousands who has had nothing but top service from them.
They are only human - we all screw up at times ! (I know it doesn't help how you feel right now )
Stan

[Edited by StanS - 5/1/2002 9:30:58 PM]

mattski2

Now this may come as a bit of a shock as I am well aware of the good reputation that Tyres Northampton have got but I feel that I, as an extremely p1ssed off 'customer', should let you know my little story so someone else doesn't get bitten.

Here goes...

On Friday I booked my car in to have 4 Defi Gauges + Sensors and Control Unit fitted, Tuesday was the soonest that they could do it so I booked the day off work, travelled from Richmond to Coventry, and arrived in Northampton at about 9:15am this morning.

Everything seemed fine at first, a very nice chap took the details of what I wanted doing (the guy who was going to fit them wasn't in, it being his 'day off' but he would get in to do it - bit odd but I thought it wouldn't be a problem). They also lent me an Astra estate to pootle around in - so far so good.

Then things go horribly wrong...

1. Get a call at about 11:30am informing me that they won't be able to fit the gauges to the car because the guy is sick. (so which is it, day off or sick?)

2. I drive from Coventry to Northampton to pick the car up. Having reached the garage the car has moved so I go to the reception. To my horror I see the keys + tracker card for my car sitting on the unattended public counter!! How unprofessional is that? What the **** would they have done if someone had nicked it?

3. Wait ages for someone to come and see me, eventually speak to some guy and tell him I'm not the happiest guy in the world having lost £x's through having a day off work for nothing, he says to call tomorrow and maybe they can sort something out.

4. Get in my car and note that the bag containing the Defi kit is strewn all over the back seat. I then head off home... I made a point of remembering what the trip meter reading was when I arrived - 192 miles. It now read 203 miles so not only did no work get done, but it had managed to clock up some extra miles!

So... I can appreciate that there are going to be a load of 'but they are great' type responses, and maybe they are but today they where far far from great. I feel that, as a customer, I have basic rights:-

1. Not being fobbed off with weak excuses - if they couldn't do it why the hell didn't they say that first thing and save me a hell of a lot of hassle.
2. Not having the car driven - maybe the ODO was fibbing but it definately wasn't what I left it as.
3. Most certainly not having my keys left lying around.

A lesson for you all...

Very very far from happy... Matt.


[Edited by mattski2 - 5/1/2002 12:01:56 AM]

mattski2

It would be interesting to get a reply about this... as for getting it done locally, well, the reason I chose TN was that I have heard good stuff about them and wanted a good job doing.

I also have relatives in Coventry so it seemed like a good way of catching up with them while TN fitted the gauges.

Matt.

Alpine

Not a comment on TN... but I have been amazed how many times I've returned to garages to find keys lieing around or even left in the ignition. What's the insurance situation if the car is nicked?

Reffro

If the keys are nicked, then you claim against the garage's insurance. They are responsible for the security of the vehicle until they hand the keys back. As my parents found out when a joyrider nicked their keys and the car from the dealer whilst it was in for service. The car was undamaged thankfully, but it still needed new locks, as the keys were never found.

Mo

Have known TN to break wheel studs aswell.

Seamus300

Indeed they broke one of mine a couple of weeks back. However they didn't try and hide it, they apologised and sorted it with minimal fuss and I thought their customer services was very good.

Cheers, Sean

Boost II

iTrader: (1)

Given the general levels of paranoia on here, I'm suprised nobody has pointed out that any criminals reading this now know where to find an easy source of unguarded Impreza keys

Dr Pepper

Mattski2

I've used T N a couple of times, and the thought of them fitting Defi guages scares me a little. as there mainly a wheel and tyre outlet.

I don't usualy rant on, but my experiances with them havent been that good. (two days after my last visit I bought a fire extinguisher!!)

Cheers, DP. :

P.S. they were doing some cracking deals on 18" Techno mag wheels! last time I was there.

Edited by DP, cause I don't want to be party to a witch hunt

[Edited by Dr Pepper - 5/1/2002 4:12:17 PM]

[Edited by Dr Pepper - 5/1/2002 4:15:23 PM]

Jza

Come on guys... this is turning in to a witch hunt.....

TN have helped thousands of us - without problem. I agree with the fact that things werent dealt with properly - but should Matt really be airing this without at least letting TN reply to him in person? Now everyones having a SLAG OFF session!!!!!!

Name and shame by all means - but let them at least have a go at making up for the mess - and then post if they dont sort it out!!

TN are, IMHO a real life saver to the Impreza community - with their track day support etc.... lets not tarnish their rep with one bad mistake.....

Jza

dingy

If you wanna Drive to Derby, NF will fit for free as you got the gauges from Craig.

InsBro

Guys

Dont assume the garages insurance will pay if you car is nicked with the keys in - There are some iffy policies out there that would leave you sueing the garage.

We of course dont do any motortrade policies with this company!

Jeremy

skipjack

here's a tip re: unauthorised use. when you leave your car, make sure you put a post-it note on the dash with a note of the mileage when you arrived. then they know you know and won't take the pi55.

i always do it ever since leaving mine overnight at you-know-who in an east midlands city that rhymes with fester for a service to find a mysterious 53 miles had been added.

Helldog

I think it is quite brave of someone to kick up about bad experiences of a retail nature.
I remember having my scoob serviced at an independant scoobie workshop in Nuneaton (which shall remain nameless..)
The job had seemed to go well (new clutch and K&N filter)by and large but I came back to the garage quite early and hung around whilst the work was completed. As the wheels were being refitted (17" supertourismos) one was knocked onto a jack which grazed it a bit! The wheels were faultless prior to this.
I was told "sorry, accidents happen.." and the guy touched the wheel up with gold paint! I let it go but expressed my unhappiness, I suppose I was taking the attitude "life's too short.."
Now I wish I'd figured out how to insist on compensation of some sort as I witnessed the wheel being damaged.
PS Had all 4 wheels refurbed since by Graham Goodes -brilliant results!!!

mattski2

thanks for the replies chaps...

Jza - I'm not trying to start a witch hunt! I chose to go to TN because of the good stuff I have heard about them. Unfortunately things went wrong and I was extremely p1ssed off (to say the least), hence my decision to air my views as all-too-often bad things happen and people keep quiet due to some kind of 'water under the bridge' attitude.

Companies have to earn and keep reputations and I feel that , in this particular instance, TN did not provide good customer service. If they want to reply then great, I don't doubt that they have earnt the reputation for a good reason, it's just sad that I never saw it in action yesterday.

Dingy - you serious? I did get them from Craig :-D You honestly willing to fit EGT, Oil Temp, Pressure and Boost for nowt?! mad man!

Skipjack - good idea, I'm going to take digital camera pics of the odo if I have to (with the timestamp). I spoke to a guy at work and he said that his dads Saab 900 Turbo managed to gain 200 miles once!

Helldog - It's not the first time I've had something bad happen, a very respectable specialist in the Leicester area had my MY94 WRX once and managed to cover it in tiny bits of rubber. I thought what the **** is this? It all became clear when I saw a picture on the wall of them wheelspinning a motorbike next to my car :-(

ta,
Matt.

Dave T-S

On the tracker issue, on two separate occasions had a Subaru dealer not immobilise the car with the Navtrak card, despite having clear instructions given, and resulted in me being called by Navtrak on both occasions asking if the car had been stolen

Dream Weaver

And they do this service out of the goodness of their hearts, rather than to make money at a club event do they?

Seriously though, I agree with the sentiments here - every company has it's bad day, and Mark may have a perfectly resonable explanation, and solution to what happened. We all make errors after all

DW

banshi

Dave

Consider yourself lucky!! Having borrowed a friends UK 300 for a few days (I had not taken leave of my senses there was a valid reason ) I left the car with a leading northern distributor along with a photocopy of the manufacturesr instructions, the handwritten idiots guide provided for me and detailed verbal instructions.

Result, I had at least one call per day from Navtrack, often two. When the owner returned from holiday he had numerouse messages on left on his answerphone! I spoke to the dealer no change, i spoke to Navtrack and said unless it moves more than a couple of hundred yards don't worry. Their response was "we cannot remove any incident from the system until we have checked the owner/nominated keeper"

At least they seem to take their responsibilities seriously.

Andy Mid.

I give a big thumbs up for TN

I've been there several times and always had great service - never had any problems at all. One time they did a quick job for me and refused to accept any dosh for it !!

just trying to keep this thread balanced...

johnfelstead

Every company makes mistakes on occasion. I agree this doesnt sound great but that isn't the general level of service given by TN.

Has anyone mailed mark so he is aware? Well i am going to myself anyway.

I have nothing but time for the guys at TN, believe it or not Mark doesnt make much at SIDC days, which is why he doesnt offer a track service to other track days, he is doing it to provide the SIDC with something special and is promoting his business in that way too. Anyone who has seen mark and the guys in action on a track day knows how little they get for the effort involved.

I think its only fair that the guys at TN are allowed to respond, i would suggest you pick up the phone and talk to them too, ask for mark and have a chat.

There is a reason TN were on this car. Simon caould tell you but my opinion on it was because of the level of service given to us Impreza owners. I have been a customer both on my track car and road car and cant fault them. No one is 100% perfect so have a chat with the guy who genuinely cares about his level of service and see how you feel then.

cheers
john

dingy

Matt - yes mate


I am a nice person you see

carl

TN is one of the few companies I trust. As well as getting all my tyres, brakes, etc. from there I recetly had my 60k service (all fluids + cambelt) done there and certainly had no complaints.

It's a 3 hour round trip for me (once I went and the job only took 5 mins...) so I clearly consider it worthwhile.

DavidBrown

No, but there are people out there that take your money and don't give a crap about you. Tyres Northants have always given me A1 service. They have dug me out of the crap so many times, when other outlets would have turned their backs and gone home.

They're the only people I let touch my cars.

It's unfortunate that you had iffy service, but it's certainly not representative.