kwikfit problems

[heliosuk]

Actually, Kwik Fit staff are simply fitters. They cant take components apart, make replacements and rebuild them.

 

They simply remove worn out components and fit replacements.

 

A technician is a little higher up the food chain. He actually knows how it works and how to fix your old one. (ie: recondition it)

 

A mechanic can take you old one off, throw it away, and is qualified to design you an new one from scratch, make the patterns, cast them, machine them (and all the bits and bobs that make it work)

 

And know how and why things work and dont work.

 

Mechanics are the gods of practical engineering. Technicians are the foot soldiers.

 

Fitters? Well, they are good at taking bits off and screwing new bits on.

 

Grease monkeys. Nothing wrong with that, but they are at the bottom of the ladder.

 

Wow!!!

 

I hope your modulus of elasiticity and resitance co-efficients are good enough to defend that one in the 21st Centuary. What temperature and pressure made you come up with it?

 

I.K. Brunell

C.Eng

 

There are some things that money cant buy.

 

For everything else, there's an Engineer.

[noomill060]

 

I thought that would provoke a response.

[HOWLER]

I have read all the above with amusing interest.

May i add my own 20 years experience of working in the so called fastfit industry.

DO NOT USE THEM

They are all on bonus to increase sales.

That is all they are interested in BONUS CASH MONEY nothing more.

FAST FIT= FAST CASH

Find yourself a local small garage who you can trust , ask around , there are plenty who will look after you better than fast fit enterprises.

[hungrybear]

As some-one who has more official links to the trade than maybe should be highlighted on a public forum you people really should get a grip. Previously we had a bloke from Renault praised for his input into a thread started about the company he worked for. I know CAG is infamous for it''s general dislike and mis-trust of anything corporate but most companies i deal with would like the opportunity of their right to reply..........on a public forum.

 

"If you are on about the staff at kwik fit then they are NOT mechanics, they are technicians"

 

And, to avoid any confusion, when it comes to skills sets, mechanics are just that, mechanics. Technicians are the clever one's. I did an extra two years at college to get the title 'Technician' and I'll be buggered if I'll accept anyone calling me a poxy mechanic. Most Kwik Fitters are mechanics, they might also be technicians as well, after all there are worse places to work!

 

And no, I don't work for Kwik Fit

 

Hammy

 

if you want to get pedantic about the job titles associated with a skill set and level of educational achievement then I suppose fitters would be a better title then. They are certainly not mechanics and I doubt many of them would know a cam shaft it if jumped up and bit them

[Hammy1962]

noomill060, 6500 posts and this one couldn't be more wrong, made me smile though! "Mechanics are the gods of practical engineering. Technicians are the foot soldiers". Either you are not in the trade, or you are a Mechanic! I think you mean Engineers.

 

hungrybear, camshaft is all one word.

 

Hammy

[noomill060]

I have read all the above with amusing interest.

May i add my own 20 years experience of working in the so called fastfit industry.

DO NOT USE THEM

They are all on bonus to increase sales.

That is all they are interested in BONUS CASH MONEY nothing more.

FAST FIT= FAST CASH

Find yourself a local small garage who you can trust , ask around , there are plenty who will look after you better than fast fit enterprises.

 

Absolutely.

 

For example:

 

Quote from Kwik Fit for a replacement of a single leaky rear brake slave cylinder-

 

They will only fit these in pairs at a cost of £122 and they give the impression they are doing you a favour

 

Cost of item from Unipart: £11.74 and I fitted it myself.

[scaniaman]

Heliosuck, you don't have to be a graduate to look and see if a shocker is old or nearly new. Yes, it's better to fit that particular component in pairs. I kept the good one for a spare! The old codger referred to had been under the car and knew the shockers were dry. As can be seen in my posts, my degree didn't cover spelling---will study Mec Eng next time.

Unfortunately, grease monkeys are almost an extinct species, but what passes for technicians----well, wee laddies playing with computers.

Motor mechanics-- good ones should have pay swop with these bankers we hear so much about.

Motor engineer--if you can break it, i can make it!! The few left that are not pensioners ARE gods.

Edited December 8, 2009 by scaniaman

[kurvaface]

so....do I take my car to Kwik Fit or what??

[JimmySpangle]

Aboslutely. All together now...

 

Oh, you can't get __________ than a .....

You can't get ___________ than a ......

Oh, you can't get ___________ than a .....

We're a bunch of ____________

 

(Fill in the blanks.)

[heliosuk]

Heliosuck, you don't have to be a graduate to look and see if a shocker is old or nearly new. Yes, it's better to fit that particular component in pairs. I kept the good one for a spare! The old codger referred to had been under the car and knew the shockers were dry. As can be seen in my posts, my degree didn't cover spelling---will study Mec Eng next time.

Unfortunately, grease monkeys are almost an extinct species, but what passes for technicians----well, wee laddies playing with computers.

Motor mechanics-- good ones should have pay swop with these bankers we hear so much about.

Motor engineer--if you can break it, i can make it!! The few left that are not pensioners ARE gods.

 

:)Scania..........well really!! You didn't have to buy the second one. In fact I'm surprised you did given that you're north of Hadrians Wall. (Just wish he had finished the job, but then he might have been from a fast errect outlet and said that will do)

 

So now off to enlage the bunnies bunker as expect a few incomming nuclear devices from the UK's sub bases for the above:)

 

Graduate was in quotations and does not imply that you need to be a graduate to inspect. In fact some of the real graduates who have come under my wings recently...........well I'd rather trust a Kwikfit fitter..........the female ones do go to the next department smiling though!!!

[MARTIN3030]

Any service provider or other retail concern that posts or registers on CAG offering to investigate individual complaints is obviously looked at for authenticity.

Whilst its clear to see that there are many who have had less than a good experience with KWIK FIT,nevertheless,we have what appears to be a genuine request to help to assist.

It does follow a general shift in direction from many CSAs and troubleshooters who appear to be putting more focus into customers concerns and complaints.Personally I feel that if the approach is genuine that they should be allowed to attempt to do so.

However,its of no benefit to those who are here reading posting and following this thread,to see these invitations being made,unless there is reporting of progress and resolution of any of these complaints.

Therefore misselle can you please keep us posted with the results of their invitation to assist,and Phil please observe site rules whilst visiting here.

Lets hope that you can indeed match actions to words.

 

On the question of recon calipers-anyone who has worked in the motor trade will tell you that they are available.

As has been suggested the reconditioning usually takes the form of new seals pistons and bleed nipples.Castings are usually blasted and often sprayed.

Quite often calipers can be damaged beyond recon by casting damage-its not unknown for a slip of the hammer when trying to free off seized pistons.In this situ theres not much can be done with them.

 

Similarly reconditioning is done with other hyraulics such as brake and master cylinders-a repair kit withy new seals springs pushrods or pistons can frequently be all thats needed.

That is why so many of these things are exchange if you buy a new one !!

[JimmySpangle]

Yes, I must add something here amongst all my mickey taking. When I raised a complaint with Glasgow head office about the service I received, it was dealt with very effeiciently indeed with a satisfactory outcome. I cannot critise that part of teh business at all from my experience. It was the lack of knowledge and obvious incomptenace that bothered me with the 'fitters'.

[MARTIN3030]

I remember their ads a few years ago always featured Tom Farmer-he was seemingly a very hands on boss who always invited people who had any problems to write to him personally and he would sort it.

Of course the people who keep customers going back are those in the front line these are the real face of any company and its them who have to deliver.

There has been scandals with a few high profile fast fit companies,one of which I remember having to change names and re-structure following an undercover TV doc that exposed the scams and practices.

The days of asking Fred or Jack next door to sort out your car are long since gone,as technology in motors has surpassed their knowledge.

 

For me,part of the problem is that theres not enough training or experienced people who are up for working on all makes any model concepts in this day and age simply because of the changes in technology.

Often it can be counter productive to try to save money by taking a job to someone who has not done it before because it takes them longer than someone who has and so absorbs any cost savings, in time and labour.

 

Those who have chosen to specialise working for themselves have proved to be quite successful.Here we have people who have done all their training through dealerships and know the job as well as how much the dealers make.

These tend to be trusted much more because they are run hands on-and their markets are targetted at vehicles they KNOW they can happily work with and quite often they have customers who may have followed them from dealers.

As most will know-it is easier to attract new customers than to win one back who has abandoned after getting a bad deal.

No amount of advertising,special offers,or promises can do that.

[danielr]

We don't know what car for a start. So does it have a disc drum set up or only discs. If it had a disc drum then the failure might be unrelated to the calipers.

perhaps I'm being a bit naive but surely if the rear brakes were replaced and they were drum brakes then the quote would have been for rear cylinders, not callipers, callipers being quite specific in shape as they take their name from the measuring instrument, and not at all like the cylinder that you'd find in a rear brake drum...

even if the rear brakes are drum brakes, the front brakes could have been replaced and the handbrake could be on the front wheels, my house mates old Citroen xanita had this arrangement.

 

Actually, Kwik Fit staff are simply fitters. They cant take components apart, make replacements and rebuild them.

 

They simply remove worn out components and fit replacements.

 

A technician is a little higher up the food chain. He actually knows how it works and how to fix your old one. (ie: recondition it)

 

A mechanic can take you old one off, throw it away, and is qualified to design you an new one from scratch, make the patterns, cast them, machine them (and all the bits and bobs that make it work)

 

And know how and why things work and dont work.

 

Mechanics are the gods of practical engineering. Technicians are the foot soldiers.

 

Fitters? Well, they are good at taking bits off and screwing new bits on.

 

Grease monkeys. Nothing wrong with that, but they are at the bottom of the ladder.

and the prize for getting it the most wrong goes to... YOU!

 

Mechanic Definition | Definition of Mechanic at Dictionary.com

Mechanic

1. a person who repairs and maintains machinery, motors, etc.: an automobile mechanic. 2. a worker who is skilled in the use of tools, machines, equipment, etc.Technician Definition | Definition of Technician at Dictionary.com

 

Technician

  /tɛkˈnɪʃən/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [tek-nish-uhn] Show IPA Use technician in a Sentence

 

See web results for technician

 

See images of technician

 

–noun 1. a person who is trained or skilled in the technicalities of a subject.

Engineer Definition | Definition of Engineer at Dictionary.com

 

Engineer

  /ˌɛndʒəˈnɪər/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [en-juh-neer] Show IPA Use engineer in a Sentence

 

See web results for engineer

 

See images of engineer

 

–noun 1. a person trained and skilled in the design, construction, and use of engines or machines, or in any of various branches of engineering: a mechanical engineer; a civil engineer.

 

As Hammy said, he had to go to college for a couple of years to gete to call himself a Technician,

personally, I had to go to uni for a few years before I could call myself an engineer...

 

anyone can open a garage with no formal training and call themselves a mechanic...

mechanics are not the "GODS OF PRACTICAL ENGINEERING" they are (in theory) the same as the grease monkeys, there is no formal training or recognition required to be either...

(yes, we'd think that a mechanic is a little better than a grease monkey, but since anyone with a spanner who manages to fix anything can call themselves a mechanic the differentiation is only slight in name, a good mechanic would prove themselves with their actions though).

 

 

I thought that would provoke a response.

it provoked a response because of just how wrong it was! and the fact that in saying that mechanics (who don't have to have any training whatsoever) are gods of engineering, whilst your standard engineer actually has to go off to uni and study and pass a course for a few years.

 

well, it's a tad insulting to those who did go away and study.

 

but, even graduates (with all their education) get it wrong sometimes!! I should know I am a graduate and I've got things wrong plenty of times.

 

 

 

Motor mechanics-- good ones should have pay swop with these bankers we hear so much about.

Motor engineer--if you can break it, i can make it!! The few left that are not pensioners ARE gods.

having just said that mechanics are untrained, and unqualified, that is not to say that they are bad, I completely agree a DECENT mechanic, whilst he may not have a bit of paper to say that he's great, truly is a great guy, and worth his (or her) weight in gold.

 

as for the motor engineer if it breaks it can be made... I wouldn't necessarily say that they ar the gods either, since I've started restoring a 'classic' car on a budget I've found myself having to make a lot of the parts out of necessity and unavailability... I've also found the same of my motorbike, even though I bought that brand new only a couple of years ago, it's a cheap Chinese import, and some bits just don't last...

and I certainly wouldn't think that I was a god...

 

Just to add that I got ripped by Kwikfit many years ago, also a brake issue and would never go back to them again! They charge extortionate rates for their work...how do you think they manage to pay for all that advertising on the television?!!

 

when you can buy a set of pads yourself for £10 and spend a half hour under the car fitting them, anything seems like an extortionate rate!...

 

on the other hand, kwik fit are offering a lifetime guarantee with replacement wear and tear parts for free... so it may be expensive the first time you go... but if you go back a second, or third time then it doesn't seem as expensive. (assuming you keep the car that long!)

[noomill060]

Zzzzzzzzz

Edited December 12, 2009 by noomill060

[Big Boss Man]

Just come across your concerning post - i have no option but to use Kwik Fit, as i am a Motability customer, i have also come across a number of concerns on numerous occasions, considering these guys are a proffesional outfit or so they think, i will never beleive !

 

Any work carried out at this company is always checked and doubled checked by myself, just waiting for the day kWIK Fit loses this account !

[scaniaman]

You may have a long wait as the plonkers at Motability really go for this type of company---big, and heavy on the advertising. You would not believe the crap I had to put up with just to have a towbar fitted.

[scaniaman]

Where on earth did all this Crap come from? A motor mechanic must undergo a trade apprenticeship, which in most cases involves day release or night classes at a technical college to attain set standards. If not time served then he/she is not a qualified mechanic. Chancers are what i think you may be referring to.

[MARTIN3030]

According to Wilkopedia Kwik Fit was sold to Ford in 1999 so its not as though there can be any excuses for the sorts of stories that we have all heard about.

 

In fact one of the most ironic things that emerges if you read the history of KWIK FIT is that Sir Tom actually founded the concept on the back of trying to address the needs of changing bad customer service.

It was a concept that began this very business !!

Edited December 13, 2009 by MARTIN3030

[scaniaman]

And Tam bought it back at a knockdown price-----business acumen?

[MARTIN3030]

ah I wasnt aware of that.

Canny Scot perhaps ?

[danielr]

We could argue about definitions of words forever, danielr. Clearly the one I choose to use is not the current one- a generally self taught grease monkey, or a spanner with a spanner. My interest is industrial archaeology, I draw my own views on this subject an earlier age.

 

For example, most towns had an educational establishment called the "Mechanic's Institute" for the professional training and endowment of the qualifications of the day to those who would work in the vast Victorian engineering industry. These courses were usually taken at night, after work.

 

Over time, many of these these grew and evolved into what became the polytechincs of the 1960s and gained "university" status in the 1990s.

 

(The term "uni" didnt become current until it was popularised by its use in Neighbours, btw.)

 

Those of us who achieved access to higher education when getting some A levels meant something, never said they were going to "uni".

 

"Uni" to me, means an ex-college of HE with ideas above its station or at best, an ex-Poly (excellent though some of them are).

 

It doesnt shout "UMIST" or "UCL"

 

So you see, danielr, the meaning of words can change over time, and mostly, it doesnt matter.

 

Clearly, the term "mechanic" was originally very different from the "spanner with a spanner" which is clearly the current definition.

 

Im glad that your undoubted skills include the ability to search for information and cut and paste.

 

 

 

physics (hons) 1987

indeed we can argue definitions... but... I think after your post them we're actually saying the same thing?

 

Perhaps I should also correct your abbreviation of mechanic, now that you've explained it, to mechanical engineer... who would indeed be leagues above your 'bog standard' technician.

 

and to be fair, as hammy pointed out earlier he had to study before he called himself an technician, I had to study before I (felt that I) could call myself an engineer... and as I've said in a different post, (regarding british gas ''engineers'') tittles should mean something, it'd be for the benefit of all if the words were reclaimed for their actual meaning engineer was reclaimed as the professional title that it is, and restored to it's status at a time of the very people you're studying in your industrial archaeology... same as technician and mechanic...

 

it'd be for the benefit of all of the job titles were protected...

 

at the moment there is nothing to stop anyone buying a recovery truck and setting up a mobile mechanic service, -calling themself a mechanic.

there is nothing to stop anyone plugging a computer into a car and just blindly reading error codes and calling themselves a technician, nothing to stop a person collecting bins calling themselves refuse technicians, or untrained people who know how to turn a computer off then on IT technician,

and there is nothing to stop a person calling themselves an engineer...

 

as a person who has studied industrial archaeology you'd clearly see the difference between (for example) the engineers who designed the railways, and the navvies who built them... yet now the people laying the tracks are calling themselves engineers...

[danielr]

Where on earth did all this Crap come from? A motor mechanic must undergo a trade apprenticeship, which in most cases involves day release or night classes at a technical college to attain set standards. If not time served then he/she is not a qualified mechanic. Chancers are what i think you may be referring to.

that's rather the point that I was making above, the titles aren't protected as they are in some other countries...

there is a dictionary definition, but nothing to stop anyone being a chancer...

 

there is of course a legal protection for anyone trying to append their name with designations that they aren't entitled to...

 

but nothing to stop any chancer assuming a job title that would, or should csrry some respect with it.

[Hammy1962]

I recently had a massive row with an idiot who claimed to be a British Gas 'Engineer' Although he was in a blue van with British Gas on the side, he was a disgrace to the word engineer. I wouldn't let him loose with a wax crayon.

 

Hammy

[MARTIN3030]

Well I am looking forward to seeing the KWIK FIT webteam holding firm to their offers of help.So far nothing to report from that-but will be following very closely in anticipation.