Oh dear, now don't get me started on "faster fit" type workshops which model themselves on the Upselling discipline way of working. If you want comment then search the forum because we've discussed this subject just about to death in other threads. I know they're difficult to find but my advice would always be to find a small, probably family owned, workshop - like several I know within easy reach of me here - or alternatively a workshop which doesn't do repairs for the public. We had one up here which belonged to the council and looked after their funeral vehicles and some small vans but offered MOTs to the public. They always gave me an honest but not lenient examination which is what I want as I like an MOT to be a second pair of eyes on my vehicles in case there's something I've overlooked. Only really of use if you do all your own repairs of course, otherwise stick with the small family business type setup. Asking around friends and work colleagues is often a good way to find one.
To be fair to at least the two local branches of Halfords, whilst I wouldn't use their workshops - just because I have a better option and do most of my own repairs - I do find their sales personnel in the retail side very helpful indeed. Also, I'm lucky enough to have one of their trade cards which gives some quite good discounts off their own brand stuff and a lesser discount generally. Batteries can be a very good buy (the price of their batteries is very good with a trade card, even for the Yuasa brand. There is some stuff which doesn't qualify - for instance dash cams - but most of the stuff used in car repairs and servicing and tools attracts a pretty good discount.
One really excellent service they perform is a battery analysis free of charge. This is not just a simple voltage check but a proper analysis (with a Yuasa hand held diagnostic machine at the two I use so can be done outside the workshop) including battery condition and cold cranking values. I've used this service three times now and it's always been FOC. Worth remembering about if you are ever in the position of being unsure whether a battery is perhaps just beginning to fail but you're a bit unsure. On one occasion it indicated a new battery needed, so I bought one, but both other times it showed a satisfactory result and no attempt was made to talk me into buying a replacement.
To be fair to at least the two local branches of Halfords, whilst I wouldn't use their workshops - just because I have a better option and do most of my own repairs - I do find their sales personnel in the retail side very helpful indeed. Also, I'm lucky enough to have one of their trade cards which gives some quite good discounts off their own brand stuff and a lesser discount generally. Batteries can be a very good buy (the price of their batteries is very good with a trade card, even for the Yuasa brand. There is some stuff which doesn't qualify - for instance dash cams - but most of the stuff used in car repairs and servicing and tools attracts a pretty good discount.
One really excellent service they perform is a battery analysis free of charge. This is not just a simple voltage check but a proper analysis (with a Yuasa hand held diagnostic machine at the two I use so can be done outside the workshop) including battery condition and cold cranking values. I've used this service three times now and it's always been FOC. Worth remembering about if you are ever in the position of being unsure whether a battery is perhaps just beginning to fail but you're a bit unsure. On one occasion it indicated a new battery needed, so I bought one, but both other times it showed a satisfactory result and no attempt was made to talk me into buying a replacement.
I forgot to take the lock & we all went for a couple of beers after work so I put by the bin shed at work which was out of sight so the morning after it was nicked I viewed the work CCTV & it revealed whilst we were having a few a drug deal was going down in the work car park & the drug dealer decided to go for a pee by the bin shed, saw my bike & decided to leave on the bike instead of the way he came by foot, I would have called the old bill but anyone that lives in Surrey will know how useless, lazy & incompetent Surrey Police actually are so I couldn't be asked with the hassle, the bike was never seen again & I replaced it with a normal bike.
