Failure is the Key to Success

The car was collected this morning. I made sure that I wrote on the paperwork that I needed the car back by 4:30. I had a governors meeting this evening and so wanted no mistakes.

At 3:40, I rang for an update and was told that the car had just been run out of the workshop and just needed tidying up then they would give me a call to pay for it and get it back to me. I reminded them that I needed it back by 4:30.

At 4:05 I paid for the repair and was told the drivers would be bringing it back. At 4:50, I rang the garage to find where the car was, only to find that the drivers were on the way back from a long delivery in Leighton Buzzard. I think I may have lost my temper a bit, and he would find out what was happening and ring me straight back. 15 minutes later I rang back, now just a little bit angry and was told that someone from other department was helping out and had just left with the car. I would suggest that 25 minutes later when the car arrived, after what is at most a 10 minutes journey, I probably had been lied to again.

By this time I was running late for my meeting and sitting near stationary in roadworks for 25 minutes didn’t help.

They had obviously made a big effort to tidy the car up as the old part was in a box on the passenger seat. My opinion of Steven Eagle Toyota hasn’t improved from last year’s hassle with the MOT certificate.

Tags:disorganised,frustration,rant,toyota dealer

We went to the kids Halloween party that my work arranged this afternoon. My son made an impression on everyone and I ended up being used as the ‘live’ ventriloquist’s dummy with a mask and bowler hat. Everyone had a good time and the entertainer ‘Magic Dave‘ was excellent.

Tags:halloween party,kids party

I thought after watching the films again that I might get the Harry Potter books to read. I expected them to be a fairly childish read, but was pleasantly surprised. I had to get in line as Jo started reading them before me. I have now bought the first 5 books and am working my way through them.

Tags:harry potter

Hmm.. should have known that it wouldn’t be straight forward where Toyota were concerned.

The car was collected this morning for the window repair and 40,000 mile service. I let the driver know I needed the car back at 4:30.

I had a call from the garage this afternoon. The cable on the window winder mechanism has snapped, wow that was a surprise, that’s what we told them, they don’t have the part in stock and will have to order it. It will have to be booked in in a couple of weeks as that is the first collection they can do. It would have been useful to have know this ahead of time; I could have booked two appointments to start with. Then he went on to tell me that the rear brake pads were 85% worn and needed replacing. This I just didn’t believe as the car has done less than 9000 miles since they replaced the rear discs and pads on the car a year ago. It’s just like when I had the Carina, everytime it went into the Toyota main dealer, it needed at least 1 £200 extra job doing urgently. Also, the sump is leaking and will need to be resealed at the cost of £275, oh yes and the driver’s side windscreen washer isn’t working and needs replacing. Again, I disputed this, as I had used it driving to work this morning when it worked fine.

He went away to check the brakes and washer for me and call me back in 5 minutes. After 45 minutes, he rang back. After taking the wheels off the pads were fine, on being pushed he admitted less than 50% worn. He explained this as ‘the pads taper and if you don’t know what you are looking for you can easily make a mistake’. This is from a main dealer! The drivers side washer is working, but not as strong as the other side, they could clean it for about £10, no thanks. They will block up the window to make it secure until the repair. At 4:30 I rang the garage for an update. They haven’t blocked the window up as they didn’t think I would want to pay £90 an hour for someone to do it. I think I am in the wrong trade!. I paid for the sevice and was eventually transferred to booking to arrange the booking for the repair. The car is now booked in for 31st October to be repaired. I eventually got the car back at 5:20.

Tags:disorganised,toyota dealer

Jo’s car sailed through it’s MOT today, at least that is sorted.

Only a few more days of taped up window to go.

The driver’s window on Jo’s car broke today. To be more precise, the winder mechanism broke, almost 2 years to the day from when the same thing happened on the Carina. It makes you wonder if they have updated the part that is used in the Avensis.

The car is booked in at the Toyota dealer in Milton Keynes for repair on 16th October. Until then, the window is held up with duct tape.

Tags:window winder