How come is it possible that such a strong brand as Audi (still!) can have such poor service – not just one service shop but several (well, at least the three that I’ve tried in the Stockholm region)
I used to drive and A3T that I had serviced in Hammarbyhamnen. When I was going to pick it up after service I ended up behind another man in the line. He was there to reclaim his company car. “Oh well… we can’t seem to find your car”, I overheard the man working behind the desk saying. I couldn’t help but smirk a little… The smirked was wiped off my face when I got the same notice. My car was also gone, missing in action. I got another car for a couple of days until they located my car; it had been found and some third party service shop (Audi service?).
Today I am driving the car of my dreams, a TT. It was a used car and when I bought it the salesman and I agreed that there were certain things that they would fix, free of charge. One thing one would be the moisture on both headlights. This time I left the car at Järva, since it is on my way to work. I guess I should be happy that they fixed one of the headlights… I am still driving around with a trendy slightly dimmed light. “Oh no, it is supposed to be a little moisture in this kind of lights.”, the service technician told me. “Mmm, yeah right”, I thought and I blame myself for accepting his answer. I just wanted my car back so that I could start driving…
On Thursday this week I was supposed to turn in my car for the yearly inspection. By some incredible timing from hell, the right headlight stopped working. And then it worked. And then it didn’t. I had to have this fixed before the inspection and since Järva didn’t have time I tried Danderyd. I described the fault and Danderyd promised that they’d get back to me with a cost estimation before they did anything and when they were done with the repairs. They did neither. So I called myself, ended up in a telephone queue so finally I left my phone number. I got a callback by someone who didn’t know what had been done, or how much it would cost. He did however promise to call me back, which he did. They hadn’t fixed the right half light, but they found a faulty connection to my left parking light, which they rectified.
So how will the inspection go now when the light still isn’t fixed? And who will pay for a return visit to the shop (and inspection if I get complaint for the said light?). Will I have to pay for another diagnostics teset at Audi? I asked the guy who called me up this, and he replied that “We will have to have a discussion about that”. Having in mind how the service has been handled so far I guess that I will have to pay for the bill.
Well, if I am unlucky when it comes to car, I am more lucky privately since I’ve met a wonderful girl. I am not sure for how long I will be driving around in my TT, it is not exactly a family car (No Mom and Dad, there are no kids coming yet so you can keep calm). So I suppose that I will have to get a more practical car when that time comes. Do you think it will be my third Audi?
Ps. Yesterday the door to the driver’s seat stopped working so I graciously get in and out through the passenger side
Ps2. Inspection was supposed to be today. I thought. I had forgotten to pay the fee. But that was ok because I need to have a door that works… so I another visit to the shop to fix the door on the driver’s side
