Shoddy service from rude and lazy staff is what you can expect from this poorly managed business.
I had the misfortune to need both oil and a new tyre recently and made the mistake of going to Cowal Car Components. After standing at the till for fifteen minutes while a member of staff chatted on the phone to his girlfriend (an assumption on my part based on the graphic nature of the conversation) I was finally treated to a grunt and a sideways glance - apparently the way this particular staff member was trained to greet customers. Not the best of starts.
I told the individual in question that I needed oil for my car. He pointed to the shelves. I told him I wasn't entirely certain what oil I needed. He instructed me to check my car's manual or look it up online. Strike one.
After retreating to my car and using my phone to identify the exact oil I needed, I returned to the shop and searched the shelf. No luck. I returned to the till, but found my new friend on the phone again - this time, I think, to a customer. When he hung up the phone he made a point of looking right at me, then turned his back, ignoring me twice when I asked for assistance. When finally another member of staff appeared I told him what oil I needed. He told me they didn't have any in stock, then walked away. Strike two.
I thought that I could at least get the tyre replaced, so I tried to engage with the first staff member again. When I finally got his attention I asked him if I could get a new tyre. He asked for the specifications. I told him. He informed me that the price would be "sixty quid", but they wouldn't have time to fit it today. Why? Because at 3pm they already had two customers ahead of me and couldn't possibly get around to my car before they closed at 5.30pm. A strange claim as there were no cars in the garage outside or any vehicle other than my own parked in their lot. He did, however, suggest that I return the next morning before 9am and leave my car with them, adding that they would "hopefully get around to it" by the end of the day.
Now, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that the staff were busy with work, perhaps preparing parts for customers who would be coming to collect them before close of business. The reason for their third strike is simple - when I turned to leave a third staff member appeared and asked if I needed help. I replied that I did, but it appeared they were unable to provide that help, so I'd come back another time. The grunting individual behind the counter then proceeded to invite me to leave and not return, and when I say "invite" I do mean that he used a slew of profanity that would have made even the most hardened of sailors blush.
When I got home I decided to check out their website to see if I could identify a manager or owner I could report this behaviour to. I couldn't. What I did find, however, was a compatible oil for my car, which I remembered seeing on their shelf, and the price of a tyre fully fitted, £49, not the £60 the staff member claimed. Indeed, for the three standards of the specific tyres I needed the prices are £49, £69 and £89.
So, the staff can't be bothered to help, can't be bothered to speak to customers and can't be bothered to earn money for their employer. I can't be bothered to return and would strongly recommend avoiding this place. read more
