Friday 31 January 2014

Top Feedback Awards 2013

The scores are in and the Good Garage Scheme is pleased to congratulate member garages who have received the most feedback from their customers in 2013.

For the second year running, top prize goes to Lockwood & Greenwood in Ashton-under-Lyne who received an incredible 763 feedbacks during the year. They also collect the award for the Regional Winner for 2013 as well. Congratulations to the team at Lockwood & Greenwood with over 3800 customer feedbacks in total.

Feedback is at the heart of the Good Garage Scheme. It is useful for the garage to be thanked for a job well done and also very useful in helping them to improve their business. From the motorist's point of view, it helps them to make an educated choice as to where they will take their car.

The Good Garage Scheme congratulates all Regional Winners on a fantastic achievement.
East Anglia Regional Winner:  Car Care of Kensington, London
East Midlands Regional Winner: RM Services, Loughborough
South West Regional Winner: Surecar Ltd, Bristol
South Wales Regional Winner: G & J Starkey, Stourbridge
Scotland Regional Winner: Bishopton Hiring Garage Ltd, Bishopton
North West Regional Winner: Lockwood & Greenwood, Ashton-under-Lyne


Customers of Good Garage Scheme members have three easy ways to leave feedback after a service or repair:
  • Send it on a free postcard via Freepost
  • Enter it online
  • Send it via the Free Good Garage Scheme App 
Visit www.GoodGarageScheme.com to fine a Good Garage Scheme member near you.

Friday 24 January 2014

Leave Feedback And Win

Having a service or repair carried out at a Good Garage Scheme member garage may not cost you a penny.

Every customer who leaves feedback with comments after having had work done at a Good Garage Scheme member garage is in with a chance to win the cost of the service or repair back*.

It couldn't be easier, and there are three ways to leave feedback:

1. Fill in a feedback card you receive with your documentation.
2. Visit the Good Garage Scheme's website
3. Download the Good Garage Scheme's free App and leave your feedback there

There are over 629,000 feedback items from previous customers listed on the Good Garage Scheme website so that motorists can make an educated decision before they take their car to a garage for a service.

The Good Garage Scheme will award two lucky customers up to £200 each for the cost of a service or repair this year.

Visit GoodGarageScheme.com to find a garage near you.

*Terms and conditions apply. The winners will receive up to £200 for the work carried out.

Friday 17 January 2014

Weather woe inflates the need for Tyre Safety Checks


image courtesy of TyreSafe
After the worst winter storms to hit Britain for two decades, drivers are being reminded about the need for more regular tyre checks. With its potential to cause aquaplaning, standing water remains a major hazard in many parts of the UK, while damaged road surfaces also present a different tyre-related challenge. However, by taking just a few minutes to inspect your tyres regularly, TyreSafe advises that the impact of these issues can be reduced.

"Although floods in many areas are starting to subside, motorists are still faced with a couple of serious tyre-related challenges which can be minimised if they spend a few moments regularly checking their tyres," advises Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. "The checks are incredibly easy to make, but they could make the world of difference to your safety on the road."

While driving through deep flood water has a wide range of associated risks and should be tackled with extreme caution, smaller areas of standing water may be less easy to avoid but equally dangerous. On vehicles equipped with tyres that have insufficient or low levels of tread depth, water between the tyres and the road surface may not be removed quickly enough. This layer of water builds up in front of the tyres until the tyre loses contact with the road surface. This loss of traction, or aquaplaning, causes the wheels to slip and prevents the vehicle from responding to steering, braking or acceleration.

As a result, the vehicle can lose control, starting to skid or spin dangerously. To reduce the risk of aquaplaning, drivers are advised to check the tread depth of their tyres. New tyres often have a tread depth of around 8mm, far greater than the legal minimum requirement of 1.6mm, which makes them much more efficient at removing water and able to cope with standing water. Any drivers unfortunate enough to suffer from aquaplaning should heed the advice of organisations such as the AA who recommend holding the steering wheel lightly and lifting off the throttle until the tyres regain grip.

Meanwhile, damaged road surfaces and potholes caused by the recent wet weather also present another significant tyre safety hazard. When tyres hit large potholes, they have the potential to suffer internal damage which could cause the tyre to fail catastrophically, leaving the driver unable to control the vehicle. Consequently, drivers are being advised to inspect the condition of their tyres at least once a month, and even more frequently if they know they've hit a pothole. In particular, drivers should look for cuts, lumps or bulges in the tyre and also check the tyre pressures regularly in case the wheel rim itself has been damaged.

"Checking your tyres may see like an unnecessary or daunting task, but in the current conditions it's even more important than normal," adds Jackson.
"Of course, if you're not sure what to do then simply pop into your local tyre professional who will be able to inspect things properly and advise you of any issues."


The Good Garage Scheme would like to thank TyreSafe for their permission to print this blog.  For more information about TyreSafe, visit www.tyresafe.org

Any Good Garage Scheme member garage would be happy to check your tyres if you are unsure. Please check www.GoodGarageScheme.com to find a member near you.

Friday 10 January 2014

New Year - New Car?

If you are thinking of buying a new car this year, be prepared with handy advice courtesy of the Institute of Advanced Motoring (IAM).

The prospect of a shiny new car is exciting. But don’t make a hasty decision. With advances in the latest road safety technology and the latest technical features in new cars, try to get the most out of your money.

Firstly, decide on the type of car you need. Do you need to ferry the children around and make the school run? Or do you want a car with enough luggage space for the holidays you have planned. It may be your car is simply a means to get from A to B. Just make sure your choice fits the purpose.

While we’re often led by the way the car looks, it’s important to be clear on your budget from the start. Make sure you know how much you are able to spend. The price displayed often isn’t the total price of the car. There are other costs to factor in such as insurance cost and other running costs too.

Don’t forget to check for hidden extras. There’s nothing worse than finalising the details of the car and then learn that there are additional charges for number plates and delivery.

It’s often the question on everyone’s mind. Petrol or diesel? Check out the running costs before you buy. Diesel cars offer better fuel economy but are more expensive. It’s important to factor in car depreciation. Think about how much the car will decrease in value in its first three years and how this will affect the price of the car if sold second-hand. VED is related to carbon emissions, so the lower the emissions, the better.

Once you know your budget, work out how you will be financing the car. Whether you’ll be taking out a loan, asking family and friends or using your savings, it’s important to plan a budget. Don’t be swayed by something out of your price range.

Most importantly, test drive it. There’s no other way of knowing if you’ll like it without driving it. Remember, if you’re going to spend a long time in it commuting, you need to make sure it’s what you want.


The Good Garage Scheme would like to thank the IAM for this week's guest blog. For more information on the Institute of Advanced Motoring, please visit www.iam.org.uk.

Friday 3 January 2014

New smartphone or tablet for Christmas?

If you are one of the many lucky ones who received a new smartphone or tablet device in your Christmas stocking, you may be downloading new apps and learning how easy it is to access your favourite games, social media, news and useful websites at the touch of a button.

What is an "app"?

For those who are still new to the world of apps, it is not complicated. "App" is short for application software that is designed to run on smartphones, tablet computers and other mobile devices such as iPods. They can be downloaded either free of charge or for a listed price from app stores such as iTunes or Google Play.

The Good Garage Scheme created its free app for iPhone in 2010 and then for Android smartphones the following year. So far over 12,000 users have downloaded the app and The Sunday Times even voted it one of the World's Top Apps in 2011 and 2012.

It is a handy app to have on your phone when you are driving in the UK. You never know when you will need to find a trustworthy garage, and there are also some handy tips on how to check your oil so that you can keep your car maintained between services.

To download your free app, simply click here.

Best wishes for a Happy New Year from the Good Garage Scheme.