Ali-SLS

[KennyT]

I just spoke to him, he's about to send out some invoices to me before lunchtime today (I've heard this before, but reasonably confident this time )

I've called him almost every day for the last couple of weeks chasing invoices from June/July last year, Having now sold the car I think that's the required foot up the....

Thouroughly nice bloke but in future I'd be inclined to withold payment until the work is documented, maybe a little harsh but it might get things moving.

[scottishselise]

He might adopt the no money, no car policy....

Then you adopt the 'no paperwork, no work on car' policy.....

[KevD]

I'd given up chasing paperwork for a service done april 2010, will phone him again when he's in an admin mood.

Kev

[dirkpitt]

Politics aside, it sounds like Ali is doing himself a dis-service here?

I don't think any of the posts are malicious, but there is obviously some degree of frustration involved. I have never met Ali personally, nor do I doubt his expertise from what I hear, but having read so many anxious posts would put me off using him, which is a shame. (The same was true historically with Murrays, until they sorted their act out.) Like most, I'm happy to pay a decent amount for a decent service. If it's local-ish, so much the better.

If you run your own small business, it's a fact that customer care matters, especially in niche markets. I find I get a surprising amount of my own business through word of mouth. I also used to struggle with boring 'admin stuff' like this, so took someone on for a few hours a week and it paid for itself many times over.

Surely a leggy young admin assistant would make all the difference? Just a thought/hope/prayer...

2p

Yeah! What berty said with knobs on!............ill get the tar and feathers lads hehe.

………sorry, for the random post, but I felt left out of this thread and wanted to add some light humour…now time too

[r10crw]

Does Ali read the forum? Seems a lot of people with the same problem, Im sure I wouldnt put up with it if it was my car and damn sure it wouldnt go back for more work however I also believe there are always two sides to the story.
Think he really needs to see what is being said about his business so he can at least comment and/or rectify the situation as he obviously adds a service to the community which should not be lost.

[Doc883]

When I had my S2, bought from Graeme @ MMC, on the back of this forum I had it serviced by Ali. Cant fault his work but the overall experience was decidedly below par with poor customer service. I enquired about some performance enhancing work but got zero response then my efforts to have a part replaced through an auto-protect warranty was a disaster. That's not say I'd never go back but he'd need to introduce an element of customer focus as nothing annoys me as much as poor company communication.

[mwmackenzie]

I was in at SLS today dropping my car off for pre-sale inspection as it's been sat since last sept and he was e-mailing your invoices then Kenny...


That said he does need to pull his socks up customer service wise so what would you like to see Change at SLS and I'll pass on all constructive comments to him personally, be as honest as you like....


Cheers Mark

[r055]

Mark,
-Invoice on collection of keys/ handover of money.
-Answer emails, return voicemail, answer phone?

That's it.

Last time my car was there was around this time last year. I can't remember what it was in for off the top of my head. Got fed up chasing him for invoice and I doubt he will have record of it.
So I choose not to use him.
Simples

[Edin430]

Mark:

I have also liked/rated Ali, however I had an urgent piece of work that Ali agreed to do - told me to call him back the following week to arrange - then never responded when I did. Over the period of 2 weeks I had called every day a number of times, left a number of voicemails and texts and but still nothing.

I know Ali was ill that week and is always busy but all I wanted was a quick text back to say he could/couldn't do the work. A phone call/text takes a couple of minutes - it probably took him longer to read all my texts than just answer the first one One of my texts said something along the lines of "if you are too busy don't worry, please just let me know so I can go elsewhere...." - that would have been a perfect opportunity to just say he couldn't do it.

The last straw for me was when I called him, left a voicemail and text but got no reply - yet two minutes later another forum member called him, didn't even leave a message and got a call back straight away I tried to call once they got off the phone and guess what...no answer. Ended up going somewhere else that took the car within 24 hours and turned it round the same day.

I am no way am I trying to have a go at Ali, as above I've always got on really well with him, however I'm due to have around £2k of work done over the coming weeks and it's all going to MMC. Says it all really... If another independent came to the area I worry that everyone would immediately jump ship.....

HTH

[PartTimer]

I've never met Ali but I tried calling and emailing him last October about some work I needed. I have never heard a thing back so I'm afraid that's another lost customer. PT

[SAJ]

I too e-mailed with a query a few months back but never got any response. I just assumed he went out of business.

Just out of interest does that just leave MMC to do any work on the car or are there any other specialists in Scotland?

[Edin430]

There is Dan! However he is based in Newcastle - if he was closer I think everyone would be racing to get there.

Few other places in Scotland (Falklands?) but none with as much Lotus experience as MMC/SLS.

[simon]

Just out of interest does that just leave MMC to do any work on the car or are there any other specialists in Scotland?

I took my Elise to Falkland Performance in Glenrothes for the last 4 years or so that I had it and I'd recommend them. You get an invoice when you leave, job sheet listing work done, stamp in the service book, phone calls during the service when they have queries (like checking what type of brake fluid I wanted).

[KevD]

He knows his stuff, he needs to get someone to organise his diary and answer calls and emails.

The only problem I've had with him is not providing invoices even when he's said he'll do it tomorrow/tonight/is about to do it. A standard invoice for the A, B, C service with a tick sheet would take him 5 minutes and save him lost business off a lot of folk.

He's clearly a decent bloke as well but just needs to sort admin and realise that it is costing him work within what is a small niche.

Kev

[j2 lot]

I would add GM Motorsport in Kilmarnock to the mix too. Not Lotus specialist but more than capable of dealing with the quirks of Lotus and very professional with admin ready when you collect the car.