Service history

["Ian J Haseltine" <jim_haseltine@email.msn.com>]

-----Original Message-----
From: Phil Payne <quk@isham-research.demon.co.uk>
>
>I contend, in the light of my experience with John's car (and with
>the service history story of Roger Galvin's V8Q) that a full VAG
>service history stamped in a booklet is WORTHLESS!
>
There was a British tv program about 18 months ago that showed just how
simple it is to 'manufacture' a plausible service history for any vehicle.
Firstly, you obtain a blank service record booklet - not too difficult, you
just walk into a main dealer and ask for one at the parts counter.
Then you spend a few minutes with a selection of rubber stamps (for real or
imaginary garages) and some different coloured pens, filling in the blank
bits of the book.
Full service history.

Consider this. How many people bother to check the mileage on a pre-owned
car? Not many.
How many do you think would check the validity of the service history? Even
fewer. But they will happily pay more for a car with a fully stamped book.

I would much rather see a handful of receipts than a book full of pretty
stamps.
Unless you have gold-plated proof of the work having been carried out the
service book should be consigned to the waste bin or placed on the bookshelf
alongside the Terry Pratchett novels.


Jim Haseltine