Stedmans, Worthing

I am very fussy about where I take my car. I know little about the mechanics of a car though I am lucky enough to have a husband who in his youth made his own car which he took to college 100 miles too and from home between terms. So, if he says I need xyz I believe him. Mark, the owner of Stedman’s is a very likeable person and his staff follow his behaviour in not stating that something has to be done here and now but could wait longer due to my low milage, for example and I appreciate that when work costs £3-400 extra on top of a service. Having said that the safety of the car is paramount and when it HAS to be done it must be carried out. I have had excellence service from Stedman’s over the last few years after joining them for my annual service and MOT, including a replacement engine after I blew mine up. The garage is clean and tidy and the staff helpful. In the past I have had the experience twice of having my vehicle dented by the garage I have trusted it to. Once when I had to have my car towed home after writing off the engine due to thinking I had set it in neutral when towing but unbeknown to me had not engaged the gear correctly and when the collection garage returned my car home there was a large dent in the rear which was not there when they pick it up. They denied responsibility and that cost was £3or400 to put right. Another time taking our caravan to have a dent removed after some young boys played football in a caravan park and the ball landed on the top front denting it. When we came to collect it from the repairing dealers there was a further dent on the side and the night before was a terrible windy storm and the van parked next to our van, by the repair dealer, had rocked into the side of our caravan. They denied responsibility until the owner arrived and said that it was ridiculous to think that a customer would book a van in to have one dent repaired without wanted another one repaired as well. You could only get a hand, up to the wrist, between the two parked vans, not an arm. Ridiculous way to park a vehicle. So luckily there was an honest garage owner on that occasion. So, I now believe that whenever a vehicle is left with a garage, which ever garage, an inspection should be made to just check around the vehicle that there are no dents before leaving the car in their hands. And it is this that I would ask Stedman’s to follow when customers leave their vehicles. It is an unfortunate thing to say but after my experiences there is no such thing as trust. Garage staff do not know customers well nor customers the staff and it is a fair and honest way to ensure that should an accident happen to a vehicle both parties know who is responsible and can put it right without any argument. Suing companies is something we have learnt from the Americans and it is spreading into all walks of life. To be crystal clear who is responsible for a dent a check should be made and I would highly recommend that all garages follow a dual check with the customer and garage present and any identifiable knocks noted before the vehicle it left for inspection and repair. I am going to continue to use Stedman’s because they are very good at what they do and I know that when I ask for an inspection of my vehicle when dropping it off I will be granted it. This is the thing with Mark, the owner, he is very affable and meets customers wishes as much as he can.

I punctured a tyre and fortunately was only a few yards from this amazing garage In minutes I was back on the road Totally brilliant and friendly Are they actually real Angels ?!

I punctured a tyre and fortunately was only a few yards from this amazing garage In minutes I was back on the road Totally brilliant and friendly Are they actually real Angels ?!

I have been using Stedmans for 15+ years. Under the old management, it was a typical "old fashioned" garage - straightforward, but not particularly friendly. The garage changed hands a couple of years ago to a young ex-army chap called Mark, who is friendly, willing to assist and realistically priced. Often, with garages, you leave a car, expecting a shock later in the day - this is not the case with Stedmans. Give it a go. they are well hidden behind a petrol station on the A27 in Worthing.