GSF 35% off this weekend

[Pillock]

Not only do I remember when this was all fields, I remember when it was German and Swedish.

And they knew what they were talking about. Pretty much VW, Audi, Volvo and Saab to worry about so actually had some knowledge about what was on the shelf instead of knowing very little about millions of parts.

 

Once phoned them up on a Sunday and they had a fuel tank for a '65 Beetle in stock on their shelf in Sheffield.

[Jimmycrackcorn]

They've also discounted stuff on ebay, just bought a gearbox output shaft bearing guide for the C4 at under £7.

[dollywobbler]

I've bought a fair bit from GSF over the years. Can't say I've had too much bother.

[PiperCub]

Not only do I remember when this was all fields, I remember when it was German and Swedish.

And they knew what they were talking about. Pretty much VW, Audi, Volvo and Saab to worry about so actually had some knowledge about what was on the shelf instead of knowing very little about millions of parts.

 

Once phoned them up on a Sunday and they had a fuel tank for a '65 Beetle in stock on their shelf in Sheffield.

 

That IMO is part of the basic problem. They were great as G & S because they specialised and knew their shit, their market, their customers. Then they began to try to do everything, cover all bases and that is where it's gone wrong. The same can be said for ECP, they bought a number of smaller outfits probably in an attempt to corner the market and minimise competition. 

Jack of all trades/master of none?

[bub2006]

Wow that's a big hat

No its a small hat,the cars a far away

[twosmoke300]

They've also discounted stuff on ebay, just bought a gearbox output shaft bearing guide for the C4 at under £7.

Input !

[Jimmycrackcorn]

Input !

Of course, took me a minute to get my head around that for some reason. Need to work out if I can remove the casing easily enough without cog's'n'stuff falling out all over the place. I've a funny feeling what's left of the bearing is in there somewhere as I have only found one of the large bearings. Although there's no noise when I shake the box and I'd expect to hear something if the rest were in there.

[PiperCub]

No its a small hat,the cars a far away

 

You're quite wrong, the hat is huge, the cars are tiny. 

[stephen01]

I've had stuff from them and no kittens have died as a result, but price is always a big factor, I *need some new wiper blades, they clear the window ok but screech like fuck while doing it. and I think these were 20 quid bosh jobbies, anyway I digress, so I need new blades, GSF have a unknown set for £17.39 less the 35% brings em down to £11.30 plus postage no doubt. just jumped on ebay and can have a set of these aero blades for £4.99 delivered. with some good feedback, worst case I'm a fiver down and i'll have to live with the crap noisy blades.  

[inconsistant]

Thanks chrisjvm, just got £6 off set of sparkle plugs and £5 off a pollen filter... stuff I was going to buy anyway so ta v much for the tip off 

[chrisjvm]

Glad it was of some use to you Inconsistant.

 

I got a Sachs clutch kit and 4 Bilstein shockers for my T25 .... about £180.

Musn't crumble!!

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Still find the website a ballache - it wont show me jacks unless I input a make and model of car, even then it wont show me all the jacks, only ones it thinks are suitable for that car - matches = 15, total items shown 3

 

 

This is the root cause of their troubles. The ECP website is clear and easy to use. The GSF site is complete shit. I haven't bort owt from them in years.

[stephen01]

Wipers came, fitted, they're brilliant, seriously can't moan for 5 quid. Thanks eBay

[forddeliveryboy]

When G&S bought out Andyspares, the long-standing French parts suppliers based in Reading (and who were bloody brilliant until about a year before they sold out), I failed to see how this made any sense other than on economic scale. At least a couple of knowledge-box salesmen tooled off up to the place in Glasgow and took a lot of trade with them, who themselves went a bit wobbly after a decent-ish year or so.

 

It's the effect of the net - if you don't have a decent online counter at good prices then you're sunk if you're biggish.

[Des]

GSF have sent me CAR35 for the discount this weekend, not to be outdone, Eurocar Prats have sent SALE5 for a whopping 5%.

[Six-cylinder]

GSF have sent me CAR35 for the discount this weekend, not to be outdone, Eurocar Prats have sent SALE5 for a whopping 5%.

I priced up my Metro Gaskets, timming belt etc and GSF were at 25% more expensive than Euro. I then found a 10% discount code for Euro VBOX10 so I think they ended up at the same.

[Des]

Now 40% at GSF with FEB40.

[doobietoo]

Still not worth the bother tbh nearest branch is 20 miles away and as has been said already their site is ridiculous and prices even at 40% are not that good....

[inconsistant]

I recently ordered parts from GSF at -30% off for both cars (sparkle plugs and pollen filter) and they were delivered free within a couple of days. And they were correct and fitted so I felt like a king.

[Kiltox]

GSF pricing is just ridiculous and their website is atrocious - even with 40 percent off they're more expensive than ECP and just as good at giving you wrong / shite parts

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

I don't have any complaints about GSF, the prices seem competitive.

 

I've only used them a couple of times despite having one locally. I did a click & collect order but when I turned up I was informed that it hadn't come through yet. Behind the desk there was an old printer clattering away noisily, machine gunning text onto 1970s style computer paper and feeding it into a bin in a constant motion. I could have my £3 temperature sender when the printer decreed. Unfortunately this printer had just been tasked with printing a copy of the OED in 72pt wingdings, so I wandered around an industrial estate in the dark for 45 minutes until the guy behind the counter phoned to let me know I could have my part. 

 

Which was broken. 

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Both of them are pretty cheap in my experience. In GSFs favour, I have never had that ECP favourite of standing in a massive long queue while one lad mans the counter and 10 people fanny about in an office behind him.

[Richard]

I've never been in a GSF branch but that certainly seems to be the case at all the ECP branches I've been to.

[Des]

standing in a massive long queue while one lad mans the counter and 10 people fanny about in an office behind him.

Exactly my experience, but I would add that the lad behind the counter will be a massive twat with trendy haircut, beard, ink, etc. and the 10 strong queue consists of bell ends and non-English speakers.

My ECP is walking distance, nearest GSF is the wrong side of Watfords ring road, which was constructed in the seventies to demonstrate how tarmac can be just as effective as the Berlin fucking wall, it's prefable to travel to GSF.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Just ordered a battery for MissN3's 206CC on click and collect. With the FEB40 code it's £35. The best ECP price was £46.

I seem to have got in the habit of going to ECP,for no real reason, other than our local independents gradually selling to market trader types " My friend,I give you good price" and I always leave these places thinking I've paid too much.

I will report on how good or bad my GSF experience is, later.

[r.welfare]

With the 40% off the Mann & Hummel oil filters that fit both cars come in at £3.63 each which seems value to me, so I've ordered half a dozen.

[plasticvandan]

Gsf and ecp clearly use the same suppliers as when one is out of stock so is the other,so just use the cheapest