I was gonna have them as last resort as my local one cant seem to pick the phone up let alone pick the right part :doh:
I have two near me. One in Sheffield and one in Chesterfield.
The one in Sheffield, (Stratstones), I have used only once. Went down there in my scruffy 'working on car clothes' to get an air filter for the Disco, (Land Rover RRP is only a few pence more than Paddocks).
As I stood at the parts reception being ignored some git from sales came and told me to "shift that heap of mine off his forcourt". Aye mate, when I'm ready, (I assume he was talking about my Disco).
When the parts monkey had got bored of ignoring me, or perhaps realised that I wasn't leaving, he decided to serve me....
"Yes. What!"
Er yeah, hi. I like an air filter for a 96 Discovery 300TDi please?
(without even looking at his computer) "We don't sell anything for vehicles that cheap", and with that he turned around and walked off.
Chesterfield on the other hand (Gordon Lamb), their parts staff all have their own Landys, are all enthusiasts, and are as good as Stratstones is bad. Usually willing to give a bit of discount as well.
All I would say is don't be so eager to have the main dealer as a last resort. Fir some stuff, for example an altinator, they are very expensive, but I find that for regular service stuff they are only a few pence more than Paddocks.