Garages Ripping off the Mrs
Discussion
Some years ago Smith and Jones did a sketch set in a mechanics training classroom.
In it, the teacher posed the question " A customer returns to collect his recently serviced car. You tell him that his bill is £421 and he doesn't bat an eyelid. What should you do?
One of the students eventually gave the correct answer, which was of course to say "Plus parts"
In it, the teacher posed the question " A customer returns to collect his recently serviced car. You tell him that his bill is £421 and he doesn't bat an eyelid. What should you do?
One of the students eventually gave the correct answer, which was of course to say "Plus parts"
Had an interim service on my S6 at Audi recently. Fixed price of under £200. Waited at the garage whilst they did it. Commented that my tyres looked virtually brand new at 8mm and no other work required. Even gave me one of those keyrings which you can use instead of a £1 coin in supermarket trolleys.
My sister has an Aygo. Had three annual fixed price services from the local Toyota dealer. Even though one of them was only £59, they still sent someone down to collect the vehicle.
My sister has an Aygo. Had three annual fixed price services from the local Toyota dealer. Even though one of them was only £59, they still sent someone down to collect the vehicle.
F355GTS said:
BMW dealer in North Hampshire said my car urgently needed new front discs and pads at 35k miles the CBS system says the front pads have 60k miles remaining and on checking the discs they're about 40% worn. They also suggested I needed 2 new tyres as a tyre had a 'bloody great nail' in it which turned out to be a 2mm pin not puncturing the tyre. Their quote for 2 tyres, a pair of wiper blades (which work fine) pads and discs....£7,900!!!!!!!
The bull s
t is strong in this one! Could maybe believe you if they were for ceramics on your 'Rrari' but on a BMW no way.F355GTS said:
BMW dealer in North Hampshire said my car urgently needed new front discs and pads at 35k miles the CBS system says the front pads have 60k miles remaining and on checking the discs they're about 40% worn. They also suggested I needed 2 new tyres as a tyre had a 'bloody great nail' in it which turned out to be a 2mm pin not puncturing the tyre. Their quote for 2 tyres, a pair of wiper blades (which work fine) pads and discs....£7,900!!!!!!!
I'd get some new batteries for your hearing aid if that is what you thought they said.
Mr2Mike said:
750turbo said:
Please do not think that ALL dealers are rip off merchants though, despite what you see in here.
The law of averages means there must be at least a few competent and honest main dealers out the the thousands of bent ones.
However, back on topic - my wife borrowed my MINI to visit family. The runflat light came on, whilst driving back on a Sunday afternoon. She went to a well known 'budget' tyre place.
She is not very confident, so I spoke to the guy on the phone about replacement. I asked him to demonstrate to my wife where the nail was in the original tyre. He refused stating she would not understand!!! Somewhat testing my patience and they were due to shut in 15 minutes.....
Eventually they fitted the most expensive runflat tyre available, as that was all they had in stock(could be possible??). By the time my wife had returned (we live on the Isle of Wight) I inspected the work and new tyre. They had completely butchered the alloy (many chips upto 1 inch long) Phone call again (following day) - which basically they said she could have caused it by her driving style? Also she should have inspected prior to leaving. It was a rear wheel and no way she could have caused it....
Put it down to experience (an expensive one at that)......
Mike
DJP said:
blueg33 said:
My Lotus was in for a service with a main dealer last week. I told them it had z knocking from the front that I thought may be drop links and that I was worried that the front fiscs were nearly worn
They called me to tell me that the knocking was bushes and would cost £50 rather than £150 that dtoplinks would cost and they told me the front fiscs had 2mm of wear whivh is about 10k miles so no need to change.
When I went to collect the car they had the worm bushes if I wanted to inspect them.
The previous time they replaced a boot gas strut free of charge.
I hate typing on my phone. They called me to tell me that the knocking was bushes and would cost £50 rather than £150 that dtoplinks would cost and they told me the front fiscs had 2mm of wear whivh is about 10k miles so no need to change.
When I went to collect the car they had the worm bushes if I wanted to inspect them.
The previous time they replaced a boot gas strut free of charge.
datum77 said:
You have done what all people with the capacity to be easily ripped-off at the drop of a hat stupidly do. Why, oh why, oh why, do you insist on dealing with main franchised dealers. All you goolies that wander into main dealers with your eyes shut and waving your credit/debit card around deserve all you get.
There have been several recent threads from people with VAG cars that have needed new engines at around 5yrs old and been told to sod off as the cars hadn't been franchised dealer serviced.I've taken our Golf out of the network (it's the only car on the family fleer where I've felt I needed to do that) but I can't deny that I'm absolutely wetting myself that something terrible might happen to it!
Sheepshanks said:
There have been several recent threads from people with VAG cars that have needed new engines at around 5yrs old and been told to sod off as the cars hadn't been franchised dealer serviced.
Audi 2.0TFSI oil consumption? There were also folk who had to pay up to £4K for the job, despite full dealer history. However recently, Audi seem to be fixing them free even for cars serviced outside the dealer network, also for modified cars. Owners who paid for rebuilds and/or oil consumption tests are getting reimbursed, too.
silentbrown said:
Sheepshanks said:
There have been several recent threads from people with VAG cars that have needed new engines at around 5yrs old and been told to sod off as the cars hadn't been franchised dealer serviced.
Audi 2.0TFSI oil consumption? There were also folk who had to pay up to £4K for the job, despite full dealer history. However recently, Audi seem to be fixing them free even for cars serviced outside the dealer network, also for modified cars. Owners who paid for rebuilds and/or oil consumption tests are getting reimbursed, too.
F355GTS said:
BMW dealer in North Hampshire said my car urgently needed new front discs and pads at 35k miles the CBS system says the front pads have 60k miles remaining and on checking the discs they're about 40% worn. They also suggested I needed 2 new tyres as a tyre had a 'bloody great nail' in it which turned out to be a 2mm pin not puncturing the tyre. Their quote for 2 tyres, a pair of wiper blades (which work fine) pads and discs....£7,900!!!!!!!
Where are the other three Yorkshiremen.xxChrisxx said:
F355GTS said:
BMW dealer in North Hampshire said my car urgently needed new front discs and pads at 35k miles the CBS system says the front pads have 60k miles remaining and on checking the discs they're about 40% worn. They also suggested I needed 2 new tyres as a tyre had a 'bloody great nail' in it which turned out to be a 2mm pin not puncturing the tyre. Their quote for 2 tyres, a pair of wiper blades (which work fine) pads and discs....£7,900!!!!!!!
Where are the other three Yorkshiremen.
I once had an appraisal of my squeaky back brake. They said it needed new front discs, new rear brake shoes and drums, and here's the coup de grace, a whole new set of hydraulic pipes front to back, this on a two year old BMW ! This was years ago, and they wanted 1600 pounds. In the end I just bought some new back brake shoes !.........They're name is very similar to 'Jessie James' and they have a wonderful steel and glass premises in the Enfield area that deals in nice shiny rip off BMW's.
PositronicRay said:
You lot think that when you complain to the service manager/DP that the techie will get a bking, for making up work and trying to get bonuses.
Wrong, he'll get congratulated.
Not just main dealers and don't bother complaining.
Twitter, online reviews and vote with you're feet.
Sorry, but thats b*****ks, I work for a main dealer as a tech/mechanic whatever you want to call me, if i made up work that needed doing and it was found out, I'd at best be in for a written warning, or most likely lose my job. I've worked for 3 major manufacturers and NEVER heard of any of the dealers praising its staff for making up work. king, for making up work and trying to get bonuses. Wrong, he'll get congratulated.
Not just main dealers and don't bother complaining.
Twitter, online reviews and vote with you're feet.
This thread reminded me of a trip to a well known fast fit chain.
Luckily for me, i was only in there for a simple puncture repair. While i was waiting in reception, the branch manager made a call to a customer with a list of work their car required.
We had
4 new tyres
New disks and pads
Rear shocks
All this on a 2 year old Megane.
From the gist of the conversation, it was clear that the customer was happy to get the work done - all was going well for the manager, until he was told the car was leased!
Presumably needing authorisation, the manager called the lease company. This time, all he did was report that the two front tyres were on 3mm and could he change them!
To top it off, he phoned back the customer and told them he's only been authorised to change the two front tyres.
Lying tt.
Luckily for me, i was only in there for a simple puncture repair. While i was waiting in reception, the branch manager made a call to a customer with a list of work their car required.
We had
4 new tyres
New disks and pads
Rear shocks
All this on a 2 year old Megane.
From the gist of the conversation, it was clear that the customer was happy to get the work done - all was going well for the manager, until he was told the car was leased!
Presumably needing authorisation, the manager called the lease company. This time, all he did was report that the two front tyres were on 3mm and could he change them!
To top it off, he phoned back the customer and told them he's only been authorised to change the two front tyres.
Lying t
t.TEKNOPUG said:
Every time I have ever been to a main dealer for anything, the car in question has always, without fail, urgently required new brake pads....
My car has brake wear sensors (which weren't warning of anything, and which I understand should go off at 50% worn), but nonetheless I was warned that I should fit new front and rear pads (£195 each), otherwise the sensors themselves might need replacing. Which sounds scary, but the sensors are only £10 from a parts supplier....J4CKO said:
I think it is one of those many situations where our money suddenly loses value and you instinctively bend over ready, feeling helpless, not wanting to look cheap or poor
For example, booking weddings, funerals, hotel bills, going to the vets, paying anyone in the legal profession, going to the dentists, settling the bill in posh restaurants and many others.
Good point. I hadn't thought of it before, but so true.For example, booking weddings, funerals, hotel bills, going to the vets, paying anyone in the legal profession, going to the dentists, settling the bill in posh restaurants and many others.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff