Garages Ripping off the Mrs

[mybrainhurts]

One of those quick fit type places wanted £613 to fix my daughter's car.

My garage did it for £70.

[Rick101]

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.

Not for us Northern folk. We've no need to keep up with the Jones's. Keep us coin in us pockets!

[Fer]

Countdown said:

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.

A typo I assume?

You try telling the kids today...

[Marvib]

Fer said:

Countdown said:

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.

A typo I assume?

You try telling the kids today...

.....and they won't believe you.

[jamieduff1981]

I rarely see this. I have once and won't bother with the story.

In general if I use a main dealer I can't help but look at new cars even if I don't really intend to buy. I guess it's less likely a dealership can exploit brand loyalty to sell you a brand new car if they're telling you your current car has grenaded itself again for the 3rd year running. Why would anyone buy from that brand again.

Fortunately I think most dealers know this. The Wd40 leaking from dampers etc is more the preserve of crappy places without any prospect of repeat business.

[Mound Dawg]

VWDaz86 said:

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.

Same here.

On the other hand, the number of people who didn't want their brake pads changed when they were almost down to the metal... "No, I'll leave that thanks. Did you get the air con working?"

[jamieduff1981]

Mound Dawg said:

VWDaz86 said:

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.

Same here.

On the other hand, the number of people who didn't want their brake pads changed when they were almost down to the metal... "No, I'll leave that thanks. Did you get the air con working?"

I'm sure most such customers are actually just fools but I have to confess I'd probably say exactly that

The rationale though is that I can happily change pads and discs at home whereas aircon needs specialised equipment the dealer has that I don't have access to.

That possibly explains about 0.001% of people who prioritise comforts above brakes when visiting a dealer!

[PositronicRay]

jamieduff1981 said:

Mound Dawg said:

VWDaz86 said:

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.

Same here.

On the other hand, the number of people who didn't want their brake pads changed when they were almost down to the metal... "No, I'll leave that thanks. Did you get the air con working?"

I'm sure most such customers are actually just fools but I have to confess I'd probably say exactly that

The rationale though is that I can happily change pads and discs at home whereas aircon needs specialised equipment the dealer has that I don't have access to.

That possibly explains about 0.001% of people who prioritise comforts above brakes when visiting a dealer!

The problems often start when some of the dealer groups are planning targets. All bravado and testosterone in the boardroom, declaring huge and challenging numbers.

The pressure to deliver is immense and passed down the line. I've known plenty of good techies/service advisors go to indies because they're fed up with the crap.
Some dealers even employ an additional service advisor, whose sole job is to get on the phone to you whilst you're car is in the workshop. (They call it upsell BTW)

The favorite victim is the sales dept, easy to make up a short fall at the end of the month. It's regarded as "all is fair in love and war" rather than embezzelment.

Fair play to all those with a decent employer doing an honest job

[Skyedriver]

speedyguy said:

Could you post up some examples to counteract all these naughty garages mentioned Thanks

Wife sees to get reasonable service (you know what I mean!) from our local Suzuki Dealer Sims in Darlo.

[saaby93]

It's not garages ripping off the mrs, it's anyone that's likely to succumb to xxx is worn, we can replace it for £yyy, we have it in stock, we can do it while the car's in.
The Mrs can be savvy too

[Sheepshanks]

littlebasher said:

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.

Hmmm...they wouldn't even have authorised the tyres - no way will leasing companies change at 3mm. Constant hassle with tyres was one of the things that motivated me to opt out.


In a similar vein to the story though, when I opted out I bought a Merc and, for a few years had their now demised ServicePlus scheme. A lot of MB forum members had it, but it wasn't widely promoted by MB and it covered all servicing and repairs on cars up to 6yrs old / 120K miles.

One member got a call while his car was in for service with a whole load of work – pads and discs all round etc etc. When he went to pick the car up and was presented with the bill, he handed them his ServicePlus card.

Lots of wailing and gnashing of teeth ensued!

[Riknos]

A lot of people here talking about getting pulled over the coals for brakes - does nobody do their own brakes anymore?
Parts for most cars - even more modern ones can be had on ebay for pennies compared to what the dealers are charging.

[Motorrad]

Riknos said:

A lot of people here talking about getting pulled over the coals for brakes - does nobody do their own brakes anymore?
Parts for most cars - even more modern ones can be had on ebay for pennies compared to what the dealers are charging.

Off topic but be careful who you buy spares from on ebay.

I've had fake Philips xenon bulbs, BERU distributor cap and Pagid pads all from well rated suppliers.

[RobinBanks]

swatches said:

Four Litre said:

I thought I had seen it all when it comes to blatant p!ss taking by Garages. The Mrs popped her car into a well know main dealer, whos badges were quite popular with the public enemy fans a few years back.

Beastie Boys



/pedant

Thanks, I wasn't sure which badge Public Enemy fans liked!

After thinking I did come to the same conclusion though.

[KungFuPanda]

Motorrad said:

Riknos said:

A lot of people here talking about getting pulled over the coals for brakes - does nobody do their own brakes anymore?
Parts for most cars - even more modern ones can be had on ebay for pennies compared to what the dealers are charging.

Off topic but be careful who you buy spares from on ebay.

I've had fake Philips xenon bulbs, BERU distributor cap and Pagid pads all from well rated suppliers.

Failing Ebay, your local Euro Car Parts will be cheap as chips too.

[SuperchargedVR6]

Rick101 said:

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.

Not for us Northern folk. We've no need to keep up with the Jones's. Keep us coin in us pockets!

Nor us Southern shandy drinkers, wye aye. Fair price for a fair job. J4CKO's post just speaks of lacking a spine.

Never had any problems with my VW main dealer. Cambelts, services, MOTs. I've always just paid a fair price for a fair job. They've never fabricated any horseschitt parts failures with me. Maybe some dealers just prey on folk who are actually as greeen as they are cabbage looking?

[Garvin]

Riknos said:

A lot of people here talking about getting pulled over the coals for brakes - does nobody do their own brakes anymore?
Parts for most cars - even more modern ones can be had on ebay for pennies compared to what the dealers are charging.

Yes, I do my own. Mrs Garvin's MX-5 was in for annual service when the Dealer rang up to say the front brake pads needed replacing - £270 and all would be well including checking/greasing the sliding pins on the calipers etc. Politely refused and £27 for a set of pads (yes, they did need replacing, discs OK) and half hour's investment later and the job's a good 'un including thoroughly cleaned and lubed calipers.

[irob]

Ice T ( the rapper, not drink) began to wear a Mercedes badge as a symbol of wealth/class/good taste.

Mike D of Beastie Boys adopted that fashion and slightly took the piss with the VW badge.

Public Enemy had that dude that wore his kitchen clock around his neck.

Run DMC were famous for their Adidas.

As far as getting ripped off by a garage? I have nothing to add.

[Limpet]

Four Litre said:

So any other stories of companies creating blatant profeteering oppertunities from your Mrs, where youve managed to hold on to the cash just in the nick of time??

My Mrs had an old Sierra in her early driving career, and the MOT was due. By the time I'd realised, it was coming up, I only had a couple of days to go. A call to my usual garage yielded no joy, and we finally found a local place that could fit us in. I gave it a once-over, and could find nothing obvious to fail on. It had had a major service 6 months earlier, with new pads and discs, rear shoes, and front anti-roll bar bushes fitted.

I was working so she took the car in. She called me an hour later in tears, and when I read the fail sheetlater, I could see instantly that it was a crock of rubbish. "Front brake pads worn to metal" was the one I remember, when the pads had done all of 5,000 gentle miles and still had at least twice that left in them. "Front anti roll bar bushes perished" was another (recently replaced), severe oil leak (lies) and a whole list of other stuff, with really sensationalist wording, lots of capitals and exclamation marks, and a load of junk written in the "dangerous to drive" box. The real motivation for this was clear however. She told me as she was leaving, a used car salesman approached her and said he couldn't help overhearing, and could do her a lovely deal on a used car off the forecourt, and would give her £1,000 px for the Sierra which was after all little more than scrap.

I drove the car down there with the fail sheet, and I asked them very politely to show me these problems. They got really aggressive and all but threw me off the site. I called VOSA immediately and reported the situation. I was very surprised to hear they had had other complaints and were investigating. Two weeks later, the garage was in the local paper. It had been shut down as a result of a joint investigation by trading standards and VOSA.

I got the car booked in to my usual garage, and it passed the test, ironically with an advisory on surface corrosion on an exhaust seam, something the cowboys had actually missed completely. We had this "dangerous" car three more years with barely a single issue.

[austinsmirk]

aye, well i'm a yorkshireman. tight wiv me brass.

alls I can say to theesent is I takes me Ford Mondeo to same dealer for last umpteen years.

never ad any bother

you don't mess with us Northerns: its you soft southern jessies wiv your limp wrists and wallets flopping empty when you walk thru dealers door.

bunch of pansies.