Complimentary Service Clinic - why do they bother?
Discussion
I just received an email from my OPC inviting me to their complimentary service clinic. I usually just ignore these emails. Porsche are not the only ones that do this, but it got me thinking. Who in their right mind would attend one of these clinics and volunteer themselves for an OPC arse raping?
It's bad enough taking your car in for an oil change and getting the inevitable list of things that supposedly need replacing. Why would you give them a car with no problems and let the OPC find some for you?
It seems to me that they're confused who their target demographic is. They think we're all mugs.
It's bad enough taking your car in for an oil change and getting the inevitable list of things that supposedly need replacing. Why would you give them a car with no problems and let the OPC find some for you?
It seems to me that they're confused who their target demographic is. They think we're all mugs.
Webber3 said:
I just received an email from my OPC inviting me to their complimentary service clinic. I usually just ignore these emails. Porsche are not the only ones that do this, but it got me thinking. Who in their right mind would attend one of these clinics and volunteer themselves for an OPC arse raping?
It's bad enough taking your car in for an oil change and getting the inevitable list of things that supposedly need replacing. Why would you give them a car with no problems and let the OPC find some for you?
It seems to me that they're confused who their target demographic is. They think we're all mugs.
Go along, eat the food, drink the drink, admire the receptionists and then go home.It's bad enough taking your car in for an oil change and getting the inevitable list of things that supposedly need replacing. Why would you give them a car with no problems and let the OPC find some for you?
It seems to me that they're confused who their target demographic is. They think we're all mugs.
What's not to like?
Webber3 said:
I just received an email from my OPC inviting me to their complimentary service clinic. I usually just ignore these emails. Porsche are not the only ones that do this, but it got me thinking. Who in their right mind would attend one of these clinics and volunteer themselves for an OPC arse raping?
It's bad enough taking your car in for an oil change and getting the inevitable list of things that supposedly need replacing. Why would you give them a car with no problems and let the OPC find some for you?
It seems to me that they're confused who their target demographic is. They think we're all mugs.
Or....Take then up on the offer and when they come out with a list of stuff that needs fixing or attending to, point out the fact that the car has a warranty and get then to do what they can and just ignore the rest It's bad enough taking your car in for an oil change and getting the inevitable list of things that supposedly need replacing. Why would you give them a car with no problems and let the OPC find some for you?
It seems to me that they're confused who their target demographic is. They think we're all mugs.
Webber3 said:
I just received an email from my OPC inviting me to their complimentary service clinic. I usually just ignore these emails. Porsche are not the only ones that do this, but it got me thinking. Who in their right mind would attend one of these clinics and volunteer themselves for an OPC arse raping?
It's bad enough taking your car in for an oil change and getting the inevitable list of things that supposedly need replacing. Why would you give them a car with no problems and let the OPC find some for you?
It seems to me that they're confused who their target demographic is. They think we're all mugs.
I attended one a couple of years ago, got to see underneath my car and had a chat with a knowledgeable technician.It's bad enough taking your car in for an oil change and getting the inevitable list of things that supposedly need replacing. Why would you give them a car with no problems and let the OPC find some for you?
It seems to me that they're confused who their target demographic is. They think we're all mugs.
Chatted to a few like-minded fellow car owners , enjoyed the food and drink, won one of their competitions and went home.
Cost zero.
As TIPEC Regional officer I do two sessions a year with my group. Normally fully booked sometimes oversubscribed. You get nice coffee & tea, some tasty cakes & 40 minutes of a Porsche Techs time for free. Plus see in around & under your car. They'll adjust tyre pressures, check tyre depths & advise on what needs doing. This will include advice if you DIY. If you want a quote/booking/spares priced then it gets done. No pressure.
Twice this has saved me money, last session we spotted a nail in a tyre, which I was able to get pulled out when it could be sorted rather than on a dark rainy night. The other one was when my Boxster left a trail of fluid through the service bay which was a tip seal gone. No warning but once it all run out would have been a trashed tip box. I left it there & was able to hitch a lift home. The work got done at £60ish per hour, 10% discount on parts
What isn't to like, no one forces it!
Twice this has saved me money, last session we spotted a nail in a tyre, which I was able to get pulled out when it could be sorted rather than on a dark rainy night. The other one was when my Boxster left a trail of fluid through the service bay which was a tip seal gone. No warning but once it all run out would have been a trashed tip box. I left it there & was able to hitch a lift home. The work got done at £60ish per hour, 10% discount on parts
What isn't to like, no one forces it!
I took my 2006 Cayman to one of these at Bristol OPC earlier this year. There was no hard sell and the only item they picked up was the corrosion on the inside faces of the front discs, which as I do my own maintenance, I was already aware of. It was a good opportunity to get the car up on a ramp as I don't have one and discuss some points with their technician. Overall a pleasant and reassuring experience.
"They'll adjust tyre pressures, check tyre depths & advise on what needs doing"
scary what people go to these events who need help in these area's
I can see it now
"You're tyre pressure is a bit low sir"
"I am going to use this generator to pump them up to the required pressure, but you must use a foot pump"
"I see also that you need new tyres at £250 a tyre. the normal price is £130 but as you are here we can fit them for double the cost, why else do you think we are here today ?"
"thank you kind sir, please fit 2 of your twice as expensive tyres, which I also note are older N branded s
t and not the Pilot Super sports my friend uses"
"YOU MUST NOT fit pilot Super sports to your car, our 10 tear old design N branded tyres are far better for our pockets, I mean your car"
"Thank you again kind sir for fitting these far better older design tyres, I cannot wait to tell every one how my N spec tyres were made just for my car and now I feel they are well worth the cost"
scary what people go to these events who need help in these area's
I can see it now
"You're tyre pressure is a bit low sir"
"I am going to use this generator to pump them up to the required pressure, but you must use a foot pump"
"I see also that you need new tyres at £250 a tyre. the normal price is £130 but as you are here we can fit them for double the cost, why else do you think we are here today ?"
"thank you kind sir, please fit 2 of your twice as expensive tyres, which I also note are older N branded s
t and not the Pilot Super sports my friend uses""YOU MUST NOT fit pilot Super sports to your car, our 10 tear old design N branded tyres are far better for our pockets, I mean your car"
"Thank you again kind sir for fitting these far better older design tyres, I cannot wait to tell every one how my N spec tyres were made just for my car and now I feel they are well worth the cost"
Been to one of these got a clean bill of health for my turbo but had a good poke around and told by the Porsche tech what to keep an eye out for. Drank the coffee enjoyed the cakes and came home happy that my car was safe and in great condition.
Give it a try, you may be pleasantly surprised.
Give it a try, you may be pleasantly surprised.
tr7v8 said:
As TIPEC Regional officer I do two sessions a year with my group. Normally fully booked sometimes oversubscribed. You get nice coffee & tea, some tasty cakes & 40 minutes of a Porsche Techs time for free. Plus see in around & under your car. They'll adjust tyre pressures, check tyre depths & advise on what needs doing. This will include advice if you DIY. If you want a quote/booking/spares priced then it gets done. No pressure.
Twice this has saved me money, last session we spotted a nail in a tyre, which I was able to get pulled out when it could be sorted rather than on a dark rainy night. The other one was when my Boxster left a trail of fluid through the service bay which was a tip seal gone. No warning but once it all run out would have been a trashed tip box. I left it there & was able to hitch a lift home. The work got done at £60ish per hour, 10% discount on parts
What isn't to like, no one forces it!
Exactly, mine is booked into Ediburgh on the 4 th of October. I get to drive it for an hour there and an hour back too. Twice this has saved me money, last session we spotted a nail in a tyre, which I was able to get pulled out when it could be sorted rather than on a dark rainy night. The other one was when my Boxster left a trail of fluid through the service bay which was a tip seal gone. No warning but once it all run out would have been a trashed tip box. I left it there & was able to hitch a lift home. The work got done at £60ish per hour, 10% discount on parts
What isn't to like, no one forces it!
I did this a few years ago although not my local opc (I went to hatfield).
It was a good opprtunity to see clearly the underneath of the car.
For older cars like the 993, it is good to see if there is much rust forming in the exposed parts underneath (obvioulsy chadsis rails rust won't be picked up) but is an opportunity.
In my case the tech appeared knowlegable, was complimentary aand honest about the condition of the car and did not try at all to sell me anything.
All in, a good experience.
It was a good opprtunity to see clearly the underneath of the car.
For older cars like the 993, it is good to see if there is much rust forming in the exposed parts underneath (obvioulsy chadsis rails rust won't be picked up) but is an opportunity.
In my case the tech appeared knowlegable, was complimentary aand honest about the condition of the car and did not try at all to sell me anything.
All in, a good experience.
sidicks said:
I attended one a couple of years ago, got to see underneath my car and had a chat with a knowledgeable technician.
Chatted to a few like-minded fellow car owners , enjoyed the food and drink, won one of their competitions and went home.
Cost zero.
That was a few years ago. Have you been out anywhere else since?Chatted to a few like-minded fellow car owners , enjoyed the food and drink, won one of their competitions and went home.
Cost zero.
Which competition did you win? The biggest eater and drinker?
Cost zero. Did you thumb a lift to get there?
Edited by Storm996 on Tuesday 23 September 01:03
mrdemon said:
"thank you kind sir, please fit 2 of your twice as expensive tyres, which I also note are older N branded st and not the Pilot Super sports my friend uses"
"YOU MUST NOT fit pilot Super sports to your car, our 10 tear old design N branded tyres are far better for our pockets, I mean your car"
"Thank you again kind sir for fitting these far better older design tyres, I cannot wait to tell every one how my N spec tyres were made just for my car and now I feel they are well worth the cost"
That N rating really gets on your tits doesn't it t and not the Pilot Super sports my friend uses""YOU MUST NOT fit pilot Super sports to your car, our 10 tear old design N branded tyres are far better for our pockets, I mean your car"
"Thank you again kind sir for fitting these far better older design tyres, I cannot wait to tell every one how my N spec tyres were made just for my car and now I feel they are well worth the cost"
I got the 'Service Clinic' email yesterday too. I was shocked that my OPC could find the time for it, given that they had literally just told me that they couldn't look at my car (which seems to have some sort of turbo issue) until next Wednesday cos they're so busy.
I didn't expect them to just drop everything to look at my car immediately, but it did make me wonder whether my loyalty to the OPC is really deserved - luckily I don't need to use the car for work.
I didn't expect them to just drop everything to look at my car immediately, but it did make me wonder whether my loyalty to the OPC is really deserved - luckily I don't need to use the car for work.
Storm996 said:
That was a few years ago. Have you been out anywhere else since?
Have you?. Had the OP?I can only report on my actual experiences...
Storm996 said:
Which competition did you win? The biggest eater and drinker?
There was a quiz which meant I won a model Porsche (£149 in the Porsche shop). My dad, who had come along as my guest, also won a model Porsche (£119 in the Porsche shop).storm said:
Cost zero. Did you thumb a lift to get there?
Driving my car is something I do for pleasure - in his case I had a nice 1 hour cross country drive to the OPC and back.Do you expect to put in an expense claim for fuel??
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff