Interesting discussion with OPC re Service pricing

[997GT3]

So I called an OPC (large one owned by Porsche, near Oxford, starts with an R) with regards to a service and warranty renewal on my 997 GT3. I thought as they are supposed to be one of the best, who better to trust the GT3 with.

Service chap is nice, and says he will pass my details to one of the service receptionists who will send me an email with a quote.

So I receive the email in good time, so far so good.

It lists a major service for a 997 GT3 gen 1 as £1,250.

Also they have discounted (not removed) the 111 point check cost, which I thought they would remove as I'm having a major service undertaken. They reduced this from £216 to £86.

I also asked for an Air Con service as it starts to smell after 5-10 mins use, quoted £175.

I think to myself this looks a bit expensive. So I have a look on the Porsche website where it lists fixed service pricing, and a 997 GT3 is there at £1,050 for a major service. I also get an email from another OPC advertising an Air Con service for £149. WTF.

So I email the original OPC back, and inform them of my discovery. The receptionist emails back saying that she has confirmed with her manager that they can take the Air Con service down to £149, and that the £1,250 service cost was a typo. Again WTF.

I then ask about a discount as I am a PCGB member. She tells me that there are no FURTHER discounts and that PCGB doesn't entitle you to didly squat.

I inform her that all she has done is quote me the correct prices so far, she hasn't given me a discount on anything!

Also I believe that cars over 7 years old get a discounted labor rate at OPCs? This doesn't reflect in their service pricing IMO.

So I've been referred to her boss now, lets see what he has to say for himself.

In the meantime, I have got in touch with another OPC closer to me and asked for a quote - the original OPS are taking the piss a bit I feel.

Have you guys got money off servicing from PCGB membership? And waived 111 point checks cost when having a major service + warranty?

On the warranty extension also, they have quoted £1,020 inc vat for 1 year excluding Porsche assist, and excluding the 111 point check. This also seems expensive, is that right?

[kingston12]

I have been using the Tonbridge OPC since I got my car (about to take it in for the third time under my ownership).

The discounts are all over the place! The first time I got next to nothing off for PCGB membership, the next time it was a huge percentage discount. This time it is somewhere in between, and seems to be based on the age of the car (10) rather than PCGB membership.

I have never had the warranty, so I have always had the leverage of saying I will take the car elsewhere if it is too expensive.

I had one piece of work done at a different OPC (Brooklands) and was flatly told 10% off parts, nothing off labour for PCGB members which is totally different to what I have got at Tonbridge.

[997GT3]

Thanks for the feedback Kingston, I do know Tonbridge quite well, maybe I'll give them a quick call also.

[TheAnimal]

Try Silverstone and Cambridge they are good benchmarks for quotes and yes you should get discounts for PCGB membership too as I did.

[SFO]

any OPC that does not waive the warranty inspection charge as part of a major service is taking the mickey big time ..

[88racing]

I use OPC Silverstone (admittedly not often) but they have on record that I'm a PCGB member and automatically give me 10% off parts but not labour.

Chris.

[uktrailmonster]

I'd be more concerned about the quality of the service than the actual cost. Silverstone have been pretty good for me and don't try to take the piss on things like brakes etc.

[pete a]

http://www.precisionporsche.co.uk/

Just take it here and be done with it, great service and workshop, all Porsche trained staff, and Major service for 997 GT3 £714.00 inc vat.

[WindyM]

In my experience with Guildford OPC - they waived the 111 point charge when buying two years extended warranty and having approx. £1,000 of service work done at the same time. PCGB membership generally gets me 10% off parts only (not labour). Always willing to price match Costco for Michelin tyres (never tried against another OPC). They did do something peculiar last time when I swapped my steering wheel from PDK buttons to paddles - I asked for PCGB 10% but they said they'd used a lower labour rate (mine is Nov 2008 so 6 years old) and so this worked out cheaper than taking the 10% off the parts... I never checked the maths - just went out and paddled!

[aceparts]

Have to wonder why they use a LOWER rate for older cars... Surely the newer cars are EASIER to service, hence they should be cheaper?

[Ape50]

...more to do with attracting people with older/ cheaper cars who are more likely to go to a specialist/ independant to save money ?

[uktrailmonster]

aceparts said:

Have to wonder why they use a LOWER rate for older cars... Surely the newer cars are EASIER to service, hence they should be cheaper?

Different market completely and, as above, trying to tap into customers who wouldn't normally consider using a Porsche main dealer. As for ease of servicing, the older cars are generally less complicated especially when dealing with electrical systems. Their biggest issue is attracting good technicians who are actually experienced with the older cars.

[Trotmant]

uktrailmonster said:

aceparts said:

Have to wonder why they use a LOWER rate for older cars... Surely the newer cars are EASIER to service, hence they should be cheaper?

Different market completely and, as above, trying to tap into customers who wouldn't normally consider using a Porsche main dealer. As for ease of servicing, the older cars are generally less complicated especially when dealing with electrical systems. Their biggest issue is attracting good technicians who are actually experienced with the older cars.

+ whilst they have you there slowly sow the seeds of selling you a new car...

[997GT3]

Just to update this. The original OPC hasn't got back to me, the manager didn't call me.

So I got a quote from OPC EL - they are kindly throwing in the Airbag check for free, and also the drive belt check. They are trying to get the 111 point check to zero and got me in with short notice with no problems.

I'm happy to pay a fair price for a service and warranty and I only asked to pay the correct prices before asking if any discount was available. The experience with the original OPC has left me very surprised esp as they are owned by Porsche. I will vote with my feet and give business to the garage that treats me well, can't be fairer than that.

[kingston12]

aceparts said:

Have to wonder why they use a LOWER rate for older cars... Surely the newer cars are EASIER to service, hence they should be cheaper?

Let's be honest, OPC labour rates and service costs bear very little relation to how much it actually costs them to provide the service.

My 987 just turned 10 years old. I like keeping it serviced 'in the network' but having the OPC stamps in the service book is not really preserving much of the value it has left in it at this stage. If it works out a bit more expensive than a good indy then I'll go for it, but at full price, it is just too much to justify.

I actually just had mine done yesterday and when I picked it up it was parked between a 968 and a 986. There were quite a few others older than mine there as well, but I guess this would not be the case if they were charging the same to service them as 911s worth six figures.

I guess the ideal for the OPCs is that they have enough service/repair business from just current model cars thus making the best profit margin, but in reality most need to top that up with the older cars and have to discount a bit to do so.

[kingston12]

Trotmant said:

+ whilst they have you there slowly sow the seeds of selling you a new car...

That is true as well, but I reckon they probably have more success with the higher end market who bring their one year old 911 in and walk out with something else because they had cash on the hip and were a bit bored.

My OPC lent me a 2015 Cayman yesterday and I thought it was utterly brilliant. It was worth more than 3 times what mine is and still had a lower spec in some areas, so I doubt I'd be changing on a whim (perhaps a seed has been planted, though!)

I remember once talking to a colleague who took his two year old car in for service and walked out with a brand new one ordered, because the deal given worked out cheaper than replacing the tyres and other stuff identified in the service. This wasn't a Porsche of course!

[kingston12]

997GT3 said:

Just to update this. The original OPC hasn't got back to me, the manager didn't call me.

So I got a quote from OPC EL - they are kindly throwing in the Airbag check for free, and also the drive belt check. They are trying to get the 111 point check to zero and got me in with short notice with no problems.

I'm happy to pay a fair price for a service and warranty and I only asked to pay the correct prices before asking if any discount was available. The experience with the original OPC has left me very surprised esp as they are owned by Porsche. I will vote with my feet and give business to the garage that treats me well, can't be fairer than that.

Absolutely. I am glad you got this sorted.

[Stirlings]

give Porsche Reading a ring and ask for Tim Sweet
He's been there for 2 years and is the longest serving service advisor
he spent the previous 8 years at Porsche Exeter
Really fantastic guy, friendly, passionate about the product and looking after his customers

[88racing]

aceparts said:

Have to wonder why they use a LOWER rate for older cars...

Because they suddenly realised a couple of years ago how much business they were loosing to the better indys.

[was8v]

997GT3 said:

It lists a major service for a 997 GT3 gen 1 as £1,250.

Is over one thousands pounds a reasonable amount to pay for a mornings work?

997GT3 said:

I also asked for an Air Con service as it starts to smell after 5-10 mins use, quoted £175.

Is £3.99 any better? http://www.eurocarparts.com/air-con-cleaner