Servicing price differences between dealers?

Servicing price differences between dealers?

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Discussion

hutchingsp

Original Poster:

51,909 posts

211 months

Wednesday 15th August 2007
quotequote all
My Mum's Mk3 MX5 is up for its first service.

The supplying dealers (Mazda at Erdington) have quoted £210 on the three occasions we have called them.

The first time was to ask the price.

The second time was when two other Mazda dealers quoted £110 and £125 for the same service.

The third time was when my Mum called the chap she dealt with when she brought it to say "If that's the correct price then fine but don't be surprised if all your customer go elsewhere for servicing".

They are adamant it's the correct price. Given it's a Mazda scheduled service, the only difference should be in labour rates, and I don't see them being £165 an hour, which they would have to be as the place quoting £111 has a £65 labour rate.

Any other rational explanations?

collateral

7,238 posts

219 months

Wednesday 15th August 2007
quotequote all
confused

Take it to the cheaper one?

hutchingsp

Original Poster:

51,909 posts

211 months

Wednesday 15th August 2007
quotequote all
collateral said:
confused

Take it to the cheaper one?
I will be. My Mum is the sort who feels "loyalty" towards the dealer and gave them several chances hence the double and triple checking.

langy

565 posts

240 months

Wednesday 15th August 2007
quotequote all
The nearest dealer to me is about 6 miles away, however I travel about 35 miles each way to get it serviced. I probably save myself about £60 a service.

bigdods

7,173 posts

228 months

Wednesday 15th August 2007
quotequote all
This is normal with dealers, they have different overheads depending on location. I have 2 VW dealers equidistant (sp?) from me. One quotes £400ish for the major service. The other does it for £280 - and last time they were doing some kind of deal for older cars (its 2000 W plate) they knocked 15% off the labour !. I called the local VW indie/specialist and they couldnt match the £280 the dealer was charging.