WTF, you couldnt make it up!
Discussion
So I have a Passat V reg thats been sitting on my drive since I bought my other car. I'v decided to sell it so I books it in for an MOT, expecting it to fail on a couple of things...
Got a phone call that its failed so nips down and sees them, conversation goes...
Them: We have done you a quote for the work. (Both front bottom arms, CV boot and 1 rear spring busted.) its £386 +£17.50 re-test fee
Me: Hmmm well I'v priced the bits and it comes to £39 a pair for arms on fleabay, £30 for the spring and a tenner for the boot, I only asked for a quote really cos its cold and dont fancy doing it this week.Seems a bit expensive
Them: Oh well we always quote over on the labour (!) as its an old car and you never know if a bolt will snap/round off so if a job is booked at an hour we quote 1.5 hrs just in case as if it comes in at less than the quote then we can 'lower' the price and the customer will be surprised and therefore pleased
Me: you really just said that?. Cheers bye
Now whats the chance of 'agreeing' a quote of £386 and then them saying well it only took half the time so we're only charging you £200 ??
The sign says good garage scheme female friendly !
The cheek
Got a phone call that its failed so nips down and sees them, conversation goes...
Them: We have done you a quote for the work. (Both front bottom arms, CV boot and 1 rear spring busted.) its £386 +£17.50 re-test fee
Me: Hmmm well I'v priced the bits and it comes to £39 a pair for arms on fleabay, £30 for the spring and a tenner for the boot, I only asked for a quote really cos its cold and dont fancy doing it this week.Seems a bit expensive
Them: Oh well we always quote over on the labour (!) as its an old car and you never know if a bolt will snap/round off so if a job is booked at an hour we quote 1.5 hrs just in case as if it comes in at less than the quote then we can 'lower' the price and the customer will be surprised and therefore pleased
Me: you really just said that?. Cheers bye
Now whats the chance of 'agreeing' a quote of £386 and then them saying well it only took half the time so we're only charging you £200 ??
The sign says good garage scheme female friendly !
The cheek
d tbh.Have you ever worked on a older car?
The garage is spot on in my opinion. I am well aware that there can be jobs involving suspension/steering components that are perhaps the original items were 1 bolt can indeed take a hour or more to remove so by telling you that the most you are likely to pay is X amount they are surely doing you a favour. Obviously it relies on them being honest when they then do a bill for 1hour labour instead of 1.5....
dave
The garage is spot on in my opinion. I am well aware that there can be jobs involving suspension/steering components that are perhaps the original items were 1 bolt can indeed take a hour or more to remove so by telling you that the most you are likely to pay is X amount they are surely doing you a favour. Obviously it relies on them being honest when they then do a bill for 1hour labour instead of 1.5....
dave
I totally agree with the garage, I used to have a small garage myself & I would quote the same way, as opposed to the "other" garages that suck you in with a cheap quote then suprise you once the car is in bits, or just hit you with "we found a bit more needed doing once we got it apart" or "the giggle pin broke when we tried to get it off"
I was always fair with my customers as most came by recommendation, it is nice to see the look on their face when you give them a bill that is cheaper than the quote. I know the motor trade has a bad name but there are a lot of garages that do not deserve to be tarred with the same brush.
I was always fair with my customers as most came by recommendation, it is nice to see the look on their face when you give them a bill that is cheaper than the quote. I know the motor trade has a bad name but there are a lot of garages that do not deserve to be tarred with the same brush.
Can you point out the sources for your prices please.
Oh and I assume you understand that V reg (3B) Passats have a stupidly complicated front suspension setup with a particular bolt that will almost certainly have seized solid.
Of course, I'm sure the garage concerned will happily let you take your car away if you want to do the work yourself. Or maybe find someone else prepared to do it cheaper. They'll probably be happy to see the back of people like you.
80/20 Rule in effect
Oh and I assume you understand that V reg (3B) Passats have a stupidly complicated front suspension setup with a particular bolt that will almost certainly have seized solid.
Of course, I'm sure the garage concerned will happily let you take your car away if you want to do the work yourself. Or maybe find someone else prepared to do it cheaper. They'll probably be happy to see the back of people like you.
80/20 Rule in effect
Edited by Rich_W on Thursday 18th November 22:20
shovelheadrob said:
I totally agree with the garage, I used to have a small garage myself & I would quote the same way, as opposed to the "other" garages that suck you in with a cheap quote then suprise you once the car is in bits, or just hit you with "we found a bit more needed doing once we got it apart" or "the giggle pin broke when we tried to get it off"
I was always fair with my customers as most came by recommendation, it is nice to see the look on their face when you give them a bill that is cheaper than the quote. I know the motor trade has a bad name but there are a lot of garages that do not deserve to be tarred with the same brush.
As if I was always fair with my customers as most came by recommendation, it is nice to see the look on their face when you give them a bill that is cheaper than the quote. I know the motor trade has a bad name but there are a lot of garages that do not deserve to be tarred with the same brush.
Whatever you do don't dare criticise a garage on PHs these days - you will be instantly branded a problem customer and the PH mechanic mafia will sort you out! 
IMO the garage should have told you their policy of charging more for older cars up front, not when questioned.
OP, do you really believe the garage would have charged you less if it turned out to be an easier job than they expected?
Strangely enough this has never happened to me or any one else I know.....
Luckily I have a garage that I feel I can trust, but unfortunately there are enough dodgy garages that the consumer is justified in being cynical and suspicious.
IMO the garage should have told you their policy of charging more for older cars up front, not when questioned.
OP, do you really believe the garage would have charged you less if it turned out to be an easier job than they expected?
Strangely enough this has never happened to me or any one else I know.....
Luckily I have a garage that I feel I can trust, but unfortunately there are enough dodgy garages that the consumer is justified in being cynical and suspicious.
I know I can trust my MOT garage. Very rarely fail a car if they can safely give an advisory. I had an old Mondeo and they quoted me for changing the front discs and pads and sadly, it took them far longer and an angle grinder to sort it but they stood by their quote. I know from hard experience that most repair jobs are never straightforward. Look at it this way, if it's an hour job and they quote you 1.5 hours to avoid any stupid argument when it comes to paying then it's a judgement call as it could equally take them 2 hours and I dare says they'd honour their quote unless it was something totally out of proportion.
Edited by LuS1fer on Thursday 18th November 22:07
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