Ask a Service Manager anything...anything at all.
Discussion
Rat_Fink_67 said:
Probably 90% of dealerships nowadays use third party staff from a valeting franchise
itcaptainslow said:
Very much this-valeting is now usually subbed out,
Fair enough, I can understand that.But, is the same third party responsible for cleaning cars for sale? As I said the cars for sale are immaculate.
the difference is a vehicle for sale looking like a dogs dinner the sales manager boots the valeters arse?
Drive Blind said:
But, is the same third party responsible for cleaning cars for sale? As I said the cars for sale are immaculate.
the difference is a vehicle for sale looking like a dogs dinner the sales manager boots the valeters arse?
It's down to cost again. The appearance of the sales car is usually considered more of a priority yes, but then again it'll be budgeted differently and lost in the "prep" costs for the car, which in turn will come from an entirely different pot (sales versus aftersales). There are usually 4,5 or 6 valeters dealing with the sales cars, as opposed to 1 who handles the service washes. In most cases they're not even done in the same place, as most large franchises will have a dedicated prep centre where the sales cars are dealt with, whilst the majority of the service washes will be carried out in a more modest wash bay or wherever there is access to an outside water supply! the difference is a vehicle for sale looking like a dogs dinner the sales manager boots the valeters arse?
caryleighton said:
Best I've had - taking my VW Lupo for an MOT
Service advisor - the car has passed sir, however we would recommend you look at getting your air conditioning serviced soon
Me - that would be a valid point, IF the car had air conditioning
Cue red face from service advisor
Service advisor - the car has passed sir, however we would recommend you look at getting your air conditioning serviced soon
Me - that would be a valid point, IF the car had air conditioning
Cue red face from service advisor
Insurance industry used to be similar. When I bought my present VAG ,I was asked, " does vehicle have security ,and ABS".
I've not had the ABS question for years , and after digging to find that my car had thatcham 2 immobiliser , these days the online sites tell me it has.
Another one, possibly familiar to VAG oilburner owners with PD engines. Flexible return pipe fails and derv is sprayed over engine. Cal in at main dealer to get replacement pipe. "Sorry sir, we only sell the kit= £160 + 2 hours labour , total ~ £320 ".
Stuff that, I got daughter to take me to TPS- who looked on the on line catalogue. "Sir- that is flexible fuel pipe cut to length , approx 6" , that would be about £0.5 ".
Rat_Fink_67 said:
Drive Blind said:
But, is the same third party responsible for cleaning cars for sale? As I said the cars for sale are immaculate.
the difference is a vehicle for sale looking like a dogs dinner the sales manager boots the valeters arse?
It's down to cost again. The appearance of the sales car is usually considered more of a priority yes, but then again it'll be budgeted differently and lost in the "prep" costs for the car, which in turn will come from an entirely different pot (sales versus aftersales). There are usually 4,5 or 6 valeters dealing with the sales cars, as opposed to 1 who handles the service washes. In most cases they're not even done in the same place, as most large franchises will have a dedicated prep centre where the sales cars are dealt with, whilst the majority of the service washes will be carried out in a more modest wash bay or wherever there is access to an outside water supply! the difference is a vehicle for sale looking like a dogs dinner the sales manager boots the valeters arse?
my view is either don't wash it or if you must, do it properly. I'll keep asking not to get my car washed - maybe one day they'll listen. Then again the valet guy wants his £3 per car.
As mentioned above maybe a gap in the market here? Rather than offering oil flushes, air con refreshes and other snake oil offers, offer a proper wash for £25?
Drive Blind said:
Rat_Fink_67 said:
Probably 90% of dealerships nowadays use third party staff from a valeting franchise
itcaptainslow said:
Very much this-valeting is now usually subbed out,
Fair enough, I can understand that.But, is the same third party responsible for cleaning cars for sale? As I said the cars for sale are immaculate.
the difference is a vehicle for sale looking like a dogs dinner the sales manager boots the valeters arse?
Service cars will have a wash & vac charged around £4 per car.
To fully valet every service car wouldn't be practical due to cost(!) and also time constraints.
Yipper said:
Know an old school friend who ran their own indy garage with 100% honesty -- and nearly went bust.
It was impossible to compete with the vast majority of garages who bend the rules to make a quick buck in a mature, overcrowded market.
He, like most others, now routinely charges for work not done, subtly breaks stuff to generate extra repairs, and uses cheaper fluids or parts than billed.
For example, using Triple QX for a quick oil change, instead of Mobil 1, gets an extra £20-30 pure profit.
Not right, of course, but it's how the industry works.
bIt was impossible to compete with the vast majority of garages who bend the rules to make a quick buck in a mature, overcrowded market.
He, like most others, now routinely charges for work not done, subtly breaks stuff to generate extra repairs, and uses cheaper fluids or parts than billed.
For example, using Triple QX for a quick oil change, instead of Mobil 1, gets an extra £20-30 pure profit.
Not right, of course, but it's how the industry works.
ks does it. I run a workshop - mainly electrical stuff, and everything is as straight as a die. We fit top quality parts, don't fit things that don't need it, and charge well for what we do. If you don't like it, don't come here, but we never never never ever lie or cheat. Most people I know in the trade are just like that. Some are clearly more or less skilled /cheaper etc, but all are honest as the day is long.Drive Blind said:
why are dealers unable to properly wash a car after a service?
their forecourt is full of immaculately washed cars yet mine after a service looks like a blind chimp has cleaned it with a dirty tea towel.
If they can't do the basics I have little faith they've done anything else properly.
Last twice in for a main dealer service I asked for it not to be washed. They ignored this and made a crap job of cleaning it.
Oh I can answer that one. For just over 2 years I used to service wash cars for a main citreon dealership. nmw job but i loved it.their forecourt is full of immaculately washed cars yet mine after a service looks like a blind chimp has cleaned it with a dirty tea towel.
If they can't do the basics I have little faith they've done anything else properly.
Last twice in for a main dealer service I asked for it not to be washed. They ignored this and made a crap job of cleaning it.
In a average day I had between 20-25 cars to wash and vac
I could do a quick wash in 10mins but needed 15 for some..Add in 2-5 mins vac time on average per car plus 3-5 mins to get the keys/find the car/drive to cleaning bay/return car/return keys to box
Now you may bring in a clean car but 75% of the cars were a touch messy to say the least.
I found is a car was clean before I got it usualy found a full inside clean with windows and carpets went down better than a wash/vac. and took less time.
Here's a question: have you ever presented a hefty bill to a customer and they've just not been able to pay, purely because they are skint and just haven't got the money?
What happens then, do you keep hold of the car until they return? Has anyone not bothered?
Only once did I get a bill so big that I flinched but, having checked it was all above board, got my credit card out and thanked having a generous credit limit, but I wonder what happens if people aren't able to do that?
What happens then, do you keep hold of the car until they return? Has anyone not bothered?
Only once did I get a bill so big that I flinched but, having checked it was all above board, got my credit card out and thanked having a generous credit limit, but I wonder what happens if people aren't able to do that?
PurpleTurtle said:
Here's a question: have you ever presented a hefty bill to a customer and they've just not been able to pay, purely because they are skint and just haven't got the money?
What happens then, do you keep hold of the car until they return? Has anyone not bothered?
Only once did I get a bill so big that I flinched but, having checked it was all above board, got my credit card out and thanked having a generous credit limit, but I wonder what happens if people aren't able to do that?
That doesn't happen, work doesn't get done without the customers permission. If they can't afford it, it won't get approved and then won't get done.What happens then, do you keep hold of the car until they return? Has anyone not bothered?
Only once did I get a bill so big that I flinched but, having checked it was all above board, got my credit card out and thanked having a generous credit limit, but I wonder what happens if people aren't able to do that?
sparks_E39 said:
PurpleTurtle said:
Here's a question: have you ever presented a hefty bill to a customer and they've just not been able to pay, purely because they are skint and just haven't got the money?
What happens then, do you keep hold of the car until they return? Has anyone not bothered?
Only once did I get a bill so big that I flinched but, having checked it was all above board, got my credit card out and thanked having a generous credit limit, but I wonder what happens if people aren't able to do that?
That doesn't happen, work doesn't get done without the customers permission. If they can't afford it, it won't get approved and then won't get done.What happens then, do you keep hold of the car until they return? Has anyone not bothered?
Only once did I get a bill so big that I flinched but, having checked it was all above board, got my credit card out and thanked having a generous credit limit, but I wonder what happens if people aren't able to do that?
itcaptainslow said:
C/ The advisor couldn't be bothered to price it properly for whatever reason. I admit on one or two occasions I've overpriced work massively to get rid of the customer in a diplomatic fashion, simply because we knew they/their car or a combination of would be more trouble than it's worth.
itcaptainslow said:
It's also a balancing act-if it's a 50/50 with no proof either way, if it's a reasonable customer who is loyal to us-I'll invest £50 in a smart repair to keep their custom and the peace. If they're a knob, I'd take the punt on losing them
This is a perfect example of why I am friendly with everyone who is doing work for me, car servicing, estate agents, salesmen, anyone. Yes I may not trust them, think they are robbing cowboys, and not like dealing with them, but when I am I treat them they are like my best mate......itcaptainslow said:
gottans said:
How do you respond when a customer's car gets damaged?
I have been in this unfortunate situation and quite frankly the response was just unreasonable right from the start despite being very polite about it. Anyway I only see one side of it so what does happen internally?
We had a system of checking cars in for damage, so any claim was easier to deal with.I have been in this unfortunate situation and quite frankly the response was just unreasonable right from the start despite being very polite about it. Anyway I only see one side of it so what does happen internally?
Internally-I'd look at CCTV etc and speak to any staff members involved. If we damaged it, fair enough, we'd get it repaired. If we didn't, then no, sorry Sir, I can't cover that.
It's also a balancing act-if it's a 50/50 with no proof either way, if it's a reasonable customer who is loyal to us-I'll invest £50 in a smart repair to keep their custom and the peace. If they're a knob, I'd take the punt on losing them.
gottans said:
itcaptainslow said:
gottans said:
How do you respond when a customer's car gets damaged?
I have been in this unfortunate situation and quite frankly the response was just unreasonable right from the start despite being very polite about it. Anyway I only see one side of it so what does happen internally?
We had a system of checking cars in for damage, so any claim was easier to deal with.I have been in this unfortunate situation and quite frankly the response was just unreasonable right from the start despite being very polite about it. Anyway I only see one side of it so what does happen internally?
Internally-I'd look at CCTV etc and speak to any staff members involved. If we damaged it, fair enough, we'd get it repaired. If we didn't, then no, sorry Sir, I can't cover that.
It's also a balancing act-if it's a 50/50 with no proof either way, if it's a reasonable customer who is loyal to us-I'll invest £50 in a smart repair to keep their custom and the peace. If they're a knob, I'd take the punt on losing them.
PurpleTurtle said:
Here's a question: have you ever presented a hefty bill to a customer and they've just not been able to pay, purely because they are skint and just haven't got the money?
What happens then, do you keep hold of the car until they return? Has anyone not bothered?
Only once did I get a bill so big that I flinched but, having checked it was all above board, got my credit card out and thanked having a generous credit limit, but I wonder what happens if people aren't able to do that?
Cars don't get released without payment in full, unless a credit account is agreed (usually only businesses or fleet customers).What happens then, do you keep hold of the car until they return? Has anyone not bothered?
Only once did I get a bill so big that I flinched but, having checked it was all above board, got my credit card out and thanked having a generous credit limit, but I wonder what happens if people aren't able to do that?
As someone else said it wouldn't be an unexpected bill though as no work gets done without authority of the customer.
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