Servicing Prices - Indy v Main dealer
Discussion
There was a time when the servicing prices at independents were a worthwhile amount lower than the main dealer.
Just looking to book my car in for an oil and filter service (all it needs this time) and MOT.
Service (not inc MOT prices as they are all the same)
Indy 1 - £650 + VAT = £780 inc vat. Can do it same day so no need for courtesy car.
Indy 2 - £650 inc VAT and have a loan car
Main Dealer - £705 inc VAT and free courtesy car. I think they will also collect as I am close enough.
The main dealer is also the closest to me.
Not what I expected!
Just looking to book my car in for an oil and filter service (all it needs this time) and MOT.
Service (not inc MOT prices as they are all the same)
Indy 1 - £650 + VAT = £780 inc vat. Can do it same day so no need for courtesy car.
Indy 2 - £650 inc VAT and have a loan car
Main Dealer - £705 inc VAT and free courtesy car. I think they will also collect as I am close enough.
The main dealer is also the closest to me.
Not what I expected!
From what we hear about demand, if you were an independent, I expect you would raise your prices.
All prices mentioned do seem a lot for just changing oil, filter and a £55 MoT, but it is the glass, travertine, depreciating stock and all the other overheads that we have to pay for.
Edited by Jon39 on Friday 21st April 12:17
I’m going to a MD (Newcastle) for service next month, first time in 5 years. The pricing is near the same now as the Indy I was going to use (Aston Workshop), plus the MD responded to my booking enquiry immediately whereas the Indy took 2 weeks to reply, and the MD will give me a car for the day (so I can pop to Swallow fish for some fresh lobster to keep the wife happy).
It’s also a good excuse/opportunity to window shop cars…
It’s also a good excuse/opportunity to window shop cars…
Yes Ive found the same. 10 years ago dealers were 30-40% more than indy for the same service, but now the price gap has closed. Some specialists charge the same if not more than some dealers.
I've been going to AM Notts for the last 8 years or so and always had good service from the team there. Its only when you start adding in extra work at their labour rate it can become expensive. I do easy jobs like discs, pads, plugs myself so usually only pay for the base price £680 service. AM Notts also pick up and return the car, and I'm an hour away from them, so its very convenient compared to driving 90 mins each way to nearest independent.
I've been going to AM Notts for the last 8 years or so and always had good service from the team there. Its only when you start adding in extra work at their labour rate it can become expensive. I do easy jobs like discs, pads, plugs myself so usually only pay for the base price £680 service. AM Notts also pick up and return the car, and I'm an hour away from them, so its very convenient compared to driving 90 mins each way to nearest independent.
Agree with all of the above. I haven’t seen a difference between independents and main dealers for years.
What I have seen a little more of in the last year, is the sort of ‘customer is a rich idiot’ ‘upselling’ that I am well used to from Land Rover franchises.
You all know the sort of thing, some light surface corrosion on a disc where the handbrake has been on in storage, pads 30% worn, and a phone call to advise complete replacement of all discs and all pads at just £4000 + VAT to you sir.
You get a bit less of that at independents…..
What I have seen a little more of in the last year, is the sort of ‘customer is a rich idiot’ ‘upselling’ that I am well used to from Land Rover franchises.
You all know the sort of thing, some light surface corrosion on a disc where the handbrake has been on in storage, pads 30% worn, and a phone call to advise complete replacement of all discs and all pads at just £4000 + VAT to you sir.
You get a bit less of that at independents…..
Calinours said:
Agree with all of the above. I haven’t seen a difference between independents and main dealers for years.
What I have seen a little more of in the last year, is the sort of ‘customer is a rich idiot’ ‘upselling’ that I am well used to from Land Rover franchises.
You all know the sort of thing, some light surface corrosion on a disc where the handbrake has been on in storage, pads 30% worn, and a phone call to advise complete replacement of all discs and all pads at just £4000 + VAT to you sir.
You get a bit less of that at independents…..
Very true.What I have seen a little more of in the last year, is the sort of ‘customer is a rich idiot’ ‘upselling’ that I am well used to from Land Rover franchises.
You all know the sort of thing, some light surface corrosion on a disc where the handbrake has been on in storage, pads 30% worn, and a phone call to advise complete replacement of all discs and all pads at just £4000 + VAT to you sir.
You get a bit less of that at independents…..
MD's have for a while headed up their service cost schedule with " Our most competitive fixed price service " -and for once this isn't just marketing.
That £ 705 LTP quoted is the cheapest I can see with them but even with a brake fluid change ( just had that as part of the 6th year service on my GT8 ) it " only " increases to £ 740.Obviously when the manual trans-axle oil and or spark plugs etc are changed that will add a bit.
That £ 705 LTP quoted is the cheapest I can see with them but even with a brake fluid change ( just had that as part of the 6th year service on my GT8 ) it " only " increases to £ 740.Obviously when the manual trans-axle oil and or spark plugs etc are changed that will add a bit.
Calinours said:
Agree with all of the above. I haven’t seen a difference between independents and main dealers for years.
What I have seen a little more of in the last year, is the sort of ‘customer is a rich idiot’ ‘upselling’ that I am well used to from Land Rover franchises.
You all know the sort of thing, some light surface corrosion on a disc where the handbrake has been on in storage, pads 30% worn, and a phone call to advise complete replacement of all discs and all pads at just £4000 + VAT to you sir.
You get a bit less of that at independents…..
I think I've always seen that at various MD's but that's where I've tried hard to build a relationship and point out that I'm not an idiot and have worked hard for my bit of money which I would like to hang onto !What I have seen a little more of in the last year, is the sort of ‘customer is a rich idiot’ ‘upselling’ that I am well used to from Land Rover franchises.
You all know the sort of thing, some light surface corrosion on a disc where the handbrake has been on in storage, pads 30% worn, and a phone call to advise complete replacement of all discs and all pads at just £4000 + VAT to you sir.
You get a bit less of that at independents…..
Its also the other misnomer about MD parts prices ie they sometimes think you cannot negotiate -you can.
Yeah. I used a main dealer last year for the first time since I owned the car. Had used Aston Engineering in Derby but they no longer do 'modern' Astons.
They sent me an inspection report with a total over £1600 of work recommended. I authorise none of it as it didn't need it!
Main Audi dealer that the OH takes her car too, told her he disks were lipped and needed new disks and pads on the front for £800. I called them and asked them to measure the disk thickness and I checked the min thickness level from Audis own info. They were only about 30% worn, they then went quite and decided it didn't really need them. It's fraud by any other name.
They sent me an inspection report with a total over £1600 of work recommended. I authorise none of it as it didn't need it!
Main Audi dealer that the OH takes her car too, told her he disks were lipped and needed new disks and pads on the front for £800. I called them and asked them to measure the disk thickness and I checked the min thickness level from Audis own info. They were only about 30% worn, they then went quite and decided it didn't really need them. It's fraud by any other name.
Edited by LPH on Friday 21st April 12:55
LPH said:
Yeah. I used a main dealer last year for the first time since I owned the car. Had used Aston Engineering in Derby but they no longer do 'modern' Astons.
They sent me an inspection report with a total over £1600 of work recommended. I authorise none of it as it didn't need it!
Main Audi dealer that the OH takes here car too told her he disks were lipped and needed new disks and pads on the front for £800. I called then and asked them to measure the disk thickness and I checked the min thickness level from Audis own info. They were only about 30% worn, they then went quite and decided it didn't really need them. It's fraud by any other name.
Apologies I just realized I mis-spelt your user name in my post.They sent me an inspection report with a total over £1600 of work recommended. I authorise none of it as it didn't need it!
Main Audi dealer that the OH takes here car too told her he disks were lipped and needed new disks and pads on the front for £800. I called then and asked them to measure the disk thickness and I checked the min thickness level from Audis own info. They were only about 30% worn, they then went quite and decided it didn't really need them. It's fraud by any other name.
Who doesn't love those MD video clips sent to you and the additional up selling mentions that are also not required.
alscar said:
Apologies I just realized I mis-spelt your user name in my post.
Who doesn't love those MD video clips sent to you and the additional up selling mentions that are also not required.
No worries - I've been called a lot worse!Who doesn't love those MD video clips sent to you and the additional up selling mentions that are also not required.
The list I got was from AM Notts was legit really. - it was things like wheels refurbs (as they all have bits of stone chip corrosion on them) etc. Air con wasn't functioning as I have a tiny leak somewhere.
I was the £683.56 for rear pads that seemed bloody expensive. They had 4mm on them, min is 2 so they were getting close to needing replacement. But not at almost £700!
LPH said:
Yeah. I used a main dealer last year for the first time since I owned the car. Had used Aston Engineering in Derby but they no longer do 'modern' Astons.
They sent me an inspection report with a total over £1600 of work recommended. I authorise none of it as it didn't need it!
Main Audi dealer that the OH takes her car too, told her he disks were lipped and needed new disks and pads on the front for £800. I called them and asked them to measure the disk thickness and I checked the min thickness level from Audis own info. They were only about 30% worn, they then went quite and decided it didn't really need them. It's fraud by any other name.
It's 2023 and this sexist sh!t is still happening. We experience similarly bad behaviour depending on whether it is me or my wife that speaks with the JLR dealer when we get work done on her F-Pace. Last time they did hundreds of pounds of work chasing an issue they had misdiagnosed. Tried to charge her for it all. I told them I'd only pay for the final item as everything else clearly wasn't required. It's infuriating.They sent me an inspection report with a total over £1600 of work recommended. I authorise none of it as it didn't need it!
Main Audi dealer that the OH takes her car too, told her he disks were lipped and needed new disks and pads on the front for £800. I called them and asked them to measure the disk thickness and I checked the min thickness level from Audis own info. They were only about 30% worn, they then went quite and decided it didn't really need them. It's fraud by any other name.
Edited by LPH on Friday 21st April 12:55
With wishing to keep the Timeless Warranty (at least for the time being) I don't really have a choice but to use a MD.
Nearest to me are Notts and from the dealings I've had with them they are excellent.
Have been looking at Indie servicing costs and noticed there wasn't a huge difference in costs.
Nearest to me are Notts and from the dealings I've had with them they are excellent.
Have been looking at Indie servicing costs and noticed there wasn't a huge difference in costs.
moktabe said:
With wishing to keep the Timeless Warranty (at least for the time being) I don't really have a choice but to use a MD.
Nearest to me are Notts and from the dealings I've had with them they are excellent.
Have been looking at Indie servicing costs and noticed there wasn't a huge difference in costs.
I thought anti competition laws stopped that practice years ago. You should be able to use any VAT registered business and it should not invalidate the warranty as long as genuine parts are always used. I may be wrong here?Nearest to me are Notts and from the dealings I've had with them they are excellent.
Have been looking at Indie servicing costs and noticed there wasn't a huge difference in costs.
Nonetheless in your shoes I’d stick with MD for now.
M1AGM said:
I thought anti competition laws stopped that practice years ago. You should be able to use any VAT registered business and it should not invalidate the warranty as long as genuine parts are always used. I may be wrong here?
Nonetheless in your shoes I’d stick with MD for now.
Wasn't aware of that, thank you. Will check up on it.Nonetheless in your shoes I’d stick with MD for now.
As you say though, will stick with Notts for the foreseeable. They picked up on a broken washer pipe on the headlight I was totally unaware of and fitted a new one under warranty. Last time I took the car there was for the 'Emissions Service Req'd' warning and the service guy pointed out a little condensation to one of the rear lights. Said to him I was under the impression that the light had to fail before being changed under warranty, he replied "leave it with me" and it came back out with a new rear light.
sirmarcus said:
LPH said:
Yeah. I used a main dealer last year for the first time since I owned the car. Had used Aston Engineering in Derby but they no longer do 'modern' Astons.
They sent me an inspection report with a total over £1600 of work recommended. I authorise none of it as it didn't need it!
Main Audi dealer that the OH takes her car too, told her he disks were lipped and needed new disks and pads on the front for £800. I called them and asked them to measure the disk thickness and I checked the min thickness level from Audis own info. They were only about 30% worn, they then went quite and decided it didn't really need them. It's fraud by any other name.
It's 2023 and this sexist sh!t is still happening. We experience similarly bad behaviour depending on whether it is me or my wife that speaks with the JLR dealer when we get work done on her F-Pace. Last time they did hundreds of pounds of work chasing an issue they had misdiagnosed. Tried to charge her for it all. I told them I'd only pay for the final item as everything else clearly wasn't required. It's infuriating.They sent me an inspection report with a total over £1600 of work recommended. I authorise none of it as it didn't need it!
Main Audi dealer that the OH takes her car too, told her he disks were lipped and needed new disks and pads on the front for £800. I called them and asked them to measure the disk thickness and I checked the min thickness level from Audis own info. They were only about 30% worn, they then went quite and decided it didn't really need them. It's fraud by any other name.
Edited by LPH on Friday 21st April 12:55
Just remember it’s nothing personal
Jon39 said:
Calinours said:
... some light surface corrosion on a disc where the handbrake has been on in storage, ...
Handbrake on in storage !
I would not have expected you to ever do that. -
Calinours said:
I don’t think it’s particularly sexist. Until they know they won’t get away with it, it’s the default approach to any customer. MD are in the game to make money, and just as the sales guys, service departments will have their ‘targets’ and be incentivised to try to sell unnecessary work and parts.
Just remember it’s nothing personal
Agree with that - just my experience tends to be that they default to this approach with my wife, but don't default to this approach with me (before they know anything about us). I'd wager that there is still an underlying sexism to who they think they'll get away with it with! Anyway - I'm taking us down a rabbit-hole I don't really want to go down here - so back to topic we go...Just remember it’s nothing personal
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