Rip off? I don't think so ........

[eddyramrod]

To me, it's not autoshite if the dealer will even entertain servicing your car.....

 

It's not autoshite if there's anyone at the dealership old enough to remember your model on the roads! If a dealership even exists that carries the same manufacturer's name!

[Albert Ross]

Had a chap roll up in a FD Victor the other day, and he was grinning from ear to ear when I told him what he had! I think we'll see him again. He was after Diagnostic info for his Calibra. I pointed him to this Forum. As yet, no show.

[eddyramrod]

Oooooh, FD, my all-time favourite Victor. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[dieselnutjob]

And DNJ, we absolutely CAN fit pattern parts, but not to vehicles still under warranty.

 

fair enough

 

To be honest I would kind of expect to be told to f#@$ right off if I walked into a main dealer that, after all, sells parts and asked them to fit my own, so learned something there.

[M'coli]

Albert, it sounds as if you work for the sort of firm where their reputation is what keeps them in business - it might not be the cheapest in town, but the consencus is that they "will see you right" - like the family that owned Reeves' Corner as destroyed by the rioters in Croydon. They may not have been the out-and-out cheapest, but they made sure the customer was satisfied and had no cause to complain with the service nor product.

 

This is a concept that some "competitive" people will never totally understand - that a more expensive service is the best option, rather than the cheapest. For example, when a customer is willing to pay more for the service that you provide over the competition who charge less - I've seen this happen where an overly-competitive account manager didn't realise just how much of a "win" gaining work from a competitor was despite charging more than them, so he re-negotiated the deal to make the product less expensive than the competition and thus screw the profit margin and ruin the service provided to the customer.

[Felly Magic]

When I had a New Fabia, the dealer I bought it from lost the franchise, but they put me onto another main agent 20 odd miles away, who would bend over backwards to help you. Yeah, their prices were not as cheap as my local dealer, but they didn't charge £75 deposit for a courtesy car. Bacon sarnies were also always at hand, and there were never any quibbles when it came to warranty (they even fixed something for nowt that wasn't covered), and the car was always valeted. The garage knew their stuff too, as they serviced North Yorkshire & Humberside's Impreza Turbos. Sadly they have been swallowed up by a motor group, and service is nowhere near what it was.

[gtd2000]

Good reputations come from good service, and word of mouth recommendations. Remember, if a customer is unhappy, he WILL tell his friends. If happy, there's no need to sing about it, as it's what is expected..

 

You've completely contradicted yourself there Albert

 

I always pass on recommendations as well as negative feedback to all and sundry that want to know.

[Albert Ross]

No contradiction..... people need no encouragement to grumble, but sometimes need a prod to give a good word.

[chaseracer]

To me, it's not autoshite if the dealer will even entertain servicing your car.....

 

It's not autoshite if there's anyone at the dealership old enough to remember your model on the roads! If a dealership even exists that carries the same manufacturer's name!

I did have a couple of 'product knowledge deficit' issues with younger dealer staff when I ran the XMs: "A wot?" quoth spotty youth and, when shown the car, "did we make that?"

 

Luckily, Reliable Phil was at hand to educate the boy...

[Guest]

To me, it's not autoshite if the dealer will even entertain servicing your car.....

 

It's not autoshite if there's anyone at the dealership old enough to remember your model on the roads! If a dealership even exists that carries the same manufacturer's name!

I did have a couple of 'product knowledge deficit' issues with younger dealer staff when I ran the XMs: "A wot?" quoth spotty youth and, when shown the car, "did we make that?"

 

Luckily, Reliable Phil was at hand to educate the boy...

 

'C4? Never heard of that, must be well old'.

[Felly Magic]

That was about twice what the car was worth. I have a feeling they saw this punter as a cash cow.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

They did an impressive amount of work considering that the "engine was missing".

[Felly Magic]

$145 seemed to pop up a lot in their bills. Must be their 'sucker amount' Car was clearly previously owned by the 'more money than sense' type

[Albert Ross]

For me, the problem lies with "Compression too high on all cylinders except number 2" How can it be too high?

[Felly Magic]

Could 'Compression too high' mean 'We've found a complete feckin moron to do open wallet surgery on'? I would say all they probably did was sort the alternator & change the plugs & plug leads. then laugh constantly for several hours. I bet that invoice could be found in the 'fiction' section of Waterstones

[504GL]

And DNJ, we absolutely CAN fit pattern parts, but not to vehicles still under warranty.

 

fair enough

 

To be honest I would kind of expect to be told to f#@$ right off if I walked into a main dealer that, after all, sells parts and asked them to fit my own, so learned something there.

 

I've taken my 500 in to a main dealer with my own parts and they've happily fitted them. Saved a shedload too.

[504GL]

I have already received a Christmas tip from a happy customer. He came in specially to give it to me, and did it in full view of the desk staff. Saying "This is for you personally". A bottle of Chardonnay and a tin of Fox's choccy biccies. Nom nom. We can't accept gratuities normally, but in the case of a long term customer, who asks for me to do his car, it's permitted. I am one of the only mechanics who gets asked for... I work on cars belonging to children/grandchildren of customers. New drivers are introduced to me, as Family members, and are told to ask for me by name. We value good service where I work. Good reputations come from good service, and word of mouth recommendations.

 

If someone is good then they deserve to be rewarded. The independent that our Subaru goes to is great, sometimes they won't charge for doing little jobs and even ones that aren't so little and I've always taken them some beer afterwards