Most ridiculous dealer charges

[sheerluck]

After just having my Golf serviced at the main dealer today, and SWMBO almost falling over laughing at some of the charges and "suggested actions" at the bottom of the invoice, I thought I would ask the question, what was your most laughable charge, or suggested charge on a dealer invoice.

I'll start the ball rolling with "Rear wiper requires change - $135"

(the rear wiper blade on a Mk6 Golf is about 6 inches/150mm long. Thanks but I'll handle that myself):D

[frantic]

I'll start with the first sting you pay. "Dealer delivery" 20 years ago it was $500 of which half was profit:D every "lion" dealer paid the same transport fee from FNQ to the dealership across the road from the factory. Then the local models just needed a was n vacuum with the plastic covers on the seats removed and the imports needed the engine bay pressure washed to remove the wax that they no longer put from the look of new LR's bays. Nowadays it's around the $1500-2500 mark:eek:

[Tombie]

So in 20 years the price is 5x more and wages are 6x more :)

[Rusnut]

oil corkage $5

[sheerluck]

oil corkage $5
:Rolling:

[adonuff]

Hi
We have had a few dramas with our Golf services, The main one so far was the battery needed replacing! The battery that needed replacing is still working fine since it was relocated into the caravan. The only problem I can find with the battery is the little sight gauge does not show green when its fully charged.

VW charged us about $300.00 for a new battery
Could have bought a similar one for half the price!
I have been too busy at work to bother arguing with them & was going to get a extra battery for the van anyway!

The other concerns are pollen filters??, Air filters & the cost of them. I have just ordered a workshop manual that covers all of the current VW models so that I can gain a bit more insight.

The manual is about 6 CD's, If it works I will share it.
Apart from this we a very happy with the Brand.

Wondering if Inc has set up the new pages for other vehicles yet?? If so maybe this post should be moved to the European Section??

[sheerluck]

Wondering if Inc has set up the new pages for other vehicles yet?? If so maybe this post should be moved to the European Section??

This was intended to be dealers of all brands, a light hearted fun poking to try and relieve some of the tension evident elsewhere in the forum.

[adonuff]

No Probs
Your right I was just trying to get the new sections off in the right direction. The high costs of the dealers are totally overboard.

[jboot51]

Back in '97 when my 130 was still under warranty the LR Stealers were charging $15 to top up the windscreen washer bottle during a regular service. They got away with it once, next time I made sure it was full before taking it in. Charge me again, we argued, they wouldn't back down, took my business elsewhere.

[3toes]

Yes but what did they put in the washer tank. Had a BMW (sorry another Euro car) serviced. Was late December and the temperature had not risen above minus 10 deg C for a week, drove down the M road (Freeway) at about 80 miles an hour. Spay and road dirt increasing on windscreen. Suddenly at 80 miles an hour could not see a thing. Water on windscreen had frozen when used washers. Garage had filled with just water no screen wash additive. Was out of water when I left it in for service and HAD been impressed they had not charged extra for the screen wash fill!!!

[Reads90]

My dad went to buy a defender and they wanted £1500 delivery charge for the car to be shipped from land Rover to the dealer in Southampton. As my dad used to drive around he country he went to the dealer by the land rover factory. Thinking the shipping would be less. But no they still wanted £1500. He was amazed as try just travel across the road for that.

So he went back to the Southampton dealer to buy it as at least he thought they would have to ship it 3 hours down the road.

[Blknight.aus]

Charged to change the sparkplugs in a td5.

I may still have the reciept. I think I did a write up about it.

[spudboy]

2 new air-shocks on the front of my S-Class: $6,500 from BEA (Main Mercedes dealers).

Car was luckily under warranty (from another dealer) but I thought that was a tad steep.

I've bought some quite good cars for less than that!

[Chops]

We got charged $10 to have a light globe swaped out during a service on Thursday :eek:

[ugu80]

and the temperature had not risen above minus 10 deg C for a week,

Yeah. Ahhh, doesn't happen a lot in Queensland.

[Tote]

Back in '97 when my 130 was still under warranty the LR Stealers were charging $15 to top up the windscreen washer bottle during a regular service. They got away with it once, next time I made sure it was full before taking it in. Charge me again, we argued, they wouldn't back down, took my business elsewhere.

But what was that stuff? Gee it smelt good when I washed the windscreen on my then new Disco 1....... Land Rover stopped using it after the BMW takeover.

Regards,
Tote

[Tombie]

We got charged $10 to have a light globe swaped out during a service on Thursday :eek:

I paid $15.00 for indicator bulb in Bullbar 2 weeks ago.

Not too upset really.

They usually use quality bulbs so they are around $7-8.00 and then at $90.00 an hour (cheap for dealer) 5 minutes to change.... $7.50

So $15.00 not bad as they had to drop the bottom off the bullbar to get to it :cool:

[Tombie]

But what was that stuff? Gee it smelt good when I washed the windscreen on my then new Disco 1....... Land Rover stopped using it after the BMW takeover.

Regards,
Tote

Alcohol based....


Rain X windscreen additive works really well too :)

[PAT303]

So does a potato cut in half. Pat

[George130]

Worst charge was the pre delivery service that failed to grease any of the underside mechanicals as required by the book. Was done by a friend on first service.

[Bigbjorn]

Yeah. Ahhh, doesn't happen a lot in Queensland.

Definitely not, but I do put a couple of squirts of dishwahing liquid in to help get the suicidal bugs off the glass.

[Tank]

So in 20 years the price is 5x more and wages are 6x more :)
So truck Drivers (local) who were getting $10 an hour 20 years back are now getting $60, WOW I'm gonna have to get back into driving, Regards Frank.

[scarry]

I didn't pay for it,as it was warranty,but the local Tojo dealer wanted two days to change over a rusty tow bar on one of our work vans.
No thanks,eventually i got them down to having the van for 4 hours,but it was a battle

Austral charged me $350 to change the oil in the D4.It was there anyway,saved taking it to MR,didn't have the time.

I was a fool,should have known,next time i will find the time to get to MR.

[Hymie]

Charged to change the sparkplugs in a td5.

I may still have the reciept. I think I did a write up about it.

That would have been an interesting conversation to hear when you went in a told them about it.

[pibby]

this topic reminds me of a saying i've heard and seems applicable to the thread. someone may know where it emanates from.

'a trifling amount on an otherwise exorbitant invoice'.

brett.

[Blknight.aus]

I cant find the original post up of it, I'll add it to the book

[frantic]

So in 20 years the price is 5x more and wages are 6x more :)

You made me laugh tombie :D
So by your reasoning the average fulltime wage was $12,000 in 1992? As today it sits around the$72,000 mark.:D
Reality, the ATO and ABS had Aussies averaging just over $30,000;)