Another Dealer or Stealer Whinge

[101RRS]

I need a new alarm fob for my car - rang the local dealer for a price - $200 but they said they cannot give a firm quote until I provide a Vin. Ok - I guess that price is reasonable.

So next question - Does that price include coding to the car so that it will work? Answer - well no - then transferred to service for the price.

Service said that the price would be $132 inc GST to code it. Now that is all labour cost - so that works out at one hour labour to code the fob.

BUT - I know that it only takes about 10 minutes to code the fob so the price should be about $40 at the max. When questioned on the price - the response was - well that is the price.

How do I know it takes about 10 minutes because a specialist tried to code a dead fob I had two weeks ago and he was able to try multiple times to code it and to ensure he wasn't stuffing up he decoded my good fob and recoded it in all less than 10 minutes. So the actual time for the job is about 5 minutes. This specialist charged me $50 which I thought was a bit rich but compared to stealer he was a bargain.

My only regret is that I will still have to deal with the stealer to get the fob unless someone knows where else I can get new ones in Australia - I know about remotekeys in the UK but with shipping etc it is not much cheaper than the stealer and if there is an issue in programming it will be easier to return to the stealer.

It is little wonder that our dealers get a bad name.

Gazzz

[p38arover]

I had an email the other day from a bloke in the UK. Dealer charges 120 pounds per hour - that's A$300 per hour.

Ron

[UncleHo]

G'day Garrycol :)

Well, now you know that, that Dealer's labour charges are $132 per Hr, as anything over 5 mins is charged at 1 Hr Min;)


cheers

[101RRS]

G'day Garrycol :)

Well, now you know that, that Dealer's labour charges are $132 per Hr, as anything over 5 mins is charged at 1 Hr Min;)


cheers

Yep ur rite and the stealers wonder people are reluctant to deal with them - like hoteliers - if they charged reasonable charges for the mini-bar maybe they would make some money with increased turnover.

Gazzz

[Redback]

That sucks, and when you consider our Toyota Camrys fob/beeper is $36.90 and you code it yourself in the socket in the glovebox.

LR are very over priced.

Baz.

[cookiesa]

Think of all the little things that need adjusting etc. If you are charged 1 hours labour you are entitled to recieve 1 hours work. Of course you need to be able to spare 1 hr to stand there and make sure that you receive the full 1 hour you have been charged. (Pay to get it in writing first that the labour charge is $132 and hour and the minimum charge is 1 hour)

If we all do it they might start thinking about it.... Sure they would rather charge less and have the mechanic back in 10 mins working on something else.

Don't know if you bought it there new but if so go see the salesman, he may be able to get it done for you at the cost of the remote... We use to do it with Nissan's for customers because it was good customer service and gave you a chance to at least give out the latest brochure etc. Don't forget in most dealerships sales and service are run as two seperate "divisions". Service guys hated us asking for favours etc but we often got them. (We were often the ones putting beer in their fridge at the end of the week!

[justinc]

The equipment they use to code the fobs is worth around 40K. This unit does all the systems on freeloaders etc and all other models. It is a minimum charge situation to help pay for the equipment. I charge $88 to key in a new $90 fob. If you want more done at the same time or your ABS or SRS reset at the same time, it still cost $88. Flat rate, invoiced as as 'Diagnostic services'. My Rovacom cost me 29K and my Rovacom lite cost me $1500 secondhand with three modules loaded on. I think it is reasonable to expect the service provider to try and recoup some of the costs of diagnostic equipment, especially if it is leased.

JC

[101RRS]

The equipment they use to code the fobs is worth around 40K. This unit does all the systems on freeloaders etc and all other models. It is a minimum charge situation to help pay for the equipment. I charge $88 to key in a new $90 fob. If you want more done at the same time or your ABS or SRS reset at the same time, it still cost $88. Flat rate, invoiced as as 'Diagnostic services'. My Rovacom cost me 29K and my Rovacom lite cost me $1500 secondhand with three modules loaded on. I think it is reasonable to expect the service provider to try and recoup some of the costs of diagnostic equipment, especially if it is leased.

JC

I am sure you are right but that is why the hourly rate is $132 when actual labour is considerably less - the hourly rate takes all these extra things into account like rent, super, equipment, insurance etc etc etc- if the job took an hour no problems but it at worst takes about 15 minutes - I should be paying for 15 minutes work not 1 hour - as I said the specialist who has the same equipment only charges $50 for the job - and this guy does have a reputation for being expensive.

If stealers had a customer focus maybe they would get more customers and develop a good reputation.


Gazzz

[cookiesa]

The equipment they use to code the fobs is worth around 40K. This unit does all the systems on freeloaders etc and all other models. It is a minimum charge situation to help pay for the equipment. I charge $88 to key in a new $90 fob. If you want more done at the same time or your ABS or SRS reset at the same time, it still cost $88. Flat rate, invoiced as as 'Diagnostic services'. My Rovacom cost me 29K and my Rovacom lite cost me $1500 secondhand with three modules loaded on. I think it is reasonable to expect the service provider to try and recoup some of the costs of diagnostic equipment, especially if it is leased.

JC

However what about all the other labour charges that are blatant dishonesty. If a service has a book time of 1 hour and the service takes 40mins the full hour is charged. That is why mechanics at dealerships are given bonuses based on how quickly they get jobs done and are able to "book" (read charge) for more hours than were worked. Now times that by the over the top labour charge, times by the number of mechanics and times that by the actual hours charged for the day/week etc.

And of course if the book service is 1 hour and it ends up taking 1 1/2hrs the labour charge goes up.

Well aware of the costs of diagnostic equipment. As you said though, key fob programming is only 1 function they provide. (Typical Landrover, most other manufacturers allow for reprogramming through the vehicles system)

[landrovermick]

Think of all the little things that need adjusting etc. If you are charged 1 hours labour you are entitled to recieve 1 hours work. Of course you need to be able to spare 1 hr to stand there and make sure that you receive the full 1 hour you have been charged. (Pay to get it in writing first that the labour charge is $132 and hour and the minimum charge is 1 hour)

If we all do it they might start thinking about it.... Sure they would rather charge less and have the mechanic back in 10 mins working on something else.

Don't know if you bought it there new but if so go see the salesman, he may be able to get it done for you at the cost of the remote... We use to do it with Nissan's for customers because it was good customer service and gave you a chance to at least give out the latest brochure etc. Don't forget in most dealerships sales and service are run as two seperate "divisions". Service guys hated us asking for favours etc but we often got them. (We were often the ones putting beer in their fridge at the end of the week!

This ia a great idea

[landrovermick]

Ever thought about the unversal method of payment - beer

i recon this would work on a Satuday morning, especially as its a "labour only charge"

go into the service dept and get the guy on his own and say " i have a carton of beer ( pref premium brand) and i need my alarm fob recoded - is there anyone here that would like a carton of beer..... or words similar - you would be surprised....

while i dont recommend telling anyone of a forum site like this if you did do this, as most companies would treat this as stealing - i do know FOR A FACT that it IS AN ACCEPTED PRACTICE IN MANY WORKSHOPS.

though i have never done it -
mick

[cartm58]

l disagree about charging the recoup cost of equipment in the labour charge

equipment is capital expense and depreciation is offset against taxes as against sales

if your unit is $40,000 how many units of charge you going to make until you break even on cost expended and once cost recouped do you stop charging for it - answer is no you charge for it until the crows fly home.

be more honest to charge lower labour and equipment as a service charge

[cookiesa]

Valid point by cartm58. I can't charge for my registers, fax machine or even socket set used to instal car seats for our business. (Which by the way we offer as a free service)

(Obviously this is done through the profit margain and as cartm58 said, depreciation which helps off set earnings for tax purposes.)

[George130]

Ever thought about the unversal method of payment - beer

i recon this would work on a Satuday morning, especially as its a "labour only charge"

go into the service dept and get the guy on his own and say " i have a carton of beer ( pref premium brand) and i need my alarm fob recoded - is there anyone here that would like a carton of beer..... or words similar - you would be surprised....

while i dont recommend telling anyone of a forum site like this if you did do this, as most companies would treat this as stealing - i do know FOR A FACT that it IS AN ACCEPTED PRACTICE IN MANY WORKSHOPS.

though i have never done it -
mick

Did that with the dealer that this topic is about. They sujested it as they had stuffed up. Dropped the fee and said buy as a case of ... beer. Mechanic also drove out to my place for free to check the ECU to finnish sorting out his mistake.

[Bigbjorn]

Motor Trades Assn. used to recommend a labour charge out rate of 210% of hourly wageas being adequate to cover overheads and consumables. Most tradesmen around Brisbane are currently on $25 to $30 per hour. Most places are now charging well over this 210% figure.