Thread: Never EVER am I going to a dealer again!!!

Originally Posted by scarry

January 2018,the van i drive,toyota dealer,small service,oil,filter,other checks,$167.86

September 2012,LR dealer,D4 in for a couple of warranty things,i asked them to replace oil and filter as it had done 10000k's from new,$352.30.Yes,thats almost 6yrs ago,imagine the cost today.....would be well over $400.

I have two Suzuki Grand Vitaras with both being 2.4 petrol autos and under factory warranties. Services are six monthly on a major followed by a minor service type routine. Never is any service under $500 and often closer to $600.

Originally Posted by Grumbles

I have two Suzuki Grand Vitaras with both being 2.4 petrol autos and under factory warranties. Services are six monthly on a major followed by a minor service type routine. Never is any service under $500 and often closer to $600.

Sounds way to much for a minor service,as you can see from my post about the minor service on the van.In fact the majors are never over $500.

But yours is a 4WD so there will be more costs for majors.

It will also depend exactly what they are doing on the minors.

The biggest difference I see between many home enthusiasts and a tradie of good ilk is the ability to diagnose.

Sure the computer diagnostic helps, but it can show a symptom that then requires skills and experience to interpret. Diagnostics don’t always say “go to part xyz, it’s broken”

The other skill is the ability to know the “best practice” methods of doing a task... people like JC and Dazza have certain tasks they can do more effectively than blindly following the manual.

Originally Posted by johntins

I actually agree. However, the discussion has largely been based around incompetence. If a workshop puts up a sign with a Green Oval on it, then someone driving a car with that same Green Oval should be able to confidently expect some expertise on their car from that workshop. If they were lucky, their problem would have been that one that "that person" specialised in. Otherwise they are in the lap of the Gods, unless their car is still one within the warranty period.

Ok, I know that it's ridiculous to expect a modern LR workshop to have someone still around that knows about swivel bearings on a Series IIA. However, the point is, swivel bearings on a IIA are not rocket science. Neither are carburettors. I would suggest that if the workshop in question does NOT have the expertise to diagnose and fix a problem, then they should say so, prior to accepting the work.

Not interested in self effacing excuses for ignorance.

Exactly. Ignorance can be overcome with proper training and supervision but incompetence is there for keeps. This level of incompetence is looking very likely to cost me a three month contract which will leave me open to breach of contract action should my employer so wish.

So far a simple head replacement has taken nearly six WEEKS, a set of injectors, at least 5 five sets of O-rings and copper washers and a fuel pump. Yesterday it was me who drove down to Melbourne to pick up yet another set of O-rings and washers so that they can replace them yet again tomorrow (Monday).

If they ask for payment they will be told (again) that if the job was done properly in the first place there would be no issue now and we'd be well on our way to our job.

I can beat those for rip offs.
I had a 1996 BMW M3.
I was buying some parts from a dealer and enquired about an inspection 1.
After several minutes on a PC, the "advisor" said $1100. I said Oh, does that include setting the tappets? No that is inspection 2. He had the chutzpah to tell me that it was an M3 so I should expect high service costs.
Inspection 1 is an oil change and inspection .
Another example was when I needed new brake pads. Asked dealer as there were none on ebay.
Tap tap tap $495 .
I then started to do some serious research and finally found out that M3 brakes were just 5 series brakes fitted to a 3 series. I bought a set ( from the OEM manufacturer ) from an ebay trader for AFAIR $160.
Regards Philip A

Originally Posted by Tombie

The biggest difference I see between many home enthusiasts and a tradie of good ilk is the ability to diagnose.

Sure the computer diagnostic helps, but it can show a symptom that then requires skills and experience to interpret. Diagnostics don’t always say “go to part xyz, it’s broken”

The other skill is the ability to know the “best practice” methods of doing a task... people like JC and Dazza have certain tasks they can do more effectively than blindly following the manual.

And the other major difference is these guys(JC,Dazza,there are a couple of others), also know which parts to use,not just part ABC because its cheap,the supplier said it 'should' be OK.

A lot of what these guys know is from experience,spending years working on,in this instance LR vehicles.
And obviously they are also very good at their work.

MR auto are the same,experts in their fields.

IMHO...

*Acording to a recent report by the ACCC over 60% of new car dealerships profit is from the service department.
*Yet new car dealerships service departments seem to crap up their relationship with the customer so often.
*A new car dealership service department will often have a lubey (boy/man/woman), which is simply someone that has been deemed competent enough to do the single task of changing oil on a car.
*Small to medium workshops may have one or two non trade qualified people on the floor assisting mechanics as needed. Large workshops, the trade assistants and others will out number the tradesman 2 to 1 (or whatever the max allowed is).

*One thing that peeves me off sometimes is this belief some have with regards to being charged a supposed rate tradesman rate and having an apprentice or trade assistant working on their pride and joy. The hourly rate is NOT a whatever person rate, its a workshop rate regardless of whom works on your vehicle.
*The workshop foreman/supervisor or team leader (if we get all group huggy etc) is what makes or breaks a workshop.
*Average trades people and others require good supervision to steer them in the right direction as needed.
*A workshop with good trades people need only a average supervisor to give them the next job or handing over parts.
*When you have a high turn over of staff, generally you are going to get neither a decent trades person or supervisor.
*There are also the nasty practice of trades people getting a bonus for job loading, the most common one was, it needs brakes doing.

*At the end of the day, if you are only being paid an average amount and its not your business, how much of a **** are you really going to give?
*There are exceptions to this and most end up leaving and working for themselves.
*For me it got to the point the only dickhead worth working for was myself

I have a bit of a thing with both mechanics & (on the couple of occasions I could afford it) new car sale people.
They have a much better chance of getting my business if they drive/own my brand of car.
Jonesfam