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8th November 2012, 09:32 | #11 | |
This is my second home
MG ZT260 SE, MG ZT190+, MG ZTT 160, R75 Conn SE 2.0, R75 Conn SE 2.5 X 3, R75 Club SE 1.8, P5B Coupe Join Date: Jul 2009
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Some may find it offensive............until they too get ripped off by a main dealer. I even had a situation over a Ford Focus CDTi very recently with a very large main dealer. I won't go into detail but they knew that I am in the motor trade & they even tried to baffle me with technical rubbish. Needless to say, I then proceeded to give the workshop foreman & their 'top' technician a lesson in engine management systems & the result, my customers bill was half the original amount they wanted to charge him by fitting parts that weren't required !!! I think 'don't trust' & 'crooks' is a fair description in this instance don't you ? If not, what would you call it ? Another thing, they are definately not worth the hourly rate they charge that's for sure. |
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8th November 2012, 19:23 | #12 |
Been absent for a while…
Rover 75 Tourer, Classic mini Cooper S, Abarth 595 competizione, MG TF and a Hyundai Tucson PHEV Join Date: Feb 2007
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I would disagree completely! You seem to be tarnishing all main dealers alike due to a couple of instances. As for the houly rate, that differs from area and manufacturer. You buy BMW or Audi for example and it will be more expensive than lesser branded vehicles, Incidently I would say I was worth every penny of the houly rate that is charged for my time! Most Main dealer technicians have to meet set standards and are constantly Skills tested to ensure certain standards are upheld, granted not all techs are at the same level but there are some very good ones out there!
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8th November 2012, 22:05 | #13 |
This is my second home
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8th November 2012, 23:06 | #14 | |
This is my second home
MG ZT260 SE, MG ZT190+, MG ZTT 160, R75 Conn SE 2.0, R75 Conn SE 2.5 X 3, R75 Club SE 1.8, P5B Coupe Join Date: Jul 2009
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You don't say what your hourly rate is ? I also think i'm worth every penny of what I charge per hour too but then again I don't charge any where near £80 or more plus VAT. I'm sure there are some good techs out there but it doesn't change the fact that main dealers charge too much per hour & seem quite happy to sell parts that aren't required. These watchdog type programmes need to concentrate a bit more on main dealer antics aswell as 'back street' garages, that would make interesting viewing. Just my opinion of course ! |
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8th November 2012, 23:47 | #15 |
Gets stuck in
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Personally I think taking a car, especially a new-ish one, to a main dealer is a good idea (with a few exceptions).
If you were dealing with a backstreet garage you would largely only have trading standards to help you. But as it's a Ford main dealer you also have Ford to complain to. Make sure you keep pushing your case with them, as I'm certain they will want to eradicate any dodgy dealers! |
9th November 2012, 06:05 | #16 |
Been absent for a while…
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The dealer ship I work at is around £70 per hour and we specialise in quite a few different brands. What you get for that money is people that are specialists in those brands and know the cars inside out. I also have been in the trade a long time and only just on Wednesday was away training to keep up with more updates and improvements in technology that I have to know about which I am then skill tested to ensure I have understood As an independant how often do you have to demonstrate your abillities and prove you can do your job correctly? I'm guessing never as it's the manufacturers that impose this
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9th November 2012, 09:34 | #17 |
This is my second home
MG ZT260 SE, MG ZT190+, MG ZTT 160, R75 Conn SE 2.0, R75 Conn SE 2.5 X 3, R75 Club SE 1.8, P5B Coupe Join Date: Jul 2009
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As you work for a dealership, you are bound to defend them so I now understand your position.
I'm sure you are excellent at your job so this is in no way anything against you personally. This is more about dealerships as a whole, their charges & their system rather than the people that work in them. It is a very bold statement to say that just because a main dealer 'specialises' in certain brands that they know the cars inside out. Once again, this has been proven wrong time & time again. People are under the misconception that the dealership is the best place to take thier car for servicing/repairs etc because 'they must be the best' because 'they're the main dealer'. As I have already said, i'm sure there are many good dealers/techs out there. I take it the £70 per hour labour rate is plus VAT ? if so, that's £84 per hour which is on par with my initial statement in my earlier post. As an independant with 40yrs experience in engine/gearbox reconditioning/auto electrics/diagnostics/repairs & servicing to all makes & models, my customers are my skill testers ! I am a sole trader so if a job goes wrong, I have to face the customer & it's my responsibility to put it right. By the way, my hourly rate is £42 including VAT Dealerships are clinical in as much that, you take your car in, you hand your keys in at a reception to a person in a suit (usually), when you collect your car you go back to said reception, pay your bill & take your car. The owner has no idea who has worked on their car or what has really been done & nothing is explained in detail (and in plain english) I may be a bit old school but I like to know what i'm paying for & that the amount i'm paying is justified. This could go on & on so I think on this occasion, we'll have to agree to disagree ! |
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