Main dealer rip off...

[paultap]

A neighbour who owned a garage once took on a guy who used to work for kwikfit, the guy suggested several ways to increase business. One way was to spray WD40 or oil on a shock absorber of an unsuspecting owner (usually a woman or an OAP) and then claim the shock absorber was leaking and that really both shock absorbers should be changed...Needless to say, he didn't last long.

Coincidentally, a friend took a van in for an Mot, the van passed the Mot but had an advisory on two of the tyres as the tread depth was low. He drove the van straight over to a local Kwikfit to get two new tyres fitted. There he was told that one of his shock absorbers was leaking and shown the "leaking" shock absorber. The technician suggested fitting a new pair of shock absorbers. When my friend pointed out that the van had passed its Mot about 15 mins earlier with no mention of any shock absorber leak, the guy quickly wiped the oil off the shock absorber and told him not to worry about it!

 

[Kalahari]

My mate took his Toyota hybrid in for a first service, being retired from the motor trade, he was most upset when they changed the engine oil and filter, his view was it had done virtually all of the total mileage by electric so why did the oil and filter need changing

To be fair, the dealer doesn't know exactly how the car has been driven/treated.

David.

 

[Woodsmoke]

A neighbour who owned a garage once took on a guy who used to work for kwikfit, the guy suggested several ways to increase business. One way was to spray WD40 on a shock absorber of an unsuspecting owner (usually a woman or an OAP) and then claim the shock absorber was leaking and that really both shock absorbers should be changed! Needless to say, he didn't last long!

I worked for Kwikfit years ago. I don't know if this was prevalent within the business (although I suspect it may have been) but shady practices were certainly encouraged at my branch. One was exactly as you say, another was to tell a customer their tracking needed adjusting when in fact it was perfectly alright. My 'manager' called it a 'DT' or 'dodgy tracking'. He also bought a tin of blue paint for bosal exhausts so he could sell them as the premium Centaur brand. It didn't take me long to tell them to stick it up their arse.

 

[Liveonce]

To be fair, the dealer doesn't know exactly how the car has been driven/treated.

David.

Not sure think the car logs information about electric use. And my mate being ex retired car technician is not the sort to thrash or abuse a vehicle, quite the opposite.

however generally as we all know the service book states oil is changed on mileage or age, oil is amazing technology it knows it is one year old and then stops working as a lubricant even if the car has only done a few miles since the last oil change.

 

[David T]

As previously stated Jag charge £176 per hour for labour. Got my car back today from local independent garage who changed an exhaust sensor.........£100.

 

[paul o']

Iam ex trade and yup they are there to pull your pants down at every tune ? saying that i'v just sold our 20 plate Sportage awd for £2500 more than I paid this time last year so iam chuffed I sold it to a main dealer a bonus aswell was I got the warranty extended for another 2 years on it on top of there Ford group warranty's .

 

[tozzybum]

Quoted £400 for a " genuine service " complete kit including oil n filters £54 mm did it myself.
My new to me Fsh car on this service I removed the 2016 fuel filter in 2022
Friends wife's fiesta dealer serviced from new ,broken down after 3 years .
Rusted In spark plug failed plugs changed supposedly the previous service

 

[Apthorpe]

The biggest rip-off must be the £50+VAT diagnosis fee. £60 extra for every single car that goes into a main dealer times how many million per year. Well overdue for a co-ordinated customer refusal.

 

[User00032]

Get an old landrover then you’ll never be near a garage…. My alternator packed up. £135 + vat from dealer. Went to a scrappy and got one from a mini metro. Same part!

 

[AGR]

Get an old landrover then you’ll never be near a garage…. My alternator packed up. £135 + vat from dealer. Went to a scrappy and got one from a mini metro. Same part!

Never get bored when you own a landrover!