Don't get stung by a main dealer like I did

esuhl

Who do you propose should regulate the prices?! And should every single component in every single car have a price limit?! There must be millions of different component! Compiling a maximum-price-list would take ages and cost a fortune! Not to mention maintaining the list in response to the continually fluctuating prices of raw materials, varying exchange rates, inflation, energy costs, property prices, labour charges, etc.

Such interference with the (more-or-less) free-market would reduce dealership profitability, meaning that some dealers would stop trading, limiting competition and potentially resulting in higher prices.

Should there be maximum-limits on other payments too, like your salary?

Road_Hog

marlot wrote: »

What on earth happened to the engine under trays and front grille that they needed to be replaced?

I love the new names they think up for something simple which used to be called a sump guard. Still an undertray sounds like something you could charge more for.

It sounds like someone has either done a bit of accidental off roading or taken a road hump at speed.

maindealers

I work full time, I run a business and I have a 4 year old. Normally I would not complain because I wouldn't have the time nor have the time to reply to a forum. Does anyone here have a full time job? Seems many of the people responding have plenty of time to complain, watch daytime TV, respond to forum posts and probably not work at all! I live in the real world where I get paid for an honest days work and expect to pay for an honest days work too.

Accidental off roading no. But the Avensis has a low front spoiler that is lower than the average kerb - my fault admittedly and I have no real complaint with those parts as I have no evidence they are cheap or expensive. The oil and tyre however I do. Normally I don't use a main dealer but the low front spoiler prompted me to get a proper job done.

Anyway thanks for all your comments good and bad. But rest assured I am not an idiot just foolish to trust a main dealer and too busy (and I wont be caught again) to spend an hour price checking when I have to get my car back at 4 to collect my daughter from school!

maindealers

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

should main dealer prices be regulated? - no
should you ask what you're going to be charged and what you're getting before you authorise them to do the work - yes

Agree I should. A lesson learnt! But people still need to be aware!

neilmcl

maindealers wrote: »

I work full time, I run a business and I have a 4 year old. Normally I would not complain because I wouldn't have the time nor have the time to reply to a forum. Does anyone here have a full time job? Seems many of the people responding have plenty of time to complain, watch daytime TV, respond to forum posts and probably not work at all! I live in the real world where I get paid for an honest days work and expect to pay for an honest days work too.

Accidental off roading no. But the Avensis has a low front spoiler that is lower than the average kerb - my fault admittedly and I have no real complaint with those parts as I have no evidence they are cheap or expensive. The oil and tyre however I do. Normally I don't use a main dealer but the low front spoiler prompted me to get a proper job done.

Anyway thanks for all your comments good and bad. But rest assured I am not an idiot just foolish to trust a main dealer and too busy (and I wont be caught again) to spend an hour price checking when I have to get my car back at 4 to collect my daughter from school!

You seem to have plenty of time available to check the prices after the event and spending time on here complaining about it. Shame you couldn't be more diligent beforehand and you might have saved yourself a few quid.

Tucker

I don't see why a mainstealer taking people for a ride is thrown back at the customer as them being foolish?

Come off it, lots of people use them and trust they will get a good quality job done by a trusted source. I think anyone using a main dealer expects to pay a premium, but for them to hike up a bill to the size that means it's quetionable whether the car is in fact a write off is no excuse.

It's certainly no reason for people to turn on the customer and just say, 'well it's your own silly fault for going there'.

Many people have used main dealer all the life and wouldn't have it any other way. That's there choice, but when they abuse the situation with excessive charging, I am glad the likes of the OP bring this to people attention, because it might just make one or two others think twice.

Give the guy a break unless you can help because the 'I told you so attitute is just annoying'

Gloomendoom

I get my car serviced at the main dealer but I supply parts and the oil.

It saves me a fortune... £60 on the oil alone for the last service

maindealers

Think I will do that too next time.

maindealers

neilmcl wrote: »

You seem to have plenty of time available to check the prices after the event and spending time on here complaining about it. Shame you couldn't be more diligent beforehand and you might have saved yourself a few quid.

Very helpful!

gilbert_and_sullivan

Tucker wrote: »

Come off it, lots of people use them and trust they will get a good quality job done by a trusted source. I think anyone using a main dealer expects to pay a premium, but for them to hike up a bill to the size that means it's quetionable whether the car is in fact a write off is no excuse.


Many people have used main dealer all the life and wouldn't have it any other way. That's there choice, but when they abuse the situation with excessive charging, I am glad the likes of the OP bring this to people attention, because it might just make one or two others think twice.

Give the guy a break unless you can help because the 'I told you so attitute is just annoying'

Customer asks main dealer to service car and fix or presumably replace undertray, dealer contacts customer and suggests the car needs new tyres and undertray will need replacement, customer says yes.

Dealer charges the correct price for the undertray and more than an internet price for 4 carp tyres.

How has the dealer done anything wrong, should they have tried to talk the customer out of having their car fixed?

Most of us would have either fixed the undertray better by rivetting a panel to it and securely cable tying it on or we'd have slung it and got one from a scrappy if possible, we'd also have known we had worn tyres and found some good quality well priced replacements.

Dealer comes out of this quite well IMO, seems the car is repaired and repaired well, exactly as one would expect from a Toyota dealer.

Customer wanted convenient one stop shop and got it.