Is the RAC taking advantage of the consumer and the present weather conditions?

George_Michael

teresaevans wrote: »

The different views are intriguing but some are missing the point.

Which different views?
There are 13 comments between your opening post and the one quoted above, and in every one of them the writer is expressing the same opinion.
The only way that the views are different is in that they all disagree with you.

luckwudaveit

Why not return the battery to where you bought it and get the RAC out to supply and install a battery? This would mean you have the pleasure of having the battery replaced at your home and no expense of what a garage would charge you for fitting your own battery. I don't know what a garage would charge you for fitting a battery, but I suspect that they would also prefer to supply and install one?

shaun_from_Africa

Look at it from the RAC's point of view.

You buy a battery from a third party supplier and ask the RAC to fit it, which they do.

Then in a few months the battery fails due to something like one of the terminals breaking. The manufacturer refuses to replace it as they state that it was incorrectly fitted so you blame the RAC as their mechanic must have screwed up.
They won't replace it as they think it's a manufacturing fault with the battery, so you contact Trading standards.

Why would the RAC want the hassle of fitting goods not supplied by them?

The RAC wanted £92 for a battery that cost £70 elsewhere, so a difference of £22.
This £22 covered the cost of fitting it, the cost of buying it and carrying it around in one of their vans for possibly months before it was needed.
They would also take your old battery away and have to dispose of it.

teresaevans_2

George Michael...meant some comments being faceitious and others not!

Obukit

I hope the OP never goes to a cinema and sees what they charge for popcorn and drinks they sell at the supermarket for 50p

clangnuts

When I broke down with a duff battery, the breakdown man (not RAC) advised me to buy a replacement battery from somewhere like Halfords, because he said I'd pay over the odds if he supplied it. I chose to pay the inflated price instead, because of the convenience.

All upfront and honest about it. Nothing to complain about.

TrickyWicky

Well if its any use, I bought and RAC trolley jack from Halfords years ago but they never offered to come round and jack my car up

teresaevans_2

Dont know what "OP" stands for "Obukit", but I am not discussing purchasing general goods or services in a leisure environment.

I do not believe that I am stupid and certainly not ignorant like you "Notmyrealname". I welcome constructive criticism such as left by Shain from Africa, but not when people feel that they need to be nasty with it. Do one!!!!!

david39

I think that the RAC wording is open to interpretation either way but that most people would read it to mean that they will fit batteries for free if they were supplied by the RAC but not by others.

Yes, the RAC should tighten up its wording to read what it intends, but the OP is not being realistic in his expectations.

He obviously needs to change to the AA when up for renewal if he believes that they will offer the level of service he expects but would suggest that he checks that out again as part of his conditions of signing up with them.

Here is an analogy of the AA position :

Customer goes into a pet shop and asks the price of a parrot - he is told it is £1,500.
Customer complains to the manager that the pet shop in the next town sells exactly the same parrot for £999.
Manager asks customer why he doesn't buy the parrot from the other pet shop.
Customer replies that they haven't any in stock.
Manager says that his parrots are also £999 when he hasn't got them in stock.

It's easy for someone at the AA to say that they would fit the battery free because they know that they will not be asked to do the job, as the OP is not a member and has already had the work carried out.

MX5huggy

teresaevans wrote: »

Dont know what "OP" stands for "Obukit", but I am not discussing purchasing general goods or services in a leisure environment.

OP is Original Poster or Original Post, ie you or your original entry.

But you are the goods is a battery the fitting of said battery is a service, driving is a leisure activity.

If you are so sure just take RAC to court to get yours costs back, easy it will cost you just £50.