Service cost?

BeenThroughItAll

kripel wrote: »

lets just say you could have done it yourself for around 30-40quid for the filters/new oil and it wouldn't take you more than 30minutes to do all that.

I always shake my head at these ''posh people'' who can't do such a simple thing as change oil/filters, it would take you less time to do it yourself than to schedule a time at service,bring the car there, than pick it up etc.

You, sir, are an idiot. No offence, but why does being 'posh' (hateful term), have anything to do with it?


What about disabled people who can't service their cars? Those people with warranties requiring the use of a VAT registered garages? Those people who work shifts or away from home and don't have the time or inclination to get dirty?


Get a grip, your posts are reminiscent of Darkmatter's.

fred246

Imagine if mechanics were professionals:
They would have to have a theory exam and then a rigorous practical test before they were allowed to work alone on someone's car. They'd have to prove evidence of ongoing training.
They would be registered with a Mechanics professional body.
Any dishonesty could affect their registration:
Poor work
Signing to say they've done a task when they haven't
Telling lies or misleading customers
They'd have to report any other mechanic who they felt wasn't performing well enough.
You would receive a tick box after a service with the mechanics full name and their registration number. Any problems and you could report them to the mechanics professional body.
I would be far more likely to use a a mechanic under those circumstances. I would be happy to pay more knowing that something had actually been done during the service. I service my own cars because that is the only way to make sure the job's done properly.

arcon5

Exams and competences... You'll find very few mechanisms are working in a garage without qualifications.

As for not doing work charged for, you'll find that would already be a criminal offence. Proving it is the problem, but that would be no different with a governing body!

And then there's the guys who do fix their own cars, and contrary to their own believe don't actually know how to do it properly, just think they do because they don't know any better.

Iceweasel

In the garages I frequent they have a wall literally covered with certificates showing the qualifications and courses that the 'technicians' have successfully completed.

They even have their specialisms listed separately on a display board so you can see clearly who does what.

The days of a 'multi-purpose' spanner-wielding' 'jack of all trades mechanic in dirty greasy overalls is history.

I have a name and signature for all the work done on my car.

Not cheap -but I have confidence in the system as they also have a viewing area where you can watch the technicians at work.

I am capable and experienced enough to do many of the jobs myself - oil and filters, and soon on - but I need the warranty and the qualified guys (and girls) to do the specialized stuff.

Saving a few quid by changing the oil myself will do me no good if I have a warranty claim rejected at some future point.

To listen to some posters the entire motor trade is full of crooks, and those who use them are fools.

benjus

kripel wrote: »

lets just say you could have done it yourself for around 30-40quid for the filters/new oil and it wouldn't take you more than 30minutes to do all that.

I always shake my head at these ''posh people'' who can't do such a simple thing as change oil/filters, it would take you less time to do it yourself than to schedule a time at service,bring the car there, than pick it up etc.

Sorry but this is a really daft comment.

Many people don't have a suitable place to service a car.

Many people are not at all knowledgeable about the workings of a car engine or confident with doing anything mechanical. Even if they did learn the steps required to change the oil and filters, they would still not be familiar enough with the car workings in general to identify any issues needing attention.

Many people use conveniently located garages so dropping off and collecting the car only take a few minutes out of the day.

Many people simply don't want the hassle of dealing with messy used engine oil and disposing of it properly.

stator

What part of the country are you in? It seems expensive to me. A standard service around here should be less than £150 from an independent garage.

Westmead_Fan

stator wrote: »

What part of the country are you in? It seems expensive to me. A standard service around here should be less than £150 from an independent garage.

exactly the same answer we hear from other garages & mechanics. what are in those £150 service? all the filters doubt it, the correct oil not just cheap nasty 10w40 oil, remove wheels clean check brakes & suspensions check/replace gearbox oil & fluids. carrying out diagnostic health scan

we could do services cheap as chips but that would be cutting corners putting cheap nasty parts most likely to fail, unknown brand of oils 10w-40. using independent garages costs are more unlike the one man band people. what happens if you service the vehicle & causes damage in a week/month or 6 months time due to say for example using the incorrect oils

you also can't compare services like a 1.0 corsa to say a 2.0 tdi golf parts costs differ

panika

kripel wrote: »

lets just say you could have done it yourself for around 30-40quid for the filters/new oil and it wouldn't take you more than 30minutes to do all that.

I always shake my head at these ''posh people'' who can't do such a simple thing as change oil/filters, it would take you less time to do it yourself than to schedule a time at service,bring the car there, than pick it up etc.

You are so wrong.
I send my car for a service to the garage because:
I live in a flat and don't have/rent a driveway/garage.
I don't have a clue about cars, so I rather pay someone once a year to do it properly.
I don't find myself posh - I used to do different things and jobs in my life- in food factory, in care and looking after people who cannot do anything for themselves, in the kitchen. Also in my present job I have to sometimes clean items which many people wouldn't touch. Assuming that I am posh person, who is afraid do get her hands dirty is just stupid.

So, please, DM, don't jump into conclusions. You are trying again to be "someone respectable" over here and just make fool of yourself.

fred246

When I bought my car with a 1.9VW PD engine I decided I would let garages service my car. However, I joined a forum and everyone was saying how difficult it was to get garages to use the correct oil (VW505.01). People were being told all sorts of lies. The garage would say we put oil X in it. The customer would say but oil X isn't PD oil, you should have used oil Y. The garage would then say "Sorry, our mistake we did put oil Y in" and change the invoice. Dishonesty just seems to be the norm in garages. I decided servicing it myself was the only way forward.

SailorSam

I live just down the road from 'Peoples' the Ford dealer and they have a sign outside saying a standard service £125 and major service £195.