Audi Servicing Now Charging Customers for lifts.

Bachelorplace

With the industry on its knees. More and more independent servicing options. I was stunned to learn that 4 Audi dealers in the South West are now charging customers to £20.00 for a collection or courtesy car and not offering a drop off and lift service. BMW offer a drop off and lift, and shelved charging customers for courtesy cars when they all got very angry. 
When the cost of a service at Audi is between £160 - £500 I rather felt that was unfair especially to regular customers. For £20 a marque is going to P a lot more customers off for the sake of £20.00.
Shocking 1980s service for very expensive cars. They should offer drop off and collect free or run customers home in a shuttle. If they do not - they are simply not offering enough of an experience.
I am stunned that someone who may have bought a £100,000 R8 would be subjected to this, or more so if a little old lady is charged because she only has an A1.

AdrianC

If you think £20 is too much for somebody to drive you from A to B, get somebody else to do it cheaper. Perhaps they could call themselves a "taxi"? Or, if they take a lot of people at once, a "bus"?

If you don't think the brand should have this policy, buy a car from a different brand.

Herzlos

No-one dropping off a £100,000 R8 is going to blink at a £20 collection fee.
It also makes sense; Covid causes all sorts of problems with courtesy cars and drop-offs, the £20 probably goes towards the car getting a full clean down between uses.
Your car is only going in for a service, take a book with you or sort out alternative transport. My local dealership is only a £1.50 bus ride away.

daveyjp

The decision will be made by the local franchise holder.

I haven't owned an Audi for almost 15 years, but back then the dealer made a £20 charge for non warranty work courtesy cars.

LeafGreen

there is still going to be a cost to the business - either they charge (for example) £320 for the service with a free drop off and pick up, or £300 without. 

fred246

If you service your own cars you don't get all this agro. Just do it at a time that's convenient for yourself.

Penelopa.Pitstop

Not only Audi.  I wanted to book a service with Fiat. No courtesy cars at all, no waiting inside the dealership and if you want your car collected, it will cost £20-40 depending on distance. They did car collection for free before. So I chose different dealer that allows customer to wait on site. I'm not going to wait outside in winter, while my car is serviced.

photome

Penelopa.Pitstop said:

Not only Audi.  I wanted to book a service with Fiat. No courtesy cars at all, no waiting inside the dealership and if you want your car collected, it will cost £20-40 depending on distance. They did car collection for free before. So I chose different dealer that allows customer to wait on site. I'm not going to wait outside in winter, while my car is serviced.

Assuming it wasnt during either lockdown period as the waiting areas should have been closed, some will have had no choice but to go during that period and either wait outside/pay/ or travel

Car_54

photome said:

Penelopa.Pitstop said:

Not only Audi.  I wanted to book a service with Fiat. No courtesy cars at all, no waiting inside the dealership and if you want your car collected, it will cost £20-40 depending on distance. They did car collection for free before. So I chose different dealer that allows customer to wait on site. I'm not going to wait outside in winter, while my car is serviced.

Assuming it wasnt during either lockdown period as the waiting areas should have been closed, some will have had no choice but to go during that period and either wait outside/pay/ or travel

Are you sure?

I've just been to the dentist, where the waiting room is open (with masks and distancing, and no ancient dog-eared magazines). I can't see how a garage waiting room would be any different.

NottinghamKnight

Car_54 said:

photome said:

Penelopa.Pitstop said:

Not only Audi.  I wanted to book a service with Fiat. No courtesy cars at all, no waiting inside the dealership and if you want your car collected, it will cost £20-40 depending on distance. They did car collection for free before. So I chose different dealer that allows customer to wait on site. I'm not going to wait outside in winter, while my car is serviced.

Assuming it wasnt during either lockdown period as the waiting areas should have been closed, some will have had no choice but to go during that period and either wait outside/pay/ or travel

Are you sure?

I've just been to the dentist, where the waiting room is open (with masks and distancing, and no ancient dog-eared magazines). I can't see how a garage waiting room would be any different.

It'll vary, I went to the dentist a couple of weeks ago, had to wait outside for a few minutes, then took temperature and had to go straight through for treatment and then back out, only staff inside and seemed to only be doing single appointments with time for cleaning between.

born_again

fred246 said:

If you service your own cars you don't get all this agro. Just do it at a time that's convenient for yourself.

Just do not hope to get any warranty work done though.....