Audi Servicing Now Charging Customers for lifts.

Zellah

daveyjp said:

The decision will be made by the local franchise holder.

^^^This. My local Audi dealer - Highland Audi (part of Hawkco franchise) - hasn't ever charged for a courtesy car in the 10+ years  I've been using them. On the rare occasions I've dropped my car off, they usually get a driver to drop me off or book me a taxi free of charge. But I'm also aware that there are plenty of other Audi dealerships who longer offer free courtesy cars - many at the very least charge for the courtesy car insurance.

Supersonos

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.

Realistically, how long would it take me to service my own car?  Bearing in mind I currently have zero experience.

photome

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.

You maybe right, I was going by the three places my car has been during the lockdowns, all 3 waiting areas were closed

Zellah

Maybe the OP should change the thread title to

Four South West Audi dealers Charging Customers for lifts

Otherwise its a misleading Daily Mail type headline which implies this is a nationwide practice - which it isn't.

Herzlos

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.

Give it a rest man. Not everyone wants to ruin their own cars, or have the time, or have the same pathological hatred of mechanics.

Car_54

Zellah said:

Maybe the OP should change the thread title to

Four South West Audi dealers Charging Customers for lifts

Otherwise its a misleading Daily Mail type headline which implies this is a nationwide practice - which it isn't.

And if it were, it would be illegal.

AdrianC

Car_54 said:

Zellah said:

Maybe the OP should change the thread title to

Four South West Audi dealers Charging Customers for lifts

Otherwise its a misleading Daily Mail type headline which implies this is a nationwide practice - which it isn't.

And if it were, it would be illegal.

How would "not providing a free taxi service" be illegal?

Herzlos

AdrianC said:

Car_54 said:

Zellah said:

Maybe the OP should change the thread title to

Four South West Audi dealers Charging Customers for lifts

Otherwise its a misleading Daily Mail type headline which implies this is a nationwide practice - which it isn't.

And if it were, it would be illegal.

How would "not providing a free taxi service" be illegal?

I think what might be illegal is charging customers for a taxi service without being a registered taxi company. Dealerships giving someone a free lift home are probably called test drives for legal purposes.

Car_54

AdrianC said:

Car_54 said:

Zellah said:

Maybe the OP should change the thread title to

Four South West Audi dealers Charging Customers for lifts

Otherwise its a misleading Daily Mail type headline which implies this is a nationwide practice - which it isn't.

And if it were, it would be illegal.

How would "not providing a free taxi service" be illegal?

It wouldn't. But the alleged practice was actually "Charging Customers for Lifts", which would. Unless of course they had a taxi or private hire licence.

couriervanman

Bachelorplace said:

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.

Well if you and other Audi owners say no thanks ill take my car elsewhere for a service they will have a rethink or build it into price