urbanmaser
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- 2,911
The old age debate about getting ripped off by your dealer will no doubt rage on and on and whilst there is no full proof way of safe guarding against this, there are certain precautions that one can take.
1) Instruct your dealer as to exactly what you want them to do, making it clear that any additional work has to be notified and agreed in writing prior to the work being carried out. You can always say no and get a second opinion.
2) If your car is being booked in for a service establish what price you are being charged including filters, fluids etc if applicable. Many dealers will price match and it is worth spending the time to phone around or ask on the forum who is offering the best deal. Your chosen dealer may well match the price and if they don't, at least you have the opportunity to take your car elsewhere. Personally, I hate this practice as every dealer should be costing as keenly as possible in the first place to attract your custom. It seems unfair that one dealer takes the trouble to be keen with their pricing and the dealer who did not ends up getting the business.
3) The same applies to parts, but you can drive yourself mad and take it to the extreme by comparing the cost of a filter or spark plug, but for major components like clutch, brakes, tyres, cats or F1 pump, it is certainly worth the effort.
4) I am still trying to figure out a full proof way of guarding against the widely practiced deceipt of fabrication of work or being charged for something which did not need doing in the first place. Even worse is being charged for something and the work is not even carried out. One thing which will give some insurance is to ask to see the old component which they claim they are replacing. An honest garage should not object to this.
At the end of the day we would all like to think that we are being given a fair deal and all this detective work should be unnecessary. Human nature dictates that if someone knows you are watching them they will probably be less inclined to pull the wool over your eyes. The guy who just accepts is a far easier target. I would also guess that once you have built up a relationship with your dealer and he realises you are nobody's fool he will not try it on.
Just my thoughts above. My car has gone in for it's first service and with much help from the forum I have price matched as much as I humanely could without driving myself mad. The final invoice will dictate whether or not my effort has been invain or successful
By the way this is not an invitation to name and shame - a dishonest dealer will be found out soon enough and will pay the ultimate price. Happy Motoring Folks
1) Instruct your dealer as to exactly what you want them to do, making it clear that any additional work has to be notified and agreed in writing prior to the work being carried out. You can always say no and get a second opinion.
2) If your car is being booked in for a service establish what price you are being charged including filters, fluids etc if applicable. Many dealers will price match and it is worth spending the time to phone around or ask on the forum who is offering the best deal. Your chosen dealer may well match the price and if they don't, at least you have the opportunity to take your car elsewhere. Personally, I hate this practice as every dealer should be costing as keenly as possible in the first place to attract your custom. It seems unfair that one dealer takes the trouble to be keen with their pricing and the dealer who did not ends up getting the business.
3) The same applies to parts, but you can drive yourself mad and take it to the extreme by comparing the cost of a filter or spark plug, but for major components like clutch, brakes, tyres, cats or F1 pump, it is certainly worth the effort.
4) I am still trying to figure out a full proof way of guarding against the widely practiced deceipt of fabrication of work or being charged for something which did not need doing in the first place. Even worse is being charged for something and the work is not even carried out. One thing which will give some insurance is to ask to see the old component which they claim they are replacing. An honest garage should not object to this.
At the end of the day we would all like to think that we are being given a fair deal and all this detective work should be unnecessary. Human nature dictates that if someone knows you are watching them they will probably be less inclined to pull the wool over your eyes. The guy who just accepts is a far easier target. I would also guess that once you have built up a relationship with your dealer and he realises you are nobody's fool he will not try it on.
Just my thoughts above. My car has gone in for it's first service and with much help from the forum I have price matched as much as I humanely could without driving myself mad. The final invoice will dictate whether or not my effort has been invain or successful
By the way this is not an invitation to name and shame - a dishonest dealer will be found out soon enough and will pay the ultimate price. Happy Motoring Folks
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