Servicing: Have I been stiched up like a kipper??

4900 Views 81 Replies 37 Participants Last post by Tallus, Apr 14, 2011

Tallus

Discussion Starter · Apr 11, 2011

I'm new to the Alfa world and after buying my nearly new GT I thought I would make a special effort with thisone and not cut corners, so called a Alfa specialist independant for a full cam belt, water pump and service.
On the phone I was advised that it should come in at around £500 and thought, although a little steep(?) would be worth it for peace of mind.

Imagine my suprise when I got back to a bill of £700 instead. . :wow: I thought other bits may have been done but no. Just normal service, cam belt and pump . . ?

61 - 80 of 82 Posts

Autolusso

· #61 · Apr 12, 2011

seymour beaver said:
One comment was several posters dont run there own buisness moaning about charging a couple of quid for a washer. I run my own business (been doing so here for 10+ years) ive plenty of customers coming to me with Alfas and i dont itemise washers at £2.00 each.My labour rates are half the original posting paid and people wait a week to get booked in.Im not trying to get smart as ive actually used Neds services for parts and been well pleased but all operators vary and charge different prices relative to overheads.I sell good secondhand twinspark engines at £250-£300 some want £700 horses for courses.

We weren’t charging for small things like sump washer but now I have our new computerised stock control system in place we do but the cost of the service has not gone up. For us with 8 full time technicians we need to know we have all the parts we need in stock so for us it is imperative to itemise our bills. I have said this already, it is not about being charge 2 quid for a sump plug washer it is about communication and to be frank if the OP was not happy that the bill is higher than quoted the time to question it is when being presented with bill and in my opinion when you pay it you are accepting it.

Ned

Alfafamily

· #62 · Apr 12, 2011

seymour beaver said:
One comment was several posters dont run there own buisness moaning about charging a couple of quid for a washer. I run my own business (been doing so here for 10+ years) ive plenty of customers coming to me with Alfas and i dont itemise washers at £2.00 each.My labour rates are half the original posting paid and people wait a week to get booked in.Im not trying to get smart as ive actually used Neds services for parts and been well pleased but all operators vary and charge different prices relative to overheads.I sell good secondhand twinspark engines at £250-£300 some want £700 horses for courses.

IMHO that's a very good way to run a smaller business to get repeat custom.
It was me that picked up on the £2.90 for the sump plug washer and made a flippant comment, although as pointed out it is the full retail price for an Alfa part.
The point was that if you service the same cars routinely there are ways you can save money for the customer while still making a good profit yourself. Charging people full whack for every single item is a sure way of rubbing them up the wrong way. Perhaps the OP of this thread feels an element of that. I just chose the washer as an example. The sump plug washers can be bought for 50p, the customer could be charged £1.50. Bulk bought oil does not need really need to be charged out at the full retail price per litre does it?
In view of the lack of communication I'm not surprised this indy is left with a slightly miffed customer.

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Tallus

Discussion Starter · #63 · Apr 12, 2011

seymour beaver said:
One comment was several posters dont run there own buisness moaning about charging a couple of quid for a washer. I run my own business (been doing so here for 10+ years) ive plenty of customers coming to me with Alfas and i dont itemise washers at £2.00 each.My labour rates are half the original posting paid and people wait a week to get booked in.Im not trying to get smart as ive actually used Neds services for parts and been well pleased but all operators vary and charge different prices relative to overheads.I sell good secondhand twinspark engines at £250-£300 some want £700 horses for courses.[/QUOTE

Also, It's also not really an argument to say "You obviously don't run your own business, you have to pay overheads." as some kind of excuse to charge whatever people like. This isn't unique. . All companies have overheads.

Where are you in West Sussex? I'll come see you next time.

Dickymint_156

· #64 · Apr 12, 2011

If I could find a reasonable local garage I'd take my car to them for every job but all the garages around here that I have been to are expensive and have 16 year old monkeys working for them, I have had breaks fall off whilst driving, water and oil sprayed over my car and inside and the undertray fall off...... also brake a rear caliper winding it in with pipe grips ect and the list just go's on!!

I took my car to a local garage and asked if i could book my car in to have a brake caliper fitted and he couldnt fit it in unless I left my car there for the day and it would cost between £50-£70 as he wasnt sure so I said forget it and took it home and changed it in 20 mins (was a vectra) yet they are never very busy as its just a little village garage

Visionthing

· #65 · Apr 12, 2011

I think autolusso's point is valid, the time to discuss the bill's is prior to the work commencing and when coming to pay it. If the garage i took mine to had just agreed the price before hand, then charged me ontop for new brakes etc without consultation,as it was not authorised nor agreed, i would have looked to sticking as close to the agreed price...luckily they don't do that where i go, you get a written quote including vat, so the price you see is the price you pay - and yes communication is the key.

Loknar

· #66 · Apr 13, 2011

£2.50 for washers isn't bad business it's bad marketing! :lol:

Dave Brand

· #67 · Apr 13, 2011

Loknar said:
£2.50 for washers isn't bad business it's bad marketing! :lol:

I'd say selling them at something like 100 times the manufacturing cost is very good marketing!

purple145

· #68 · Apr 13, 2011

when the belt was done by an indi on the 145, the cost was £425 and that was 8 years ago, no service, just the belt and variator and associated bits, and that was the norm, hence my comment about communication, rather than the actual cost of the work involved.

Loknar

· #69 · Apr 13, 2011

Dave Brand said:
I'd say selling them at something like 100 times the manufacturing cost is very good marketing!

I mean; Leaving the customer feeling abused while only getting a few pennies of profit isn't very wise for the long term.

Tallus

Discussion Starter · #70 · Apr 13, 2011

So spoke to the garage, they said that the price is correct for the work done but would happily look at the car again to see the bits they missed for free (!) Just a 2 hr drive but hey. So, to answer all the requests I feel like I can metnion the name as they feel it was priced correctly and have acted ethically. So Rusper Alfa Romeo of West Sussex it is.

PJ3074

· #71 · Apr 13, 2011

You want to pop up to Kent next time - see Jamie of Go Italia (Maidstone) Tel:01622 749282... He did my 72K Service, including Selenia Oil, changed ALL the belts / kits on my 2.0TS, plus the full Alfa Schedule Service for £250.00 Labour including Oils.... I supplied all parts that I purchased from Alfa Workshop and his labour charge also included a coolant change too (I supplied the Paraflu)... My parts list came to around £330.00 and that included new water pump too.

I later went back for new brake discs/pads all round, rear hub bushes and brake fluid change and J charged me £175.00 Labour including Brake Fluid and I supplied the parts.

This guy use to be an Alfa Master Tech for local Alfa Main Dealer and now he has a great little setup as an "Inde" well worth the trip and he know's his stuff and no BS either!

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Visionthing

· #72 · Apr 13, 2011

Well i have to admit to being a bit confused now.
The work done seems to be in line with the price that has been paid..............the issue appears to be the first quote of £500 and the cost of £700, yet the total work appears to be worth the £700 charged........what am i missing...the fact that the quoted price was probably for the cam belt change and the rest is the service , just that wasn't included in the quote, as it was probably discussed during the same conversation i.e. while we are changing your belts do you want us to service it? answer ..yes.

therefore no additional quote for costs as it wasn't specifically discussed other than agreeing to have a service done and not asking for that to be included in the quote....or am i missing something?

seymour beaver

· #73 · Apr 13, 2011

Im in Burgess Hill nr Brighton i get a fair share of Brighton Alfas to maintain cos the nearest otherwise is monza sport Alfa dealers.If you come to me id give you a lucky charm, a free washer:thumbs:

chipt33

· #74 · Apr 13, 2011

Visionthing said:
Well i have to admit to being a bit confused now.
The work done seems to be in line with the price that has been paid..............the issue appears to be the first quote of £500 and the cost of £700, yet the total work appears to be worth the £700 charged........what am i missing...the fact that the quoted price was probably for the cam belt change and the rest is the service , just that wasn't included in the quote, as it was probably discussed during the same conversation i.e. while we are changing your belts do you want us to service it? answer ..yes.

therefore no additional quote for costs as it wasn't specifically discussed other than agreeing to have a service done and not asking for that to be included in the quote....or am i missing something?

nice addage:wow:

G

· #75 · Apr 13, 2011

Do kippers get stitched up?

Alfa 156 JTD

· #76 · Apr 13, 2011

seymour beaver said:
Im in Burgess Hill nr Brighton i get a fair share of Brighton Alfas to maintain cos the nearest otherwise is monza sport Alfa dealers.If you come to me id give you a lucky charm, a free washer:thumbs:

I'll bring my own washer thanks

Loknar

· #77 · Apr 14, 2011

munky said:
Do kippers get stitched up?

You asked the question everyone is too afraid to ask.

T4hir

· #78 · Apr 14, 2011

Reckon you were lucky and charged HALF the labour rate, normally hourly charge is a tad over £100 for a Dealer!

E500 TAT

· #79 · Apr 14, 2011

munky said:
Do kippers get stitched up?

If they drive an Alfa yes.:lol:

smiffy117

· #80 · Apr 14, 2011

munky said:
Do kippers get stitched up?

when they are smoked with £1 sump washers:lol:

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