Astronomical service cost

[Tuercas viejas]

These posts raise some interesting questions.

On servicing costs the same mantra applies to buying and being served a hamburger and fries (chips).

The base ingredients are basically the same, its just the prep and presentation that varies including the environment its served in!
The profit base on fast food prep and delivery(service) by the way is about the same, so is basic car servicing which is a repetitive procedure!
Obviously overheards play a big factor into the charge out rate and it can be bundled into the oft expression, the cost of doing business which of course it is!
Does anyone know what is the profit mark up on fast food?
Does anyone know or have a any idea as to what is the basic profit mark up in car servicing (or repairs for that matter)?

Here's a question?
How many of you "shop" a service or repair cost looking for estimates? for basic servicing
If so when it comes to an actual fault /breakdown problem do you do the same thing and ask for an estimate over the phone before you present the car personally or on the tow truck hook ?

Boiled down a repair servicing shop, any shop, either one under some converted railway arches down a back alley (like my late dad's old place in the 1950's ) or something glitzy in the trading estate or city High St is doing the same thing!
Engaged in that same activity to invite and offer a service for monetary consideration and you Mr customer(s) complete the transaction by engaging in the age old act of Anglo Saxon law. Forming the basics of a contract that is.
Offeree Offeror and acceptance for consideration.


Can anyone comment, or answer the above questions to someone who has been engaged in this business for more than 50 years?
Regards
Tuercas Viejas

 

[BIGANDYT]

Hi there thanks for your feedback, a summary of some of the key parts:
1. oil filter element and install - £12
2. engine oil - £85
3. brake fluid - £60
4. air filter element and install - £67
4. Fuel filter and replace - 121
5. Dust Filter - 25.

Parts came to £252 Labour was £290 vat £108 meaning it came out at £650

Does that look reasonable? Any of those parts look overpriced or should i just suck it up and pay the money as it needed doing?

 

[geraldrobins]

Typical Mercedes prices but they do vary.

 

[190]

Hi there thanks for your feedback, a summary of some of the key parts:
1. oil filter element and install - £12
2. engine oil - £85
3. brake fluid - £60
4. air filter element and install - £67
4. Fuel filter and replace - 121
5. Dust Filter - 25.

Parts came to £252 Labour was £290 vat £108 meaning it came out at £650

Does that look reasonable? Any of those parts look overpriced or should i just suck it up and pay the money as it needed doing?

Between 100% and 300% mark up on the parts. On a DIY basis the parts would come to approx. £100. It bugs me that the parts mark up is as outrageous as the labour. Realistically a normal garage should be able to do that for half the cost that MB charged.

 

[Rory]

Never mind the rest of it - 325 quid for an oil and filter change, 30 minutes work basically, is scandalous.

Especially bearing in mind dealers will do a "Value" service on 7+yr old cars for £149, which arguably has more work than an A service.


I think one thing the OP could do is to say if he'd known the car wasn't covered then he'd have bought a new ServiceCare plan - so offer to do that. The cost for 2yrs will be about the same as he's been asked to pay for the current service so he'll get the next one, which should be a B, free.

 

[flowrider]

Hey Headhurts, yes this is the point if id know i would have shopped around, especially with the £640 price being quoted. Im not bothered about the relationship with the dealer given i feel they are trying it on, and i can always buy from another place, i was planning on getting a new one early next year. Im happy to pay whats fair so if £300 for those parts is what i should expect to pay and they do need changing at 45k thats fine. It just seems a bit steep

You should have known that your service plan only covered 2 services both of which you had so it's not MB's fault. The service costs are typical MB so no rip off there either.

 

[Rory]

Hi there thanks for your feedback, a summary of some of the key parts:
1. oil filter element and install - £12
2. engine oil - £85
3. brake fluid - £60
4. air filter element and install - £67
4. Fuel filter and replace - 121
5. Dust Filter - 25.

Odd wording there - "install" implies the labour is included although that doesn't make sense on the oil filter price, but as if they've charged labour twice.

The fuel filter looks expensive but if it's one with water sensor built in then I think they are a lot dearer than the more basic ones.

What mileage has the car done? The extent of the work seems a lot for an A service and 3yr old car. Brake fluid should be every 2yrs and the dust filter is normally done as part of B service (again every 2yrs). The other things would normally be on 4 year intervals unless the car has hit the mileage limits.

 

[John]

You should have known that your service plan only covered 2 services both of which you had so it's not MB's fault. The service costs are typical MB so no rip off there either.

It's not their fault but it was poor-form to not contact the OP to advise in fact the car was no longer under the plan and commence work anyway.

Don't really endear themselves sometimes do they...

 

[BIGANDYT]

You should have known that your service plan only covered 2 services both of which you had so it's not MB's fault. The service costs are typical MB so no rip off there either.

Yes I accept that, however i was led to believe that the servicing would match the pcp term of 4 years. Not faulting them other than the initial sales guy didnt do it for the four years as id expected.

 

[BIGANDYT]

Odd wording there - "install" implies the labour is included although that doesn't make sense on the oil filter price, but as if they've charged labour twice.

The fuel filter looks expensive but if it's one with water sensor built in then I think they are a lot dearer than the more basic ones.

What mileage has the car done? The extent of the work seems a lot for an A service and 3yr old car. Brake fluid should be every 2yrs and the dust filter is normally done as part of B service (again every 2yrs). The other things would normally be on 4 year intervals unless the car has hit the mileage limits.

I combined the labour into the quote to simplify down, cars done about 45,000m.

Thanks for all your help, im guessing what the message is is three fold.

1. Read the documentation
2. Shope around before you let them crack on with the work
3. Inlfated but expected dealership prices

Thanks all,

Andy

 

[paul73mt]

last year I had an A service plus something else and went in for a possible injector. after a long story when they buggered up the injector went in to collect it and was give a £750 for a faulty injector and a one for the service or £600 ish (cant remember the exact amount) When I booked it in I told them that I had a service plan and extended warranty. All the work was done without even telling me, should of seen there face when I said not paying due to service plan and handed them £120 for the warranty claim took the keys and walked out. Mine is now 7years old so not sure if its worth still having the warranty as it don't cover 'wear and tear' due to over the 100,000miles

 

[Rory]

... should of seen there face when I said not paying due to service plan..

MB used to have a service and maint package called ServicePlus and many forum members had it.

It was quite funny to take the car in, be regaled by great lists of work that needed to be done, then see the service advisor visibly slump when the response to "how will you be paying today, sir?" was "ServicePlus".

I'd barely get home before they were on the 'phone to say the car was ready. Amazingly it had turned out that none of that extra work was needed on my car.

 

[Deletedmember130310]

Hi guys,

Looking for some advice before I hand over the cash.
I have a 2014 Mercedes c class and it recently went flagged it needed a service. I phoned up the dealership and they booked me in saying I had a service plan and wouldnt be an issue, Service went ok and i picked the car up.

They have now come back to me saying it wasnt covered under the service plan and I owe them £640. This seems excessive to me.
Basically its an A service.

service in 2015 was an A service (oil and filter change), with no additional items. £325.00

2017 was the A service (oil and filter change) additionally we replaced the air filter, the fuel filter, the dust filter and the brake fluid. £640

They have said the additional items explain the extra cost.

But does and air filter, fuel filter, dust filter and brake filter really cost £315?

If theyd told me when i went in it was going to be £640 and wasnt covered under my plan I would most likely have shopped around.

Am i wrong to be complaining or should I just pay up and accept its the cost of owning a nice car?

Cheers for any advice

Sounds like a reasonable price for all that work at a MB dealer

Suggest you pay up - I can't believe you didn't know how long your service plan was for.

 

[Dryce]

Sounds like a reasonable price for all that work at a MB dealer

Seriously ..... ?

Suggest you pay up

LOL .... now it becomes clear! You obviously work for them a s a forum shill don't you

can't believe you didn't know how long your service plan was for.

Well neither apparently did MB and they're the professionals


Reality check here. MB servicing is not good value. They want to spook customers into buying service plans. So the out-of serviceplan pricing is really bad value to make the service plans look 'good' value,

And then once a car is outside warranty and the grip of their finance agreement ...... oh that's intersting they offer servicing discounts.

Trading standards really need to look at this.

It stinks.

 

[njkmr]

They are thieving barsterwards... full stop..
My car was due 3 year service which is A service.
Quoted me B service price of £635 until I told them it was an A service required.
Had the cheek to tell me they had given me discount at the end and it was only £405.
No they didn't they charged me for the A service.
I then saw they had changed the filter insert for the 2nd year running which wasn't required after 6k miles only.
They then said my condenser unit on aircon needed replacing and it wouldn't be done under warranty. £900+ please.
As I said they are thieving Scum...!!

 

[Deletedmember130310]

Seriously ..... ?

LOL .... now it becomes clear! You obviously work for them a s a forum shill don't you


Well neither apparently did MB and they're the professionals


Reality check here. MB servicing is not good value. They want to spook customers into buying service plans. So the out-of serviceplan pricing is really bad value to make the service plans look 'good' value,

And then once a car is outside warranty and the grip of their finance agreement ...... oh that's intersting they offer servicing discounts.

Trading standards really need to look at this.

It stinks.

If you don't like the rules, don't play the game.

Big boys toys cost.

 

[John]

If you don't like the rules, don't play the game.

Big boys toys cost.

Not if you use an independent who isn't trying to rip you off.

 

[Dryce]

If you don't like the rules, don't play the game.

Big boys toys cost.

You obvously are content to be gouged.

I am not.

 

[njkmr]

Its independent's all the way for me from now on.
Was contemplating an extended warranty for piece of mind but after this episode I will put money aside each month in a slush fund for any unexpected items.
Regards
Rob.

 

[Rory]

You obvously are content to be gouged.

I am not.

Some people don't seem to be bothered. Perhaps if they also have a Porsche or an Aston etc, then MB servicing looks cheap.

I remember one of these discussion where a poster though it was marvellous that the dealer reminded him every year about having his a/c serviced as otherwise he would forget