Charge for courtesy car

[TC350]

I've just booked my car in for its next service & MoT at my local MB dealership. I've been using them for 12 years and they've always provided a courtesy car with no charge. This time they want to charge me £30, saying it's because it's an insurance requirement.

For the vast majority of the previous services I've only used the courtesy car to get from dealership to home then back again. It's been a good opportunity to try out different Mercedes cars, as well as being convenient. This time I'm going to have to hang around waiting for someone to take me home - or walk if the weather's kind.

Another example of MB cost cutting through reduction in customer care?

 

[WilliamMaldivess211]

I've just booked my car in for its next service & MoT at my local MB dealership. I've been using them for 12 years and they've always provided a courtesy car with no charge. This time they want to charge me £30, saying it's because it's an insurance requirement.

For the vast majority of the previous services I've only used the courtesy car to get from dealership to home then back again. It's been a good opportunity to try out different Mercedes cars, as well as being convenient. This time I'm going to have to hang around waiting for someone to take me home - or walk if the weather's kind.

Another example of MB cost cutting through reduction in customer care?

That’s really bad in my opinion. When my parents’ old Audi q3 went in for a service with our Audi dealer they gave them a q5 for the day. The next week my parents brought a q5 from them. If I was Mercedes I would treat people as future customers and give them a new Mercedes to experience. With my local Mercedes dealer if you want a courtesy car you have to book almost six months in advance and they still aren’t keen to give you one when you turn up.

 

[TC350]

That’s really bad in my opinion. When my parents’ old Audi q3 went in for a service with our Audi dealer they gave them a q5 for the day. The next week my parents brought a q5 from them. If I was Mercedes I would treat people as future customers and give them a new Mercedes to experience. With my local Mercedes dealer if you want a courtesy car you have to book almost six months in advance and they still aren’t keen to give you one when you turn up.

Yes. Bearing in mind that I bought my current car brand new from this dealership, you'd think they would regard it as a bit of opportune marketing.

I've always booked well in advance to ensure I get a courtesy car. This time I booked a date over three months away.

 

[ALFAitalia]

In their defence...why not?....if they don't charge they will just add it to the hourly rate...and then you will ALL pay...courtesy car or not. We use to charge for courtesy cars when I was Audi VW fback in the 90s!!......not a lot....but it sorts out those who really actually need one....and the others who could not be bothered to walk or get a lift etc. Nothing is for free in this world.

 

[WilliamMaldivess211]

In their defence...why not?....if they don't charge they will just add it to the hourly rate...and then you will ALL pay...courtesy car or not. We use to charge for courtesy cars when I was Audi VW fback in the 90s!!......not a lot....but it sorts out those who really actually need one....and the others who could not be bothered to walk or get a lift etc. Nothing is for free in this world.

Good point hadn’t really considered that - but then servicing is incredibly expensive now, so maybe they still should?

 

[BTB 500]

All the MB dealerships I've used have charged extra for a courtesy car for years. They have a sliding scale of service charges, most expensive option first:

• Courtesy car
• Pick up and deliver back
• 'While you wait' appointment
• 'Drop & go' (they have it all day)

For routine servicing I normally go for the while you wait option and sit in the lounge for an hour or two (free coffee & snacks & WiFi). Not having it washed cuts the time down.

 

[SpikyMikey]

Not having it washed cuts the time down.

Cuts down on the swirl marks and trim staining too.

 

[SpikyMikey]

Surely a "Courtesy" Car is free; otherwise it's a Hire Car.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Good point.....LOL!....and the dictionary agrees!!

Def...
"Courtesy" (especially of transport) supplied free of charge to people who are already paying for another service.

 

[chic0821]

Last time I phoned to book the car in using the Dealers number, the call was diverted to a call centre, god knows where. Anyway, they said there would be a charge, I said "whatever . Took the car in, given courtesy car, but when I returned it there was no charge, not even put back the fuel you use, which is what Land Rover do

 

[WilliamMaldivess211]

Last time I phoned to book the car in using the Dealers number, the call was diverted to a call centre, god knows where. Anyway, they said there would be a charge, I said "whatever . Took the car in, given courtesy car, but when I returned it there was no charge, not even put back the fuel you use, which is what Land Rover do

It’s seems to be very varied with different dealers, for me it gives me a better opinion of the dealer if they just give you a free courtesy car. I am much more likely to go back.

 

[DSM10000]

I've just booked my car in for its next service & MoT at my local MB dealership. I've been using them for 12 years and they've always provided a courtesy car with no charge. This time they want to charge me £30, saying it's because it's an insurance requirement.

For the vast majority of the previous services I've only used the courtesy car to get from dealership to home then back again. It's been a good opportunity to try out different Mercedes cars, as well as being convenient. This time I'm going to have to hang around waiting for someone to take me home - or walk if the weather's kind.

Another example of MB cost cutting through reduction in customer care?

Hardly a lot of money for the convenience of having transport for the duration your car isn't available?
. As said, it was never free, some part of the business has picked up the cost, and probably transferred it to the customers regardless.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Is that £30 full stop....or £30 per day or week etc?

 

[SpikyMikey]

Hardly a lot of money for the convenience of having transport for the duration your car isn't available?
. As said, it was never free, some part of the business has picked up the cost, and probably transferred it to the customers regardless.

I have never used a courtesy car on the rare occasions that I've needed to visit the main dealer; I always try to drop the car off and wait. But I confess I've probably consumed at least 30 quids-worth of Cappuccino and Biscoffs. So you can blame me partly for the £200/hour labour charge.

 

[ToeKnee]

Surely a "Courtesy" Car is free; otherwise it's a Hire Car.

In my experience, the car has always been free but the charge, £20 in my case, was for insurance, waiver etc.

 

[TC350]

It’s seems to be very varied with different dealers, for me it gives me a better opinion of the dealer if they just give you a free courtesy car. I am much more likely to go back.

Exactly this. Having had this free for the last 12 years, I regard having to pay for it as a downgrade.

It’s one of the reasons I’ve continued with main dealer servicing for so long. After this service, I’ll have one more service under the monthly paid service plan. I know that £30 is very little compared to the service costs, but it’s the principle. I’ll probably be looking for an indie when the Service Plan is over.

 

[TC350]

Is that £30 full stop....or £30 per day or week etc?

It’s for the duration of a service and MoT - so for one day hopefully.

 

[rf065]

Exactly this. Having had this free for the last 12 years, I regard having to pay for it as a downgrade.

All the Mercedes dealers near me have had this charge for years, odd thing is though, sometimes they don't bother charging, other times they do. It all seems to depend on who you deal with at the time.

 

[Bigdrew]

Surely a "Courtesy" Car is free; otherwise it's a Hire Car.

When I worked for Lookers they charged for a courtesy car

 

[DSM10000]

Exactly this. Having had this free for the last 12 years, I regard having to pay for it as a downgrade.

It’s one of the reasons I’ve continued with main dealer servicing for so long. After this service, I’ll have one more service under the monthly paid service plan. I know that £30 is very little compared to the service costs, but it’s the principle. I’ll probably be looking for an indie when the Service Plan is over.

There is no principle here. There was always a cost that had to be picked up. It may well be a way of not increasing service costs by extracting this and making it a standalone payment for those who choose to use the facility.

In effect the car is free, as explained by the dealer, the cost covers insurance which is/was probably a significant cost to the dealer.