Pricing: B Service+ with local specialist.

[morgyface]

Not exactly. Some owners don't want cheaper parts with possible inferior quality and insist on OEM.

Also I would expect an MB indy to fit MB parts and not aftermarket unless I asked him.
My indy fits OEM because the parts are a sure fit. Aftermarket parts often don't.

Even if this applied here, it still doesn't explain the inflated price of things like Mobil oil or Bosch windscreen wiper blades which can be picked up in my local Halfords for much less!

 

[Headhurts]

Even if this applied here, it still doesn't explain the inflated price of things like Mobil oil or Bosch windscreen wiper blades which can be picked up in my local Halfords for much less!

I have to say 20% over Halfords price does not seem bad to me, Halfords are a car supermarket buying in huge quantities plus you have to drive there park up etc.

I would expect to be asked about permission to fit parts etc and I believe at the dealership there is a tick box regarding this permission.

Maybe I should be more frugal?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Rory]

I don't know for sure, but maybe he's screwed up here a bit by only buying one wiper - they're usually sold in pairs for about the price you paid. It wouldn't be surprised if one wiper on its own is stupidly expensive. Has he definitely only changed one?

Oil varies a lot in price - it's a constant complaint how much the dealers charge for it, when you can buy MB oil from the dealer parts department for about 25% of the price.


I find the VW indie we use very vague on price, and any prices he indicates are always ex-VAT. He did a cambelt change on daughter's Golf last year and the bill was about £100 more than I was expecting - using the VW dealer would have been cheaper. I commented on it and he looked genuinely embarrassed and adjusted the bill. But I don't suppose he'd have chased after me if I hadn't mentioned it.

 

[morgyface]

I have to say 20% over Halfords price does not seem bad to me, Halfords are a car supermarket buying in huge quantities plus you have to drive there park up etc.

Really? But they're renowned for being ridiculously expensive. I have no doubt they buy in huge quantities but there's no way those economies of scale get passed on to customers. The only time I've ever bought from there is purely out of necessity and convenience.

 

[morgyface]

I don't know for sure, but maybe he's screwed up here a bit by only buying one wiper - they're usually sold in pairs for about the price you paid. I wouldn't be surprised if one wiper on its own is stupidly expensive.

Well, I wish I could think like that. I'm just seeing him buying a pair for £20, sticking one on another customers car, one on mine and making £40 profit. Maybe that's just me being cynical.

Yeah he's definitely just changed one. Which is odd, because the other one was bought as part of the pair and will need doing soon.

Oh well, I've written him a very polite letter in which I confess to not knowing anything about where he sources his parts but also feeling slightly aggrieved at the prices listed on my bill as they're considerably more than I've found on the high-street and online.

See what happens. I'm not expecting a refund but if he is taking the p*ss he now knows it's not going unnoticed.

 

[DSM10000]

Even if this applied here, it still doesn't explain the inflated price of things like Mobil oil or Bosch windscreen wiper blades which can be picked up in my local Halfords for much less!

Halfords buy or commit to buy stock in very large quantities with the associated discounts that brings so they are always going to be ale to offer better prices.

Halfords and the like also benefit from manufacturers promotions enabling better prices.

 

[geraldrobins]

I suggest an MB dealer would charge from £340 for a basic B service, £60 for a brake fluid change, from £300 for a set of pads and discs, thats £700 which leaves £160 for your new springs, wiper blade and mirror repair.
So not a bad price I suggest.

Halfords charge £20 for a single wiper blade for my car incidentally.

 

[morgyface]

Halfords buy or commit to buy stock in very large quantities with the associated discounts that brings so they are always going to be ale to offer better prices.

Halfords and the like also benefit from manufacturers promotions enabling better prices.

I understand how economies of scale work. But as I've said before Halfords are renowned for being expensive. They don't pass on savings gained by bulk buying to their customers. For purposes of comparison I called my local independent car shop, they charge a fiver less than Halfords for the same 5 litre bottle of oil. Cheaper on the Bosch aero wiper blades too.

 

[morgyface]

I suggest an MB dealer would charge from £340 for a basic B service, £60 for a brake fluid change, from £300 for a set of pads and discs, thats £700 which leaves £160 for your new springs, wiper blade and mirror repair.
So not a bad price I suggest.

Halfords charge £20 for a single wiper blade for my car incidentally.

Good way to look at it. But then they're not called "stealers" for nothing. I'm not sure saying something is less expensive than an overpriced alternative makes it a fair price. Just cheaper than a very expensive alternative.

PS Don't buy a single wiper blade from Halfords, buy a pair online. Readily available and much cheaper. Easy to fit.

 

[KennyN]

So not a bad price I suggest.

Got to agree with that , i dont think the price is too bad for the work done and parts purchased.

If the washer fluid and wiper costing was going to be a potential cost issue then you should have topped up the fluid and replaced the blade wiper yourself before you dropped the car off , IMHO.

I had a discussion the other day with a chap in work who thought that £5k to replace the entire roof (tiles / fascias / boards etc.) on an ex council three bed semi was a complete rip off , once he realized that the roofing company were not a charity and obviously a business (with many overheads) then the penny eventually dropped.

Why should any small garage business in the present economic climate offer free washer fluid at an average £10 per day (3 services) certainly mounts up over the year.

Kenny

 

[DSM10000]

I understand how economies of scale work. But as I've said before Halfords are renowned for being expensive. They don't pass on savings gained by bulk buying to their customers. For purposes of comparison I called my local independent car shop, they charge a fiver less than Halfords for the same 5 litre bottle of oil. Cheaper on the Bosch aero wiper blades too.

So we have established that different suppliers charge different prices................................

You were given a "ball-park figure" prior to the work being carried out (one you say was a little higher than the eventual cost) and did not complain or discuss it at the time you were given the invoice.

I am assuming that you are satisfied by the quality of the work so just chalk this one up to experience and find another garage.

 

[geraldrobins]

Good way to look at it. But then they're not called "stealers" for nothing. I'm not sure saying something is less expensive than an overpriced alternative makes it a fair price. Just cheaper than a very expensive alternative.

PS Don't buy a single wiper blade from Halfords, buy a pair online. Readily available and much cheaper. Easy to fit.

My local independant is about 20% less than the local MB.
A garage such as you used, very probabl wouldnt have a stock of wiper blades or any other part and would send out for them or have them delivered by a parts factor so he is not going to match online or Halfords prices.

 

[zipdip]

Well Morgyface,I have no idea of your circumstances,but maybe once a year you could forsake the delights of Cornwall,and find a competitive Indy,my one in Colchester would have charged around £500 for the work done,and members here would know of great ones much nearer to you,make a day or weekend of it .

 

[geraldrobins]

Well Morgyface,I have no idea of your circumstances,but maybe once a year you could forsake the delights of Cornwall,and find a competitive Indy,my one in Colchester would have charged around £500 for the work done,and members here would know of great ones much nearer to you,make a day or weekend of it .

I'd like to see a breakdown of that and does that include the springs and mirror.

 

[KennyN]

my one in Colchester would have charged around £500 for the work done.

That is an excellent price , considering there is almost £400 worth of parts not including the mirror fix. He must be a relation of Guido

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=734NqPD_-GE

Kenny

 

[geraldrobins]

Anyway Morgy, whereabouts are you? I'm just curious as I grew up near Falmouth.

 

[grober]

May be in anticipation of this ??
https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/business/business-rates/2017-business-rate-revaluation/

What will the rates revaluation mean for UK business? - BBC News

 

[trapperjohn]

^ True. We are all going to take a hit on that.

 

[morgyface]

If the washer fluid and wiper costing was going to be a potential cost issue then you should have topped up the fluid and replaced the blade wiper yourself before you dropped the car off , IMHO.

Why should any small garage business in the present economic climate offer free washer fluid at an average £10 per day (3 services) certainly mounts up over the year.

Kenny

Okay I'm resigned to the fact that it's generally accepted and okay for a garage to make a 50% - 100% mark-up on parts. But is this not a bit victim blaming? Because I didn't top my water reservoir up to the brim or change a wiper that was doing it's job I should just accept him charging me over the odds for parts and work I never asked him to do?

I'm not suggesting he should be giving consumables away for free. Just charging competitively and asking before carrying out the work.

 

[morgyface]

So we have established that different suppliers charge different prices................................

You were given a "ball-park figure" prior to the work being carried out (one you say was a little higher than the eventual cost) and did not complain or discuss it at the time you were given the invoice.

I am assuming that you are satisfied by the quality of the work so just chalk this one up to experience and find another garage.

We've established that Halfords are expensive and that my indy charged me more than Halfords.

No, you've misread, the final price was higher than the ballpark, he told me £700-ish. It was £857.