Might have paid over the odds?

[911767 148]

Just had my second service today, only 1800 miles on the clock in 27months........

 

Paid £180, looking at the invoice it only seems to have been an oil change.

 

Hourly rate (1.68hrs) looks to be £75, seems a bit steep?

 

Doubt I'll be having another 'Honda' service.

 

 

 

 

[Guest machinman]

Does seem a bit steep, my dealer had the habit for charging for too much oil, can't remember the exact amount, but it was generally 0.5 litre too much. Then occasionally they would overfill anyway.

I believe in home servicing now for a thorough job and that lack of dealer service history is still cost effective when it comes to selling time.

[Guest dentonlad]

Labour rate seems a bit high. My dealer, from his dark satanic mill in Rochdale charges £56 per hour (incl VAT).

At 1800 miles all they really needed to do was inspect everything, maybe adjust the chain and change the oil and filter. It ought not to have taken an hour and 40 minutes either, I'd have thought......

[911767 148]

Labour rate seems a bit high. My dealer, from his dark satanic mill in Rochdale charges £56 per hour (incl VAT).

At 1800 miles all they really needed to do was inspect everything, maybe adjust the chain and change the oil and filter. It ought not to have taken an hour and 40 minutes either, I'd have thought......

 

Indeed Keith, in fact it took no more than 1 hour and that included a 10 minute test ride............

[Guest bonekicker]

It keeps happening over and over again--do the dealers --not read any of the bike forums to gain very important feed back from customers--after a basic service !!! Come on bring the price down for a --what is no more than a oil and filter change.

 

I was told by my new dealer--that if I only wanted the work done to cover the warranty work--and the other inspections and oiling or greasing was to be done by myself the price would come down--we will wait and see-- and also I am going to insist on watching the bike being serviced--we should all be able to watch--especially new bike owners --they could then learn how to do the services themselves when bike is out of warranty. 

[steve916s 11]

Embarrassed to say I payed over 180 GBP for my first service. I was so stunned, after expecting "around 130" at the sales talk, I just payed without arguing.

Needless to say, I won't be going back there in a hurry. And I payed nearly list with no accessory deals.

Feel a bit embarrassed for the dealer too.

[Can't think of an appropriate smiley at the moment]

 

ATB

Steve

 

Edit: Could this be a record?

Edited August 24, 2016 by steve916s

[PoppetM 16,831]

It keeps happening over and over again--do the dealers --not read any of the bike forums to gain very important feed back from customers--after a basic service !!! Come on bring the price down for a --what is no more than a oil and filter change.

 

I was told by my new dealer--that if I only wanted the work done to cover the warranty work--and the other inspections and oiling or greasing was to be done by myself the price would come down--we will wait and see-- and also I am going to insist on watching the bike being serviced--we should all be able to watch--especially new bike owners --they could then learn how to do the services themselves when bike is out of warranty. 

I think I am going to insist on being there with my bike and not just leaving it with them - if I ever have to go back. Got another dealer to try out first.

[steelhorseuk 1,690]

For basic servicing at the dealer, for bikes in warranty, supply the oil and filters yourself to the dealer by sourcing them cheaply elsewhere! 

A decent dealer will not mind. Mine is happy to use what I supply to them.  Then just get a fixed labour charge which should be an hour for the basic service.

 

I also supply the sprockets/chains and anything else I ask them to do and they charge me a fixed labour fee to fit!

 

Personally, my bike is over four years old now so I do most of this stuff myself now.

 

-Mark-

[911767 148]

Got to say I was taken aback but didn't make a fuss as I want them (the dealer) on-side so to speak as I'm looking for FOC replacements for the Dunlops........that said I did expect a lower price, my first service 1 year ago came in at £119 and I'm sure it involved more parts and effort on their part than this '2nd' service?

[Guest bonekicker]

Feel a bit embarrassed for the dealer too.

[Can't think of an appropriate smiley at the moment] 

 

We must STOP paying these --ludicrous prices at ONCE.

 

We must MAN up --and Woman up--Do NOT be intimidated by anyone in LIFE.         Take control 

[steve916s 11]

 

Feel a bit embarrassed for the dealer too.

[Can't think of an appropriate smiley at the moment] 

 

We must STOP paying these --ludicrous prices at ONCE.

 

We must MAN up --and Woman up--Do NOT be intimidated by anyone in LIFE.         Take control 

 

Err... ok Michael.             

[Guest sykospain]

Laslo - I'd go further than Keith's restrained comment that the price "seems a bit steep" for a checkover and oil-change at odo 1,800 m after 27 months of ownership from new bought from that dealer.

You were ripped-off my son.   Tell them so and then go elsewhere.

My friend José at MotoSpeed in Antas charged me €50 for an exactly similar job, but at 6K in KM, only he had to keep stopping and twiddling his thumbs whilst we pigged about with the video camera, tripod, lights, etc.  When we finished, 2 hours later, he stamped the book.  Kushtie.

 

Of course bike dealers are in it to make money for their shop and showroom owners / shareholders, but Honda publishes a price list and hourly rates list.  I presume...And therefore the dealer should observe a compromise between making excess money out of non-mechanically-minded riders and playing a fair game by them.

So dealers who do what yours did to customers like you should be reported - and discarded.

Edited August 26, 2016 by sykospain

[DaveM59 1,603]

If you ever say to a dealer something you have read on a website or owners forum you can see them visibly stiffen, take on a pained expression, take a sharp intake of breath then slag off anyone who thinks they know more than they do and especially dares to post information on the internet which may possibly make them seem stupid or over priced.

The more they do this, the more you know they are threatened by this and that's because they really don't know as much as they should do.

[Guest machinman]

If you ever say to a dealer something you have read on a website or owners forum you can see them visibly stiffen, take on a pained expression, take a sharp intake of breath then slag off anyone who thinks they know more than they do and especially dares to post information on the internet which may possibly make them seem stupid or over priced.

The more they do this, the more you know they are threatened by this and that's because they really don't know as much as they should do.

Very true, I've also witnessed the involuntary twinge when i mentioned Africa Twin spokes rusting.

[Guest sykospain]

Keith in Denton mentioned earlier in this thread that his local dealer charges £58/hour labour charge.

Son Tim in Manchester tells me that's peanuts - the Manchester Audi workshop just past Williams BMW charges - wait for it - -

 

 

 

£141 plus VAT !!

Edited August 27, 2016 by sykospain

[larryblag 14,236]

Does seem a bit steep, my dealer had the habit for charging for too much oil, can't remember the exact amount, but it was generally 0.5 litre too much. Then occasionally they would overfill anyway.

I believe in home servicing now for a thorough job and that lack of dealer service history is still cost effective when it comes to selling time.

Bang-on that. I realise of course that not everyone has the desire to do their own servicing, or feel they have the skills, tools or aptitude but with help from friends and advice on this forum most of the minor services can be done easily and proficiently oneself. There are times however when dealer servicing becomes more of a necessity for example when specialist equipment and tools are needed and thats when we might get better value for our money?

[larryblag 14,236]

Slightly off topic bikewise, but it's servicing nevertheless. When I bought my Yeti (car, not the creature) it came set to the standard "variable" servicing routine. That is, the ECU takes account of the type of driving, passage of time and mileage and uses a clever algorithm to determine when to display the "spanner" symbol on the dashboard computer telling us its time for TLC. It's based on an actual 24 months / 20,000 miles framework but at least it means owners aren't duped into unessessary and expensive over-servicing.

Dealers don't like it though and mine rang me just before the car was a year old to suggest it might be time for "Albert" the Yeti to come in for an annual "check".

"No thanks" I said, "I'll stick with the variable plan". This was met by a rather resigned sigh.

Interestingly, the ECU can be told (reprogrammed) to ignore the variable plan and swap to a time/mileage based one that has the little spanner icon popping up annually. Once this choice is made though, the ECU can never be returned to the variable plan.

Edited August 27, 2016 by larryblag

[Guest sykospain]

So I'll bet the dealer quietly makes the software change so you'll have to come back in after each year's driving.  Cunning....

[larryblag 14,236]

That'd be naughty, very naughty. I didn't keep the car long enough to find out (personal change of circumstance). I'd have another Yeti tomorrow though, really liked it.

[Guest sykospain]

+1 on the Škoda Yeti = brill all-rounder.

[Guest Mac750]

Oh now I'm on my hobby horse. I have become really disenchanted with most modern cars, bikes are my real passion, but my wife prefers a roof over her head and a heating system. She bought an American car made in Mexico by a German company using a Japanese engine. It "pings" whenever you look at it, "bongs" whenever you sit in it and little lights illuminate saying " spend more money on me " whenever I drive it which I try not to do. As an antidote to all this technology I bought a 28 year old Skoda estate car which had covered just 450 miles from new. I have just finished running it in. ( now on 1800 miles ).

It has a speedometer, a temp indicator, a fuel indicator and five tiny lights on the dash. No other distracting gizmos apart from a radio cassette player that has never been used. It's a pleasure to drive as it is a nippy little thing and has no power windows, no power steering, no remote power mirrors, no power seats, no air con and no central locking. But it's a simple engine with simple mechanics and I can repair it if needs be with a spoon and a bit of gaffer tape. I love it , needless to say my wife hates it .

[Tex 36,816]

Oh now I'm on my hobby horse. I have become really disenchanted with most modern cars, bikes are my real passion, but my wife prefers a roof over her head and a heating system. She bought an American car made in Mexico by a German company using a Japanese engine. It "pings" whenever you look at it, "bongs" whenever you sit in it and little lights illuminate saying " spend more money on me " whenever I drive it which I try not to do.

 

So, it's one of the Fords fitted with a Mazda engine?

 

Waay better than the Mazda 6 which (in diesel form) had a Ford engine and a stupidly inefficient lubrication system. Can you spell 'big end knock'?

 

Enjoy the Skoda!

[Guest Mac750]

Hi Tex ,

It's much worse than a Ford, it's a .... I can't say it. PT ......er. My wife bought it new and has inflicted it upon me for the last 11 years, she refuses to sell it. The Skoda is my revenge