Service Scams

Rodge · 13-12-2012, 06:51 AM

To be fair, to date I've been quite happy with the pricing of and service received at the Merc dealer, (that could change when I get the bill for the work today), but I think I dodged a couple of bullets this morning when i dropped it off for a major service and gearbox flush.

This morning if I'd beeen silly enought to just ask them to update my cars GPS map I'd have received a bill for $1,000 plus GST for a new disc, (can you believe it !!), just as well I asked for a price indication. I am certain they would just pull out a disc from one of their 2012 model cars and load up my GPS with the latest map but they tried to tell me the new disc has to come from Germany blah, blah, blah.

Second bullet I dodged was the car is set for some new tyres and there's a Beaurepairs shop right next to the Merc dealer. I had previously asked for them to drop the car next door and had some Dunlop Sport Maxx TT's organised for the car but Beaurepairs mucked me around something cronic and i've made different arrangements with another tyre supplier for next Monday. Anyway, here's the shocker, I looked on the job sheet and this task of dropping it off next door, (which I thought they would do as a complimentary), had been set down with a 1.0 in the hour coloum !!!

1 hour of mechanics time to drive the car next door

What prices have you been quoted for updating you car's intergrated GPS system and have you got any similar scams you'd like to warn members about ?

pottery beige · 13-12-2012, 07:32 AM

1hr = min charge

flappist · 13-12-2012, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pottery beige

1hr = min charge

It always appeals to my sense of humour that those who constantly scream about "1hr min charge" when maybe 20 minutes of work is done are the same ones who DEMAND "38hr min charge" per week even though they have smoke/drink/freshair/AFF/facebook/babble to mates on the phone/whatever breaks and actually do maybe 10-20 hours of productive work........

csv8 · 13-12-2012, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

It always appeals to my sense of humour that those who constantly scream about "1hr min charge" when maybe 20 minutes of work is done are the same ones who DEMAND "38hr min charge" per week even though they have smoke/drink/freshair/AFF/facebook/babble to mates on the phone/whatever breaks and actually do maybe 10-20 hours of productive work........

I sorta agree with you..but when charged $120 an hour and an apprentice works on the car???? who is paid $15 an hour ?? then I suppose you have his supervisor to factor in, as well..makes it difficult to gauge real cost..

flappist · 13-12-2012, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

I sorta agree with you..but when charged $120 an hour and an apprentice works on the car???? who is paid $15 an hour ?? then I suppose you have his supervisor to factor in, as well..makes it difficult to gauge real cost..

Plus all his training.
Plus the tools he is using.
Plus his holidays/workers comp/whatever.
Plus the shed he is working in.
Plus all the insurances, OHS and other red tape.
Plus the fact that you will be charged how long it would take a tradesman rather than the extra whatever hours it took because he was learning and might have had to do it more than once or got someone to help him.

It is amazing how so many PAYG workers think they are worth $lots and the whole reason their employer exists is to pay them as all other costs in runnung the business and providing all the equipment, buildings, electricity, communications and whatever else are covered by the "money tree".

**supershifty** · 13-12-2012, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

Plus all his training.
Plus the tools he is using.
Plus his holidays/workers comp/whatever.
Plus the shed he is working in.
Plus all the insurances, OHS and other red tape.
Plus the fact that you will be charged how long it would take a tradesman rather than the extra whatever hours it took because he was learning and might have had to do it more than once or got someone to help him.

It is amazing how so many PAYG workers think they are worth $lots and the whole reason their employer exists is to pay them as all other costs in runnung the business and providing all the equipment, buildings, electricity, communications and whatever else are covered by the "money tree".

That's a fair comment flappist

No BS!

Way back in the '80s as an apprentice mechanic, I got supplied with 5 "Esso" cloth badges to sew on light blue cotton shirts to match the dark blue trousers. The badges were the extent of my "freebies" for apprenticeship. Shirts and trousers were bought at my expense, so were my steel cap boots and socks. Thanks go to my Mum for being able to sew!

No tools, no health care, nothing but the cloth badges!

Cheers!

mike_nofx · 13-12-2012, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

I sorta agree with you..but when charged $120 an hour and an apprentice works on the car???? who is paid $15 an hour ?? then I suppose you have his supervisor to factor in, as well..makes it difficult to gauge real cost..

Why is it always assumed that the apprentice gets every job, on every car, every day?

And when something goes wrong, it is always the apprentice too.

Do people not realise that there are also tradesmen working as mechanics too? and that they occaionally make mistakes too?

Dragoneletra · 13-12-2012, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

Why is it always assumed that the apprentice gets every job, on every car, every day?

And when something goes wrong, it is always the apprentice too.

Do people not realise that there are also tradesmen working as mechanics too? and that they occaionally make mistakes too?

But it's unaustralian not to blame the apprentice isn't it ?

nstg8a · 13-12-2012, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

It always appeals to my sense of humour that those who constantly scream about "1hr min charge" when maybe 20 minutes of work is done are the same ones who DEMAND "38hr min charge" per week even though they have smoke/drink/freshair/AFF/facebook/babble to mates on the phone/whatever breaks and actually do maybe 10-20 hours of productive work........

You really don't like employees having entitlements do you? You've had a rant on this topic a few times in the past.

For what it's worth not all employees treat their bosses as atm's. some do actually appreciate having a job in this current economic climate.

I'd suggest if you keep having the same issues with employees then maybe it's time to look at the common denominator in your workplace.

flappist · 13-12-2012, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nstg8a

You really don't like employees having entitlements do you? You've had a rant on this topic a few times in the past.

For what it's worth not all employees treat their bosses as atm's. some do actually appreciate having a job in this current economic climate.

I'd suggest if you keep having the same issues with employees then maybe it's time to look at the common denominator in your workplace.

No actually I don't have any problems with employees having entitlements at all. Many of mine have been working for me for over 10 years, one 28 years.

My amusement is the employees who think they they are the ONLY ones who should have entitlements.......

Sioso · 13-12-2012, 07:59 AM

Hey Rodge,
My mother has a 2009 Merc SL350 and when I was looking at an invoice for one of her services they fitted 4 new Pirellis 255's in 18 inch I think - $3190, I almost fell over when I saw it.

Her local tyre place was around $550 a tyre (fitted and balanced) for exact same tyres.

Nice little mark up..........

Rodge · 13-12-2012, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLOWN.GTP

Hey Rodge,
My mother has a 2009 Merc SL350 and when I was looking at an invoice for one of her services they fitted 4 new Pirellis 255's in 18 inch I think - $3190, I almost fell over when I saw it.

Her local tyre place was around $550 a tyre (fitted and balanced) for exact same tyres.

Nice little mark up..........

Yeah, sure is mate. Merc dealer is a Michelin agent and the stock factory fit tyres are Michelin Primacy HP's, (lasted 44,000 km's so a refreshing difference to the Dunlop Sport Maxx's on my SC GT-P which won't last even half that distance)...anyway I wasn't silly enough to ask them to replace the 4 tyres, (know enough about Mercedes-benz dealers not to do that).

Regarding the minmum charge thing, surely a car that's booked for a full service including transmission flush and service, probably circa 5-6 hrs labour all up plus lots of parts and heaps of oil, probably a circa $1,500 plus GST bill, you'd think if they wern't going to drop it next door for free for the tyres they'd only add 10 or 15 mins on for that task surely ???

Lesson for the day, you don't get nothing for nothing.

Was going to leave it at that but just as I was typing this I jst had a call from the dealer, Merc needs new wiper blades according to them, I think it clears the water away fine), $132 plus GST, thanks but no thanks. Takes your breath away a bit, gotta say.

Dragoneletra · 13-12-2012, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AD07

Bullsh!t .....

We have a 1 hour minimum charge. But our working scenario is a bit different to this one. (electrical work, includes travel time to premises etc )

If they already have the car it should have been done for free. At worst they could have put a workshop charge or consumables charge down on it.

I'd be looking for a new workshop if it was possible.

GT0132 · 13-12-2012, 08:31 AM

Not GPS related but still to do with the rip off from the Euro car manufacturers and/or their accredited repairers.....Sunroof on misses BMW X5 stuck in the open position on one side. They did a temporary fix to get the thing closed but to fix the problem permanently so it's operational again is expected to cost around $5 k...WTF my entire factory sunroof including installation on my BA GT was only $2k !!.

dcm · 13-12-2012, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GT0132

Not GPS related but still to do with the rip off from the Euro car manufacturers and/or their accredited repairers.....Sunroof on misses BMW X5 stuck in the open position on one side. They did a temporary fix to get the thing closed but to fix the problem permanently so it's operational again is expected to cost around $5 k...WTF my entire factory sunroof including installation on my BA GT was only $2k !!.

My better half managed to break the plastic switch the operates the electric park brake on my X5 (hauling up on it as though it was a mechanical park brake). The plastic cracked and it now comes off if you're not careful.

Apparently, the entire centre console has to be opened up, the electronic module it is embedded in replaced and then the car re-programmed to recognise the new switch - around $600.

Based on your post, I've now forbidden her from using the panoramic sunroof

The passenger-side mirror stopped automatically dipping when I select reverse quite some time ago but frankly, I don't care...

Next daily driver will be simpler.

GT0132 · 13-12-2012, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcm

The passenger-side mirror stopped automatically dipping when I select reverse quite some time ago but frankly, I don't care...

Next daily driver will be simpler.

Same thing happened to her LH mirror 2 years or so ago , then one day recently out of the blue it starts working again !

Bossxr8 · 14-12-2012, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcm

My better half managed to break the plastic switch the operates the electric park brake on my X5 (hauling up on it as though it was a mechanical park brake). The plastic cracked and it now comes off if you're not careful.

Apparently, the entire centre console has to be opened up, the electronic module it is embedded in replaced and then the car re-programmed to recognise the new switch - around $600.

Based on your post, I've now forbidden her from using the panoramic sunroof

The passenger-side mirror stopped automatically dipping when I select reverse quite some time ago but frankly, I don't care...

Next daily driver will be simpler.

My ex's sister just bought an early 2000's ML 430, cost around 10k. I'm sure she only bought it to get a sense of self satisfaction telling people she drives a Mercedes. But i'll bet she'll crap herself if anything every goes wrong with the thing, especially being a V8 version with all the fruit. If something major goes she will definately struggle to pay to fix it.

pottery beige · 13-12-2012, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AD07

*****.....

how about min hf charge.. there you happy now..

turbodewd · 13-12-2012, 08:38 AM

What good is charging the customer for 1 hour of service when you **** the customer off and never see him again!?

Only an idiot would charge one hour for dropping the car next door.

Yellow_Festiva · 13-12-2012, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbodewd

What good is charging the customer for 1 hour of service when you p1s$ the customer off and never see him again!?

Only an idiot would charge one hour for dropping the car next door.

It probably means that business is good enough to give it a try. Or they have a steady stream of fresh business.

That 1 hr charge is a joke, especially when the car is there for several hrs already.

I wonder how many of these invoices are generated for big business, corporate clients where the cost isn't coming out of an individuals pocket directly?

Dragoneletra · 13-12-2012, 08:41 AM

hence the reason a workshop charge or environmental charge would have not raised an eyebrow.
We get charged a workshop charge, oil disposal charge, tyre disposal charge. No one complains. I don't. It's just the way it is in many places.

GQ_Smooth · 13-12-2012, 08:49 AM

Once of the senior managers (former owener) at work took his E63 in for a service, at Mercedes, their mechanic accidently hit a pole in the workshop and broke the front left Xenon light.

The dealership fixed it for free but told him it would normally be around $15,000 to supply and fit 1 Xenon light assembly.

Ben73 · 13-12-2012, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GQ_Smooth

Once of the senior managers (former owener) at work took his E63 in for a service, at Mercedes, their mechanic accidently hit a pole in the workshop and broke the front left Xenon light.

The dealership fixed it for free but told him it would normally be around $15,000 to supply and fit 1 Xenon light assembly.

$15,000 WTF.
Don't know if Chrysler's any cheaper, but if both of my lights are ruined in a crash, my car will be written off.
Bit rough really.

Rodge · 13-12-2012, 08:55 AM

I'm praying my xenon's and sunroof keep working properly. Geez these things are a bit scary to own. Makes repairing a Ford / FPV look cheap and that's saying something !!!!!

robbyj · 13-12-2012, 09:47 AM

this is why i'd never want to own one of these cars.

Imagine how many big business men they get that they can charge an arm and a leg for without them even questioning the cost.

GQ_Smooth · 13-12-2012, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbyj

this is why i'd never want to own one of these cars.

Imagine how many big business men they get that they can charge an arm and a leg for without them even questioning the cost.

Couldn't agree more, I've changed my "car I would buy if I win lotto" as a result of this.

No point getting something you can't afford to look after it and send you broke.

XR6_661 · 13-12-2012, 09:56 AM

SHOULDA GONE TO SPECSAVERS

Oh wait....Nevermind

Windsor220 · 13-12-2012, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodge

I am certain they would just pull out a disc from one of their 2012 model cars and load up my GPS with the latest map but they tried to tell me the new disc has to come from Germany blah, blah, blah.

Don't think that's possible. The CD needs to be in it to run so you would need your own one.

csv8 · 13-12-2012, 10:20 AM

http://www.gpsbites.com/mercedes-ben...-system-update

Rodge · 13-12-2012, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

http://www.gpsbites.com/mercedes-ben...-system-update

Thanks, do you know if they do update maps for Australasia ?

Dash, of course euro buyers go into it with their eyes open but $1,000 to update a GPS map, (software only) or an hour's labour, (at M Benz hourly rate), to take a vehicle next door is just price gouging.

I agree with others, if mine was a big corporate account or a really wealthy businessman, there's every chance the owner would just walk in and say, oh by the way please update the GPS system and orgainise those tyres for me.

In the pre GFC days when I ordered this car and timnes were booming there may have been some room for this sort of excess, but I for one expect business owners to treat their customers more fairly than this. I'll be re-thinking where I get that car serviced in the future. Today's encounter has been quite an eye-opener.