Price disparity in main dealer servicing...?

[hornetrider]

I would expect from a major manufacturer that servicing prices would be broadly the same from dealer to dealer. My car is approaching its 1st service so thought I'd make a few calls. Bear in mind this is the 1st annual service so pretty standard and presumably not much opportunity for differing levels of service provided.

Dealer 1: £190.55 and no chance of discount on that price I'm afraid sir.

Dealer 2: £145 all in, but seeing as you've used us before how does £120 sound?

I simply don't understand how this can happen, I would have thought there would be a standard price 'menu'. Anyone else find that shopping around delivers when it comes to servicing?

[HellDiver]

First dealer probably Hammerites your wipers arms as part of the deal. Just in case they corrode.

Vauxhall dealers are the same, some charge £200+ and some others charge £99 for the same service, just becuase they're a Masterfit. Same mechanics, same parts, just half the price.

Edited by HellDiver on Tuesday 14th December 14:31

[eybic]

Some of it will be due to different labour rates also. The main thing is targets, if dlr 2 is way off, they will reduce things to nearly cost to get money and work in, however if they are busy and can't be arsed then there will be no discount offered.

[hornetrider]

HellDiver said:

First dealer probably Hammerites your wipers arms as part of the deal. Just in case they corrode.

Very good!! Although I would probably kick their arse 'cos Hammerite is st!

[mmm-five]

It also depends on how little margin they are willing to accept - i.e. being greedy bds.

For a BMW ///M oil service you can get prices from £175 through to £299 - and it's nothing to do with labour rates, a the most expensive one is not the one with the £40/hour higher labour rate.

[agxster]

Yup happened to me with my VW. All 3 dealers I got quotes from where not far from me or each other, so doubt it was labour rates. See my thread:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/xforums/topic.asp?h=0...

[hornetrider]

agxster said:

Yup happened to me with my VW. All 3 dealers I got quotes from where not far from me or each other, so doubt it was labour rates. See my thread:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/xforums/topic.asp?h=0...

Ha! I actually posted on that thread!! I was looking through my post history as I thought I'd mentioned it before in relation to the missus' car. It's bizarre eh. Interestingly it's the same dealer that quoted cheapest in both instances (mine and the mrs car) so it's not a short term targets thing.