Please don’t be ripped off like I was with seats

[Captain Quick]

Why the washer fluid thing?

Check your invoice next time your car or van is serviced and look for wash fluid itemised under sundries. The buggers will add it to the invoice even when the washer bottle is completely full and doesn’t need to be topped up. The label is intended to act as a gentle hint not to try it on.

 

[StratosFearXX]

Because they'll add 300ml and charge you £20 for the privilege.

I don't seem to get these problems when using Liverpool VW van centre. They send an email out asking for authorisation for any aditional work and you just tick no.

Ah gotcha, good idea!

 

[StratosFearXX]

Check your invoice next time your car or van is serviced and look for wash fluid itemised under sundries. The buggers will add it to the invoice even when the washer bottle is completely full and doesn’t need to be topped up. The label is intended to act as a gentle hint not to try it on.

Yeah I get it now, I don't go to that sort of place, but appreciate it must happen all the time ...

 

[southscaff]

Ugh, sorry you're going through this ...

Absolutely shocking . I used a company in Melton Mowbray called captains seat . They built me a full size r/r bed M1 crash tested to match the brick pattern material of the front seats on my t6.1.
Would absolutely recommend them .excellent customer service.

 

[Captain Quick]

Yeah I get it now, I don't go to that sort of place, but appreciate it must happen all the time ...

The sort of place where it has happened in my personal experience is at a main Volvo franchised dealership in Oxfordshire, a Peugeot main dealership in Sussex and a BMW main dealership in Kent to name but a few. You might be forgiven for thinking the practice happens at back street workshops but main dealers seem to be so obsessed with boosting workshop revenue that they employ these tactics. Always look for items listed under ‘Sundries’ - a few sprays of brake cleaner shouldn’t cost £15.

 

[StratosFearXX]

The sort of place where it has happened in my personal experience is at a main Volvo franchised dealership in Oxfordshire, a Peugeot main dealership in Sussex and a BMW main dealership in Kent to name but a few. You might be forgiven for thinking the practice happens at back street workshops but main dealers seem to be so obsessed with boosting workshop revenue that they employ these tactics. Always look for items listed under ‘Sundries’ - a few sprays of brake cleaner shouldn’t cost £15.

Yeah I avoid main dealers, never had a good experience with them (or Halfords of course).

I think it's partly the disconnect between the chap/lady at the dirty end ticking a box to say the washer fluid has been topped (because he put three drops in, then the tick box form goes to billing section where the charge is applied.

Or they may be doing it on purpose of course ...

 

[Sasquatch]

a few sprays of brake cleaner shouldn’t cost £15.

Well, brake cleaner, grease, white grease, mechanics rubber gloves, seat protector, paper floor mat, steering wheel protector, legally compliant disposal of old oil and filters, etc.

Many garages hide it where they add their 10% cut on parts prices from their supplier. We think theyre being really nice to us because there is no 'sunderies' or 'environmental charge' itemised separately on the invoice, but they aren't.

Main dealers often have their parts prices dictated by the manufacturer and cant do this so they itemise it separately on the invoice instead - if anything that's the open and honest thing to do.

In either case, one way or the other, every garage stiffs us for it.

 

[Captain Quick]

Well, brake cleaner, grease, white grease, mechanics rubber gloves, seat protector, paper floor mat, steering wheel protector, legally compliant disposal of old oil and filters, etc.

Many garages hide it where they add their 10% cut on parts prices from their supplier. We think theyre being really nice to us because there is no 'sunderies' or 'environmental charge' itemised separately on the invoice, but they aren't.

Main dealers often have their parts prices dictated by the manufacturer and cant do this so they itemise it separately on the invoice instead - if anything that's the open and honest thing to do.

In either case, one way or the other, every garage stiffs us for it.

My beef is that they simply aren’t open with it. Having run several businesses in the past, I’m aware that every company has a mix of operating cost but the workshop labour charges should incorporate these.

 

[Sasquatch]

If theyre hiding it in other fees then a) theyre not being open, and b) you're still paying it.

 

[Captain Quick]

If theyre hiding it in other fees then a) theyre not being open, and b) you're still paying it.

Sort of but I get to choose whether I want to pay their labour rates in the first place.