Chandlers Subaru Grantham
18 December 2008, 10:52 AM
#31
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I am the subaru service manager you speak of. I am not going to comment on this on an open forum. If you have any comments to make please calll me and we will discuss further.
Gaz - I am dissapointed you feel this way, however you fail to mention that i diagnosed your faulty neutral position switch for you 2 weeks ago with no charge!!
Gaz - I am dissapointed you feel this way, however you fail to mention that i diagnosed your faulty neutral position switch for you 2 weeks ago with no charge!!
Sorry mate yes you did diagnose my faulty neutral position switch, and have never charged me for a CEL reset which I appreciate, but I think the mechanic who forgot to replace my gasket has now left you.
Last edited by gazza_howard; 18 December 2008 at 11:11 AM.
18 December 2008, 11:36 AM
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You're right he has now left. Whether you choose to use us for repairs/servicing is your choice, i sincerely hope you do. I note you have edited your post ref booking in with us to have the switch changed and that is your choice to go where you are happier. Just because i diagnosed the fault it does not mean you have to come to us for the repair, your choice. I will always assist you with your vehicle whenever you require it, you know where i am if you need me.
18 December 2008, 12:10 PM
#33
I get miffed when dealers charge more for an OEM item then an independent.
I bought a double DIN unit for my 04 WR Ltd Leggy, it's got intergrated ACand heater stuff with the Radio/CD fit, from Japanparts.com - Mail order from Japan directly|JDM Parts,Performance Auto Parts,for Subaru, Mazda,Mitsubishi,Honda,Nissan,Toyota car because Subaru UK don't sell them!
Well, all the parts came in Subaru Boxes with Subaru Part numbers and instruction.
Dealers make loads of wedge on servicing and should do their best to help, the Crunch is getting everyone including them.
But again some are good some are poor!
I bought a double DIN unit for my 04 WR Ltd Leggy, it's got intergrated ACand heater stuff with the Radio/CD fit, from Japanparts.com - Mail order from Japan directly|JDM Parts,Performance Auto Parts,for Subaru, Mazda,Mitsubishi,Honda,Nissan,Toyota car because Subaru UK don't sell them!
Well, all the parts came in Subaru Boxes with Subaru Part numbers and instruction.
Dealers make loads of wedge on servicing and should do their best to help, the Crunch is getting everyone including them.
But again some are good some are poor!
18 December 2008, 12:38 PM
#34
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You're right he has now left. Whether you choose to use us for repairs/servicing is your choice, i sincerely hope you do. I note you have edited your post ref booking in with us to have the switch changed and that is your choice to go where you are happier. Just because i diagnosed the fault it does not mean you have to come to us for the repair, your choice. I will always assist you with your vehicle whenever you require it, you know where i am if you need me.
18 December 2008, 08:44 PM
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dealers don't make a lot on servicing at all when you consider the overheads like training and tooling that subaru uk charge them for that specialists probably don't have to pay for.
personally i couldn't take my car to a specialist i just don't think they are up to the job.
personally i couldn't take my car to a specialist i just don't think they are up to the job.
18 December 2008, 09:39 PM
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dealers don't make a lot on servicing at all when you consider the overheads like training and tooling that subaru uk charge them for that specialists probably don't have to pay for.
personally i couldn't take my car to a specialist i just don't think they are up to the job.
personally i couldn't take my car to a specialist i just don't think they are up to the job.
what a load of ol bolx. I can understand they have certain higher costs but then do alot of warranty work which brings in the money and I'm sure they have to purchase certain things through subaru and send their guys on courses but to say they aren't up to the job just shows you have no experience in dealing with quality specialists. I'm sure there are cowboys out there and they should be named and shamed in the same wayas dealers that are not providing the service they should.Painting everyone company/type of company or everyone who works for a company in the same light is just wrong.
18 December 2008, 10:40 PM
#38
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tell me then how much do you think a dealer gets paid for doing warranty work?
i also see a lot of work done by so called specialists some of which are mentioned on here and if thats the quality that some people are happy with thats fine but personally i wouldn't drive a car serviced to that quality
i also see a lot of work done by so called specialists some of which are mentioned on here and if thats the quality that some people are happy with thats fine but personally i wouldn't drive a car serviced to that quality
19 December 2008, 07:12 AM
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well any work that needs to be done within the warranty period is done normally by the main dealer ??
And as said of course there is "some" shoddy work but then there is by "some" main dealers as well, you can't generalise they're all individual!
And as said of course there is "some" shoddy work but then there is by "some" main dealers as well, you can't generalise they're all individual!
19 December 2008, 10:05 AM
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well i know 1 specialist who would get my work no matter what!
and lets face iit taking a 16year old on minimum wage and training them up aint that costly and having work for citroen and ford the mechanics are hardly on world class wages either!
like all walks of life some specialists are poor i have found that out since moving down south!
but i would never unless my car is under warranty go main dealer again
and lets face iit taking a 16year old on minimum wage and training them up aint that costly and having work for citroen and ford the mechanics are hardly on world class wages either!
like all walks of life some specialists are poor i have found that out since moving down south!
but i would never unless my car is under warranty go main dealer again
19 December 2008, 05:32 PM
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Main dealers arnt worth sh*t. Once my cars go out of warranty I avoid them like the plauge.
If the car is under warranty you should not have to pay a penny to get somethng checked out. If you hve reason to believe there is a problem with the car then it is up to them to check it out FOC. end of. I think its too late to comlain now. You should have kicked up a stink there and then in front of everyone in the showroom, I would. I cant beleieve you paid! You live and learn.
If the car is under warranty you should not have to pay a penny to get somethng checked out. If you hve reason to believe there is a problem with the car then it is up to them to check it out FOC. end of. I think its too late to comlain now. You should have kicked up a stink there and then in front of everyone in the showroom, I would. I cant beleieve you paid! You live and learn.
Have you seen a car sales showroom lately in 2008 ?.
There's this big hollow sound that echoes back at you and a few skeletons sitting at desks..... Certainly no-one in earshot from the public that will hear you...David APi
19 December 2008, 10:05 PM
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as an example, head gaskets on a legacy 3.0l the dealer gets paid 5 hrs to do this plus they don't even get it at their labour rate it's a reduced rate. thats how tight subaru is with warranty work the dealer loses out every time.
23 December 2008, 12:44 PM
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The phrase 'couldn't find anything wrong' are all too common i'm afraid,even when they're blatantly obvious!
I know this may be a little off topic and is not meant in any way having a dig,i'm just curious that's all.
23 December 2008, 04:12 PM
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I used to work for a Ford dealer many years ago and whilst Ford were not anything like as unhelpful as IM are to their dealers, they did expect far too much for nothing or at reduced rates.
When parts were short from the factory and a car needed a repair under warranty in a hurry, we had to take the appropriate parts [ no matter what they were ] off an unsold new car to get the job done.
Nothing wrong with that, it works. EXCEPT that Ford would only pay for the repair to the customers car. They would not pay for the time taken to strip and rebuild the new car.
Us mechanics were on piece work and thus we were expected to do the remedial work for nothing too. That got contested as you can imagine and we got paid, but I expect that the dealership stood the cost.
Most DP's of Subaru dealerships will tell you privately that they do not have a good relationship with IM, as they tend to get little support.
One told me that after his costs were taken into account, he actually earnt £29.00 profit for selling that particular type of car, probably a Justy, but you get the point. When they had a shake out of dealerships a year or two back, he was one that opted out as soon as he was given the chance.
Whilst I have been very critical on here in the past about the quality of the workshop staff in any dealership, not necessarily Subaru, I do think that the dealer himself does struggle to earn enough to justify all the grief he gets from BOTH sides.
David APi
When parts were short from the factory and a car needed a repair under warranty in a hurry, we had to take the appropriate parts [ no matter what they were ] off an unsold new car to get the job done.
Nothing wrong with that, it works. EXCEPT that Ford would only pay for the repair to the customers car. They would not pay for the time taken to strip and rebuild the new car.
Us mechanics were on piece work and thus we were expected to do the remedial work for nothing too. That got contested as you can imagine and we got paid, but I expect that the dealership stood the cost.
Most DP's of Subaru dealerships will tell you privately that they do not have a good relationship with IM, as they tend to get little support.
One told me that after his costs were taken into account, he actually earnt £29.00 profit for selling that particular type of car, probably a Justy, but you get the point. When they had a shake out of dealerships a year or two back, he was one that opted out as soon as he was given the chance.
Whilst I have been very critical on here in the past about the quality of the workshop staff in any dealership, not necessarily Subaru, I do think that the dealer himself does struggle to earn enough to justify all the grief he gets from BOTH sides.
David APi
23 December 2008, 04:42 PM
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I used to work for a Ford dealer many years ago and whilst Ford were not anything like as unhelpful as IM are to their dealers, they did expect far too much for nothing or at reduced rates.
When parts were short from the factory and a car needed a repair under warranty in a hurry, we had to take the appropriate parts [ no matter what they were ] off an unsold new car to get the job done.
Nothing wrong with that, it works. EXCEPT that Ford would only pay for the repair to the customers car. They would not pay for the time taken to strip and rebuild the new car.
Us mechanics were on piece work and thus we were expected to do the remedial work for nothing too. That got contested as you can imagine and we got paid, but I expect that the dealership stood the cost.
Most DP's of Subaru dealerships will tell you privately that they do not have a good relationship with IM, as they tend to get little support.
One told me that after his costs were taken into account, he actually earnt £29.00 profit for selling that particular type of car, probably a Justy, but you get the point. When they had a shake out of dealerships a year or two back, he was one that opted out as soon as he was given the chance.
Whilst I have been very critical on here in the past about the quality of the workshop staff in any dealership, not necessarily Subaru, I do think that the dealer himself does struggle to earn enough to justify all the grief he gets from BOTH sides.
David APi
When parts were short from the factory and a car needed a repair under warranty in a hurry, we had to take the appropriate parts [ no matter what they were ] off an unsold new car to get the job done.
Nothing wrong with that, it works. EXCEPT that Ford would only pay for the repair to the customers car. They would not pay for the time taken to strip and rebuild the new car.
Us mechanics were on piece work and thus we were expected to do the remedial work for nothing too. That got contested as you can imagine and we got paid, but I expect that the dealership stood the cost.
Most DP's of Subaru dealerships will tell you privately that they do not have a good relationship with IM, as they tend to get little support.
One told me that after his costs were taken into account, he actually earnt £29.00 profit for selling that particular type of car, probably a Justy, but you get the point. When they had a shake out of dealerships a year or two back, he was one that opted out as soon as he was given the chance.
Whilst I have been very critical on here in the past about the quality of the workshop staff in any dealership, not necessarily Subaru, I do think that the dealer himself does struggle to earn enough to justify all the grief he gets from BOTH sides.
David APi
Good point well put.
23 December 2008, 09:03 PM
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I have been dealing with Chandler's for 10 years+ now being on my 4th Impreza, they have serviced them all through the years. Ok this is mainly down to the cars being under warranty or only just out of it. Possibly not the cheapest around but always been very well looked after.
24 December 2008, 12:34 AM
#53
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I've had contact from Chandlers and after looking into it further (speaking to subaru and the DP) they have decided that they can't do anything about the costs.
I will note this is the position of the company not an individual.
So my previous points still stand in fact this is worse in my opinion as it's now been taken higher. As far as I can see this just shows how poor the service is. As far as being well looked after I'm sure if you've been going there for 10+ years the service may well be higher than I've had but then I wont be dealing with them again so I'll never know.
I take on board what others have said on here but can someone please justify how it can take 1.25 hours to check the batter alternator and suspension wobbling to find no fault? and then justify the £97 bill for the trouble of doing this and if they would be happy paying this and felt satisfied that they had been looked after correctly. When other subaru specialist think this is a "p1ss take" then I'm inclined to agree.
So finally I'll say again unless you are prepared for a large bill or are not totally sure that the fault your having is covered under warranty then dont take your car to Chandlers Subaru in Grantham for them to "check" as you may well not be happy with the outcome! Again I'll say I was not warned that if not fault was found I'd be charged anything at all let alone £97 for the pleasure.
I'll be checking out the legality of this and if appropriate taking it further.
If times are hard for main dealers as is being said here then again why aren't they trying to pick up new customers not fk em off on the first (dealt with horncastle before) dealings.
Having had BMWs VWs Lexus Saabs all main dealer serviced in the past I can say unless times have changed that they would not have charged me for the same check!
I will note this is the position of the company not an individual.
So my previous points still stand in fact this is worse in my opinion as it's now been taken higher. As far as I can see this just shows how poor the service is. As far as being well looked after I'm sure if you've been going there for 10+ years the service may well be higher than I've had but then I wont be dealing with them again so I'll never know.
I take on board what others have said on here but can someone please justify how it can take 1.25 hours to check the batter alternator and suspension wobbling to find no fault? and then justify the £97 bill for the trouble of doing this and if they would be happy paying this and felt satisfied that they had been looked after correctly. When other subaru specialist think this is a "p1ss take" then I'm inclined to agree.
So finally I'll say again unless you are prepared for a large bill or are not totally sure that the fault your having is covered under warranty then dont take your car to Chandlers Subaru in Grantham for them to "check" as you may well not be happy with the outcome! Again I'll say I was not warned that if not fault was found I'd be charged anything at all let alone £97 for the pleasure.
I'll be checking out the legality of this and if appropriate taking it further.
If times are hard for main dealers as is being said here then again why aren't they trying to pick up new customers not fk em off on the first (dealt with horncastle before) dealings.
Having had BMWs VWs Lexus Saabs all main dealer serviced in the past I can say unless times have changed that they would not have charged me for the same check!
24 December 2008, 07:25 AM
#54
Is there a survey of Subaru Dealers and Suppliers available?
It is extremely hard to get 100% positive feedback and there will always be disgruntled customers. The dealer knows that and we should too. Just go elsewhere until you find someone you can TRUST.
It is extremely hard to get 100% positive feedback and there will always be disgruntled customers. The dealer knows that and we should too. Just go elsewhere until you find someone you can TRUST.
24 December 2008, 09:40 AM
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Charging for diagnostic work is always a sticky one, especcially of you genuinely cannot find anything wrong. It has happened to us / me a number of times.
We generally don't worry about the odd 1/2 hour testing a car for a fault. In the expectation that we will get a job out of it sooner or later.
However in 2009 we will have to charge a nominal fee that will be advised and explained before we even touch the car.
That comes about from an increasing number of people arriving here for a diagnostic. One in particular took nearly an hour and was eventually pinned down to a MAF. We fitted one and the problem went away.
BUT the customer had ' no money on him ' and advised that he would be back with money a bit later. At that point we have used a new MAF, that is no longer new and invested an hour. We would have charged £80 or so for the MAF and just 30 mins for the labour and diagnostic.
Nothing happened!.
Then two weeks later the car arrives for a diagnostic on something else, with a new MAF fitted.
' Oh, say we, where did the MAF come from?' "I got it off the 'net cheaper than you."
The guys in the workshop then recalled that this particular customer had been here before for diagnostic and we'd never ever had a penny out of him.
That is an extreme case sure, but it does sour our taste for being helpful free.
David APi
We generally don't worry about the odd 1/2 hour testing a car for a fault. In the expectation that we will get a job out of it sooner or later.
However in 2009 we will have to charge a nominal fee that will be advised and explained before we even touch the car.
That comes about from an increasing number of people arriving here for a diagnostic. One in particular took nearly an hour and was eventually pinned down to a MAF. We fitted one and the problem went away.
BUT the customer had ' no money on him ' and advised that he would be back with money a bit later. At that point we have used a new MAF, that is no longer new and invested an hour. We would have charged £80 or so for the MAF and just 30 mins for the labour and diagnostic.
Nothing happened!.
Then two weeks later the car arrives for a diagnostic on something else, with a new MAF fitted.
' Oh, say we, where did the MAF come from?' "I got it off the 'net cheaper than you."
The guys in the workshop then recalled that this particular customer had been here before for diagnostic and we'd never ever had a penny out of him.
That is an extreme case sure, but it does sour our taste for being helpful free.
David APi
24 December 2008, 01:37 PM
#56
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but why would you expect to turn up at a business ask them to do something for you and not expect to pay? if you called out a plumber or electrician you have to pay a call out charge and as you say it's hard times every one is trying to make money not give it away.
the time spent seems to be reasonable, if they had only spent 5 mins you would be saying that wasn't long enough to check the suspension and the other bits.
they have had a good look over it tested some items and charged you accordingly.
you could go legal but i don't think you will get anywhere with it.
the time spent seems to be reasonable, if they had only spent 5 mins you would be saying that wasn't long enough to check the suspension and the other bits.
they have had a good look over it tested some items and charged you accordingly.
you could go legal but i don't think you will get anywhere with it.
24 December 2008, 06:38 PM
#57
Interesting thread this regarding dealership costs
the boy has a 350z and rang up his local dealer for a pricefor a service
£300 inc
wife thought it was dear and rang up and said any chance of a discount ?
yes madamn £260 inc
I rang up the next day went through a few statements and discussion and got it down to £195 inc
maybe the credit crunch? or despaerate for work in december but £101 is quite a difference on the same car ,same job etc
I personally use a specialist as its out of warrenty now and it is aprox half price
the boy has a 350z and rang up his local dealer for a pricefor a service
£300 inc
wife thought it was dear and rang up and said any chance of a discount ?
yes madamn £260 inc
I rang up the next day went through a few statements and discussion and got it down to £195 inc
maybe the credit crunch? or despaerate for work in december but £101 is quite a difference on the same car ,same job etc
I personally use a specialist as its out of warrenty now and it is aprox half price
24 December 2008, 08:20 PM
#58
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but why would you expect to turn up at a business ask them to do something for you and not expect to pay? if you called out a plumber or electrician you have to pay a call out charge and as you say it's hard times every one is trying to make money not give it away.
the time spent seems to be reasonable, if they had only spent 5 mins you would be saying that wasn't long enough to check the suspension and the other bits.
they have had a good look over it tested some items and charged you accordingly.
you could go legal but i don't think you will get anywhere with it.
the time spent seems to be reasonable, if they had only spent 5 mins you would be saying that wasn't long enough to check the suspension and the other bits.
they have had a good look over it tested some items and charged you accordingly.
you could go legal but i don't think you will get anywhere with it.
Did you actually read the whole thread ?!?!? or just trolling?
I didn't say I didn't expect to pay (in fact I'd have been happy to pay towards the time if it was reasonable), I said I was not informed of the cost. As I said other garages wouldn't have charged for this in my experience but I'd still of been happy to contribute to time and effort but £97 is taking the p1ss.
You can't assume what I would think if they were only looking at it for 5 minutes.
Can you please inform me of your expertise to judge whether it was a fair amount of time as "halfords" checked the battery and alternator in 5 minutes and the suspension test should have been no more than ten? To top this off another specialist said 10 minutes for the lot 20 pushing it so I'm assuming you think you know better and have done both jobs before?
..... Just out of curiosity would you have been happy to have been saddled with the bill, have nothing to show for it. Would you be saying ... those boys at chandlers are really thorough they spent ages trying to find a fault but there wasn't one so I was more than happy to pay £97... I'll be rushing there next time I have a problem ??
24 December 2008, 10:13 PM
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Interesting thread this regarding dealership costs
the boy has a 350z and rang up his local dealer for a pricefor a service
£300 inc
wife thought it was dear and rang up and said any chance of a discount ?
yes madamn £260 inc
I rang up the next day went through a few statements and discussion and got it down to £195 inc
maybe the credit crunch? or despaerate for work in december but £101 is quite a difference on the same car ,same job etc
I personally use a specialist as its out of warrenty now and it is aprox half price
the boy has a 350z and rang up his local dealer for a pricefor a service
£300 inc
wife thought it was dear and rang up and said any chance of a discount ?
yes madamn £260 inc
I rang up the next day went through a few statements and discussion and got it down to £195 inc
maybe the credit crunch? or despaerate for work in december but £101 is quite a difference on the same car ,same job etc
I personally use a specialist as its out of warrenty now and it is aprox half price
