Toyota Service for €120 offer rip-off?

Bebop

Toyota are advertising a special offer for the month of May; get your Toyota serviced for €120 inc VAT, according to the Toyota Ireland website this includes Oil + filter and labour, so I booked in my 4- year old Auris with a Toyota main dealer and when I collected it was presented with a bill for over €200, has anybody had a similar experience with this special offer or did I get ripped off?

Stainless_Steel

120 is a rip off anyway IMO. Was there any other items apart from oil and filter on the bill?

MugMugs

I assume the €200 was for a bit more than fresh oil and a filter though, was it?

Bebop

Bebop wrote: »

........ the Toyota Ireland website this includes Oil + filter and labour, so I booked in my 4- year old Auris with a Toyota main dealer and when I collected it was presented with a bill for over €200, has anybody had a similar experience with this special offer or did I get ripped off?

If all they did was Oil + filter and associated labour you were indeed ripped off, presumably something else needed doing though which you aren't mentioning, have a look at the receipt

ofcork

They should have asked you before doing extra work,had the winter service done and they asked if i wanted a couple of things they found done.

BrianCohen

Did you agree to any other work to be done?

I got the same service on a VW in Fosters for 99 the other week. New car to me, got an extra stamp in the service book from a VW service centre so for the same idea from Toyota I can see the appeal.

Aren't Renault dealers doing this for €99, dealers a dealer and all that if the service stamps appeal to you.

Gumbo

Its beyond me how people go to places, pay money for something they didnt ask for then come on the internet and moan about it!

Why not sort it out there and then in the garage???????????

Some folks aren't assertive enough or just don't operate that way for whatever reason

BHP

If you booked it in for a standard service as advertised at €120 then that is all you should have paid.

paddy147

New Oil,filter and labour for 80 euro from Atlas car/tyre centre.

Did a cracking job on my other halves Seat Leon TDI.

She was so happy that she sent the car back to them to also get the cambelt and water pump done aswell.

350 euro all in for that job.

Result.


Main Dealers will allways try to get you by the balls.Thats what so many small/independent garages and tyre centres are doing so well these days.

BrianCohen

BHP wrote: »

If you booked it in for a standard service as advertised at €120 then that is all you should have paid.

Are you not able to agree to other work being done if its necessary? Rather than waiting for them to call with the work to do?

fasttalkerchat

Going by what you said I would forward a copy of the bill to their head office and refuse to pay a cent extra.

BrianCohen

BrianCohen wrote: »

Are you not able to agree to other work being done if its necessary?........

Of course, most places will contact you if it's expensive though

Although some places will lash on the wiper blades etc and charge well for them too if they reckon you'll be happy to have them do so

Stainless_Steel

BrianCohen wrote: »

Are you not able to agree to other work being done if its necessary? Rather than waiting for them to call with the work to do?

Not advisable without lubricant!

BrianCohen

RoverJames wrote: »

Of course, most places will contact you if it's expensive though

Although some places will lash on the wiper blades etc and charge well for them too if they reckon you'll be happy to have them do so

That was what I meant. Though, even that I would be pretty annoyed them doing anything without asking me.

Nissan doctor

paddy147 wrote: »

New Oil,filter and labour for 80 euro from Atlas car/tyre centre.

Including full vehicle inspection;)


@OP, €120 is very expensive for what is just an oil+filter and an inspection. As they are a main dealer I doubt they even remove the wheels.

They do, however, specifically say that its based on a 15k intermediate service so if that's not what your car was due then it might explain the extra costs, however, it is unacceptable to add charges to the bill without clearing it with the customer first.

The Renault €99 service mentioned above is from €99.

Nissan doctor

Nissan doctor wrote: »

..........
The Renault €99 service mentioned above is from €99.

Indeed

MugMugs

I noticed this on my local main dealership too....

"Full Service for €115*...."

Price quoted for initial inspection on a 1.6 Auris, inclusive of oil only.

Or something along those lines....

They gotta pay for those fancy ramps and workshops some how OP.

George Dalton

It's a bit pointless having this discussion without knowing all the facts. We don't know what work was or wasn't done for the €200.

paddy147

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Including full vehicle inspection;)


@OP, €120 is very expensive for what is just an oil+filter and an inspection. As they are a main dealer I doubt they even remove the wheels.

They do, however, specifically say that its based on a 15k intermediate service so if that's not what your car was due then it might explain the extra costs, however, it is unacceptable to add charges to the bill without clearing it with the customer first.

The Renault €99 service mentioned above is from €99.

Yep,a full car checkover was also done when they were doing the oil/filter change.

She was advized to get the brakes done in the next few months as they were past their best,but still had a little bit left on them.

The cambelt and water pump was vital though.


Thanks to Nissan Doctor for the heads up on Atlas.:)

You saved my missus ALOT of money.:D

She since sent her Mitsubishi jeep up to them,to service that too (new oil/filter and brakes allround).

Bebop

The only extras were an Air filter and a rear screen wiper refill

the bill also lists a few minor items like oil disposal, oil sump washer, screen wash, oil and oil filter with €120 for labour and VAT on top of it all

I was in a rush collecting the car and did not really look at the bill before paying with a laser card, its only after I got home that I realised what I had been charged
This is what the website says:
http://www.toyota.ie/about/promotions/multi-promos/Spring-Offer/

paddy147

Bebop wrote: »

The only extras were an Air filter and a rear screen wiper refill

the bill also lists a few minor items like oil disposal, oil sump washer, screen wash, oil and oil filter with €120 for labour and VAT on top of it all

I was in a rush collecting the car and did not really look at the bill before paying with a laser card, its only after I got home that I realised what I had been charged
This is what the website says:
http://www.toyota.ie/about/promotions/multi-promos/Spring-Offer/

They probably included/charged you a fortune for the pair of rubber/disposable gloves too.:D

So you paid out 200 euro to Toyota for that then??

Sorry,but you just got bent over by Toyota and royaly...........

paddy147

4 words for you.

Toyota.......Liveline........Joe Duffy..........:pac::D

Nissan doctor

paddy147 wrote: »

4 words for you.

Toyota.......Liveline........Joe Duffy..........:pac::D

Its being done by every type of dealer every day, that's the problem.

Leonard Hofstadter

In fairness, €120 for the work they do according to what's on the website seems quite reasonable to me. Did the OP get the €20 voucher for the next service as well?

Pique

I love the way they itemise and charge extortionate prices (relatively) for oil sump washers(!!!) and wiper 'refills' (just the feckin rubber blade and not the whole metal assembly) which is probably bought bulk in a 50m roll and cut to fit.

Windscreen washer fluid (water and a €2 bottle of concentrate? That'll be €5 please) is another joke.

Atlantic Dawn

I would say if it was booked as the €120 service, pricing may be different, possibly subsidised to a degree by Toyota. If the deal is not mentioned at booking they may then be reverting to take the pi$$ prices.

AltAccount

Scan the invoice and post it here OP.

Their T&Cs seem pretty explicit, I'd love to see where the extra €80 came from

paddy147

Dont go to a main dealer and you wont get ripped off in the 1st place.

Simples.

Atlantic Dawn

paddy147 wrote: »

Dont go to a main dealer and you wont get ripped off in the 1st place.

Simples.

Easier said than done, if you have a newish car people feel compelled to keep a main dealer history to retain resale value. From experience myself the money you save servicing independantly is far more than you gain by any enhanced value you achieve through main dealer history at time of resale.

HJL

Do you think a lot of people would be more inclined to get their car serviced on schedule if they weren't afraid of getting ripped off by garages?

paddy147

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Easier said than done, if you have a newish car people feel compelled to keep a main dealer history to retain resale value. From experience myself the money you save servicing independantly is far more than you gain by any enhanced value you achieve through main dealer history at time of resale.

So why do main dealers ripp people off then???

bazz26

From the Terms and Conditions of the Toyota Offer:

This offer is based on an intermediate / 15,000 Km service and includes parts, labour and VAT.

1. This offer applies to all Toyota vehicles up to and including 2.2Ltr engine capacity, vehicles above 2.2Ltr engine capacity are charged at €140.
2. The maximum a customer can be charged for this offer is €120 inc. VAT (€140 in respect of engine above 2.2L).
3. This offer ends on 31st of May 2012.
4. Based on the age, mileage and service history of your vehicle your Toyota dealer may recommend a more appropriate service.
5. Toyota Ireland recommends Toyota Genuine Motor Oil (TGMO) 5W 30 or equivalent for our market.
6. Where appropriate 10W 40 engine oil may be used for vehicles with older engines.
7. No additional work will be carried out on your vehicle without your prior approval.
8. If you wish your Toyota dealer will contact you while carrying out this service to advise you if anything needs further attention.
9. Where safety related work is identified while carrying out this service your Toyota dealer will contact you without delay to advise you.
10. A completed copy of the 50 point Vehicle Health Check will be provided to you with an explanation of any additional work required on your vehicle at the time of vehicle collection.
11. Any additional work approved by you will be invoiced separately with a full explanation of the work carried out.
12. The replaced parts will be retained for your inspection at the time of vehicle collection if required.
13. Where safety related work is identified but the customer insists on taking the vehicle without the work being attended to; In such an event the Toyota Dealer/Toyota Authorised Repairer will ensure that the customer is made fully aware of the possible consequences and the customer will be required to sign both the invoice and the Vehicle Health Check report to this effect. Further to this the dealer will request contact details from the customer for follow-up purposes to make their best efforts to ensure that such safety items are addressed without undue delay.
14. Toyota Ireland and its network reserve their right in their absolute discretion to disqualify any vehicle, to add to, or waive any rule without prior notice to the customers and, in the event of circumstances beyond their control, to cancel the promotion at any stage.
15. Participation in this offer is hereby deemed to indicate acceptance of the terms and conditions as outlined. Any breach of these terms and conditions, as decided by Toyota Ireland will result in automatic disqualification.

OP, you will need to query the invoice with the service centre manager.

Atlantic Dawn

paddy147 wrote: »

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Easier said than done, if you have a newish car people feel compelled to keep a main dealer history to retain resale value. From experience myself the money you save servicing independantly is far more than you gain by any enhanced value you achieve through main dealer history at time of resale.

So why do main dealers ripp people off then???

They mostly purchased their premises at a time where money was confetti and they assumed this would continue. They have pressure from manufacturers for certain levels of quality and most now rely on profits from servicing than sales.

Nissan doctor

The problem may be if the OP vehicle wasn't due a basic 15,000 service, therefor doesn't come under the €120 offer.

This should be made very clear to the customer but many main dealers will assume that the customer is aware of what service is due, as they have been provided with a service book, and simply go ahead with the scheduled items and charge accordingly.

This is a policy that will never work in Ireland as most people assume that every service is the same and should cost the same.

paddy147

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

They mostly purchased their premises at a time where money was confetti and they assumed this would continue. They have pressure from manufacturers for certain levels of quality and most now rely on profits from servicing than sales.

So lets ripp the people off with purposely/falsely over inflated prices.

Plenty of new main dealer garages in recent times still ripp people off.

People are now copping on to the prices and how main dealers get or got away with for years and years.

Jonny303

OP did you get a phone call asking you to authorise additional work?

I am service manager in a main dealer and this should have been done.

But I have often come across the case, where I have rang customers, giving a price for say brake pads, getting the go ahead and then the customer coming to pick the car up and say

"but it was only €120 when I booked in"

where I would reply " i rang you, told you needed brake pads, they would cost X and you told me to go ahead"

"i know that, but I presumed you were going to do them and they would be included in the price you quoted"

If you didnt get a call OP, pick up the phone and ring the garage

Nissan doctor

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

They mostly purchased their premises at a time where money was confetti and they assumed this would continue. They have pressure from manufacturers for certain levels of quality and most now rely on profits from servicing than sales.

This is no doubt true, but a small bit of foresight and they could see that doing extra work without informing customers, or similar, may get them that sale....but it won't get them return sales.

Treating customers properly and being fair and transparent with pricing will see return business and good word of mouth so what small amount they may 'loose' in the initial sale will return 10 fold.

Following this mindset is what is seeing some reputable independents doing so well these days IMO.

Technique

My local main dealer were offering a €169 service. As my car has full dealer history, I decided to bite the bullet and go for it. When I came to collect the car there was a bill for €250 waiting for me.

I obviously queried this amount, and after a lot of scurrying about and speaking to the service manager etc., the secretary informed me that my bill was this amount because (a) they fitted a set of wipers and (b) I never asked for the special offer when I booked in. They said if they removed the wipers and got my old ones out of the bin refitted, they would do it for the original €169.

I can imagine how an elderly person or someone who knew very little about cars could get ripped off very easily.

Dawn Rider

Technique wrote: »

My local main dealer were offering a €169 service. As my car has full dealer history, I decided to bite the bullet and go for it. When I came to collect the car there was a bill for €250 waiting for me.

I obviously queried this amount, and after a lot of scurrying about and speaking to the service manager etc., the secretary informed me that my bill was this amount because (a) they fitted a set of wipers and (b) I never asked for the special offer when I booked in. They said if they removed the wipers and got my old ones out of the bin refitted, they would do it for the original €169.

I can imagine how an elderly person or someone who knew very little about cars could get ripped off very easily.

They were essentially saying the wiper blades were €81...:eek: Cheeky feckers!

veetwin

captainspeed wrote: »

Did the OP get the €20 voucher for the next service as well?

So he can get fcuked again by them!

fasttalkerchat

I don't know where some mechanics get the idea that they can do whatever they want with your car and assume that you will pay for it. If I got someone in to paint my kitchen and came back later to find that he had tiled the bathroom and wanted an extra £200 he would be out on his arse.

Dawn Rider

The €20 voucher is for the lube