$720 bill for service

[ltd_on20s]

Originally Posted by Bucknaked

Technology makes everything more expensive. I think its just a fact of life.

is that why everything electronic is now cheaper then ever?

[ratter]

Originally Posted by EDManual

I deliberately missed a few Mitsubishi Triton diesel valve clearance services on my last triton (still was the latest 2.5DID) as they werent noisy,

Don't want to appear rude but that shows your lack of knowledge with things mechanical.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by ltd_on20s

is that why everything electronic is now cheaper then ever?

As long as you buy older superseded technology that is correct.

[graham_h]

so what was on the invoice for the Fiesta ?

[BA Baracus]

Isn't there some sort of fair trading law involved with notifying customer if any work beyond service is to be done? I always say call me if anything else needs doing when need to visit mechanic and one time the bloke said no worries we have to do that legally anyway so goes without mentioning. Maybe he was not right, I dunno but I thought it makes sense at the time.

[ratter]

until an invoice is shown, there is no way of knowing whether they have just done the service or there were extra's involved.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by BA Baracus

Isn't there some sort of fair trading law involved with notifying customer if any work beyond service is to be done? I always say call me if anything else needs doing when need to visit mechanic and one time the bloke said no worries we have to do that legally anyway so goes without mentioning. Maybe he was not right, I dunno but I thought it makes sense at the time.

There is also a duty of care that if a car is unroadworthy the mechanic cannot allow the owner to drive it.

So would you like to turn up at 5PM Friday to pick up your car for the weekend only to be told you can't have it and although the repair would have taken 10 minutes and cost $50 you have to wait until Monday as you did not answer your home phone?

Or would you prefer the mechanic to assume you would want it fixed?

[ltd_on20s]

Originally Posted by flappist

As long as you buy older superseded technology that is correct.

blu ray dvd players 6 years ago were 600+

blu ray dvd players today, with the latest blu ray tech, around 300+

[prydey]

Originally Posted by ltd_on20s

blu ray dvd players 6 years ago were 600+

blu ray dvd players today, with the latest blu ray tech, around 300+

trans service 6 years ago = around $200

trans service now = $600 give or take.

can't compare cars to dvd players. more tech in cars can make things more pricey come service time, or if something goes pear shaped.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by ltd_on20s

blu ray dvd players 6 years ago were 600+

blu ray dvd players today, with the latest blu ray tech, around 300+

Blu-ray, the latest commercial deployment of a 125mm optical disk system that uses lasers to read from a metal substrate encased in plastic.

I first read about them in grade 8 in Electronics Australia in 1972. They were being used by the military for archiving satellite data.
I first bought a 125mm optical drive in 1982 for $1200 which was about 8 weeks pay.

It is now 2011, optical disk technology is at least 40 years old and many generations out of date. So superseded is it that it is being sold for less than $20 in quantities of 100+.

What you call the "latest blu-ray tech" is older than you.......

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by flappist

What you call the "latest blu-ray tech" is older than you.......

The optical disc was invented in 1958. In 1961 and 1969, David Paul Gregg registered a patent for the analog optical disc for video recording.


Makes me wonder how long flash drive technology has been around, probably 30-35 years...

[wrongwaynorris]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

The difference is you don't have a workshop with 15 mechanics and a few apprentices, 15 hoists, a lot of specialist tools required for odd jobs, workshop manuals going back from the 80s to 2011 on every model car you sold, A few thousand liters of 10W-30 fully synthetic oil on pumps, tapped all over the workshop, a service counter staffed with 5 people, people who ring up others to remind them about their service is due, or remind them its booked in, a spare parts division, a $7000 coffee machine which when you press a button can make you all sorts of coffee, a 55" TV for customers waiting around for their cars, a show room with 10 brand new cars sitting on the floor, plus the 30+ other new ones outside, the other 30 or 40 staff in different divisions around the dealership who work behind the scenes.

While I don't agree with how much they do rip people off for everything, unfortunately like any business they want to turn over a profit, and if you look into a dealership and see what they have to pay for to keep the place running, you'll understand.

It seems everyone has an issue with mechanics ripping people off, it cost me $380 for a plumber to change three pipes on my bathroom sink which he worked on for less than an hour and he used the stuff I supplied.

No issue with them making a profit , profit is not a dirty word but $420.00 for a 10 minute job is a blatant jab . All the overheads you quite rightly speak of are taken into consideration when calculating the hourly labour rate they charge and even though it is only a 10 minute job and they may well charge in 60 minute increments anything much above $110.00 an hour is excessive . Also they would ( or should ) have the first year apprentices doing the menial things like checking levels and filling so their actual costs are less than what it costs them in their calculation for labour rates . I ran a franchised truck workshop back in the 80's and if I had attempted to charge any of my clients anywhere near this I would have been lynched . If I dug my toes in and enforced it I would never see that customer again or anyone he spoke to either and quite rightly so .

[jpd80]

I have a friend who was a mechanic and senior service advisor for many years,
he told me just how little was done on a full service and that most mechs only get $16/hr
all that responsibility of making a car safe and they pay the guys peanuts on pounds.

I think the whole things disgusting especially when some import 457A Visa labor to do the work...

In the example provided, there is no excuse for the workshop being up front about
the full cost of a service including all prescribed operation costs and fluids to be changed,

A quote for goodness sakes so the person can say yes or no beforehand...

[ratter]

many dealerships are charging $120 + these days for common type cars and exotics are far dearer than that

[ratter]

Originally Posted by jpd80

I have a friend who was a mechanic and senior service advisor for many years,
he told me just how little was done on a full service and that most mechs only get $16/hr
all that responsibility of making a car safe and they pay the guys peanuts on pounds.

I think the whole things disgusting especially when some import 457A Visa labor to do the work...

The minimum qualified wage went up to $18 hr recently, not many will work for that price.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by ratter

The minimum qualified wage went up to $18 hr recently, not many will work for that price.

My wife earns more at Target....

and no I know of workshops that only pay award, it's that bad because there aren't jobs out there.

I am not a mechanic btw....

[ratter]

There are plenty of mechanics that only deserve award, they are grease monkeys only good at changing oil and brake pads etc, but that's like any trade I guess

[cs123]

Originally Posted by jpd80

I think the whole things disgusting especially when some import 457A Visa labor to do the work...

To bring someone in on a 457 you need to be able to prove that you cannot employ someone locally with those skills and then your company has to sponsor the 457. It is highly unlikely that there is that sort of shortage of mechanics. Then when you do you need to pay them a minimum wage for the type of job that is acceptable to immigration.

[5.4 GT]

Originally Posted by Cheech

Need to see the invoice before lynching dealer.

FYI try owning an Alfa. 120k service = $2200. And thats from an independant specialist.

Timing belt?

[Work Horse]

I just paid $1437.20 for the 285000km service on my 1989 Ford truck

[svo supporter]

Originally Posted by flappist

There is also a duty of care that if a car is unroadworthy the mechanic cannot allow the owner to drive it.

You're not right Flappist. It doesn't matter whether the brakes are metal to metal, or the engine is pouring more oil out of it than what can be put back in. Once the shop has repaired what ever the owner has requested and the bill is paid, they can drive it out and there is bugger all shop owners can do about it legally.

Sorry made a slight error. The shop owner can contact the police and advise them about an unsafe car, by giving the rego details and what the issue/s are. Otherwise, that's it.

The duty of care is to advise the owner of the vehicle of the problems with the vehicle. Not to prevent them driving it.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by svo supporter

You're not right Flappist. It doesn't matter whether the brakes are metal to metal, or the engine is pouring more oil out of it than what can be put back in. Once the shop has repaired what ever the owner has requested and the bill is paid, they can drive it out and there is bugger all shop owners can do about it legally.

Sorry made a slight error. The shop owner can contact the police and advise them about an unsafe car, by giving the rego details and what the issue/s are. Otherwise, that's it.

Maybe in SA but up here you will end up in a world of hurt legally especially if there is an accident where someone is killed.

[not happy]

cost me $588 for the 130,000k service at a Holden dealer on my 2004 SS--$151 to decarbon the throttle body ?? and $245 for the "oil change"incl filter and wiper blades($125 labour).If it wasn't for the extended warranty I would go to a local mechanic.I won't go back to Midas.
2 Holden dealer's and 1 Midas w/shop all missed the fact the car had no adjusting links in the rear IRS in over 2 years of servicing the car.The car was lowered and the links left off.The rear tyre was down to the wire on the inside before it was seen

[Dave3911]

Originally Posted by flappist

There is also a duty of care that if a car is unroadworthy the mechanic cannot allow the owner to drive it.

So would you like to turn up at 5PM Friday to pick up your car for the weekend only to be told you can't have it and although the repair would have taken 10 minutes and cost $50 you have to wait until Monday as you did not answer your home phone?

Or would you prefer the mechanic to assume you would want it fixed?

Not allow the owner to drive it? Didn't realise I needed a mechanics permission to drive my vehicle.

I understand what your getting at re liability (both criminal and civil) on behalf of a mechanic letting an obviously dangerous vehicle back out on the road, but as long as they have informed the owner of the issue & advised them not to drive the vehicle as it is unsafe, that's where their responsibility ends. They can't force anyone to pay to fix something they don't want to fix, nor can they hold a vehicle and refuse to give it back to it's owner, especially if all outstanding bills are paid.

[svo supporter]

Originally Posted by flappist

Maybe in SA but up here you will end up in a world of hurt legally especially if there is an accident where someone is killed.

It's Aust wide. You cannot withhold someones car, just because it's unroadworthy. All you can do is advise of the unroadworthy items. The most common way is to have it in black and white. That way, the shop owners backside is covered in the event of the unthinkable.

Oh and just for your personal record. I spent 25 years living in your lovely state. That's where I got all of my mechanical background from and I still have relatives in the mechanical field within your lovely state.

[Cheech]

Originally Posted by 5.4 GT

Timing belt?

timing belt kit, water pump, 8 x spark plugs, variator (VVT) kit, oil filter, air filter, castrol edge sport oil, 1 x rubber drive shaft boot, 7 hours labour.

[svo supporter]

Originally Posted by not happy

.
2 Holden dealer's and 1 Midas w/shop all missed the fact the car had no adjusting links in the rear IRS in over 2 years of servicing the car.The car was lowered and the links left off.The rear tyre was down to the wire on the inside before it was seen

Not defending either company, but I'm gathering the Commodore you had was pre VX series 2? Prior to this model, no commodore had toe adjusting links fitted from the factory.

IMA, the problem you have isn't a toe issue. It's a camber issue, exagerated by the fact it's lowered. The only Commodore that is camber adjustable from the factory is VE onwards. It is a real big problem with IRS equipped Commodores.

So may I suggest before blasting these companies, do a little research first and then fire away

[MelsGolf]

The bit i really dont understand with service costs is why not analyse your bill first and discuss it with the business providing the service? Surely that will clear up any misunderstanding or over charging.

It really seems a bit weird coming onto a forum complaining about the costs when you cant even tell us what they're made up of.

Something isnt making sense.

[not happy]

Originally Posted by svo supporter

Not defending either company, but I'm gathering the Commodore you had was pre VX series 2? Prior to this model, no commodore had toe adjusting links fitted from the factory.

IMA, the problem you have isn't a toe issue. It's a camber issue, exagerated by the fact it's lowered. The only Commodore that is camber adjustable from the factory is VE onwards. It is a real big problem with IRS equipped Commodores.

So may I suggest before blasting these companies, do a little research first and then fire away

-----
the car is a 2004 VY2-The issue I have is the fact I drove the car for over 2 years and 2 dealer w/shops didn't pick up on the fact the links were missing when doing services and rear end checks,they charge enough for servicing-I ended up having to replace the rear suspension cradle due to excessive wear due 2 all the movement in the rear end.I have had Fords and Commodores b4 and have fitted camber caster kits to previous Commodores

[my_gxl]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Hmm.. I requested a diff oil change at ford with LSD friction modifier. My service bill suddenly became $800. When I asked why, the bloke pointed to the $450 diff oil change on the invoice. Is this normal or was I taken for a ride? I'm hoping this 'special Ford diff oil' is better than the off the shelf stuff where I get diff chatter after 6000kms.

You can get penrite diff oil with the modifier already in it, and get anyone to do it for way less than that. Sounds like a ride to me.

To the op, invoice details please before this thread melts down