I was set on getting Branson, now thinking Kubota

LBrown59 · Mar 10, 2005

( I never take my cars to a dealer for repairs. 

Not even for warranty work? )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
That's the only exception.


However on time I took a used car that was under warranty to my own mechanic to have a warranted repair done.
The Dealer was more than glad to let my mechanic do the job as it saved the dealer hundreds of dollars even after he paid my mechanic for doing the
job. The Dealer also guaranteed the repair work.

Bob_Skurka · Mar 10, 2005

While in the warranty period, my cars go exclusively to the dealerships. I don't let them charge me the published rates (the shop costs on the wall are NEGOTIABLE!!!). I drop the car off on my way to my office, they have a valet take me to my office. When the car is done, they typically bring the car to me. Their rates are comparable to the local mechanics rates. They typically wash my car before bringing it back.

One of my tractors is in the shop now getting plumbed for a TNT set up. They came and got it (no charge). They will return it (again no charge). But I admit, I can't get them to wash my tractors before they bring them back to me.

Moon · Mar 10, 2005

( the shop costs on the wall are NEGOTIABLE!!!). )

How much can you get off the published price? Just curious, I never tried bargining on shop costs ...

Bob_Skurka · Mar 10, 2005

The Volvo/Jag/MB dealership that services my cars matched the local independant shop rate that is around the corner from my office. I would assume that you could do that same type of negotiation anywhere. And my sales manager purchased a new Volvo there, and then got a used Nissan there too. So he gets the same treatment that I do, and I didn't even have to ask for that.

LBrown59 · Mar 11, 2005

( ( the shop costs on the wall are NEGOTIABLE!!!). )

How much can you get off the published price? Just curious,
*I never tried bargining on shop costs ... )
* I never tried or heard of this either.
I doubt that even a discounted rate with them would beat my mechanic anyway.

GerardC · Mar 11, 2005

Most all dealerships offer a shuttle service vehicle to their customers today. They also offer a loaner vehicle if their car is going to be at the dealers for an extended period of time. Gerard

Bob_Skurka · Mar 11, 2005

Gerard, from what I can tell you are correct, but I also get car washes and reduced shop rates too.

And as there was discussion about dealerships being too expensive compared to local shops, I provided all the things my dealership provides me. I'm sure some local shops do those things too, but very few of them also provide the factory trained techs, warrenty service, valet service, car (or person) pick up & drop off for things as simple as oil changes, etc.

LBrown59 wrote: I doubt that even a discounted rate with them would beat my mechanic anyway.


Well I certainly don't know what your shop provides, or at what prices, but you didn't provide any evidence that it compares to what the dealerships provide. My dealership matched my local shop (where we have a negotiated shop rate for fleet work) and then my dealership provides better service. I think that is more than fair. I'm not sure it is fair to compare shop rates for different areas of the country as they probably vary due to cost of living, real estate and labor rates.

LBrown59 · Mar 11, 2005

LBrown59 wrote: I doubt that even a discounted rate with them would beat my mechanic anyway.

Bob_Skurka said: Well I certainly don't know what your shop provides, or at what prices,
*but you didn't provide any evidence that it compares to what the dealerships provide.

My dealership matched my local shop (where we have a negotiated shop rate for fleet work) and then my dealership provides better service. I think that is more than fair. I'm not sure it is fair to compare shop rates for different areas of the country as they probably vary due to cost of living, real estate and labor rates.
++++++++++++++
Here are a few examples

Rebuilt engine for my brothers truck other shop $3000.
Rebuilt motor for my truck $700 my mechanic.

Timing belt for my Dodge pick up Dodge Dealer $275 - My mechanic $150.

Install a carburetor on my pick up labor only Dodge dealer $105 My mechanic $50

After 25 years or so of dealing with him the list would be a lot longer if I could remember everything.

One incident I won't forget is the time he saved me over $700 on replacing the main computer in one of my cars years ago.

In all the years I've dealt with him and the many vehicles I've owned during that period I have only had to return something 1 or 2 times 3 at the most because it wasn't right the first time.

Can't say that about the others I've had to deal with.
Took a car to an Oldsmobile dealer one time Cost me $125 wasn't fixed took it back cost me another $175
By the 3Rd trip I was over $400 and it still wasn't fixed.
Never went back.

Bob_Skurka · Mar 11, 2005

Can't say that about the others I've had to deal with.
Took a car to an Oldsmobile dealer one time Cost me $125 wasn't fixed took it back cost me another $175
By the 3Rd trip I was over $400 and it still wasn't fixed.
Never went back.



I guess we are very different people. When the dealer would have tried to present me with the 2nd bill, I would have gotten a GM rep to come in and make sure it got fixed. Your dealership experiences are certainly not mine. Pricewise, you still have provided no evidence that your dealership wouldn't match the prices of the local shops. I understand your dealer charges you more than your local shop, but there is no reason to believe that you can't negotiate with your dealer to lower his rates for you, although I suspect that they would not unless they felt you would become a regular/repeat customer like l became with my local dealership. I also refer people to my local dealer (and I don't get any commission) and I even tell them what I get so they can hit the dealer up for the same treatment, reduced rates, etc.

It just seems like good business to me.

Then again, I go to my New Holland dealer and buy oil & filters from him eventhough I know I could get equivalents from NAPA or AUTOZONE. For the Kubota, the fluids and parts come from the Kubota dealer. I don't put NH fluids in the Kubota or Kubota fluids in the NH. By supporting my dealer, and probably paying an extra 50-cents for oil, he knows my name and my face and when it comes time for something, I end up on the top of the list. And if there is ever a warrenty issue, they can't say I used an inferior oil or inferior filter.

So I think it all comes back to the fact that a relationship with the dealer can be a very valuable asset. My tractor dealers give me great prices and treat me very well. My car dealer does the same. They know they can count on me and I know I can count on them. I suppose some folks feel differently, but I'll stick with a strong dealer.

GerardC · Mar 11, 2005

( I'm sure some local shops do those things too, but very few of them also provide the factory trained techs, warrenty service, valet service, car (or person) pick up & drop off for things as simple as oil changes, etc.)

One of the dealerships that I use has and does the above and also gives me a free car wash, even if I'm there at the parts counter. Gerard