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Ultimate Dealer GREED!

Tango

Tango

Well-known member
Dropped it off for the 3,000 mile check up. Minus the oil change. Picked up the bike yesterday. I'm still fuming! Half hour labor, $89.50, which is fine. Then the add ons. Shop supplies, $11.64. Credit card fee, 3%. If parts were needed, $3.00 freight charge. I questioned the shop supplies. I was told it goes toward the cost of the buds, rags, and any other incidentals. Freight? It costs us to get the parts shipped to them. I was lucky the bolt needed was for a recall, so no freight charge on that. And they wonder why they are called "STEALERS"! 🤬

If I had them change the oil and filter? $190 labor. $175 oil change kit. $365 plus, freight and tax. $392 for an oil change! LOL
 
rjinaz86323 said:
Do your own oil change. It takes less than an hour (most of which time, you are waiting for all the oil to drain). Cost of the oil is around $30 and the oil change kit is $26, so it's under $60 bucks total.
Click to expand...
I have no ramps. And I am too round, and old to try to get underneath. That and having to get rid of the old oil.
 
Tango said:
I have no ramps. And I am too round, and old to try to get underneath. That and having to get rid of the old oil.
Click to expand...
Me too. This exactly describes why I take mine to the dealer for all servicing despite knowing I could in theory do the job myself for less cost.

Age and physical inability silently creeps up on you until one day you just say, I’m not doing whatever, myself, ever again. Even if I had a vehicle lift, it would still be postponing the inevitable.
 
I just took 5 gallons of used oil to Autozone yesterday. I asked while there if they took antifreeze, that was a no. I've much less used antifreeze than oil... until age or health hinders me...
 
Br549rick said:
I just checked on my partner's Honda Ridgeline dealer's labor rate where she gets oil changes, etc. done - $229.00/hr! Probably the last time she goes there!!!
Click to expand...

My Chevy dealer gets $229/hr. also. I have a diesel, which takes 7 qts. of full synthetic oil plus a filter. Add in tire rotation, $62.50! I do get half off the oil change and rotation because I bought it there...
 
Tango said:
I have no ramps. And I am too round, and old to try to get underneath. That and having to get rid of the old oil.
Click to expand...
don't need ramps. I build some short ones by stacking pieces of 2x4. I am 78 and it is a little struggle, but I ain't paying the dealer for something so easy to do.
 
Well I stopped doing oil and filter changes last year. I just can't get up and down anymore.

Dealer cost for the service was $250.
I called yesterday and now they charge $300.
 
Tango said:
I have no ramps. And I am too round, and old to try to get underneath. That and having to get rid of the old oil.
Click to expand...

I use a pair of low-profile ramps that I made using leftover 2x10 deck lumber. You do not have to get the Spyder up very high to make changing the oil easy.

There are TONS of places that take used oil! Any quick-change oil business, even Walmart takes it.


YMMV
 
My dealership’s success is my success. If you look at the dealership’s investment in building, insurance, labor and overhead I can understand his charge rate. It is not greed but the cost of keeping the doors open. Any skilled labor is charging similar rates.
Using a different models like oil change places have a higher volume per hour for oil changes and different cost factor.
Comparing an oil change done by yourself to a dealership’s cost doing the same task is not fair. Wisdom is more precious than jewels. Good luck on your wisdom.
 
I encourage riders to do their own work, if they are able. If you have the tools, or are willing to get them, and have the time, the benefits go well beyond cost savings.

Honestly, I find that most owners will do a better job than the dealerships. Not always, of course. There are very good dealerships out there that take pride in doing it right. But there are some who don't see customers, they just see dollar signs. I think they give the industry a bad reputation, creating (quite understandably), skeptical, even cynical customers.

We had a gentleman come to the shop with his own oil. No problem, we'll put any suitable liquid into the appropriate location. You are not required to purchase the products we carry. However, in this case, he had purchased an automotive oil that was not designed for a wet clutch.

We informed him, as gently as we could, that we would not put that lubricant in his Spyder, explaining the reason. But he was certain that we were just trying to force our more expensive Amsoil on him.

He got pretty upset, insisting that it was his motorcycle and we should be willing to fulfill his wishes. I was at a loss as to how we might resolve the impasse. Finally, I asked him if he might be able to use his phone and Google the oil he'd purchased to confirm my statements. Then I left him alone in the waiting area. After a bit, he came out, a little sheepishly, apologizing (which was not necessary). And thanking my crew for keeping him from making the mistake.

I told him that he was more than welcome to go just down the street to our nearby Advance Auto store and purchase an appropriate lubricant if he didn't want to go with the Amsoil we provide. But he declined, saying that he now wanted to use whatever we recommended. And all went well from that point on.

We enjoy our customers. And why not? Every interaction is an opportunity to enjoy life and the human experience. Why waste it?

Doing your own work gets you familiar with the machine, increases your confidence and ability to do your own troubleshooting, and there can be a great sense of accomplishment with the gain of knowledge in the doing of it.

Still, it's not for everyone. There are some that we feel like saying, 'Please! Step away from the toolbox!

There should be no feeling of shame in acknowledging realistic limitations and having someone else do the work. There isn't anyone who can do all things well. Many of us are fortunate if we find just one thing that we excel at.

The bottom line is to enjoy the ride. That takes on many and various forms, depending on the individual. But I think we would all agree that few things in life can compare to riding through a sweeping, tree lined curve, on a beautiful day, on a machine that feels just right. Especially if you have someone to share it with. Knowing that moment will live with you forever, and that it can be repeated.
 
Tango said:
Dropped it off for the 3,000 mile check up. Minus the oil change. Picked up the bike yesterday. I'm still fuming! Half hour labor, $89.50, which is fine. Then the add ons. Shop supplies, $11.64. Credit card fee, 3%. If parts were needed, $3.00 freight charge. I questioned the shop supplies. I was told it goes toward the cost of the buds, rags, and any other incidentals. Freight? It costs us to get the parts shipped to them. I was lucky the bolt needed was for a recall, so no freight charge on that. And they wonder why they are called "STEALERS"! 🤬

If I had them change the oil and filter? $190 labor. $175 oil change kit. $365 plus, freight and tax. $392 for an oil change! LOL
Click to expand...
If you really think that pricing is GREED, you should try owning and operating a motorcycle centric shop for a while. NO ONE is getting rich at those middle of the road and routine prices. The shop supplies add on is a bit high for a half hour labor but other than that, its all well in line with industry standard and going rates. The 'below the line' add ons are just a fad of the times, rather than raising the first line cost. Its pervasive in the market from hotels to retailers. I don't like it either but its the way things are done now. If you don't follow along and play the game, your top line prices are seen as uncompetitive.

No one was trying or succeeding in stealing from you.
 
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