[Sir_Pigley]

My local stealer have a board outside their premises maintaining that they match the price of independent garages, so as my car needs a brake fluid service I thought I would ensure that I am not going to end up paying too much. The stealer quoted me £95 inc, which is slightly discounted from the list price.

A local independent BMW specialist garage quoted me £50.10 including resetting the service light and correcting the MOT date on the OBC.

I have asked the stealer to match this and they have asked me to "provide a written quote, outlining what work they are doing, the parts/fluids used, labour rate and so on"

Whilst I think it is perfectly reasonable that the dealer would wish to ensure that the independent quote is truly like for like, it does not seem fair to me to ask the independent to go to the trouble of preparing a written quote when in reality I want to take the car to the dealer, but for a competitive price.

[RAR]

Originally Posted by jdcampbell

My local stealer have a board outside their premises maintaining that they match the price of independent garages, so as my car needs a brake fluid service I thought I would ensure that I am not going to end up paying too much. The stealer quoted me £95 inc, which is slightly discounted from the list price.

A local independent BMW specialist garage quoted me £50.10 including resetting the service light and correcting the MOT date on the OBC.

I have asked the stealer to match this and they have asked me to "provide a written quote, outlining what work they are doing, the parts/fluids used, labour rate and so on"

Whilst I think it is perfectly reasonable that the dealer would wish to ensure that the independent quote is truly like for like, it does not seem fair to me to ask the independent to go to the trouble of preparing a written quote when in reality I want to take the car to the dealer, but for a competitive price.

Hell, I like your style. For me it's a game, see it through to the end coz it sounds like you're winning!

As for written quotes, the indy can only say NO if you do ask them in which case you've still got it cheaper than you originally expected.

edited. You could always get the dealers to call the indy for the quote, then they can hear it from the horses mouth (as it were)

[BIGTIME]

I wonder if they'll price match for tyres?

[rogerxp]

I've had this too. I appreciate the dealer wanting to make sure they were in fact price matching an actual price (not a ficticious one) but hardly fair on the small garage taking up their time & effort for you to go elsewhere. Seems a bit immoral to me - don't know what the answer is. Is there any independent garage who have stipulated their prices online that you could print off & show the dealer???

[spirocheter]

Originally Posted by Diseasel

Dont use a a small indi as above its not fair to take up time of a one man operation or garage.

Use a big chain of garages their labour is usually pretty cheap and this is where the savings are.

+1

I'd go to the independent anyway if well respected, I doubt it makes any difference come time to sell, so long as genuine parts used. If your stealer manages to gain a monopoly by squeezing out the independents, you can bet they'll not be doing any deals (and what's the bet they'll find something else wrong with your car when it's in which you won't be able to then price match)!

[Sir_Pigley]

I did suggest they called the independent, but in any case they have reduced their price to £81.14.

I'll probably go with that, 'cause I can't afford the time on this one to take it any further. I need to take it to a stealer to maintain the BMW Assured Warranty - its a condition of that warranty I think.


PS: I think I'll go check the policy wording again, because I think the independent deserves the business really.

[Subzero2003]

To be honest, most good independent BMW places you can email. Just send them an email saying you want a quote for a brake fluid service, using all Genuine BMW parts/fluids and what their labour rate is.

Simple...s

[zedman]

Sytner do this aswell, they shouldn't really advertise it because they know damn well an indi is not going to write out a quote with all the parts etc etc, just like they wouldn't like doing it themselves. They also know most people are not going to go and ask for one.

And, if you ring them and get a price and you're meant to trust them to stick to it, then why cant they ring an indi and ask themselves and believe its true.

JDcampbell you should ask for your £81.14 in writing to be faxed to you prior to you bringing your car in. I wonder if they would have any issue with that.

Its a silly offers where the conditions are inconvenient enough to make sure people can't/won't take advantage.

The fact they think that their customers are stupid enough to fall for it shows what they think of us!

[kaishang]

Originally Posted by jdcampbell

I have asked the stealer to match this and they have asked me to "provide a written quote, outlining what work they are doing, the parts/fluids used, labour rate and so on"

That's BS.

It's a waste of everyone's time. Just ask for a discount. FWIW I do not think it is reasonable to expect BMW prices to be as low as independent prices. You pay a premium for BMW because if anything - anything - goes wrong, there is one single point of call to get it fixed. There's no argument and no blaming it on work performed outside of BMW.

[Falmouthboy]

Originally Posted by BIGTIME

I wonder if they'll price match for tyres?

Mine did - I printed the Kwik Fit price for Bridgestones off t'internet and they matched the 'buy now' price.

And they gave me a nice cup of coffee while I sat in their warm waiting room working on my lap top with their free WiFi connection, the car got a nice a valet and they didn't bugger up my wheels. No contest!

[kaishang]

I'm about to have two tyres replaced.

BMW gave me a discount, but they did not price match even after I told them the online price. I'm paying about a GBP60 premium to have BMW supply and fit the tyres.

The online price was from mytyres.com, which means I would have to order the tyres, then coordinate the fitting with someone else.

However for that GBP60 BMW are also picking up the car, dropping it off and I guess they will probably wash it as well. Plus if they screw it up and don't balance it properly etc etc, I can easily just call them up and whinge and get them to fix it.

[BIGTIME]

Originally Posted by Falmouthboy

Mine did - I printed the Kwik Fit price for Bridgestones off t'internet and they matched the 'buy now' price.

And they gave me a nice cup of coffee while I sat in their warm waiting room working on my lap top with their free WiFi connection, the car got a nice a valet and they didn't bugger up my wheels. No contest!

My dealer (Coppers Teesside) wouldn't match qwik fit's online price when mine was in for a service.

Do dealers change the tyres themselves or do they get another company to fit them?

[Falmouthboy]

Originally Posted by BIGTIME

My dealer (Coppers Teesside) wouldn't match qwik fit's online price when mine was in for a service.

Do dealers change the tyres themselves or do they get another company to fit them?

The price match policy is down to the individual dealer.

The dealer we use certainly has it's own tyre bay and I suspect most, but not all do.

[moar]

Agreed, if it was the exact same tyre zie, speed rating etc etc, then trading standards it.