I love how people can't afford an oil change...

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In many places I worked, I was ordered to put conventional into cars that require syn. I would make various notes on the paper stating that the car required synthetic because I wanted to protect myself and the customer from the bosses stupidity.
 
Put the cheap oil they want in their car, but put on the invoice "Customer has been informed that this is the incorrect oil for their car, engine damage may occur"
 
Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Originally Posted By: Wolf359
Oil is expensive, cars are cheap.

I can do a synthetic oil change on my Mercedes myself. Cost me about $27, the $20 5 quart synthetic deal at Pep Boys with a filter deal on black friday plus some $2/quart Autozone clearance oil. Sure beats the dealer, I think they call it Service A and want about $300.

It was $150 in 2000 at my local dealer, then $200 around 206-2008 and $250 2010-2012. I don't know the latest cost of 8.5 quarts M1 0W40 plus MB fleece filter at dealer, probably more than $100-120 in parts alone.

Yes, do it my self with a fluid extractor and oil filter cap wrench is so easy and fast and no mess.

Hmpf. I can see why they call it a "fleece" filter.


Actually I believe the regular Purolator classic filter was also fleece, I think it was $8.99 or $11.99 or something like that, but at the time, they didn't have a limit on the price of the free filter for $20. Even now, you can get Mobil 1 for $10.88 for a 5 quart jug after rebate so it's still just $2.17 a quart. And you get 10k out of it so it's like 2 oil changes for $13.50, but you only have to do it once.
 
Originally Posted By: gabriel9766
Originally Posted By: edwardh1
how about when BMW folks get their first replacement tire quote.

OMG this also. I love how ppl cant afford tires on new cars. I made sure when i bought my car it was a common tire 215/60/16.



Yes exactly, If I'm looking at buying a new to me vehicle I try to look up the size and price out the tires to see what I'll expect when i have to change them.



Reminds me of a friend of mine who has a Dodge Ram half ton with 20 inch rims. He bought it brand new it has all season tires on it, he wants to put on a set of all-terrains, tires in that size in an all terrain will run him a grand easy....I told him if it was mine I'd buy a set of 17's from an older model dodge and put a set of 265s on it and save some money, he said he didn't want to downgrade a rim size......wth.
 
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Originally Posted By: gabriel9766
I can't tell you how many times people come in for an oil change and buy a cheap oil change for $16.99 and their car requires a synthetic oil or a special oil and throw a huge fit over the price. I work in Overland Park, KS in the high end neighborhood and ppl bring in the nice new Hondas and Toyota's ect. Most new cars require 0w20 syn and they want the "cheap" oil change. If you ppl can afford a brand new car u should be able to afford the oil for it.

For example today we had a VW jetta come in and she had bought a $16.99 groupon oil change but her car req a syn 5w40 or 5w30 VW approved syn oil. Car also took 6.3Q of oil and a $12.99 oil filter. She pulled out the manual tht said the same thing we told her and she threw a fit and drove off.

Has it ever occurred to you that some of these people have inherited said cars from an older ancestor and don't know that said cars require high end oils and very expensive oil filters? If they are taking it to a JIFFY LUBE, then I think they have every reason to be paranoid. As much as JL has been caught ripping of its consumers I would avoid them like the black plague!
Have you ever taken the time to show these people in their cars owners manual that their said car requires these high end oils and expensive oil filters?
Now, the ones that DO have money and want the cheap stuff, maybe that's how they became rich....????
grin.gif
And, I'm sure it's very frustrating trying to convince them that their cars require the expensive stuff.
 
What i would do is if their car requires say a high end synthetic and yet they want to put cheapo oil in it is put in the invoice that since the customer refused to pay for the required oil they are not responsible for any damage that may occur, if you don't want to learn the easy way you'll learn the hard way!
 
Originally Posted By: dlundblad
Originally Posted By: TurboFiat124
Just curious what brand of oil and filter do these shops use that charge $16 (materials + labor)? In other words how can they make money at $16 (parts + labor)?

5 quarts of Castrol will cost you $16 at Wal-Mart. I usually buy Purolator filters at Advance.

Sometimes I take advantage of Advance Auto's oil change special for $19.99 which could be anything.



They use that to get people in then try to sell other services.

I believe the technical term is loss leader.




Doorbuster
 
Loss leader is correct. Very common in the retail world. In fact most of the items you see in a weekly sales flyer for any major chain are indeed loss leaders. They make little to nothing on that item, but if they can keep you in the store long enough, they make that loss back and then some more. Thats how profits are made anymore.

The best way to put your local mom and pop store out of business os to buy only their advertised sale items and nothing more.

A door buster is simply a sale that starts at the opening of the store that day. Typically they only have a few of them and the early bird gets the worm. Door busters are almost always loss leaders.

Regarding the people who refuse to use the recommended oil .... It's their car. Freedom of choice includes the freedom to do things that are not recommended. Like smoking and drinking and eating too much ... And the freedom to purposefully destroy ones own property. Smart business informs the patron and lets it be known that they were informed but willfully chose to do otherwise. Of course, the business can also refuse the sale if that is what they think is best for their business.

It astounds me how this is such a difficult concept for some to grasp. Freedom is freedom.
 
Originally Posted By: meborder
Loss leader is correct. Very common in the retail world. In fact most of the items you see in a weekly sales flyer for any major chain are indeed loss leaders. They make little to nothing on that item, but if they can keep you in the store long enough, they make that loss back and then some more. Thats how profits are made anymore.

The best way to put your local mom and pop store out of business os to buy only their advertised sale items and nothing more.

A door buster is simply a sale that starts at the opening of the store that day. Typically they only have a few of them and the early bird gets the worm. Door busters are almost always loss leaders.

Regarding the people who refuse to use the recommended oil .... It's their car. Freedom of choice includes the freedom to do things that are not recommended. Like smoking and drinking and eating too much ... And the freedom to purposefully destroy ones own property. Smart business informs the patron and lets it be known that they were informed but willfully chose to do otherwise. Of course, the business can also refuse the sale if that is what they think is best for their business.

It astounds me how this is such a difficult concept for some to grasp. Freedom is freedom.



exactly right, years ago when i worked at a Fleet Farm there was a ton of road construction going on which slowed business down tremendously especially at night, they started doing 10 dollar oil changes (bulk oil only) at night from 5pm to 9pm to try to get some money made elsewhere by either up-sale on other parts or getting them in the store while they wait for the oil change to be done.
 
Originally Posted By: bunnspecial

When it comes time for service, though, you're still paying the "German tax" although it's not a BMW or Mercedes.

I'm often blown away when I hear repair costs on what I'd regard as relatively trivial items on other cars.


I remember when I worked at a body shop and there was a new-ish Jetta brought in that'd run off the road and hit something hard enough to break the front axle. I was stunned to see that the OEM front CV half-shaft listed at $750 on the estimate.
 
A friend of mine works at a BMW Dealership and he always says that 10, 15 years ago yes you were paying for a quality car that was well built, but nowadays quality has gone down and modern BMW engines aren't too reliable eitherbut the repair costs are still very high, although this is 2nd hand anecdotal evidence i can't really testify that that is true...
 
Tire prices:
The current tire on my car is 205/60/R15; Pirelli Cinturato P1. $670 total - absolutely did not want "Nexen" tires on my car again after they were bald after 30,000km.
If I had increased just the rim size to 16-19in., still as 205/60, the cost per corner increased about $25-40!

Also bear in mind the "Australia Tax," by virtue of the fact I live down-under. Everything down here is relatively expensive.

Could understand people being stingy with oil down here, too. After all, you're looking at a minimum $10-14 a litre for fully-synthetic oil. Thankfully there are a barrage of mineral and semi-synth oils meeting A3/B4 and other specs
smile.gif


I have also found that parts prices down here are also pointlessly inflated; when compared to an online reseller + exchange rate differences and shipping.
Take for example the Knock Sensor. OEM commands about $105, and its US$105-135 at online stores based in the USA. The same, brand-new, Siemens (OEM) part from Lithuania(!) is about AU$35 shipped. Online stores in Australia do not even stock the part, let alone many others for vehicles they "specialise in." Might explain the price.
frown.gif


I'll attest to spending $800 twice for service. The majority of that was the cost of a mechanic working on the car. NOT parts. With labour at $125+ an hour, it adds up quickly. Do the work yourself and research parts; I guarantee you'll save.
There is no reason a European car or anything from 25 years ago to today should cost a bomb, unless you are completely anal and insist on wasting your money at the Stealer or unscrupulous Indy shops.

Originally Posted By: gfh77665
I have yet to understand why OTHER people wanting to be too cheep with THEIR money on THEIR vehicles maintenance bothers so many so much.

Since it has ultimately effected members on this board!

My current DD got cheap tires... I foot the bill for something better. The previous mechanic overlooked such simplistic issues like deteriorated, squeaky belts (and worn tensioners and idlers). I paid again.

Other members here have ended up with sludged engines that may ultimately fail prematurely... Who pays for that?

People might buy an older Volvo under the pretense of "rock solid dependability," but if the vehicle was neglected, they're out of pocket and the image of that make/model is then scarred.
 
Originally Posted By: B320i
Tire prices:
The current tire on my car is 205/60/R15; Pirelli Cinturato P1. $670 total - absolutely did not want "Nexen" tires on my car again after they were bald after 30,000km.
If I had increased just the rim size to 16-19in., still as 205/60, the cost per corner increased about $25-40!

Also bear in mind the "Australia Tax," by virtue of the fact I live down-under. Everything down here is relatively expensive.

Could understand people being stingy with oil down here, too. After all, you're looking at a minimum $10-14 a litre for fully-synthetic oil. Thankfully there are a barrage of mineral and semi-synth oils meeting A3/B4 and other specs
smile.gif


I have also found that parts prices down here are also pointlessly inflated; when compared to an online reseller + exchange rate differences and shipping.
Take for example the Knock Sensor. OEM commands about $105, and its US$105-135 at online stores based in the USA. The same, brand-new, Siemens (OEM) part from Lithuania(!) is about AU$35 shipped. Online stores in Australia do not even stock the part, let alone many others for vehicles they "specialise in." Might explain the price.
frown.gif


I'll attest to spending $800 twice for service. The majority of that was the cost of a mechanic working on the car. NOT parts. With labour at $125+ an hour, it adds up quickly. Do the work yourself and research parts; I guarantee you'll save.
There is no reason a European car or anything from 25 years ago to today should cost a bomb, unless you are completely anal and insist on wasting your money at the Stealer or unscrupulous Indy shops.

Originally Posted By: gfh77665
I have yet to understand why OTHER people wanting to be too cheep with THEIR money on THEIR vehicles maintenance bothers so many so much.

Since it has ultimately effected members on this board!

My current DD got cheap tires... I foot the bill for something better. The previous mechanic overlooked such simplistic issues like deteriorated, squeaky belts (and worn tensioners and idlers). I paid again.

Other members here have ended up with sludged engines that may ultimately fail prematurely... Who pays for that?

People might buy an older Volvo under the pretense of "rock solid dependability," but if the vehicle was neglected, they're out of pocket and the image of that make/model is then scarred.



B320i, while I understand where you're coming from, what you're suggesting is the first owner should keep on top of maintenance, fit top quality tyres before they trade the vehicle in, have their mechanic take care of every little worn item, etc. just so the next owner doesn't have to pay to have things fixed? With all due respect, it's not my problem once I no longer own the vehicle! I wouldn't replace belts and tensioners on a car I was about trade, or put top quality tyres on it. That's why you do (or pay someone else to do) a thorough pre-purchase inspection, to make sure you don't up buying a neglected vehicle, or to pinpoint any repairs that need doing so you can factor that into the price.
 
Originally Posted By: hpb
what you're suggesting is the first owner should keep on top of maintenance, fit top quality tyres before they trade the vehicle in, have their mechanic take care of every little worn item, etc. just so the next owner doesn't have to pay to have things fixed? With all due respect, it's not my problem once I no longer own the vehicle! I wouldn't replace belts and tensioners on a car I was about trade, or put top quality tyres on it.

Definitely see your point here; although I guess my suggestion was more along the lines of people should take care of their cars before they consider selling them, rather than letting mechanical faults slowly buildup to the point that it would perhaps be expensive to repair.
If the car does heaps of little things that are continually repaired, I would also see the merit in maybe buttoning it up and flipping ASAP.

Originally Posted By: hpb
That's why you do (or pay someone else to do) a thorough pre-purchase inspection, to make sure you don't up buying a neglected vehicle, or to pinpoint any repairs that need doing so you can factor that into the price.

Funnily enough, the car was from my Aunty. Having a car provided with work meant she no longer required a private vehicle. Her old mechanic was on holiday, so took it to another who gave the car a "clean bill of health," after taking about $1200 for oil, filter, plugs, coolant change, headlight lenses and some sort of "coolant valve." (The receipt this mechanic produced was beyond vague).

The mechanic who usually worked on the car was retired, and only serviced select vehicles for family, friends-of-friends and some old customers. The issues I found would have been fine two years and 20K km earlier. Although given some of the other stuff I found; bad fan clutch, leaking radiator (on the neck, and a shredded/weeping drain plug from that mechanic), weeping thermostat housing, it may not have lasted another Summer without issue.

Never did tell her about the full cooling system overhaul I undertook, or what I found.
The fresh tires after just 30K of ownership did cause a jaw drop. My assumption is the tire dealer who fit those abominations told her they would be "a good tire," and she believed it, not having the time or adequate car knowledge to really know better.

All this makes me wonder whether some cars do have the money spent on them - but the unscrupulous mechanics are only taking money, not trying to ensure the vehicle stays working and the customer is happy.
 
It's not that people can't afford it.

They THINK it should be cheap. If you try to charge them more for a proper oil change they think you are trying to rip them off.
 
Originally Posted By: Ifixyawata
Originally Posted By: bunnspecial

When it comes time for service, though, you're still paying the "German tax" although it's not a BMW or Mercedes.

I'm often blown away when I hear repair costs on what I'd regard as relatively trivial items on other cars.


I remember when I worked at a body shop and there was a new-ish Jetta brought in that'd run off the road and hit something hard enough to break the front axle. I was stunned to see that the OEM front CV half-shaft listed at $750 on the estimate.


...and here in Germany prices for parts for Japanese Cars are 2 times higher than in the U.S.A.
wink.gif
 
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