where do menus stop and $$$ take over

[robc]

Ok I leased a new domestic vehicle - had first maintenance visit today - here's their schedule:

3K 6K - LOF, rotate, inspections $42
9k - 3K + r brake adj - $130
12k - 3k + throttle service, Diff service - $375
15k - 9k + air filter - $250
18K 21K - 3K ($42)
24K - 12K ($375)
27K - 3K ($42)
30K - 15K + plugs, trans service, FI service $600 ... plus a recommendation for the oil, coolant, trans, and A/C flush

Now keep in mind this dealer has a loss leader LOF of $14 and a door rate of $90. Factory severe service is LOF every 3K, rotate every other, diff at 12k, plugs at 30k.

What does everyone think? More agressive than they would do, less agressive, about the same?



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** Rob, Editor Dealersedge/WD&S **
Help is only a message post away!
robc@dealersedge.com

[ronc925c]

Your ARE kidding, right? I"m not so concerned with their pricing as their recommendations.

Brakes are self adjusting, have been since 1966. If they are really doing it, which I doubt, the price is a little high.

Throttle service is unnecessary, and some cleaners are incompatible with drive by wire throttle system motor seals.

Diff fluids last at least 30k, unless your pulling a trailer, but if the factory is saying 12k under normal use, then yes.

I'd move the air filter to 12k, if needed based on inspection.

Plugs? Ok, if the factory recommends it.

AC flush??? It's a sealed system with nearly no wear. If it's contaminated it quits working.

Trans service, maybe a drain and refill at 30k, but not a flush.

Oil you mean crankcase? not with 3k oil changes, maybe if you skip the first 10 oil changes.

Coolant flush? Doesn't the Domestics use long life coolant? maybe at 60k.

I wouldn't think any customers would walk into this shop after the first service.

I think you have a good example of why some customer don't go to a dealership.

[Mike Vogel]

Wow, with aggressive pricing like that no wonder independent shops do so well.
Being a domestic store, do they have so much warranty work that they don't have to rely on cp maintenance ??
Based on what I see they are doing for those prices there is no way I would service my vehicle there !!!!

[robc]

Honestly, I got to believe it is just a situation where over the years they looked for an additional bump in the bottom line and just tacked on a service here and there.

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** Rob, Editor Dealersedge/WD&S **
Help is only a message post away!
robc@dealersedge.com

[Richard]

Here is a little something GM has put out recently about the flushes, ect. If this gets into the public eye, a lot of dealers doing this 'unnecessary' work will be on the hot seat!
Document ID# 1554707
2005 Chevrolet Impala
Sorry, I had to delete most of this, it was pointed out to me that it had a copywrite. So GM dealers, feel free to look at the document # provided.

Sorry, I had the Doc # wrong!

[This message has been edited by Richard (edited 10-18-2004).]

[dew23456]

Could not find doc# 554707. Maybe it was removed from SI.

[dew23456]

Did more research, doc# is 1554707. It is a new bulletin released 10-11-2004, 04-06-01-029.

[kcatdeejay]

There must be some mistake (although I just read that service bulletin for GM dealers). We have a 'consultant' wanting us to ram these flushes down our customer's throats despite the protests of the service director. Oh, look, there he goes out the door-he had a terminal case of 'consultantitis' and took the highway. Oh, what the heck, GOOD service managers are a dime a dozen right? But a consultant, now there's an endangered species-can't get too many of them.

[robc]

For those curious, the GM bulletin essentially said that GM "does not endorse or recommend" any of these flushing services under routine vehicle maintenance (not to be confused with necessary flushing in relation to system contamination after a failure (i.e., trans system flush after the torque converter blows apart). The only exception listed in the bulletin is for fuel injector cleaning and even then it should be performed as the result of drivability concern.

GMs answer instead of system flushes sell the customer a new cabin filter. What, no cabin filter sell them on the installation. How about a complete detailing, or sell them do-it-yourself GM car wash products, how about a new tonneau cover as long as the product comes from GM feel free to sell, sell, sell.


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** Rob, Editor Dealersedge/WD&S **
Help is only a message post away!
robc@dealersedge.com

[BillyM]

"Throttle service is unnecessary, and some cleaners are incompatible with drive by wire throttle system motor seals."

You obviously have never gassed up in Ky. Throttle body cleaning whether it be a spray or pour-in is a real good service for the customer.

"Brakes are self adjusting, have been since 1966. If they are really doing it, which I doubt, the price is a little high."

You still need to make sure these are doing thier job. Most of them have self adjusters, but are not properly adjusting.

"AC flush??? It's a sealed system with nearly no wear. If it's contaminated it quits working."

The ones we do are for the Evaporator. I think that's what they meant in the orginal post...


Scary post from a service manager