not so fixed price servicing

[Vesper Martini]

Can anybody advise the laws on fixed price servicing. Fords seems to have gone up by 20%

[SensationFG8]

When you say gone up do you mean you're now paying 20% more than when you purchased the car?

Did the wording of the fixed price servicing deal say it would be fixed at X price for Y years after purchase?

Did the dealer imply the pricing would remain the same for a certain amount of time in any of your discussions?

[Vesper Martini]

Yes at the time of purchase fixed priced were $280 & $515 for big service which was comparable to external servicing
They are now $355.00 & a whopping $630.00 for the big service.

And Yes the dealer I purchased from implied that the fixed price would remain the same. I'm on a 6 year extended (dealer) warranty too

[Smoke Pursuit]

Service Price Promise
Available at participating Ford Dealers on vehicles built from 2007. Customers will pay equal to or less than the maximum price as published by Ford for the period of the web quote for standard items in the A and B logbook services together with selected routine maintenance items. See www.ford.com.au/service/t-and-c for full terms.

[Smoke Pursuit]

I think you are confusing it with capped price servicing provided by other manufacturers. Its never been capped, service price promise means you will pay the same price regardless of which dealer you use, based on the rate published on the website.

Included in that is 12 months roadside assistance and free loan car also.

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

I think you are confusing it with capped price servicing provided by other manufacturers. Its never been capped, service price promise means you will pay the same price regardless of which dealer you use, based on the rate published on the website.

Not sure I agree, Smoke.

Quoting your own, previous, post (my highlight):

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

Service Price Promise
Available at participating Ford Dealers on vehicles built from 2007. Customers will pay equal to or less than the maximum price as published by Ford for the period of the web quote for standard items in the A and B logbook services together with selected routine maintenance items. See www.ford.com.au/service/t-and-c for full terms.

I have never paid the advertised price for a service since the "service price promise" was introduced.

IIRC correctly, when that service was introduced, I'm sure it was promoted as a capped price service, as we've talked about it several times on this forum before.

But I understand what you mean; most dealers probably charge the advertised price irrespective of how long it takes.

As for the OP's question: I would imagine that a price variation provision would have to have been embedded into the program to allow the advertised price to inflate over time (not on an individual basis, but across the board). Having said that, it seems like a pretty steep increase at 20%.

[Vesper Martini]

I'm pretty sure it was promoted to me at the time as a "Fixed" price servicing.
the sales person even said the pricing wont change.

[superfly]

Yeah I just had my car serviced and noticed it went up from $270 last time to now $350. When I look all the service prices, I noticed that now the cheapest is $350 for my car. On top of that, this service was the last time I'll get free roadside assistance as it's only for 7 years or 105K.

And I've never paid lower that the fixed price. Still comes with a free loan car and is convenient so I'll continue to use it. Just a bummer I now have to pay for my RACQ membership.

[ratter]

Just food for thought, many other businesses offer roadside assistance and loan cars, and loan cars you do not need to book a month ahead to actually get one

[prydey]

Originally Posted by ratter

and loan cars you do not need to book a month ahead to actually get one

that would be dealer dependant, not across the board. i've taken advantage of the free loan car at least 3 times now and never needed to give extra notice. Just asked for one at time of booking car in, and always been assured of getting one even if its within a week.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Yeh I can get a loaner within a weeks booking.

[Sabantien]

I took it to mean that they publish the maximum it will be, but it could be less.
It's never less.
I don't recall any sort of roadside assistance though, but that could be because my car is too old (2009).

I had no issues with getting a loan car, but didn't take them up on it. At the time, the courtesy bus was a better option, otherwise I'd have been paying through the nose for city parking.

[Vesper Martini]

I normally book my car a week in advance, and have no issues with a loan car.
apparently the prices went up 2-3 months ago.
they discounted this time to keep me happy, but next time around that's not going to happen..
I would get it serviced elsewhere, but I've already paid for the extender warrant which is dealer dependant.
had I known there was a 20% plus price rise coming I may not have gone ahead...

PS they wont even adjust my handbrake they charge and extra $52 for that..

[Mechan1k]

Here's part of the T&C regarding this.

4. How often will the prices be changed?

Ford will update the Ford website (ford.com.au/service/calculator) with any changes to maximum prices for Standard Service or Additional Scheduled Maintenance Items at times when it is appropriate to do so. Customers however have the peace of mind in knowing that for every Total Service Price obtained from the website there will be a "valid till" date up to which Participating Dealers will charge no more than the relevant Total Service Price for a Price Promise Service.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

I normally book my car a week in advance, and have no issues with a loan car.
apparently the prices went up 2-3 months ago.
they discounted this time to keep me happy, but next time around that's not going to happen..
I would get it serviced elsewhere, but I've already paid for the extender warrant which is dealer dependant.
had I known there was a 20% plus price rise coming I may not have gone ahead...

PS they wont even adjust my handbrake they charge and extra $52 for that..

Really... So the cost of everything else goes up but dealers are expected to keep on maintaining our vehicles at a fixed price forever.

Dealerships are expensive to run. Most local mechanics will also charge you to adjust your handbrake, do you go to work for free?

[GREGL]

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

Really... So the cost of everything else goes up but dealers are expected to keep on maintaining our vehicles at a fixed price forever.

Dealerships are expensive to run. Most local mechanics will also charge you to adjust your handbrake, do you go to work for free?

I will call you out on that one. Handbrake adjustment is part of a service, maybe Ford consider it a labour cost to you because it requires attention more often being a Ford.

I know my local fella who has serviced/repaired our cars for over 10 years doesn't nor does he need to. He has done everything from blown h/gasket on an XG thru to suspension bush replacements and not once have I had to take anything back for rectification. The one thing he would not touch was a fault in a XR8 with limp home mode and I don't blame him, after all 2 Ford dealers could not solve it either !

A minor service on a Holden Colorado diesel and Suzuki Grand vintara are both under $200, pickup and drop off using Penrite oil. Major service will be up there but once again I know it will be done. Not looking forward to moving away from him that's for sure.

Our Suzuki bought in 2012 only went back to the dealer for 1000k and first service after that all log book by Northgate Automotive. At selling time it will be just like any other vehicle with full log book history. Worth nothing to a dealer when you wish to trade but GOLD when they are selling it !

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by GREGL

I will call you out on that one. Handbrake adjustment is part of a service, maybe Ford consider it a labour cost to you because it requires attention more often being a Ford.

I know my local fella who has serviced/repaired our cars for over 10 years doesn't nor does he need to. He has done everything from blown h/gasket on an XG thru to suspension bush replacements and not once have I had to take anything back for rectification. The one thing he would not touch was a fault in a XR8 with limp home mode and I don't blame him, after all 2 Ford dealers could not solve it either !

A minor service on a Holden Colorado diesel and Suzuki Grand vintara are both under $200, pickup and drop off using Penrite oil. Major service will be up there but once again I know it will be done. Not looking forward to moving away from him that's for sure.

Our Suzuki bought in 2012 only went back to the dealer for 1000k and first service after that all log book by Northgate Automotive. At selling time it will be just like any other vehicle with full log book history. Worth nothing to a dealer when you wish to trade but GOLD when they are selling it !

Meh the last time I had to get a handbrake adjusted was 2005... next you will be saying he replaces your brake pads too as part of the service. Nothing is for free today.

[GREGL]

Nah, don't have to worry about that either. brake shudder, new rotors and milkshake, history now, someone else's problem along with the whole dealership experience.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

Really... So the cost of everything else goes up but dealers are expected to keep on maintaining our vehicles at a fixed price forever.

Dealerships are expensive to run. Most local mechanics will also charge you to adjust your handbrake, do you go to work for free?

Calm down I think you have missed the point.
If you read my posts the fixed price was promised to me under a 6 year extended warranty.
I'm posting this so nobody else is sucked in by such sales tactics, why have a go at me?

And yes a believe the handbrake adjustment should be part of the service, and would be covered by the time or hourly rate charged. certainly not an extra $52 on top of the $335

I've adjusted plenty on handbrakes myself when I have serviced vehicles. its not hard.

I've also spoke to others that have had their Fords service and were not charged an extra fee for this simple task.


Not taking about free pads why would you think that

[Vesper Martini]

Further more, it doesn't even need to be adjusted, nor does it require a wheel alignment they tried to push on me. I didn't dare ask what they charge for that.

[Smoke Pursuit]

I was replying to above, not you about the brake pads.

Its never been sold by Ford themselves as a fixed price. You probably should take it up with the dealer if it was sold to you by them in that respect.

[ratter]

Handbrake travel should be checked as part of a service, but adjustment will always be an extra and in most cases it is not just as simple as a cable adjustment and may take more than half hour or so to do

[NTF6]

Originally Posted by prydey

that would be dealer dependant, not across the board. i've taken advantage of the free loan car at least 3 times now and never needed to give extra notice. Just asked for one at time of booking car in, and always been assured of getting one even if its within a week.

Also loan cars are only at "Participating Dealers" as I was told by my local dealer who don't have any unlike the Ford add recently where the adds certainly didn't mention that.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

Its never been sold by Ford themselves as a fixed price. You probably should take it up with the dealer if it was sold to you by them in that respect.

I know that, and I did,

[Dave R]

While dealers are not cheap to run, the service centres have always been a profit centre. A 20% increase is pushing the friendship I think. Although still not as dear as some. Maybe they're tightening up new car margins?

[Vesper Martini]

In the past I've had my services done externally because of Fords pricing, they had dropped them when I purchased my car 2 years ago making them look more attractive again.

But 20% when you have no choice is definitely pushing the friendship.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

While dealers are not cheap to run, the service centres have always been a profit centre. A 20% increase is pushing the friendship I think. Although still not as dear as some. Maybe they're tightening up new car margins?

Its not set by the dealers. Ford set the pricing, the dealers just have to accept it and move on.

When you look at any other service today I think its still cheap especially when you take the free loan car and free roadside assistance into consideration. Most cars are around 70 a day to hire and roadside assistance for 12 months is similar. So there's $140 in value straight up.

[M&Ms]

Exactly.

I pay about $340 for my regular services (7500 and 15,000km), and that includes:

Free Roadside assist ($110 value)
Free Sync Maps Update ($80 value??)
Free software update and ECU firmware update
Wheel alignment and balance ($80 at most places)
Free loan car offer (which I didn't take up, but at least $65 value)
Looking into any niggly issues I may have with the car

So all up, that's $335, so for that extra 5 bucks, even if it was just the oil and filter change they did, I got a bargain ($100 value at least).

Add on top of this that you are dealing with a business which employs people, warrants their work, has massive overheads to pay, and believe it or not tries to make a profit, I'd actually be happy to pay an extra $100 - $150 for the service and would still think it's acceptable (hope my service centre doesn't read this :p )

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

Its not set by the dealers. Ford set the pricing, the dealers just have to accept it and move on.

When you look at any other service today I think its still cheap especially when you take the free loan car and free roadside assistance into consideration. Most cars are around 70 a day to hire and roadside assistance for 12 months is similar. So there's $140 in value straight up.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

Its not set by the dealers. Ford set the pricing, the dealers just have to accept it and move on.

When you look at any other service today I think its still cheap especially when you take the free loan car and free roadside assistance into consideration. Most cars are around 70 a day to hire and roadside assistance for 12 months is similar. So there's $140 in value straight up.

Yeah my suggestion was that perhaps Ford are angling to build more profit into dealership servicing to offset potentially shrinking margins in new car land. Just a possibility, I guess only Ford and their dealers will know what's really going on.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

Yeah my suggestion was that perhaps Ford are angling to build more profit into dealership servicing to offset potentially shrinking margins in new car land. Just a possibility, I guess only Ford and their dealers will know what's really going on.

Parts and servicing (and finance) is were the money is. Considering selling the car has little to no profit the money needs to be made up.