Credit were it's due - Menzies Stirling

[cj_eds]

It was only a week or so I was posting on another thread that the internet is a terrible place for venting your frustrations but never praising. Suppose I should back that up and say I just got a pretty good servicing experience from Menzies BMW Stirling.

Inspection 1 & oil change done while I waited and drank the free coffee, the bill was pretty much what I was quoted (the filters were added that I knew would be but didn't know the cost), got the car back cleaned etc. Everytime I set foot in a BMW dealer I expect a quotation to double by the time you come to pay it. Considerably better than the experiences I've had with other dealers in the central belt.

Thumbs up on this occasion.

 

[a11y]

Good to hear, given they're my local too

I've only ever ordered parts from them and service has always been without fault.

 

[srhutch]

Surely they should have confirmed the cost for the filters beforehand, did they not give you a fixed price then?

 

[cj_eds]

Surely they should have confirmed the cost for the filters beforehand, did they not give you a fixed price then?

They should've done, especially as I'd asked for the cost of a service. But that's where my reluctance to use BMW dealers comes from. I asked for a quote for Insp 1, get told £xxx plus cost of any consumables required. You go to a Ford garage, ask for the cost and it's £yyy and that's the price you pay. In my experience getting a quote from BMW and paying within 5 or 10% of it is a good result.
It's the same with many things, I hate hidden fees - you arrange a price and then get the "we need to add the handling fee" or "admin fee" or "we've just invented a new way of getting more from you fee".

 

[AlanJ]

It's the same with many things, I hate hidden fees - you arrange a price and then get the "we need to add the handling fee" or "admin fee" or "we've just invented a new way of getting more from you fee".

A quotation is a fixed price offer that can't be changed once accepted by the customer. This holds true even if the garage has to carry out much more work than you expected.

An estimate is an educated guess at what a job may cost - but it isn't binding. To take account of possible unforeseen developments, you should seek several estimates based on various circumstances, including the worst-case scenario. This will prevent you from being surprised by the costs.

So always ask for a quotation. If they can only give an estimate ask why and what the variables may be - the choice is then yours.....