Local oil change
06-25-2014, 07:15 PM
#16
Race Car
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Fairfax County, Virginia
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Personally, I don't buy into the to belief that somehow frequenting the dealer makes it any more likely to be their advocate for good will for out of warranty work.
Heck yes it does! I run a retail business and I take VERY good care of my regular customers that shop with me year after year. I know them, they support my business and I will go out of pocket for them from time to time on issues and requests that have no basis in warranty, etc. For example, if a customer spent $ 50,000 with me over three years and he needs a $ 200 part that he feels should not have broken, what's the cost me as a percentage of the sale? Virtually nothing, so he gets it free of charge with a smile and he remains my customer. Now the person that came in three years ago and spend $ 2,000 on a single purchase sale isn't going to get that $ 200 part free of charge. I saw them one time and that was it, they have to buy the part.
Heck yes it does! I run a retail business and I take VERY good care of my regular customers that shop with me year after year. I know them, they support my business and I will go out of pocket for them from time to time on issues and requests that have no basis in warranty, etc. For example, if a customer spent $ 50,000 with me over three years and he needs a $ 200 part that he feels should not have broken, what's the cost me as a percentage of the sale? Virtually nothing, so he gets it free of charge with a smile and he remains my customer. Now the person that came in three years ago and spend $ 2,000 on a single purchase sale isn't going to get that $ 200 part free of charge. I saw them one time and that was it, they have to buy the part.
06-25-2014, 11:22 PM
#17
Yeah, not sure why it makes sense to pay $300 for a $100 value.. By that logic what amount of overcharging is worth it for a 100K car? is $600 ok as well.
I'm not so much about trying to be cheap, just don't like paying for new furniture in the dealer show room and as it is 911's have the highest margin of any car out there.
Personally, I don't buy into the to belief that somehow frequenting the dealer makes it any more likely to be their advocate for good will for out of warranty work. I've never had much luck with that kind of thing, and at best it is a wish that will likely never come true. As it is I've got 3 different dealers I can frequent, so should I only go to one of them in hopes that one will remember me and do me a favor in 5 years? No thanks I'll save the money and have my trivial maintenance done more cost effectively.
In reality for the stuff I'm not willing to do myself I hook up with a good indie.. But most of the general maintenance is pretty trivial and I tend to enjoy doing it.
I'm not so much about trying to be cheap, just don't like paying for new furniture in the dealer show room and as it is 911's have the highest margin of any car out there.
Personally, I don't buy into the to belief that somehow frequenting the dealer makes it any more likely to be their advocate for good will for out of warranty work. I've never had much luck with that kind of thing, and at best it is a wish that will likely never come true. As it is I've got 3 different dealers I can frequent, so should I only go to one of them in hopes that one will remember me and do me a favor in 5 years? No thanks I'll save the money and have my trivial maintenance done more cost effectively.
In reality for the stuff I'm not willing to do myself I hook up with a good indie.. But most of the general maintenance is pretty trivial and I tend to enjoy doing it.
I have no vested interest in whether or not you do your own maintenance, have an indy do it or have a dealer do it. I'm merely sharing my experience, and if you chose to reject it, then so be it.
06-26-2014, 06:26 AM
#18
Having your Oil Change history logged in the dealer computer is an advantage, when it comes to resale value and improving the odds of an out of warranty repair getting covered.
It gets you over the first hurdle of proof of proper maintenance.
It is sad that there is no credit given for an owner doing their own oil change, as those cars may well be the best cared for cars.
It gets you over the first hurdle of proof of proper maintenance.
It is sad that there is no credit given for an owner doing their own oil change, as those cars may well be the best cared for cars.
06-26-2014, 09:39 AM
#19
Drifting
Thread Starter
The oil change I did will be logged in to a data base which will show on carfax. I know because my last Porsche I just sold had it's oil change at the same place and when I printed the carfax it was there.
06-26-2014, 10:08 AM
#20
These things are true, however a manufacturer in the US cannot force an individual to have their vehicle serviced at the dealer to validate the warranty, unless they provide such services for free. This is a big discussion on BMW forums as they do provide included "no cost" maintenance. As for me, I save the receipt for oil and filter and write in mileage and date.