Dealership Filter Cost
- Thread starter HowAboutThis
- Start date
I don't understand this. A could of years ago I needed rotors and pads for my neon. They wouldn't give me the discount price at the counter. I had to go online and order for pick up in store.
Removal of money handling is, I suspect, a major driver of this trend.
a) Electric payments hurt less so people likely buy more and squawk less.
b) Less $ handling is cheaper and reduces counting errors and theft.
c) Easier to apply discounts, flash sales and ad copy.
Genuine Merc and Toyota oil filters are about the same price or sometimes less than buying genuine parts online from none-dealer sources. If you substitute, such as Mann or other brands they may be a shade cheaper online, but the cost of shipping can eliminate the savings. Unexpectedly I have found it beneficial to check dealer parts prices along with other sources before purchasing. You may be pleasantly surprised (or shocked 
) at the outcome, at least for many of the imports.
) at the outcome, at least for many of the imports.Toyota dealer sells oil filters for $4.95 or $5.95. Other than not being very convenient, I'm happy to buy those vs Fram, PG, etc or Toyota filters at parts stores or WM. Same filters at stores are 2x that price, if not more.... Interesting, just checked WM and they're $7.54 there. Maybe I'm thinking of Honda filters sold there, that are double the price.
Well, they took the old out and put old back and putting a new back in instead of the old requires 0 extra hours of labor. It doesn't take longer to put a new one in instead of an old one. On this Forester it literally takes 5 minutes total for both, max. They have them out to take a pic to send. Don't charge to put the old back if you defer the service. But you think charging $60 labor is fair because it's a clean filter even though they're making profit on the filter already? Ok.
Also, I'm not even talking labor. Just parts are significantly more if you don't buy online. Last guy didn't match their online price so I put the online order in, did my other errands, and then stopped in an hour later to pick up the same ones. It's just silliness, quite honestly.
A few years ago I had purchased new and when they told me they were dirty I asked if they would put the new ones I bought back in instead of the old because it's no extra work putting new in instead of old back in.
I did this the last time. I've had some say they'll do it. Some don't. It's silly. Like I'm showing them the part number on my phone, that Subaru parts is the website, their dealership is selected for pickup, and the price in the cart. This guy empathized with the silliness of it at least.
The counters around here all want above MSRP, and have no interest in selling even at full list even thought the same dealers sell at discounted pricing online. I obviously buy nothing from them. Even when I order online with shipping - I choose the out of town dealers and have it shipped to me rather than buying from the local clowns.
Going against the grain of DIY when I do state inspections I let my place replace worn out wipers that don’t pass for $45. DIY is cheaper but I hate dealing with wipers.
I understand that. It's the fact they take the old out and put it back for free but won't take the old out and put a new one in. There's no extra labor in putting the old back vs. putting a new in. Except maybe 10 seconds opening the box. I'm not expecting something for nothing. I'm just expecting logical practices.
Let's put it this way. They probably make $10 per filter sold on parts markup. About half the time I buy from auto parts stores and not the dealer. So if they just charged me the new filter price to put a new in instead of the old one back (for free) they'd make $20 for their business. Instead, they sometimes get $0 and lose the same amount of time putting the old ones back. Why? Because it doesn't make sense, it's super easy on this car, and I refuse to pay extra when they're putting the old back in anyway.
Enough people obviously pay for it they don't care, but it's legit silly.
I get what you are saying about the "while you were there" . On the same token, I understand some businesses have fixed pricing for standard services. Your $19 tire rotation was a loss leader for them they had hoped to make up on the cabin and air filter recommendations. You voted with your wallet but in the aggregate, they make it up off the next person.
This dealer is actually not usually like that. I hadn't checked the filters since August and they had about 20k on them. This Forester collects more bugs and debris in it than and car I've had in my life. They send pics of things and they were reasonably filled with gunk. Engine and cabin. When I replaced myself (in the parking lot of the dealership) it was definitely time for it. I had already purchased because I was going to do it this spring and said, "hey, tell your tech to put these back in." She kind of laughed and said, "yeah, I get it." And I said, "I'll to it myself, but I do think it's silly. You all didn't used to charge extra a few years ago."
And $20 for a tire rotation---they probably break even, in terms of shop rate. So, if their shop rate makes profit, I doubt they're losing. And I do it so I don't have to check all the brakes and everything. When they told me the rears were at 3mm last summer, then I double checked them. And they were pretty thin. So they got the job and did the brakes a month later.
Overall they've been a good place. The filter thing just irks me. Now, on an older Forester where you had to take the dash apart to get to the cabin filter, I wouldn't whine about them charging some labor
Took a volvo vnx in for a recall recently.
While there they told me it need an oil change, fuel filters, engine air filter, cabin air filter, and more. I had personally serviced that truck 2 days earlier, changing every filter, engine oil, etc. They are crooks!
While there they told me it need an oil change, fuel filters, engine air filter, cabin air filter, and more. I had personally serviced that truck 2 days earlier, changing every filter, engine oil, etc. They are crooks!
It was probably a mileage recommendation. They have no clue you did the service.
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