Holden Service issue - Is this a bit of a scam?

[Plainwhitevy]

I just had my VY serviced (90,000km) at Holdens and encountered the following:

I was telephoned during the service to ask whether I would like to have a further service provided - fuel system - Costing about $200. I was busy at the time and agreed to this. In retrospect, I am a little irritated at being contacted in this way for a non-essential item. I think that it was a sales pitch - not a need for a service related item - the service hand book does not call for it.

This item, while possibly being beneficial, was not discussed at vehicle hand-over - during the chat that I had with the service officer at the time of handover in the morning when it could have have easily been brought up. I have no problem with a call during the day for an essential item - this was not essential.

The holden service centre has a lot of advertising around the place at the moment for a fuel system service - a non-holden service provision and I have the feeling that I have been a little 'got at'.

I know that a fuel system clean is not a bad thing - my gripe is the way it was pushed on me - not even sure if it was value for money either.

Have grizzled to the Holden service manager, but only today and do not yet have their view of things.

Was interested to know though - has anyone else had this happen recently?

[88GreenVN]

I got done in WA in 1989 with the wagon's (15,000kms service), Would not let the car go (was returning to SA next day) unless I paid the $150 for an injector clean.

WHAT you have to be kidding me how does it get dirty so quick. 15,000kms comon.

But no - pay up or you dont go home.

Now the car was returning 32 - 34 miles per gallon before the fuel system service and 32-34 MPG after on the way home.

Simple rip off no question. But at 90,000 maybe of some benifit but they probably put a tube of injector cleaner into the fuel tank and said thanks for the 200 smakers.

[jules]

is this an ultrasonic injector clean?

the jury seems out on the need for this. i believe almost all fuel retailers (or the majors at least) add detergents to their fuels, even 91 unleaded.

if they do a flow test this can be useful for picking up on worn injectors but i would be disappointed if that was found after only 90k. they should be able to show/give you the chart if they've done a flow test.

[Plainwhitevy]

Nup. No test, just a 'should be beneficial'. Incidentally, mine is certainly not running leaner after the work. Was good before and about the same or a tad thirstier now.

I realise now that I should have queried or just said no - but when called at work while busy I was caught off guard.

[minux]

I got done in WA in 1989 with the wagon's (15,000kms service), Would not let the car go (was returning to SA next day) unless I paid the $150 for an injector clean.

WHAT you have to be kidding me how does it get dirty so quick. 15,000kms comon.

But no - pay up or you dont go home.

Now the car was returning 32 - 34 miles per gallon before the fuel system service and 32-34 MPG after on the way home.

Simple rip off no question. But at 90,000 maybe of some benifit but they probably put a tube of injector cleaner into the fuel tank and said thanks for the 200 smakers.

Erm, how could they not let the car that YOU own go?

I would of called the police lol.

[Cobez]

*reads the 50 billionth thread this year, about Holden service ripping someone off with non essential items*


HOLDEN...........SERVICE.............ARE.......... ....A..............CON...............JOB!!!!!!!!

(unless your car is still under warranty, even so, i'd still tell them to lick my balls)

[88GreenVN]

Erm, how could they not let the car that YOU own go?

I would of called the police lol.

Tooo young and weak, paniced at not having the car to go home with, paid the cash and never went back to a Holden dealer again. Lucky I never had any warranty problems with the mighty VN.

I look at it this way it saved me thousands of dollars over the life of the car/cars in Holden service fee ripoffs.

[davey g-force]

The fuel system clean is a common one used by Holden. I actually got done the exact same way (phonecall while busy at work) a couple of years ago on my car. Since then I've heard quite a few others here whinge about this being a rip off.

I'm not convinced either way. I can see how it would be easy for them to rip you off on this, but then again my car did go noticeably better after it.

Dunno, perhaps someone who works at a dealership could shed some light on what they actually do when they clean your fuel system?

[Tom_1569]

The fuel system clean is a common one used by Holden. I actually got done the exact same way (phonecall while busy at work) a couple of years ago on my car. Since then I've heard quite a few others here whinge about this being a rip off.

I'm not convinced either way. I can see how it would be easy for them to rip you off on this, but then again my car did go noticeably better after it.

Dunno, perhaps someone who works at a dealership could shed some light on what they actually do when they clean your fuel system?

And if you said no, they could always put crap in your tank and say told you so.

But yeah we need someone from a dealer to clarify what is done, I know a mate of a mate, that works at one but he hasnt been their long, but ill check if its not answered here first.

[Sabbath']

At the end of the day, you were told the costs and you agreed to it. Relevent to the service or not.

[Shounak]

At the end of the day, you were told the costs and you agreed to it. Relevent to the service or not.

Exactly.

You'd complain if they didn't find items that needed attention and now you're complaining because they did find an item.

Whether or not it needed it is a matter of perspective, but you agreed and you're complaining.

It makes no sense to me.

[adamc11]

Exactly.

You'd complain if they didn't find items that needed attention and now you're complaining because they did find an item.

Whether or not it needed it is a matter of perspective, but you agreed and you're complaining.

It makes no sense to me.

He is complaining because it would seem they did unnecessary work on his car... which wouldn't surprise me, because holden dealers have no issues ripping you let right and centre.

[Sabbath']

He is complaining because it would seem they did unnecessary work on his car... which wouldn't surprise me, because holden dealers have no issues ripping you let right and centre.

Unnecessary or not, he still authorised for it to be done. Its not like he showed up and they'd charged him $200 for a fuel system clean when he hadnt authorised it.

[Shounak]

He is complaining because it would seem they did unnecessary work on his car... which wouldn't surprise me, because holden dealers have no issues ripping you let right and centre.

It wasn't unnecessary, it was something which probably offered some sort of benefit, that he agreed to.

It's like if your car was at Holden and they rang you to ask if you wanted to swap your V6 for a GenIII, only $10,000. If you say yes to the quote, you have nothing to complain about.

LubeMobile are smart because they ask customers to sign a form with all of the costs and only go ahead if the customer approves the work. It prevents idiots from saying, yeah go to town, do it all and then sooking about stuff they agreed to have done.

If he wasn't sure if he needed an injector clean, he should've talked to the service guy about it or said I'll do some research, asked a question here and then booked his car in quickly.

He has no-one to blame but himself.

It seems like you're advocating that Holden only suggest things that REALLY need doing, they're not even allowed to suggest items get fixed. That's not good business.

Despite what Holden charge, they don't rip you off. They're bloody expensive, but you're paying for the brand name and the comfort of knowing the manufacturer is dealing with your car and you have guys who work on them every day taking care of your car.

You know the costs of going to Holden, if you still go anyway, you're not getting ripped off. You can't even say you have to go there for the warranty anymore.

[adamc11]

If he wasn't sure if he needed an injector clean, he should've talked to the service guy about it or said I'll do some research, asked a question here and then booked his car in quickly.

He has no-one to blame but himself.

It seems like you're advocating that Holden only suggest things that REALLY need doing, they're not even allowed to suggest items get fixed. That's not good business.

Holden in general don't have good business practice. They will jump on any opportunity to charge you for something (in this instance, a clean of the fuel system), but when you ask them to check something that needs to be fixed under warranty, they won't, or more commonly they will give you the excuse 'we could not replicate the problem'. But at soon as your car comes out of warranty, they will identify the problem, and charge you to fix it. This happens far to often, it has been pointed out many times on these forums, and i too have experienced this. This is bad business.

Despite what Holden charge, they don't rip you off. They're bloody expensive, but you're paying for the brand name and the comfort of knowing the manufacturer is dealing with your car and you have guys who work on them every day taking care of your car.

You know the costs of going to Holden, if you still go anyway, you're not getting ripped off. You can't even say you have to go there for the warranty anymore.

You get the brand name, yes, but as for the comfort, well i'd feel more comfortable taking my car to an independent mechanic. Unlike holden, your independents rely on word of mouth and their reputation. If they stuff you around and charge you for unnecessary work, you'll leave them, and if they continue to do this to everyone else, they will lose all their customers. Holden on the other hand, have most of their customers because of warranty. Once they are out of warranty, customers go elsewhere. The ones that stay either don't know their being overcharged, or simply have too much money.

[Shounak]

Don't get me wrong, I don't take my car to Holden.

But it's like me complaining about a maitre'd offering me a dessert, me accepting, eating it and then complaining because he offered me an over priced dessert.

Simple as that.

[Cobez]

Exactly.

You'd complain if they didn't find items that needed attention and now you're complaining because they did find an item.

Whether or not it needed it is a matter of perspective, but you agreed and you're complaining.

It makes no sense to me.

That's quite a good point actually now i think about it. Never agree to anything you aren't sure of. Basically you should have said "no thanks, i can't afford it right now, but i'll call you during the week and organise a time for it when i better know my schedule" or something to that effect, then taken your car home and asked around a bit before getting them to do something like that.

Never say yes unless you are totally sure you know what they are talking about, always say you will bring it back for that later if you aren't sure.

[adamc11]

Don't get me wrong, I don't take my car to Holden.

But it's like me complaining about a maitre'd offering me a dessert, me accepting, eating it and then complaining because he offered me an over priced dessert.

Simple as that.

No. It's like going to the doctor for a checkup, and him telling you that "you should take some vitamin pills". When you ask him "why?", then he says "Because you need them". Obviously, you trust his good judgment and agree. Then you get a whopping $100 bill, and you ask yourself, "did i really need them or was i just ripped off?".
In this case, when you take your car to holden you trust that they will do the right thing by you. Now the car may have needed it, it may not have. But from my past experiences, holden try and charge for a lot of things that don't need to be done, because generally, most people don't have a clue and will not question them.

[minux]

No. It's like going to the doctor for a checkup, and him telling you that "you should take some vitamin pills". When you ask him "why?", then he says "Because you need them". Obviously, you trust his good judgment and agree. Then you get a whopping $100 bill, and you ask yourself, "did i really need them or was i just ripped off?".
.

Well you agreed that you needed them so be prepared to pay...that isn't a rip off that is you accepting advice and being charged for it.

[jules]

Unnecessary or not, he still authorised for it to be done. Its not like he showed up and they'd charged him $200 for a fuel system clean when he hadnt authorised it.

most customers wouldn't have a clue whether a fuel system clean was necessary or not - that's why you go to a service centre - for advice.

when they are just trying to trap you into paying for stuff you don't need, you're obviously not getting good advice.

Holden reckon they can make customers come back becuase they're the authority on Holdens or something - i wouldn't go near them with a 10ft cattle prod.

he's got every right to be p***sed off.

[Cobez]

No. It's like going to the doctor for a checkup, and him telling you that "you should take some vitamin pills". When you ask him "why?", then he says "Because you need them". Obviously, you trust his good judgment and agree. Then you get a whopping $100 bill, and you ask yourself, "did i really need them or was i just ripped off?".
In this case, when you take your car to holden you trust that they will do the right thing by you. Now the car may have needed it, it may not have. But from my past experiences, holden try and charge for a lot of things that don't need to be done, because generally, most people don't have a clue and will not question them.

That's another thing, don't assume you can trust people when you don't know them. Business's aims are to make money to survive, you are their business, which keep's their company surviving, you aren't their friend.

By charging unsuspecting and trusting people for things they don't really need, then treating you with respect and friendly service is how they get alot of people. To get the customers and business for their company, it's their job to be friendly, kind and helpful, and keep you coming back to make their money. It's apart of customer service.

It's how business's operate, they aren't going to make money off hopes, dreams and 100% complete honesty. They won't turn around and say "nah mate, there isn't a single thing wrong with your car, it's all 100% working fine" (when basically, you are car IS fine). That's not going to get you back in there for more money spending anytime soon now is it? They want you back in there ASAP.

[adamc11]

That's another thing, don't assume you can trust people when you don't know them. Business's aims are to make money to survive, you are their business, which keep's their company surviving, you aren't their friend.

By charging unsuspecting and trusting people for things they don't really need, then treating you with respect and friendly service is how they get alot of people. To get the customers and business for their company, it's their job to be friendly, kind and helpful, and keep you coming back to make their money. It's apart of customer service.

It's how business's operate, they aren't going to make money off hopes, dreams and 100% complete honesty. They won't turn around and say "nah mate, there isn't a single thing wrong with your car, it's all 100% working fine". That's not going to get you back in there for more money spending anytime soon now is it? They want you back in there ASAP.

Thats why he has every right to be annoyed. Holden carried out a job because they want to make money, not because it needed to be done. He agreed to it, yes, because he trusted the advice given to him.

[Cobez]

Exactly right, he should have been a little more smart and thought it over before jumping the gun. It's not just Holden that do it, you will find 80% of business's do it. He has every right to be annoyed with HIMSELF. But don't take it as a loss, take it as a gain, now he will know to not go back to Holden, and to next time, think it over before anything like that is offered again.

You don't always have to say yes straight away with anything. You can always go back later.

[Shounak]

Exactly right, he should have been a little more smart and thought it over before jumping the gun. It's not just Holden that do it, you will find 80% of business's do it. He has every right to be annoyed with HIMSELF. But don't take it as a loss, take it as a gain, now he will know to not go back to Holden, and to next time, think it over before anything like that is offered again.

You don't always have to say yes straight away with anything. You can always go back later.

Exactly.

If he wasn't sure, he should've come home, made a new thread and booked the car in for later.

I don't make any decisions on the spot, unless I know exactly what I'm on about. I'll usually tell the person that I'll call them back in 20 minutes and I give big decisions overnight.

Anyway, what's to say that his car couldn't have done with an injector flush? It's not as if they don't do anything and in any case, they didn't tell him it NEEDED to be done.

They recommended as something that's good to do. It is something good to do. Whether or not he wanted to pay for it is another issue.

Some people really need to grow up and take some responsibility for their actions.

[Cobez]

Well this is true, a bit of injector cleaner could have done wonders, but who really knows, we are speaking from a certain perspective which could have come into play for this situation. But in my personal opinion of course, i think you would be better off hunting down a very reputable (that doesn't mean a CHEAP one either, but it doesn't mean EXPENSIVE either) local mechanic. Holden are just average and expensive mechanics.

I hunted for a while, and found my current mechanic. Does the best work i have ever seen, and now i consider him a mate anyway because i have a few drinks out of work hours with him as well. But it's the best thing i ever did (looking around for a good mechanic).