S
Sherman
Guest
Ok guys I have this question on the real benefits of having your car serviced by Holden. Ok here goes- I had recently bought my VX Calais 2000 model and it came up to the 80,000km service. So being a new car I booked it in for service at Barloworld Holden, Glen Waverley here in Victoria (Formerly Geoff Braidey). I had a list of problems that needed to be rectified also- Front Headlamps dim including fog lamp on drivers side, Electric antennae clicking when it goes up and driverside electric seat has slight movement (Rocks forward and back a little). So I booked it in for 7am morning. However instead of going home I stayed their in their plush lounge watching television and reading magazines. Roughly about 1030am I was told that the brake pads needed to be changed front and rears. A total of 397 bucks was charged for this on top of the intial service. Then the electric antnnea mast needed to be replaced 136 bucks for this and then lastly the front drivers seat needed to have the runners replace which would cost about 500 bucks. I told them to do everything except for the runner replacement shocked at the price.
All was going fine when I was expecting to take the car home about midday. I was told that the the headlight dim and foglight would take sometime as it was an electrical problem- and if I wanted to go home and comeback this afternoon. I said Nup I will just wait in the lounge till everthing was done. It took about 2 hours to rectify and as you can see the workshop from the lounge, I was able to spectate what the mechanic was actually doing to my car. I noticed that he was walking around here and their taking his time and occasionally glancing at me watching. After he had finsihed he drove it out of the workshop. I had to wait about another half hour wondering what had happened to the car before I decided to ask what was happening. The car had actuallly finished and was parked at the rear. Anyway the total cost of this service and rectifying everything that I said except for the seat runner was $951.45c. It all went on my plastic card- and buy god by the time I left I was in a bit of anxiety and shock. Even to tell the Misses about how much it cost to do the service.
Well anyway 2 weeks later the front headlamp and fog light went dim again, but instead of taking it to Holden, I popped into my local mechanic of whom I had always serviced my other cars. All up within 5 minutes he changed a blown fuse and the front drivers headlamp bulb for free. But five minutes was taken for this job-- So what the hell were those Holden shits doing for almost 2 hours??? Labour was charged by Holden at $416.50. Since these buggers I presume are paid by the hour I feel that they just took their time to fix a simple problem so they can charge their exsoberant prices. I feel that I have been a sucker in going to Holden in the first place. After this intial disheartenedment I will no longer service my car at Holden except get it done at a third party mechanic at less that half the cost. Am I being to critical at Holden (Barloworld/Geoff Bradey)? or is it this specific dealer charging what hee feels like charging? Please give me your opinion on this matter and if you really do think I have been somewhat ripped off.....
All was going fine when I was expecting to take the car home about midday. I was told that the the headlight dim and foglight would take sometime as it was an electrical problem- and if I wanted to go home and comeback this afternoon. I said Nup I will just wait in the lounge till everthing was done. It took about 2 hours to rectify and as you can see the workshop from the lounge, I was able to spectate what the mechanic was actually doing to my car. I noticed that he was walking around here and their taking his time and occasionally glancing at me watching. After he had finsihed he drove it out of the workshop. I had to wait about another half hour wondering what had happened to the car before I decided to ask what was happening. The car had actuallly finished and was parked at the rear. Anyway the total cost of this service and rectifying everything that I said except for the seat runner was $951.45c. It all went on my plastic card- and buy god by the time I left I was in a bit of anxiety and shock. Even to tell the Misses about how much it cost to do the service.
Well anyway 2 weeks later the front headlamp and fog light went dim again, but instead of taking it to Holden, I popped into my local mechanic of whom I had always serviced my other cars. All up within 5 minutes he changed a blown fuse and the front drivers headlamp bulb for free. But five minutes was taken for this job-- So what the hell were those Holden shits doing for almost 2 hours??? Labour was charged by Holden at $416.50. Since these buggers I presume are paid by the hour I feel that they just took their time to fix a simple problem so they can charge their exsoberant prices. I feel that I have been a sucker in going to Holden in the first place. After this intial disheartenedment I will no longer service my car at Holden except get it done at a third party mechanic at less that half the cost. Am I being to critical at Holden (Barloworld/Geoff Bradey)? or is it this specific dealer charging what hee feels like charging? Please give me your opinion on this matter and if you really do think I have been somewhat ripped off.....