Triumph Warranties And Main Dealer Servicing

Yes what's this admin fee bollox that's creeping in?
Noticed a few dealers placing this in their small print, surely if your doing a px it cuts both ways!!!!
Or is that my Yorkshire man streak coming out?

 

Possibly, but it takes a lot of time and effort to set up a business and run it alongside doing the bit you actually like doing (the spannering). The admin, cash handling, banking, accounts, VAT, setting up and maintaining premises, bills, advertising, staff if you get big enough, dealing with never happy customers who want it all done for free.... Not surprised most are happy to be employed and let someone else take care of all that to be honest, and I take my hat off to those that take the plunge.

 

I agree with your comments, a business has to make money to survive...often not easy when some customers have totally unrealistic expectations.
The whole main dealer issue is complex, the profit margin on new bike's is small so dealers must make margin in other ways: Servicing and extras etc,often it's the way they try to do this that causes contention ,i.e. "administration fees"
On the question on competence of mechanics, l feel that training is a factor here, l did a full five year indentured apprenticeship in engineering and mechanics used to do something similar, today they do a "modern apprenticeship" which consists a few years on the job training together with nvq's, this in my opinion, debases the word apprenticeship.
Common result? Fault diagnosis using the substitution method with the customer paying for all the components weather required or not.....
Sorry for the rant.....just waiting for the howls of indignation now!

 

Know what you mean Speeder - some "mechanics" today are essentially well trained fitters. You will always get some who are way better than others of course and they're the ones you always want to find and have working on your bike.

 

Some not so well trained.....
I think the appropriate title for some establishments is Hands-on Salesman.

 

My local dealer are wanting £240 for its 6k service or they’ll do it for £218 with free uplift and delivery in their winter servicing deal....considering much of this work I do regularly anyway whilst cleaning, it’s basically a £240 oil change and autoscan for the sake of a warranty. Are these prices normal for main dealer servicing?

 

Doesn't seem good value for oil change ! maybe ask them for a break-down of costs and see if they squirm !

 

Yup, I dread to think what it’s 12k service will cost

 

It's even more expensive as l think that is the valve clearance check service . Again, not particularly difficult if you have reasonable spannering skills.

 

It's about standard for an annual/6k service. That said we're a bit cheaper in Woburn and Wellingborough. Check your handbook and you'll see all the checks that go in to an annual/6k service in addition to the electronic health check. It's a two hour job.

 

There should be a break down of costs on the invoice, oil, oil filter, washer, oil disposal (obligated environmental charge) plus labour.

 

The Triumph Apprenticeship scheme is comprehensive. And you're correct about small margins in selling bikes. There's not much in servicing either. That's why bike shops are rarely as well staffed or appointed as car dealerships.

 

I'm starting to look at cars to replace one of my current Fords. So far all of the car dealers I have visited are staffed by a few teenagers who haven't got a clue which engine is in what model. Thank goodness for the internet. I seriously hope bike dealers are better than this but as I change my bike every ten years or so normally I'm a bit out of touch.

 

My impression is that bike dealers are staffed in the main by people who know and are interested in bikes.

 

I agree. In car dealerships it seems more about appearance than knowledge. On a side note, if any salesman walks up to me wearing pointy shoes I swerve them and find someone else

 

Funny comment, my partner also says similar about brown shoes. She says sly dodgy slimy people wear brown shoes and who am I to argue

 

About 500 to 550 I reckon

 

About right I'd say. We're £525 in Woburn, which is bottom end of Triumph dealers I believe. £495 Winter rate until end February.

Mind you, we've had someone phone us for a 12k quote having been quoted well over £700 further South.

 

Try a look at Ducatis, now some of those figures are eye openers.

Panigale ......
10.30 Factory hours plus problems, stripped seized bolts etc. X £70/hr or so plus parts = £1000 plus I'd say, YIKES!

 

I've given up using my local Triumph main dealer for service and repair work. It's almost impossible to discuss issues or problems with a technician. Work they say they have done isn't, they don't return calls.
To be honest its put my wife and I off ever buying another Triumph from these guys and we have bought 4 new bikes from them in the last 8 years.

Took the wife's Street Triple to a local Yamaha dealer for servicing