martinvrs
Registered user
Ehm Herr Flick is an affectionate name for "he who manages and doesn't spend the pennies(allegedly)" in the dealership @mallusk
I have a picture I must see If I can find it It WILL explain
Ahhhh, Mr. Personality himself.
Hmmm Main Dealers attempt to capture more of the older market
- Thread starter DrFarkoff
- Start date
Ahhhh, Mr. Personality himself.
Ah You've met then?????
ask how they justify the price difference ?
cheaper mechanics ? - less experience / apprentice type?
or ripping off the newer bikes owners.
overheads are overheads...all at a fixed cost.
cheaper mechanics ? - less experience / apprentice type?
or ripping off the newer bikes owners.
overheads are overheads...all at a fixed cost.
martinvrs
Registered user
Yep, and that's partly why I bought at Allan Jefferies.
NI Phil
Registered user
And why I bought mine at Motorrad Central in Bishopbriggs..........
isn't it against the law to be ageist......?
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It's just a plan to get some money out of the old grandads with 1100s and 1150s before they drop dead 
Davy F
Registered user
Allegedly this looks like someone after a customer has asked for discount!
Allegedly allegedly
A bit too much hair.
What's wrong with main dealer servicing
What's wrong with main dealer servicing
Good point JB and I really don't get the cynicism. Most dealers are pretty good and this is a marketing strategy to get the older bikes back in for servicing and as already mentioned, you may well walk out with a new bike.
They may well lose a few quid on the hourly rate but it fills their workshop and they will get back a bit with spares and the odd sale.
I think it's a pretty good business plan and wouldn't you do the same if you ran a business? If you didn't look at ways at getting punters through the door or get your turnover up, you'd be a statistic in no time
Good point JB and I really don't get the cynicism. Most dealers are pretty good and this is a marketing strategy to get the older bikes back in for servicing and as already mentioned, you may well walk out with a new bike.
They may well lose a few quid on the hourly rate but it fills their workshop and they will get back a bit with spares and the odd sale.
I think it's a pretty good business plan and wouldn't you do the same if you ran a business? If you didn't look at ways at getting punters through the door or get your turnover up, you'd be a statistic in no time
I agree, always have my bikes BMW dealer serviced - whatever the age
Luckily I have a great one in Rainbow BMW whose mechanics are top notch and certainly go the extra mile and their attention to detail is spot-on
Labour rates are realistic and when I've priced up Viz-a-Viz services for my bikes with independants like RGM they've always been within £30-£40 so a no brainer when you get a loan bike foc
Rainbow - In their workshops you can see 1970's airheads to the latest K16GT on the ramps, so others must think the same
I think it's a great incentive
The Grey One
Registered user
A word of caution from an old cynic
Can't comment on UK BMW dealers, our local one here in Austria is best avoided but I have not used a UK dealer for servicing since 2006.
I did have experience with similar offers from car dealers though. For 30 years I ran an independent Citroen repair business. A couple of times local dealers made such offers -discounted labour rates, cheap parts etc. I got the impression that it was more about taking business from an independent rather than gaining business for themselves. As has been said dealers often have high costs and those costs have to be met.
What happened with the car dealerships was that corners were cut-mechanics on the bonus scheme were not keen on older cars-more chance of various problems-seized bolts etc. They got paid for the official book hours so always wanted to finish a job in the least possible time. An evil system in my opinion often with no checks that said job has been done correctly. Hopefully this will not apply to the BMW offer but somehow I think it will although I am also sure that there are plenty of mechanics out there who still take a pride in their work. Sadly working in car dealerships did not encourage such people- one of the best mechanics I ever employed told me that in his previous employer (large Citroen Main dealer) demanded that a minor service (customer charged 1 hour) was carried out in 10 mins!
For my part I cannot see that any normal vehicles justify different labour rates. The same standard of work needs to be applied to all vehicles. Older vehicle often cause longer hours to carry out jobs and so could cost more.
I do understand arguments about workshop traffic, bringing people into the showroom etc, I was not averse to such things in my business, or indeed in the hotel, but for me it is vital that such offers don't lead to a lower standard of service in order to pay for them. I hope this does not happen with BMW bike dealers but I would be cautious and if I were to be using a good reliable independent I would not go to a dealers-history shows that such offers are usually short lived and more about trying to put independents out of business than anything else.
John
Can't comment on UK BMW dealers, our local one here in Austria is best avoided but I have not used a UK dealer for servicing since 2006.
I did have experience with similar offers from car dealers though. For 30 years I ran an independent Citroen repair business. A couple of times local dealers made such offers -discounted labour rates, cheap parts etc. I got the impression that it was more about taking business from an independent rather than gaining business for themselves. As has been said dealers often have high costs and those costs have to be met.
What happened with the car dealerships was that corners were cut-mechanics on the bonus scheme were not keen on older cars-more chance of various problems-seized bolts etc. They got paid for the official book hours so always wanted to finish a job in the least possible time. An evil system in my opinion often with no checks that said job has been done correctly. Hopefully this will not apply to the BMW offer but somehow I think it will although I am also sure that there are plenty of mechanics out there who still take a pride in their work. Sadly working in car dealerships did not encourage such people- one of the best mechanics I ever employed told me that in his previous employer (large Citroen Main dealer) demanded that a minor service (customer charged 1 hour) was carried out in 10 mins!
For my part I cannot see that any normal vehicles justify different labour rates. The same standard of work needs to be applied to all vehicles. Older vehicle often cause longer hours to carry out jobs and so could cost more.
I do understand arguments about workshop traffic, bringing people into the showroom etc, I was not averse to such things in my business, or indeed in the hotel, but for me it is vital that such offers don't lead to a lower standard of service in order to pay for them. I hope this does not happen with BMW bike dealers but I would be cautious and if I were to be using a good reliable independent I would not go to a dealers-history shows that such offers are usually short lived and more about trying to put independents out of business than anything else.
John
I can only refer to locally but a considerable percentage of folks have been left with the impression that they were screwed over by certain person(s) at the dealership and it left a very sour taste
I didn't like the way time was more important than doing a job as per schedule
You can't win back a Person from this big Island of Ireland's loyalty easily after you've screwed them over
I didn't like the way time was more important than doing a job as per schedule
You can't win back a Person from this big Island of Ireland's loyalty easily after you've screwed them over
What's wrong with main dealer servicing
The comeback to this is: "So you're overcharging me to subsidise servicing on older bikes?"
martinvrs
Registered user
Allegedly this looks like someone after a customer has asked for discount!
Allegedly allegedly
Classic!!!! Ive a good idea should you're referring to looking at the pic.
streaky
Registered user
I can only refer to locally but a considerable percentage of folks have been left with the impression that they were screwed over by certain person(s) at the dealership and it left a very sour taste
I didn't like the way time was more important than doing a job as per schedule
You can't win back a Person from this big Island of Ireland's loyalty easily after you've screwed them over
Your a good judge jay, Most people wouldnt let them work at,or near there bike for nothin!
electric_monk
Registered user
Not so long ago the main Motorrad dealer in North Dublin refused to sevice my friends R1100RS because of its age saying that they did not have the special tools required.
They do service older machines now but I believe that is because that they were ordered to by their superiors. Makes you wonder doesn't it?
They do service older machines now but I believe that is because that they were ordered to by their superiors. Makes you wonder doesn't it?
batandball617
Registered user
last time I left my bike in said dealership my fairing was scraped, brake fluid spilled over my paint work and my favourite 100 of greasy finger prints all over the bike.
I got things sorted following vocal complaints in a busy (rare event) showroom.
I am very happy to be a Former customer. Dealer principle is the main reason for that.
I got things sorted following vocal complaints in a busy (rare event) showroom.
I am very happy to be a Former customer. Dealer principle is the main reason for that.
Jamie Moodie
Registered user
Where else can we get servicing at reasonable prices Jon?
