Dealer vs Normal Mechanic

[SYZ]

I reckon a major advantage with a non-dealer mechanic is that you're usually speaking directly with the bloke that owns and runs the business, and who knows your vehicle and its past service history. Take your car to the selling dealer's service facility and chances are you're getting some pimply teenaged apprentice (maybe) trying—but likely failing—to do the work of an experienced mechanic.

And every time you go to the dealers, it'll be a different kid "working" on your car because the previous one's gone back to flipping burgers at McDonald's for an easier life.

[Maka]

Still think the workshop hands at dealerships thing is a bit too suss, what next, 457 visa workshop hands at dealerships?

cheer's, Maka

[vztrt]

OMG I don't think I've laughed this hard. People comparing Mechanics with Doctors.

[ratter]

why are doctors different to any other working person that they need to be so highly regarded?
many GP's are just doing a job like most people, some do it better than others, many appear to be just turning over the dollars

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by ratter

why are doctors different to any other working person that they need to be so highly regarded?
many GP's are just doing a job like most people, some do it better than others, many appear to be just turning over the dollars

A GP isn't going to use an apprentice to do their job. Even the secretary at the GP office needs more training then the one at a mechanics workshop. The GP might be entry level in the 'doctor field' but they're training and knowledge is a lot more.

[ratter]

Originally Posted by vztrt

A GP isn't going to use an apprentice to do their job. Even the secretary at the GP office needs more training then the one at a mechanics workshop. The GP might be entry level in the 'doctor field' but they're training and knowledge is a lot more.

so every mechanic uses an apprentice to their job?

Why does the secretary at the doctors require more training than a secretary in another business? are there phones different or something, oh that's right, they also need to know how to do the medicare rebate through the eftpos

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by ratter

Why does the secretary at the doctors require more training than a secretary in another business? are there phones different or something, oh that's right, they also need to know how to do the medicare rebate through the eftpos

Its called a medical secretary. You do need extra training.

Why didn't you become a GP seeing its money for Jam?

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by ratter

talk about talking,

how about people are happy to pay to talk to an accountant or lawyer for advice, but how many would pay to get advice from a mechanic

I've posted this before in AFF but it might be suitable here as well.

Little Girl takes her Billy cart to her 'mechanic' (little boy).
Little boy then hits the Billy cart with a hammer and fixes the problem and said that the cost was 50c.

Little Girl says "50c for just hitting it with a Hammer?"
Little boy replies "I'm not charging you for hitting it with the hammer, I'm charging you 50c for knowing where to hit it

[ratter]

Originally Posted by vztrt

Why didn't you become a GP seeing its money for Jam?

no thanks, I prefer something a little more challenging

[fps_grandma]

Originally Posted by Qwerty321

I've noticed a lot of people on this forum saying they've taken they're car into the ford dealer team to get issues checked out etc. when they're car is quite obviously out of warranty. I've always taken my car to a standard mechanic whenever it's needed work and from my experience that always works out a hell of a lot cheaper than the dealer quotes. Never had any issues with bad work, shoddy parts, recurring issues or anything of that sort (touch wood).

So my question is simple. Why take a car into the dealer team for repairs when it's out of warranty and purely out of your pocket? Am I missing something here?

Not only that it depends on which Ford you drive.
Even when my Ford Falcon was out of warranty I took it to the dealer a few times for a service and in between independents on the quality of service which had some Ford Falcons sitting around being serviced and some other Ford vehicles.

However the writing was on the wall when the same Ford dealer became a mostly Ford Ranger servicing centre and servicing a Ford Falcon at this Australian Ford dealership felt like servicing a grey import Nissan Skyline at an Australian Nissan dealer.

Never again if I can get away with it.

No surprise that Ford Falcons are next along the line of the Toyota Supras (Mk 4s and below) and Nissan Skylines that you'd take to a good reputable place including a forum sponsor instead of their respective Aussie branded dealerships.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Maka

Still think the workshop hands at dealerships thing is a bit too suss, what next, 457 visa workshop hands at dealerships?

cheer's, Maka

Was happening in 2010 when I was at a dealership, imported trade assistants on visas.

[guzzis3]

I am a licenced mechanic and also a mechanical engineer. Couldn't get out of the trade fast enough. I never worked at a dealership but some of the boys I did my tafe with did. The stories were horrific.

When I bought my subaru forester in 09 the dealer charge for routine service was almost twice what a private mechanic would charge so I went private. The car needed it's major 125km service recently, the dealer was among the cheapest quotes. Elizabeth got a LOT of quotes because the service was stupidly expensive (cam belt). We were both shocked at how much a lot of teh mechanics were trying on. And before you say it yes I checked exactly what each were proposing to change. Some do the lot down to the water pump some only do belt and a couple of pulleys.

This stuff must be a minefield for people who don't understand mechanical things well.