Mercedes now charging to sit down!

[deviousrich]

My C250 is coming up for it service and i knew it would be expensive as its gearbox oil time, but i was incredulous to see that Mercedes garages are now charging £20 to sit in their lounge while they
a) charge me £670 for a A1 service (which in itself is madness)
b) try and sell me new cars

Rant over. i just couldnt believe the cheek of it. i do think its garage specific though

 

[John Laidlaw]

That’s shocking! What a marketing faux pas
I’m equally shocked they will charge you £50 for a day’s car hire, and equally £50 for the collect option.
This will put a huge smile on the Independants faces when they see this!
So glad I got a service plan- wonder how much effort they’ll make in trying to push me to ‘drop and go’?

 

[John Laidlaw]

Sorry missed the A1 service cost I was so incensed at the other bit...£670- really?
So it’s not like they are ‘hiding’ the lounge or loan car costs in there much?

 

[Craiglxviii]

Those chairs ‘n’ that coffee don’t come free yanno!

That’s outrageous. Next they’ll charge extra to be seen by the top level hottie on reception.

“£15 to be greeted by a 10 score brunette, or for free our homely mousetrap blonde”...

 

[John Laidlaw]

Those chairs ‘n’ that coffee don’t come free yanno!

That’s outrageous. Next they’ll charge extra to be seen by the top level hottie on reception.

“£15 to be greeted by a 10 score brunette, or for free our homely mousetrap blonde”...

Maybe they’ll open up a private lounge ‘round the back’ Craig...might be worth it then

 

[Craiglxviii]

Maybe they’ll open up a private lounge ‘round the back’ Craig...might be worth it then

It would’ve been in Darlington Audi about ten years ago. The girl running their service desk... very yummy.

 

[John Laidlaw]

It would’ve been in Darlington Audi about ten years ago. The girl running their service desk... very yummy.

Just about all the Inchcape ones up here- Cheshire Oaks, Liverpool, Warrington and North Wales seem to have a recruitment policy which is entirely ‘non pc’ (not to me though)

 

[deviousrich]

Sorry missed the A1 service cost I was so incensed at the other bit...£670- really?
So it’s not like they are ‘hiding’ the lounge or loan car costs in there much?

Exactly thats what makes it more outstanding.
the better part of £700 to change

• Engine oil
• Gearbox Oil
• Brake Fluid

thats it, ohh and the sit down and a coffee!

Fair to say the car wont be heading anywhere near there anytime soon!

 

[daveenty]

Firstly I'll state that I'm not in agreement with this charging to wait thing but it's not a new thing, it's been going on for quite some time now. It's also something I always do when mine goes in.

The main reason is that your car takes priority if you're waiting for it, so is usually one of the first to get looked at on the day, which means no unnecessary hanging around. I tend to hammer the coffee and cakes/biscuits as well to try to get my money's worth out of them and pester the service people so they just want shut of me as fast as possible.

As for the cost of the service then yes, it's expensive for an A Service, though as the OP mentions it does include a gearbox oil and filter change which is over £200 even at an independent garage. If I were the OP I'd let MB do the basic A Service and take it elsewhere for the transmission, provided he has a decent local garage who understand how MB transmissions work.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Yip seeing the gearbox oil & filter, that makes it a bit more palatable, but I think you’re right Dave- get them to do the basic A and get anything else done Indy route.
I also wait when I go, but then I’ve taken a service plan and as far as I understand there will be no ‘additional’ charge to me (better not be!)

 

[KennyN]

get them to do the basic A and get anything else done Indy route.

Will the car still be covered by Mobilo if only half of the service is done at the main dealer ?

"Cover is also available for customers with cars registered from 24 October 1998 and is automatically activated/renewed on completion of a service by a Mercedes-Benz Retailer"

Kenny

 

[John Laidlaw]

Will the car still be covered by Mobilo if only half of the service is done at the main dealer ?

"Cover is also available for customers with cars registered from 24 October 1998 and is automatically activated/renewed on completion of a service by a Mercedes-Benz Retailer"

Kenny

Still getting the service Kenny so don’t see why not personally, but that’s just my view.

 

[KennyN]

Still getting the service Kenny so don’t see why not personally, but that’s just my view.

I would like to think so but , for the sake of saving £100 ish, i wouldnt fancy arguing the toss with the Mobilo people if the car is broken down at the side of the road somewhere.

Kenny

 

[peterws1957]

I also wait when I go, but then I’ve taken a service plan and as far as I understand there will be no ‘additional’ charge to me (better not be!)

Didn't bother waiting either at Inchcape on the service plan. It would have been an interesting discussion if they had attempted to charge me for waiting though!

 

[John Laidlaw]

I would like to think so but , for the sake of saving £100 ish, i wouldnt fancy arguing the toss with the Mobilo people if the car is broken down at the side of the road somewhere.

Kenny

Looking at it that way Kenny, you’re right!
With the OP and the additional charges etc he might be better going indy route and buying breakdown cover though! (Just my twopence)

 

[John Laidlaw]

Didn't bother waiting either at Inchcape on the service plan. It would have been an interesting discussion if they had attempted to charge me for waiting though!

I will be watching with interest!

 

[daveenty]

Will the car still be covered by Mobilo if only half of the service is done at the main dealer ?

Yes. My old W212 was extensively modified, so the air filters were different, as were the plugs, the transmission was Weistec and a host of other things which Mercedes couldn't cope with on the car. Yet I still took it in for basic servicing just to keep the Mobilo up on it, and it did work as I had cause to use it, albeit only once once.

 

[peterws1957]

Just about all the Inchcape ones up here- Cheshire Oaks, Liverpool, Warrington and North Wales seem to have a recruitment policy which is entirely ‘non pc’ (not to me though)

What I wonder John are they trying to achieve with this? Are MB customers really taken in and persuaded to buy? Or is it that I'm just too old to see what's going on ? You occasionally see the sneers and daggers looks from girlfriends when said staff are chatting to boyfriends - funny.

 

[umblecumbuz]

"I was not using your lounge facilities. I was examing the new car I hope to purchase from you."

"Our apologies sir. We will certainly deduct the £20 charge from the cost of the new car when you buy it."

 

[deviousrich]

Still getting the service Kenny so don’t see why not personally, but that’s just my view.

according to the website you do loose it, see below:
the whole attitude this seems to be imparting to the customer is just madness to me.