Observation on Dealer “Service Packages”
The wife has a 2 year old Chevy Traverse that she really likes and we always have the oil changed at the purchasing dealer, who we really like too. I’ve always changed my own oil but at $38.95 for 5...
Forum Discussion
There was a big article in Car & Driver last year about the dealer's "recommended" service. They give you a laundry list of stuff they do, most of which is "check and adjust"....so beyond the oil change, no actual work is being done.
I offered to change the oil on my daughter's Honda Fit when she was home at Thanksgiving. So apparently the only place that you can get the 0W20 oil is at the Honda dealer, so 5 qts of oil, a filter, and copper drain plug gasket and I am out the door for $46 and change....
I ask her where she has it done at home (NJ) and she says they go to the dealer, he only charges $29.95 for an oil change.
So the name of the game at the dealer is to use the oil change as a loss leader....get the car up on the rack and see what else you can sell the customer, since most cars need something....if if they don't need any repairs, then they need a 15,000 mile service.
Dealer service depts operate with revenue targets, and most of those flow down to the "service advisors". Their #1 job is to sell work, period, end of story.
I agree with the OP, it's easier to go to the dealer and get an oil change and tire rotation at those prices than to do it yourself....but always be on the lookout for the upsell, and the fugazy stuff like disc brake adjustments. Just be sure to top off your blinker fluid before you bring it in....
I offered to change the oil on my daughter's Honda Fit when she was home at Thanksgiving. So apparently the only place that you can get the 0W20 oil is at the Honda dealer, so 5 qts of oil, a filter, and copper drain plug gasket and I am out the door for $46 and change....
I ask her where she has it done at home (NJ) and she says they go to the dealer, he only charges $29.95 for an oil change.
So the name of the game at the dealer is to use the oil change as a loss leader....get the car up on the rack and see what else you can sell the customer, since most cars need something....if if they don't need any repairs, then they need a 15,000 mile service.
Dealer service depts operate with revenue targets, and most of those flow down to the "service advisors". Their #1 job is to sell work, period, end of story.
I agree with the OP, it's easier to go to the dealer and get an oil change and tire rotation at those prices than to do it yourself....but always be on the lookout for the upsell, and the fugazy stuff like disc brake adjustments. Just be sure to top off your blinker fluid before you bring it in....
