Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2000 13:52:55 -0500
Reply-To: Bulley <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bulley <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Subject: Re: In defense of Dealers, was: Dealer ripoffs
I can only personally speak for three dealers in the US, all of whom I
trust implicitly. For those of whom are within a half-day's drive to DC,
the last two on my list are among the top-rated dealers in sales & service
in the US.
Joe Pecheles, Greenville NC (service to multiple VW's owned 1987-1993)
Stohlman's VW, Vienna, VA (service to multiple VW's owned 1993-2000)
Springfield VW, Springfield, VA (service to multiple VW's owned 1994-2000)
Hope it helps
G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett
Corporate Communications Counselors
www.bulley-hewlett.com
Mount Olive, NC USA
877.658.1278 tollfree
"I, the undersigned, shall forfeit all rights, privileges, and licenses
herein and herein contained, et cetera, et cetera . . . fax mentis
incendium gloria culpum, et cetera, et cetera . . . memo bis punitor
delicatum!" It's all there, black and white, clear as crystal! -Wonka
-----Original Message-----
From: BRENT CHRISTENSEN [SMTP:bchristensen@INFOGENESIS.COM]
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2000 1:34 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: In defense of Dealers, was: Dealer ripoffs
Knowing several dealer mechanics, I can tell you that the more senior they
are, the more they get to pick their jobs. I don't remember who's post it
was that referred to this "cherry picking" but they were absolutely right.
The new guys get the crappy/dirty work (which in many mechanics' opinion
may
be anything having to do with a Vanagon). This is why the work is often
shoddy.
Also, I have to disagree with Bulley's comment about their income
potential.
If a dealer mechanic knows how to pick his jobs, he can make upwards of
$100/hour on "flat rate." In other words, he learns which jobs he can
actually do in 1.3 hours that quote 4 hours in the Mitchell manual (which
is
how you are billed, BTW). Normally they achieve these "quick" jobs using
some pretty scary shortcuts. In this example, if he is making $24/hour
flat
rate (to use Bulley's number), then he makes $96 for a job that he only
spends 1.3 hours on. That comes to about $74 an hour of real wages. I know
several mechanics that make close to $80,000 or $90,000 a year working for
dealers. (In fact one of them drives a 911 and his wife drive a Volvo 850
Turbo).
IMHO, this rush to finish is also why you have this common situation of
them
telling you everything is "all set" when in fact, it may even be worse.
(Been there, done that). I can't believe it is simply that *all* dealer
service managers are idiots.
Brent Christensen
'89 GL Syncro Westy
Santa Barbara, CA
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