Upselling at services

[ergonomist]

Just had my fourth service (approx 38k miles). Dealer tried to sell a number of services - didn't try too hard, fortunately. Offered air con service (approx £250), coolant change (approx £100), wiper blades (approx £60 fitted). All were based on Volvo time-based recommendations (hence why they didn't push them hard). They had not examined anything to determine whether replacement was necessary. I politely declined them all.

But what views out there about things like coolant change?

[EssexExile]

Surely if things need to be done they are in the service schedule? Unless they find something else that needs doing while working on it of course.

[AB-UK]

Overpriced by about 100%.
Another poster showed his itemised service receipt - dealer charged almost £100 for 5.7 litres of motor oil.
Same oil from Amazon is 4 litres for £30.
I'd have thought the dealer buying in bulk can get it much cheaper than that.
It's annoying that they even try to rip off loyal customers.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by ergonomist

Just had my fourth service (approx 38k miles). Dealer tried to sell a number of services - didn't try too hard, fortunately. Offered air con service (approx £250), coolant change (approx £100), wiper blades (approx £60 fitted). All were based on Volvo time-based recommendations (hence why they didn't push them hard). They had not examined anything to determine whether replacement was necessary. I politely declined them all.

But what views out there about things like coolant change?

well done to you ...for resisting this practice

That is nothing but taking advantage of you I would report it as i believe volvo have outlawed their dealers from doing this very thing .

1 , There is no such thing as an Air conditioning service according to volvo , it is a sealed system , the only service item is the pollen filter which is changed on each service at great cost , and the drive belt . That is outrageous wanting to charge you £250 when there is nothing whatsoever wrong with it and showing no fault symptoms .

2, Volvo coolant has NEVER had a service change interval , in fact it lasts many many years . Again £100 for £25 coolant and half an hour labour ? ask what their reason for changing is ? Yes coolant IS a service check item , I expect you will find it checked as OK on your service check sheet ,they only need to check the freezing point and condition on each service .

3 , What do YOU think of the wiper blades ? smearing is usually dirty blades , are they shredding ? Did you have a complaint with them ?
I am willing to bet they are checked as ok too on the service check sheet as will be the air conditioning .


None of the above items are "based on Volvo time-based recommendations"

You have a corrupted , new or untrained individual there who needs reporting it goes against everything the dealer network stands for and is giving the rest of them a bad name .
I would report it to the dealer principle or /and volvo customer services .

[Clan]

Originally Posted by AB-UK

Overpriced by about 100%.
Another poster showed his itemised service receipt - dealer charged almost £100 for 5.7 litres of motor oil.
Same oil from Amazon is 4 litres for £30.
I'd have thought the dealer buying in bulk can get it much cheaper than that.
It's annoying that they even try to rip off loyal customers.

The dealer retail price for the volvo approved grade 0w/20 VCC RBS0-2AE is around £13 a litre + VAT show us the same oil from Amazon and the link ?

[volvo s60 2001]

Originally Posted by Clan

The dealer retail price for the volvo approved grade 0w/20 VCC RBS0-2AE is around £13 a litre + VAT show us the same oil from Amazon and the link ?

On eBay can be found genuine Volvo oil for £36.47 delivered 4 litres!



P.S. Sorry, but found even cheaper £32.28!

[nu11eaf]

Stoneacres have taken over my dealership and have are doing this un-required upselling when booking a service, they are cowboys


Genuine volvo parts from Mill Volvo Newcastle.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Engine-OI...-/322579645934
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-V...-/202219986457
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-V...-/202456103425

[GMeilack]

Originally Posted by ergonomist

Just had my fourth service (approx 38k miles). Dealer tried to sell a number of services - didn't try too hard, fortunately. Offered air con service (approx £250), coolant change (approx £100), wiper blades (approx £60 fitted). All were based on Volvo time-based recommendations (hence why they didn't push them hard). They had not examined anything to determine whether replacement was necessary. I politely declined them all.

But what views out there about things like coolant change?

I am fortunate in that we have a local specialist, Camberley Independent Volvo Centre, who I cannot recommend highly enough. Having completed a full 4-year service on my XC60 2.4 at £279 they then spent 15 minutes explaining everything they found having, as requested, checked the entire car from top to bottom.

They dismissed most of the reported fault codes (which they had reset) and simply pointed out that the front tyres had 3-5mm and would need changing in a few thousand miles. Excellent service

[DocAce]

Interesting to note what Volvo do and do not recommend servicing wise. even so there seem to be plenty of Volvo dealers out there offering, and suggesting, regular AC servicing albeit at a much lower cost, e.g. https://www.caffyns.co.uk/volvo/offe...ferdetail.aspx.

Reading these forums over the past year there does seem to be a lot of variability across the dealer network. I'm hoping mine turns out to be a good one

[Bashy]

Originally Posted by DocAce

Interesting to note what Volvo do and do not recommend servicing wise. even so there seem to be plenty of Volvo dealers out there offering, and suggesting, regular AC servicing albeit at a much lower cost, e.g. https://www.caffyns.co.uk/volvo/offe...ferdetail.aspx.

Reading these forums over the past year there does seem to be a lot of variability across the dealer network. I'm hoping mine turns out to be a good one

Thats a far cry from the £250 the OP was quoted lol