Hi Steve

"When we still have local outfits advertising servicing from £69-99 and guaranteeing that it will not invalidate your warranty what hope is there of educating the consumer"

The lack of knowledge about their own vehicles is the problem, they are taken in by price rather than what is best for their vehicle, then when things go wrong its the garage that gets tared and feathered

Example:

Last year a friend of the family asked me for a price for 4th year service on her 206 Peugeot, i quoted £169:00 all in. The local Peugeot dealer quoted £199:00 all in or their own (non Peugeot schedule) annual FIXED PRICE service of £79:00 all in, so she opted for the FIXED PRICE to save money

A month later it started to misfire, so she returned it to the dealer, when she collected it she was given a bill for £125:00 for a code read and replacing the spark plugs. When she complained that she had just had it serviced by them, the Service Manager told her she had not had the manufacturers recommended service which would have included plugs, she opted for the much cheaper "Change oil, filter and kick tyres Service"

She did not have a leg to stand on and had to pay

A lesson learned for her.......you get what you pay for

Peter
PS: She was also told that the Air Filter needed to be changed, but can only be changed as part of a 4th Service......did she want to book it in!!