AirConTech puts forward a very good point with these figures. Our workshop simply can't work at 100% efficiency on chargeable work. I wish! And then factor in the fact we really do go quiet for months during the winter the efficiency falls away even further. Remember the snow the last few years?!?!?! Think about a bike sale, any sale, call it a Panigale as an example. It gets delivered to the dealership in a crate, a technician will be present for the delivery and check the crate in. He'll then spend time stripping the crate, checking in the associated parts and getting the bike into the building and then disposing of the crate. This generally takes around 30 - 45 mins per bike. (think about if we get 6 bikes delivered at a time which happens very often) The bike then get's built for display in the showroom if it's not sold (30 to 60mins) So we can easily have spent 1 - 1.5 hours of a technicians time just getting the bike in and sorting out the resulting mess. This time is not charged out to the customer at a retail value but internally at a reduced rate. (some businesses charge internally at retail value - I do not for various reasons) or The bike is stripped for pre-delivery inspection PDI and then will have exhausts or extras fitted as well as a thorough PDI. This can take anywhere from 3-7 hours dependent on spec. Up to this stage the workshop is still not charging a retail rate and a full day is virtually gone!! At the end of this year we'll have sold roughly 150 new bikes. Think of the above process for each of these bikes and how it affects our ability to charge at retail rate on a daily basis. Sometimes we are just flat out with new bike prep for customers who understandably want their new toy yesterday!! Now also factor in the time it takes to prep used bikes, we're very proud of the condition of our used stock - the same rule applies. If it needs tyres, paintwork, a service or whatever. These are further reasons more hours are not chargeable at a retail rate and cost the dealership greatly as it's more lost chargeable retail time. And then you've got machinery and plant upkeep, annual testing, health and safety requirements (we all know this drill in the UK) and so on - combined it's a super costly affair! All of these things affect the hourly rate we all pay at bike / car dealers. We could change the internal charging rate to the same as retail (some places do) but in my opinion it's mere wooden dollars. The business bottom line will still be the same but the internal cost of sales spirals so I don't. We strive to keep our hourly rate as low as possible at £55+VAT which is a general industry average. I can tell you it's not easy when all of our other costs are soaring annually. The above is the more admin (boring) side of what we do but I think it's pertinent as it seriously affects your costs and I suppose that's the discussion. It's so easy for people to think we're charging what we do for servicing because we want a new house or a nice car but that's not the case (not for me anyway). I know as well as you all do, that if the labour rate is too much we won't get the custom and that is critical. Bike sales are then affected and then every department will feel the pinch from clothing to parts and so on. It's a very difficult tightrope to balance. Again - hope this helps show another side to things. Mart
Riders did my interim 7,500 mile service at 184 including the vat , Had I had my selling dealer up in Cumbria do it then it would have been the same give or take a couple quid , although its a lot of cash for very little work indeed its a ballpark figure I think regardless of where you go
Just been quoted £175 inc VAT from MotoRapido for my 600 mile service, seems the ballpark figure to me, no other dealers around my area, bike HAS to be Ducati serviced to maintain warranty so what other option do I have? None! I have a question on the belts service, the book states every 15000 miles or 24 months, I will be lucky to notch up 7000 miles in 2 years so i find it a little bit excessive to change the belts after that kind of mileage, am I leaving myself open if I don't stick to those figures? What are others thoughts on this? £500 every 2nd year is a good chunk of money!
I paid £140 in Sept 2012 at OYB. Try Snells in Alton or the Ducati dealership in Reading if your not happy with MotoRapido. MR really tried to sting me on the new bike (£1300 more than I paid at OYB), I can't comment on their servicing.
That is a good trek up the road from me, I'm in Dorset, my real options are Riders Bridgewater or MR, I found MR's bikes to be very expensive and offering poor money on px for my bike, they also didn't really seem that keen for my business and were in fact airing on arrogant, so much so that I ended up travelling all the way up North to buy a new bike from Ducati Leeds.
I recognise that absolutely 100%. I went there for a test ride and he greeted me "oh, so you want to ride one of my motorcycles do you" i.e. making me feel like he was doing me a favour. I would be reluctant to hand them any money.
+1 on that. Wouldn't go near them with a barge pole. Snells in Alton (a bit further for me) was an altogether better experience. Nick
7,500 service. Fast approaching so sorting out the bits. I picked up an oil filter from Riders yesterday for £11 plus another quid for an 'O' ring. Spent today trying to source the Shell oil , couldn't find any but the nearest equivalent I found was about £10 a litre , and I need 4 apparently. Any leads to a good supplier will be appreciated. The techie who keeps my bikes together (Gary Vardy of Gary Vardy Racing in Swindon) will also have a go at the rear brake with new fluids and possibly different pads. I'll get that done then off into Europe again when the current excellent weather here breaks.
Found this on the Bay a while back. 4 litres for £40 delivered. Ducati Oil Shell Advance Ultra 4. 15w50 Motorcycle Engine Oil 4 x 1 Litre pack | eBay
Thanks for those leads . I have ordered 4 litres from opieoils this morning for £35. Delivery by next week and get the job done as soon as. A bit early but I'd like to know what a functioning rear brake feels like.
Dealers' hourly rates vary wildly. The least I've been quoted is £45 p/h and the most £95p/h. Shop around!
