Expanda service overpriced?
Submitted: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 at 22:44
ThreadID:
57342
Views:
3949
Replies:
12
FollowUps:
3
This Thread has been Archived
leeb1973
Hi
We currently have our 18ft Jayco Expanda in for a service and we are quite shocked with the price. My husband had rung a few
places to get a price for the service and was told by this place it would be about $200-$250 plus the price of the bearings.
Well the price is currently at $1,000!!!
They have changed the bearings because the caravan is about 2.5 years old and as we are about to leave for our trip from
Adelaide to
Darwin and then down the WA coast we thought it better to be "safe than sorry" (the caravan had previously done a similar trip before we bought it). They told my husband it took them 6.5hrs to change the bearings ($240 for the labour to do this) - is this about right?
They also had to change the connection & gas hose from the gas
bottles to the caravan because whatever was there was apparently illegal. I think this cost about $150-$200.
How much do other people pay to get their tandem axle caravan serviced? Maybe this is about right or maybe we are getting taken for a ride?!
Also the bathroom sealant has broken away between the wall gaps and the back of the
toilet and the walls really flex alot. Is this
normal? The service guy has said he hasn't seen the walls flex that
much before. My husband has said he can put some packers in the joins to brace it a bit better before resealing it. Has anyone else had this problem with their bathroom?
The full/empty guage on the
toilet has broken. Is it worthwhile
getting this fixed as we have to wait 5 days for the part? With two children we probably should change the
toilet most days anyway I think!!
Hope someone can help as we feel a little out of our depth at the
moment!!
Regards
Leanne
Reply By: Dunaruna - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 at 18:30
Wednesday, May 07, 2008 at 18:30
A tandem service should cost about $230 plus parts, the job takes about 2.5 hrs. I can describe (in detail) exactly what is involved if you wish.
In a service, the bearing need to be cleaned and inspected, if they are faulty it only adds about half an hour per axle to replace them (everything is already pulled apart and cleaned, the only 'extra' is replacing the cones). The only thing that could add 6.5 hrs is if the bearings are absolutely stuffed and seized on the spindle, in which case the axle is probably toast also. It only takes a hour or so to replace the axle so their figure of 6.5 to replace the bearings is outright bullmanure, you have been taken.
Nothing should be replace without the customers consent except for the hub seals, they get changed regardless. All old parts should be offered to you for viewing.
A note on LPG work, it is a legal requirement for repair shops to notify the customer of any faults, it is up to the customer to give the go ahead. All LPG repairs require a certificate of compliance which you should be given.
AnswerID:
302531
Follow Up By: Angler - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 at 20:33
Wednesday, May 07, 2008 at 20:33
That price seems about right to me also.
Bearing should last for years if they haven't been dunked in the salt or run dry.
Gas certificate is about $50.00 and must be done (in Qld) after any gas work.
6.5 hours for replacing four bearings is ridiculous.
Pooley
FollowupID:
568647
Follow Up By: Dunaruna - Thursday, May 08, 2008 at 17:38
Thursday, May 08, 2008 at 17:38
I believe the certificate is an Aussie wide regulation, must be performed by a registered plumber.
FollowupID:
568850
Reply By: lancie49 - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 at 20:43
Wednesday, May 07, 2008 at 20:43
Leanne, I'm with everyone else on this. I'm afraid you found one of the bad eggs in the industry.
They are in all industries, and often we don't know about it till we get bitten.
Sounds like Leanne may need a little advice as to
the steps she should take to avoid having to outlay for this 'work'.
Have you already paid the invoice, do you have a written invoice and receipt, were you given a written quote, did you authorise any of the 'extra work', have you kept notes of all conversations with the service people.
What can be done about this chaps ?
How should it be handled ?
Lance
AnswerID:
302560