All the pros and cons of servicing a car in a club service
Car clubs by models and brands have become a serious phenomenon in the Russian segment of the Internet at the beginning of the century. Bought a car - and at once learned everything about it. Moreover: I found like-minded people, and, perhaps, friends, my beloved and even loved ones. Found a new hobby. What does it mean to be a member of the community, and what are the pitfalls of a club service?
Is the best car service a club car service? Portal "AutoView" figured out the magic of this spell ...
Where the woods come from
The more foreign cars became on our roads, the more often specialized service stations began to appear in the places of classical workshops. To cure a sore on a new generation of cars, not only special tools were required, but also “special” hands and heads. Oil and pads on a modern car can be changed in the garage. But the timing belt, for example, is gone. However, there are also issues with the pads. Yes, Cadillac Escalade?
Having designated its circle of customers, the service began to look for them. And then he came to the aid of car clubs - forums that unite car owners of a particular manufacturer or model. XNUMX% target audience! Invite and earn. Many of the specialized service stations instantly decided to become "club" ones.
But even here there were subtleties: once he cheated or “broken firewood”, received a negative review or treated the client rudely - he immediately cut off all the members of the club from himself. Well, tell me, who will go to the store, where “one of ours” has already been offended? Moreover: the club, realizing its value, immediately began to demand recognition, discounts and respect. Thus, enterprises unprepared for the new laws were weeded out and only those who were ready to work not only on customers' cars, but also on themselves remained.
Oh good
Automobile clubs received their discounts and recognition, service "on the level" and due treatment. Coming to the "club" service, you can get not only high-quality repairs at a price lower than the official dealer, but also spare parts at a discount. Moreover, club services do not save on masters, outbidding specialists from much more greedy "officials". So, in the Renault club service, famous throughout Moscow, mechanics regularly solve problems that dealers simply could not cope with.
Arriving at such a center, you can safely leave the car for a long maintenance and even get an additional discount for a large order. In addition, in such workshops, they usually do not wind up the counter and do not seek to “suck in” useless procedures. The craftsmen have been working there for years and decades, so car owners feel free to sign up for their favorite mechanic. Club services often give a guarantee for the work and parts purchased from them, and do not shy away from helping with the choice of units or “bodywork” from disassembly. They can even take matters into their own hands. After all, one negative review from an “important tuber” can jeopardize the entire enterprise.
About the bad
The "club" services do not have a license of official representation, they do not deal with warranty repairs and do not have the right to stamp the service book. However, this does not prevent many car owners from coming to well-known services even on warranty cars: “their own” - there is more trust.
At such service stations, prices, although lower than in luxurious OD chambers, are still significantly higher than those of "Uncle Vasya" in garages. The difference with the "officials" is 20-30 percent in favor of the "club" ones. Of course, this is a fundamental point for owners of used and, especially, deeply used cars, who count every penalty. In addition, the famous Russian rule comes into play: "to save a penny and the ruble is not a pity."
You also need to look for a club service: not everyone who posted an ad on the forum pages is worthy of this name. You need to read reviews and understand, go to meet and give the car for trial work. Sometimes, many motorists are looking for the right service for months, so the next car is often chosen based on their acquaintances in the service sector. Most often - the same model, but more "fresh" or just the next generation.
But selling a car with a registration in the “club service” is much easier: after all, such workshops provide documents for each operation performed, and at the first visit of the “newbie” or diagnostics before concluding a deal, they will immediately tell you where the expenses were hidden. And finally, the members of the club are not very inclined to deceive each other. Although, of course, the family is not without its black sheep.
