Opti Plug X-thread fix

[Hightower]

Picked up this "thread" a little late, but your dealer did good by taking the Head off and tapping out the hole for the Helicoil. Any tapping without the head removed should be avoided at all costs IMHO. It only takes one piece of swarf to get into the cylinder and it's good bye to your piston and cylinder bore. After all, it's only to get stuck into the piston rings or score your cylinder bore to bugger things up.

As for spark plugs, I would go to these people. spark-plugs.co.uk

[Dirk Diggler]

Originally Posted by Hightower

As for spark plugs, I would go to these people. spark-plugs.co.uk

Buying from here would be 79.69 including delivery, but I'd like to be in on the conversation when you tell the engineer your going to supply your own parts!

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

Buying from here would be 79.69 including delivery, but I'd like to be in on the conversation when you tell the engineer your going to supply your own parts!

Of course you'd have to go to the dealer if your engine was in warranty, but if not I would fit them before you went to have then engine serviced and tell the engineer you've just replaced them.

[PeterM]

surely you can turn up with the plugs & tell them to fit them irrespective of where they came from . Even in warranty as long as they are the right ones you should be oK.

I wonder when the engine companies will have to accept the same thing as car companies in that as long as the engine is serviced according to guidelines & with proper parts the warranty will be valid. It really bugs me that you have to use a 'proper' dealer - thats why my new Yam(50 , 2 years old) & Suzuki ( 2.5 - 1 year old) would no longer be covered ! I can get both done 500 yards from the house instead of 15 miles !

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Blackroady

surely you can turn up with the plugs & tell them to fit them irrespective of where they came from . Even in warranty as long as they are the right ones you should be oK.

I wonder when the engine companies will have to accept the same thing as car companies in that as long as the engine is serviced according to guidelines & with proper parts the warranty will be valid. It really bugs me that you have to use a 'proper' dealer - thats why my new Yam(50 , 2 years old) & Suzuki ( 2.5 - 1 year old) would no longer be covered ! I can get both done 500 yards from the house instead of 15 miles !

I wouldn't mind betting that the engine makers are breaking EU law on this - it needs someone to push it!!!

[TangoTango]

Originally Posted by Blackroady

surely you can turn up with the plugs & tell them to fit them irrespective of where they came from . Even in warranty as long as they are the right ones you should be oK

Sure you can but if they have any sense they'll add the lost profit in somewhere else.

[Limey Linda]

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

Buying from here would be 79.69 including delivery, but I'd like to be in on the conversation when you tell the engineer your going to supply your own parts!

Why is that? Surely the engineer would appreciate the business and being paid for his labour at a fair rate. He also has the option of adding a disclaimer on parts warranty on the receipt. Wats da problemo?

[TangoTango]

Originally Posted by Limey Linda

Why is that? Surely the engineer would appreciate the business and being paid for his labour at a fair rate. He also has the option of adding a disclaimer on parts warranty on the receipt. Wats da problemo?

Because his business model takes account of the fact that he makes profit on the parts as well as the labour. Take away the profit on the parts and he still works the same hours for less money, or he puts up his labour rate to compensate. Or, worse still, he takes a few shortcuts (such as not taking off the cylinder head in this case) so that he gets the job done more quickly.

[PeterM]

I'm not sure that a lot of the smaller places run such a complex business model - I think its probably more like - I'll charge what I can on whatever business comes in . This is based on 4 years of dealimg with hundreds of small business every day. Next you'll be thinking they have some kind of disaster recovery plan/ continuity planning !

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by Blackroady

Next you'll be thinking they have some kind of disaster recovery plan/ continuity planning !

They do

Charging that bit more on what work they get

[Downhilldai]

They take a top slice on the parts to cover the costs associated with stocking or ordering parts. If they have a stock room filled with parts, then that costs money, as does the opportunity cost of the capital tied up in the stock. Alternatively, if they don't stock parts, then they'd spend time ordering, sorting out invoices, collecting from stockists, etc. They've got to have the penny and the bun. You're lucky they don't also charge you storage for the boat while it's in being serviced

[Dirk Diggler]

The simple fact is they have to make money to survive. If they're an official dealer, then they have a commitment to the product and will have to spend possibly 15 to 20k around christmas time on a winter buy, just to retain the dealership for the forthcoming year!

They also have to do warranty work, even though the margins are low, as well as attend training on the newer models, and have workshop, sales and storage facilities that meet with the distributors strict guidlines. Specialist tools have to be purchased, at a non discounted cost, as well as the latest diagnostics equipment. It costs in the region of 5k just for the verado system.

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

..It costs in the region of 5k just for the verado system.

Payback on that must take a while for a small dealership in a fishing port.
I wonder what proportion of UK Merc/Mariner dealers have the Veradont ticket

[Dirk Diggler]

exactly.

[TangoTango]

Originally Posted by Blackroady

I'm not sure that a lot of the smaller places run such a complex business model - I think its probably more like - I'll charge what I can on whatever business comes in . This is based on 4 years of dealimg with hundreds of small business every day.

That sounds more like a banker's business plan. It would go something like this (Mercury dealership in the hands of HBOS):

Ribber: Can you service my engine please?
Banker: We may be able to help you sir. We do carry out servicing but we stongly recommend that you take out our income protection/personal injury/redundancy/loss of earnings insurance. That way if the unthinkable should happen you (meaning we) will be protected.
Ribber: No thank you I already have insurance. (metaphor for spark plugs)
Banker: Well I'll see if we can arrange that for you without insurance but the computer usually quotes higher rates when we enter the details.
Ribber: OK I'll take the chance.
Banker: Very well sir. Your servicing facility will take about 6 weeks to set up. There is an arrangement fee of £250 plus a documentation fee of £25. We will need to have your boat surveyed before we take out a fixed and floating charge over it. We will also need a certified copy of your passport, 2 utility bills etc etc etc.

Originally Posted by Blackroady

Next you'll be thinking they have some kind of disaster recovery plan/ continuity planning !

Why not give them yours?

"In event of disaster apply for £20Bn from HM Treasury. Carry on paying bonuses and dividends as usual".

[Limey Linda]

How about.
Ribber: I need this and that work done on my engine and I have a set of new spare plugs; can you fit them for me please.
Engineer(technician really, but good businesman): Sure, have to remove the plugs anyway, Thanks for your business.

Obviously do not try this approach on Dirk.

[TangoTango]

In the current economic climate I expect that will work but you still won't know if he adds it in somewhere else.

[PeterM]

Luckily I work for one of the banks that hasn't screwed the UK taxpayer for a load of cash , and has infact ended up buying other banks to stp them going tits up ! I'm also a lowly back office worker who is deemed not to exist by the majority of the country - only a very small number of the top city guys earn the really big cash someting liek 3% share 20% of the payroll.

The guys making the decision should have been sacked , all their cash & assets taken away etc in my opinion.

Still dont know why mearine dealers would object too much about being supplied with parts - as said they will just cover it in other ways. Not many places carry much'stock' as such and are going the way of motor traders - order in parts when you knwo you will need them - thatway you spend out today , part comes in tomorrow & gets paid by customer next week.

To put this in some perspetive I have stored my boat for the winter & the yard hasn't worked out what they are charging me for it yet ! - I think thisis where the money may be made up ?

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Payback on that must take a while for a small dealership in a fishing port.
I wonder what proportion of UK Merc/Mariner dealers have the Veradont ticket

My local Merc dealer has the hand held unit for the optiMax but is holding off on the Verardo kit until he has too
He did mention £5000 to tool up for it

[TangoTango]

Originally Posted by Blackroady

To put this in some perspetive I have stored my boat for the winter & the yard hasn't worked out what they are charging me for it yet ! - I think thisis where the money may be made up ?

That's Christchurch for you, nothing done in a rush

By the way I'm only pulling your leg about the banking thing - no offence intended