Called in my local dealer to see if he would price match what some skoda dealers are offering on the web in my area ( major service 229 pounds ) his reply was that we are a franchised dealer and they are sponsored dealers they can do offers on servicing we can't and we will do everything properly they won't, never heard this one before, is it correct or do they just want to have my eyes out.

I don't know the rules of the franchise with regards to pricing but that has a whiff of testicles to it. I think the idea that only a franchised dealer would do the job properly has a far stronger smell of gonads.

My advice would be that if you want a dealer to do the work then get an independent quote and then phone around to match it.

Yeah that's what I will do,just don't get this types of dealer cr@p.

Called in my local dealer to see if he would price match what some skoda dealers are offering on the web in my area ( major service 229 pounds ) his reply was that we are a franchised dealer and they are sponsored dealers they can do offers on servicing we can't and we will do everything properly they won't, never heard this one before, is it correct or do they just want to have my eyes out.

Personally I'd ask for that bit in writing. Could make for an interesting libel case

My local stealer wants £350 for a 60k service (on variable) apparently "because it needs the pollen filter and the fuel filter changed." (IIRC pollen filter is a tenner) They did say I could take out the "service deal" at £300 which would cover me for an oil change service, two MOTs and MOT 'cover'. But didn't appear to cover filters etc, and the car would be set back on to fixed interval. At which point it's going to cost far more per year than the £350 variable which should last me a year. £350 vs £600, not sure how the £600 'deal' works out better for my pocket. :-S

Either way up, my trusted indy is doing the job, with OE parts, collected and returned, next Tuesday.