Rear wiper blade £29

I know I've not driven a car for 10 years and never had a RR before but seriously after only 3200 miles from new and on its first service, I'm presented with bill for £29 for a replacement rear wiper blade.

Can this be true ?

rear wiper blade RRP is £11.51+VAT

I think you've been mugged!

My dealer would never change something like that without clearing it and the price with me first. In fact if it wasn't on the worksheet you signed before you left the car with them then a formal complaint should be made to the service manager!

To be fair they did ring me first.

In future should I be then saying "you're having a laugh aren't you" and quote the Duckworth price, or perhaps even saying "bugger off, I'll fix it myself"?

I was just astonished Lookers would charge such a high figure.

Well £11.51 + 10 mins labour + VAT would make £29. Or was that £29 without labour?

My question would be why does it need one after 3200 miles... and would almost expect it under warranty if it's gone faulty!

It's always difficult as they are there doing the job with the car, and just hope you say fine do it, as it's minimal hassle for you (Maximum profit for them). I got caught the same with a Tyre, once they have the car at an MOT centre and say you have a buldge in your tyre, it becomes a pain to say no i'll take it away and get a tyre myself and bring it back and re-book etc etc, so you end up paying top whack for something you could have got at half the price... so always pays to check what you can yourself first.

As you say, they're half way through the service and can I really be bothered?

I think I will ask though, if it's usual for a wiper blade, used perhaps a dozen times over the year, to fail.

Yeah I've previously taken the original off and replaced the rubber bit with a silicone refill - works better, no judder. about to do the same to the fronts when the refills arrive.

(22-12-2015 10:06pm)iwf Wrote:  I think I will ask though, if it's usual for a wiper blade, used perhaps a dozen times over the year, to fail.

Mines been on over 4 years!

So in a coda to this, I went to pick the car up on Christmas Eve and the £29 wiper blade was actually charged at £14.

At first I thought I must have misheard the service chap when he rang up to quote me the cost. Then I began to wonder whether someone from the dealership was active on the site. I do see they are an advertiser. Not a bad idea to ensure you hear about any bad press on thee site.

Well done babyRR. you've saved me £15

IWF
That is a great result a small donation to babyRR may be in order!