Freight and PDI charges in Canada

[ghost]

I cannot help it if you do not understand. 

[articsteve]

I understand that you blundered into this thread not understanding that there is a manufactuer, a distributor and the finally the dealer.  The dealer buys the vehicle off the distributor, not the manufacturer.  What the distributor does physically to the vehicle to facilitate the vehicle from the manufacturer to the dealer is the business of the distributor only.

"PDI" is the DEALER's charge for Pre-Delivery Inspection to the customer, NOT what happens to a vehicle in a marshaling yard "somewhere" while still owned by the Distributor.     

[ghost]

I understand that you blundered into this thread not understanding that there is a manufactuer, a distributor and the finally the dealer.  The dealer buys the vehicle off the distributor, not the manufacturer.  What the distributor does physically to the vehicle to facilitate the vehicle from the manufacturer to the dealer is the business of the distributor only.

"PDI" is the DEALER's charge for Pre-Delivery Inspection to the customer, NOT what happens to a vehicle in a marshaling yard "somewhere" while still owned by the Distributor.     

If it makes you sleep better believing that the already over-taxed and underpaid shop technicians will look through your Toyota with a fine tooth comb then great. 

[toolatecrew]

Its really a simple solution. If any of the auto industry people here could help.

Show a breakdown of PDI and the associated cost of each operation.

Remove shipping protection 1 hour at $50 per hour
Fill washer fluid $3 fluid $10 labour etc etc.

Then show the same breakdown for a US PDI.

I'm sure everyone will then agree on the cost difference and also realize why PDI is such an expensive mandatory charge in CANADA.  After all we wouldn't want to have to fill our own washer fluid before we drive the car off ther lot right?

If I take my car to a body shop for repairs I am given a detailed estimate that breaks down everything that is done to the car  number of labour hours for each operation, parts costs, labour rates etc. Same thing at a service department with a mechanical repair.

If all these PDI operations and charges are required and "justified" why doesn't anyone offer a detailed breakdown. After you are agreeing to have mechanical work performed on a car you have contracted to own. My thoery is that they don't becuase much of it is is either inflated in price (markup on fluids or labour) trivial or is of a nature that the result of the PDi are no better with an untrained kid than with a $70 technician performing it.

Why no "PDI" waiver option. Hey I'll accept the car as is remove the protection myself fill the fluids. If there are any issues or defects I have warranty anyways right?

[Cord]

^^ Yes, that would be interesting. I didn't realize there were auto industry representatives around here.

[johngenx]

Remove shipping protection 1 hour at $50 per hour

I did PDI's for a Honda dealer when I was 16.  The person diong the PDI is some kid being paid minimum wage or barely more...

[rrocket]

I'm not sure in this litigious society if they would allow a 16 year old to do anything more important than that..like check the oil or fluid levels.  That has liability written all over it...

[xviper]

My Honda Fit was low on engine coolant, low on windshield washer fluid and low on tire pressure (4 different pressures and way low on the spare).  My TT Stealth was almost 2L low on manual tranny fluid.  My Viper hood was buffer burned beyond polishing.  My Ford Mustang was delivered to me with big purple blotches all over the red paint.  They said nothing about it till I mentioned it.  My Yamaha Venture Royale was delivered to me with the main steering head bolt so loose, I could remove it by hand.
Yup, sure gotta love getting my PDI money's worth.

[rrocket]

Hey..I had a Stealth TT!!  What year was yours?  I had a 1994.

[Cord]

Remove shipping protection 1 hour at $50 per hour

I did PDI's for a Honda dealer when I was 16.  The person diong the PDI is some kid being paid minimum wage or barely more...

Interesting logic.

I paid $.15/L for gas at one station when I was 16. Gas must be $.15/L everywhere now.

[Zoo]

Remove shipping protection 1 hour at $50 per hour

I did PDI's for a Honda dealer when I was 16.  The person diong the PDI is some kid being paid minimum wage or barely more...

Interesting logic.

I paid $.15/L for gas at one station when I was 16. Gas must be $.15/L everywhere now.

Hence why a lot of us would love to know what a "typical" dealership PDI entails and who typically is involved in it. Perhaps it is junior level employees that do the cleaning and maybe it is more senior level techs who check some engine codes etc.

How do we know what is entailed if noone in the dealership community will tell us? Small wonder there is so much rampant speculation on this thread.

[johngenx]

Interesting logic.

I paid $.15/L for gas at one station when I was 16. Gas must be $.15/L everywhere now.

My logic holds true as I did not state the cost per hour in absolute terms from 1981.  I simply used "minimum wage" or slightly more.  I suspect dealers do not have journeymen mechanics doing PDI, but instead wash-bay or lot kids that are NOT paid $50/hr or anywhere near that.  $10/hr, perhaps.

[EV Dan]

""I'm not sure in this litigious society if they would allow a 16 year old to do anything more important than that..like check the oil or fluid levels.  That has liability written all over it...""

I suppose along the way from a factory to the customer a car is fully insured and we pay those premiums as part of "PDI". So in the end the age, skill level or reading skills of the person in charge of inspection make no difference. For especially litigious clients they have corporate lawyers.
If I were wrong here how could a Crappy Tire a couple of years ago advertise a 150 points check with an oil change. Just guess how long reading through the lines would take an average CT employee (not that there is anything wrong with working there) 

[rrocket]

^^^ummm...Ok.....

[JSCC]

Mechanics did (do) PDIs at the 3 dealers that I have worked (am working) for.

[toolatecrew]

Mechanics did (do) PDIs at the 3 dealers that I have worked (am working) for.

So what's the breakdown of what they did and the cost? 

I'm not doubting that they may have done PDI but it would be interesting to know if we are paying $65 an hour to have washer fluids topped up

[JSCC]

From what I have seen and heard:

key programming
take off protection tape
installing wheel caps/covers
installing radio antenas
setting radio codes
topping up fliud levels
tire alignment
headlight and brake light checks
warning light checks
installing licence plate holders
short road tests
(at most dealers, sales people install the actual licence plates, not mechanics)

Total time spent varies from 0.5 - 1.5 hours depending on mechanic

None of the PDI money goes to the salespeople or sales office.
I don't know what the split is between the dealer and the manufacturer, maybe some of the PDI money goes to the mechanic (I guess no more than $100) but most would be going to the manufacturer, will try to verify in the future.

The dealership's sales department makes peanuts "compared" to the manufacturer.
Which HQ is hiring? 

[airbalancer]

Maybe BMW or Honda when they moves their headoffices to 404 area

[toolatecrew]

From what I have seen and heard:

key programming
take off protection tape
installing wheel caps/covers
installing radio antennas
setting radio codes
topping up fluid levels
tire alignment
headlight and brake light checks
warning light checks
installing licence plate holders
short road tests
(at most dealers, sales people install the actual licence plates, not mechanics)

Total time spent varies from 0.5 - 1.5 hours depending on mechanic

None of the PDI money goes to the salespeople or sales office.
I don't know what the split is between the dealer and the manufacturer, maybe some of the PDI money goes to the mechanic (I guess no more than $100) but most would be going to the manufacturer, will try to verify in the future.

The dealership's sales department makes peanuts "compared" to the manufacturer.
Which HQ is hiring? 

key programming-Well shouldn't one expect the remote key that they paid for as part of the car to work? But sure it can only be done at the dealer so lets accept a mechanic has to do it.
take off protection tape-A wash bay/detailer can probably do the same likely better (because he works with exteriors all day long)
installing wheel caps/covers-If you need a qualified mechanic to do this something is seriously wrong (how come PDI isn't less if you have alloy wheels)
installing radio antennas- what part of mechanic school to do they teach someone to insert 6inch antenna into screw hole and turn 3 times?
setting radio codes-Seriously? You pay part of $500 to have someone tune in local radio stations you may or may not want (or even just push the "autostore" button?
topping up fluid levels-Unscrew washer cap-unscrew cap from washer fluid-pour-screw washer cap on -dispose of fluid container Thank you master mechanic
tire alignment-Understandable because of issues with shipping. Retail (including markup) cost is $69.95
headlight and brake light checks-Yikes this one is expensive since you need 2 highly trained mechanics to perform it one to push the brake pedal and the other to say Hey the brake lights are on
warning light checks -see above
installing licence plate holders- How come I never got a discount? IN Nova Scotia we don't need front plates so I always tell them to leave the front bracket off?
short road tests- I guess this is to see if they notably missed anything they should have found while doing the PDI that the customer might notice when they are still driving close enough to come right back rather than not notice for a week until they have to come to the service dept for warranty?

Seriously JSCC thanks for stepping up to the plate and providing at least some of what dealers so tightly guard. 

But if this is true:1. They are hosting service dept profits by using a highly paid mechanical rate to do Joe jobs 2. Are charging extra to simply deliver a fully assembly and operational product as expected.

Programming key fobs, putting on wheel covers and antennas? What is this "some assembly required"?

[Cord]

I suspect dealers do not have journeymen mechanics doing PDI, but instead wash-bay or lot kids that are NOT paid $50/hr or anywhere near that.  $10/hr, perhaps.

And you'd be wrong. You've mentioned before that you know a dealership owner(s?). Why don't you ask them?