Freight and PDI charges in Canada

[initial_D]

$500? On a train? Station-2-station?

[xviper]

It costs a private citizen about $500.00 to ship a car from the east to the west of Canada.

Not even close. The best I could do was $1300 from Kingston to Winnipeg.

How are you doing it?  By train, semi car carrier or covered transport?  I've got a friend who's in the car transport business.  I'll find out from him what it costs and I'll come back and will be prepared to eat crow.

[jcon]

Truck to TO, then rail to Winnipeg.

4 years ago it cost us ~$500 to ship our Jeep Cherokee here. Oh, how times have changed. That $1300 was on a '96 Corolla - we passed and sold it instead.

[xviper]

I have talked to my friend and I am here to eat crow (I'm not afraid to admit I'm wrong).  Here's what he said and keep in mind that this is based on pricing BEFORE the cost of fuel went nuts this past year.

To ship a few cars by private covered transport from Ontario to Calgary would have cost about $3000.00 each.
To ship a bunch of cars by semi-trailer open car transport would have cost about $1100.00 each.
To ship a "mob" of cars (like for a car manufacturer) by rail would have cost about $750.00 to $800.00 each.  (So I was a bit off.)
As you say, by today's standards and the high cost of fuel, it's more like over $1000.00 to ship by rail.

I remember Jim Kenzie on "Motoring" saying that he thought that PDI and shipping should be included in the MSRP.  That way, you know immediately what you're dealing with.  I agree.

[jcon]

Surprising we haven't seen a huge increase in freight costs at the dealership? This must be eating into their margin.

[initial_D]

So they are making less money on it. Less, but still making making bit of money on it.

[xviper]

Surprising we haven't seen a huge increase in freight costs at the dealership? This must be eating into their margin.

Shhhhh!  Don't say it too loud.  There's a few car sales people here.  Next thing, they'll be jacking up the charges to keep their profit margin.   

PS.  How come is it that virtually ALL dealer principles (owners of dealerships) are some of the wealthiest people in their communities?  I guess car dealerships aren't such a shabby business, huh?   

[ghost]

Most cars' PDI are not even done at the dealership. You'd have to buy something north of 70k to have real PDI done at a dealership. this work that consists putting some labels on, checking headlights, remote key etc are carried out at the receiving docks. That Round-the-block" test is really a Ro-Ro activity where the car is driven off the train/boat and into the receiving yards.
Only high-end cars (not your A4, 3-series or Lexus) will be checked out by the shop mechanics. Mostly M5, S-class, or A8 type cars....

[jcon]

You sure Ghost?

I thought they needed to be hooked up to the computers and such?

I want my PDI back... 

[Cord]

Most cars' PDI are not even done at the dealership. You'd have to buy something north of 70k to have real PDI done at a dealership. this work that consists putting some labels on, checking headlights, remote key etc are carried out at the receiving docks. That Round-the-block" test is really a Ro-Ro activity where the car is driven off the train/boat and into the receiving yards.
Only high-end cars (not your A4, 3-series or Lexus) will be checked out by the shop mechanics. Mostly M5, S-class, or A8 type cars....

You mean that 2008 Focus I see in the PDI bay is priced north of $70K?

[rrocket]

He said "real" PDI and I agree.  Please tell us exactly what those mechanics are doing on the Focus apart from checking fluids and whatnot??

[Cord]

Why don't you explain what a "real" PDI entails. And why you think it's important to make the distinction.

[rrocket]

I think the point people here a trying to make is that for the stealership/manufacturer charges for this work is really no different that what the pump jockey does for your car at a Full Service gas bar....

Most every car is 100% road worthy after being driven off the assembly line.  Even the engines are, for the most part, broken in. (says my pal who works in Fords dyno room)

[Cord]

I think the point people here a trying to make is that for the stealership/manufacturer charges for this work is really no different that what the pump jockey does for your car at a Full Service gas bar....

Oh, the same old and moan ... carry on.

[Zoo]

What does a "typical" PDI entail? I got good/great value for my $100 when I brought the Yaris we ended up buying to my local mechanic.

Up on the hoist, all tires/valves checked, all fluids checked, body thoroughly checked, all electrical systems checked, engine codes checked etc.

Real piece of mind and I clearly say where my money went. If I want our Yaris detailed there is a great shop on Gordon here in Guelph that I can spend a few hundred to get the inside and outside totally cleaned up and exterior waxed.

What does a PDI entail at your dealership Cord?

[rrocket]

On my Lexus GS400, the PDI was pretty extensive since there were so many electronic settings that could be set-up to the customers liking.  And they had to be programmed by the dealership.  For instance: Did I want a "beep" when my doors unlocked? Did I want all doors to unlock with one push of the button or just the drivers? If I held the button down, did I want the windows AND the moonroof to open? Did I want the horn to sound when the door were locked?  How sensitive did I want the carbon monoxide sensor/filter?  All kinds of little stuff like that. It did take a fair amount of time to get done...after asking the customer their preferences then actually programming the car.

That was in addition to the "normal" PDI.  (Check fluids, air, a couple of torque values, remove Xpel, etc..)

Not all PDI are equal...

[Zoo]

Wow!

Now that is an intensive PDI! I had heard that Lexus dealerships were very attentive to their customers and it sound like your input as to how you want your car to behave/interact with you is the start of the relationship.

That is cool!

[articsteve]

Most cars' PDI are not even done at the dealership. You'd have to buy something north of 70k to have real PDI done at a dealership. this work that consists putting some labels on, checking headlights, remote key etc are carried out at the receiving docks. That Round-the-block" test is really a Ro-Ro activity where the car is driven off the train/boat and into the receiving yards.
Only high-end cars (not your A4, 3-series or Lexus) will be checked out by the shop mechanics. Mostly M5, S-class, or A8 type cars....

What brand would that be    If your talking about Toyotas your seriously misinformed.  However, there is no road test.

[ghost]

Most cars' PDI are not even done at the dealership. You'd have to buy something north of 70k to have real PDI done at a dealership. this work that consists putting some labels on, checking headlights, remote key etc are carried out at the receiving docks. That Round-the-block" test is really a Ro-Ro activity where the car is driven off the train/boat and into the receiving yards.
Only high-end cars (not your A4, 3-series or Lexus) will be checked out by the shop mechanics. Mostly M5, S-class, or A8 type cars....

What brand would that be    If your talking about Toyotas your seriously misinformed.  However, there is no road test.

LOL! I so happened had a chance to visit the receiving docks that handles Toyota/Lexus, Mazda, Suzuki and some other brand just last year. The supervisor even gave me a tour on what they would perform for PDI. How about you?  The arrangement with the company and its car company clients is interesting. It's a tiered system. Let's just say there are bronze, silver and gold packages.    ECU reflashes, GPS programming and unique treatments are still performed at the dealership however.

[articsteve]

Can you be any more general in your description 

Start by describing the "loading dock".  If its transport by ship then it's Mitsui.  If it's rail from the US then it's somebody else.  Whatever, the dealer always performs a Pre Delivery Inspection to the customer.  Whats done prior to a vehicle being received by the dealer is solely the business of the distributor and would be part of the "freight" charge, but it is not part of the dealer PDI that is being discussed here.