Aston Martin PartsPolicy and Ripoff
 

Aston Martin has created some "corporate policy" which prohibits Dealers form shipping overseas. For example a DB9 canopy Soft top would cost 7500 + tax at US dealers, while same can be imported from UK and delivers to my home at 50% price, but NO MORE. AM NOT only wants us to pay large sum of money for their car, they just want to continue to rip us off by allowing parts to be sold at double the price by US dealers only.

I had planned to buy a DB11 but NO MORE. Not that I can't afford those expensive parts, but I don't like people ripping me off.

I know that AM spies on us by reading this forum, so guys don't hold back thrash AM corporate in as much harsh words as you can, and don't hold back.

I am really angry at AM and if i had not wrapped the car my self and not invested so much time on this car i would even get rid of this car and buy Toyota Camry or even a mini van.:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

Hi guy...relax..when you get mad it is hard to find an answer...I really understand as many products sold for our cars are cheap if bought overseas...even with shipping.

Why not try Rich at redpants... Staurt at Velocity...both are good guys...I am sure there are a few others that can help quote to save you...

I have a coupe so I can not offer any help but I really wish you the best...!
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Redpants just posted on his website that he is having difficulty getting parts. so all OEM parts are out of stock.
BTW I made it before the policy change so I have soft top delivered at $ 3700 and dealer in us was willing to lower it to 5000, saying that was his lowest price anything below he will take a loss. I almost wanted to go back and tell him that if he is paying close to 5000 then he should go to my source and buy it for $ 3700.

BUT AM needs to hear for owners how unhappy we are and how horrible their policy is.

I’ve been trying to justify the why’s and honestly have to agree. What a disgrace. Sure, what US dealer would want competition from another source? Then again, how can it be justified that a US dealer couldn’t get it cheaper than a US consumer from the UK?

It makes no sense. An absolute disappointment. AM need to be profitable, and need to build the dealership network and leverage - absolutely makes sense. That said - don’t screw the loyal owners and advocates of the brand in the process.

What other brands do this? Porsche? AMG? Ferrari?

I am on your side...but even on this forum when you read the old threads...techs helped outright but now they are threatened and could lose their jobs when replying.

AM is going public in the future. I bet they are closing all gaps to boost the profit. Also the dealers are scared of the mentioned vendors. This is taking away dealer sales. Dealers sell the cars but live off the crazy high parts...

If I read correctly you did get your top. Great!

If you read a few other threads guys could care less and just pay the dealer...I am not one of them just as you are not!

Another great example is the O2 sensor...dealer wants double you can buy off rich or the internet. It is a 30 minute job to replace...but the dealers are not Wal Mart and know most clients will just pay.

The best support is giving the vendors as much business to keep them alive... Otherwise we all will be selling our cars as too much to operate and own.

Can you not get someone to buy it for you in the U.K. And ship it over?

Write a letter to Andy or ask him on Twitter. He has responded to me in the past.

I still have a bunch of parts in stock. I've been rolling sales revenue back into expanded inventory, so quite a few parts are here and ready to ship. I've got a large supply of routine maintenance items and even a couple AMR clutches in inventory.

When you buy from a dealer in the UK they don't charge the 25% VAT. I don't think you can escape that if you have a friend buy & ship, so 25% price bump right away.

This is the way the world works, you're not being ripped off, they're just finally putting a policy in place that should have always been there. It costs tons of money to be an authorized dealer and that dealer has ever right to expect to make money in all the ways dealers do. If you can just import cheaper parts because of poor or nonexistent manufacturer policy then that dealers margin are hurt.


In my business no dealer is allowed to ship anything across any border, anywhere in the world.

Well all I can say is if the depreciation on aston is bad due to a wrong perception of poor reliability, I imagine it wont get any better once parts become expensive as hell too.

Makes me think of mclaren with their dealer only service + part policy, its gotten to the point where even mclaren owner recommends getting extended warranty because it is so easy to get hosed with pricing on repairs

Although AM and dealers will say "this is the way the world works"...I am disappointed to hear such rationale. I think we all aspire to believe the world is what we make it.

This policy penalizes owners and pads the pockets of AM and dealers. It's classic corporate greed on steroids demanding more and returning less.

Take this comparison for what you will...this action mirrors pharmaceutical companies charging $$$$ for a medicine to one group while offering the exact same medicine for $ to another group. They do it because they can: sick people need medicine. In an admittedly different yet similar vein: we need parts for our cars.

I will communicate my dissatisfaction to AM and local dealer. I hope all will do the same. Although I won't lay awake at night expecting a change, if we make enough noise, there is a better chance they'll rescind the policy than if we remain silent and just accept it because "this is the way the world works".

P.S. -- In advance, this is not a flame against HabitualOffender for using the above verbiage -- no animosity is intended. I consider HO a valuable contributor to our forum. I'm simply using the same language to illustrate my point.

I wholeheartedly agree that we are getting ripped off. I’m still upset about paying over $1000 for my first simple oil change at the dealer. And the fact that AM authorized body shops won’t let us bring in our own genuine parts is ridiculous, too

You can still buy from Astonparts.com and Scuderia, as well as Redpants who is great to deal with.

I have thought of two options
1) find a friend to buy it for you and ship to USA, i think if part is being shipped by a friend VAT will be refunded.
2) We could create a large list of things to buy as a group, one of us flies to UK, buys it and ships to USA or brings with him back to USA. I don't think there is any way AM can prevent us from buying it like that. Also it won't take long before we won't need AM parts because we won't have AM cars.

I suspect other vendors will be prevented from shipping world wide as well.

Once the word is out on AM policy, their resell value will go down and so will the profit for the dealers will go down. so stick you dealer profit where it belongs.

I am in central florida and doing AM oil change for me is piece of cake, so is brake fluid flush and ignition coil and spark plug change. Just to protest against AM Stealership I will be happy to educate and help anyone in near by area on how to do these things.

Once i complete installation of my soft top I will also write up step-by-step instruction.

None ever taken. but I use the verbiage because in my world that's just the way it is. That is what POLICY is. I can also tell you in my business the penalties for not following policy is almost never enforced, is at best a wrist slap, and the policy has stopped very little international trade. What it does impact is very public international trade. I'll sell to anywhere I can ship, I just can't advertise I'll sell to anywhere.

Just as it will for Aston parts. Profit is motivating and there is always going to be an authorized entity that will play ball for the profit. They just have to be more discreet about it. I only became an authorized dealer after 12 years as a rogue dealer, buying from the friends and contacts I'd made from distributor insiders down to the best deal sources powerful enough to be able to get allocation of what can't be gotten. I was literally so good at breaking their rules they had to authorize me! And now, I do the exact same thing, from inside. They did a lottery for a recent Limited model, 25 to the US, restricted to fully vested dealers, and I realized the only way I'd be able to get alot of them was to water the lottery down. They had 106 entries, 42 of them were mine, bought thru other dealers. I ended up getting 9, then bought 3 more specific ones I wanted. They've already conceded they'll never do another lottery [alot of dealers that can't get are always pissed when I get a pallet or 3]. ;) Sorry to drone on about business, but it's funny if you're stoned enough.

But Rich and Stuart and Scuds will be just fine, and if their current contacts pull back there will always be another door waiting to open. What will be tougher is if Bits plays strict to the policy and cuts off the easy access they have been to literally everything in a very timely manner - that far exceeds the ability of US distribution.

That's my issue with any clamp on border control with parts - and IS exactly my situation. I have an official standing agreement that policy or not, I will always sell parts to the world, and I will continue to for the basic reason, you cannot get factory parts in - ie. Brazil. And most of the rest of the world. And exactly like the company I rep - -

Aston isn't exactly fast about getting parts unless it's very common and in stock in US distribution, brakes, clutch sets, etc., but if you need an airbox? I waited 4 months and the one they sold me wasn't mine but for a for a body shop job they didn't need yet. 5 months to get an airbox is not a time period owners should ever have to deal with. The supply chain to the US is extremely slow, and Bits was always a couple weeks. Aston had better put some teeth into North American parts distribution if they're going to restrict us from getting parts faster privately. And that's the talking point for me.

And remember nothing keeps a North American dealer from selling parts for any price they want, they'll have "advertised" prices, but some of them will deal, I'm willing to bet if you called 20 US dealer parts departments for a quote on the same part you would get 20 different numbers, and with a little smoozing you could get the best down even a little lower, and always go back to them.

The service was $1000, the simple oil change is $430, at least mine is. Full service is $1200 at mine I believe. And many will say $430 is ridiculous but it's $160 in oil, $50 in stuff, an hour, tools, dirty fingernails, and the chance the oil filter doesn't come off or you pull the inner threaded thingy off with it. And I'd still have to dispose of 11 quarts of oil at special waste collection day, twice a year. What is obscene is the $800 Porsche charges for that simple oil change on a Cayman, not service, just the oil and filters, and it's because so much has to be removed to access everything to be able to change it [or what he was always told anyway] and one of the reasons he sold the car, that he loved, but the maintenance was a little more than he expected.

I could have bought the DAE clutch set from them direct for $2800, but they won't violate Stuarts distribution zone, and I could have had a friend in the UK, have many, but they'll have to pay the 24% VAT and add on the shipping of heavy steel and the discount wasn't as tempting. And to have it shipped to another friend in Norway would have saved about $500 overall, but the circle takes weeks, and Stuart said I'd have one in 3 days, the better option won.

Let's all keep in mind BREXIT is going to throw a huge wrench into everything England exports, possibly not so much to the US but just having to deal with Brexit as an exporting company will slow their operations down dealing with all the countries they sell cars, and parts in.

I think $430 is ok. Sometimes I just feel lazy. :p

Actually, rohnin's number isn't far off. It really is about $1000 here in Los Angeles. We have 2 AM dealerships in the LA county.

Though I am quite shocked at the $800 Porsche Cayman oil change. Dealer here in LA (at least the one I visit) charges $325 for a GT3 oil change.

I really do think that dealers' prices can be all over the place. What I value is the relationship with the SA and the tech. Getting to know them really helps in the long run.

For just a simple oil change? I'm shocked, I thought you guys had the cheapest service in the US from ready posts, and NB advertises a V8V clutch job for $3200 [I'd have to believe that's "change the disc, any other parts pay extra", so the plate and slave are additional]

I was quoted $1500 more from DC than I was from Summit Hills for the labor to install the VAP clutch. To say pricing is all over the map would disrespect maps.

EDIT

Wait, are you guys both V12V's? Because then a grand oil change starts to make sense.

I got the $1k quote for a V8 a year ago. IIRC, the it included inspection as well of some kind.

I have yet to get a V12 quote. I am cringing now. lol.

hilarious

That's "service", you get alot more than an inspection, you will get a full detailed couple hour inspection, they will do all scheduled fluids, if gearbox is due you're in the major service which was $2200 here.Your $1000 is $1200 here, your simple oil change, which I will be doing every 6 months or 5000 miles from now on, will be much less if you get a quote.

Would have been until you bought the V12!! ;)

50% more cylinders = 50% more cost I reckon?:p

Good formula under the hood. Get a quote for brakes! Good thing you may never have to replace them, but if you do expect sticker shock. Part of the reason I stayed searching for a V8 was the much higher maintenance costs the guys with V12's had. Not that maintenance was going to be cheap either way.

Just received. Oil change + inspection ~$1000 for V8 and V12.

You LA guys get very good service rates. Stop complaining and be happy ;)

Buy a oil change kit from REDPANTS for x amount-----then take the car with the process to do the change at a Jiffy Lube or similar oil change place and WALK the guy through it yourself. Then only go back to them.

I did that with my MB AMG--- showed him where the bolts were, he drained the system, pulled the oil filter and replaced, then buttoned it back up and filled the oil fill spot. IF you can do it at home, why not pay someone$38 for them to get dirty.

Save you a ton of money even after getting 2x changes a year.

Interesting solution but what you lose is the relationship you build with your dealer service department, which can pay you back far more than the $100+ you'd save having somebody else change the oil. Then, you have a guy you trust at Jiffy, and he's in a hurry, making $12/hour, and doesn't remember where the jack points are, and your car gets totaled when he bends the longitudinals.

And everything else in the yearly service is not going to get done....

Doing it yourself is one thing, trusting somebody making $12/hour to do everything right every time, not in my playbook.

Independent Shops VS AM Dealer Service
 

So I agree that Jiffy Lube, while a cheap solution is not the route I would want to go,

However in my search for my DB9, I have seen many cars with service bills in the $15K range. A number like that will make you sit up and take notice. It makes you wonder why a car with only 10K miles on the clock would need all 4 brake rotors replaced. Especially since the car was never tracked.

So the real question is are you planning to keep the car a long time? Or are you going to flip the car in a couple years and go for something else?

From a resale standpoint, if your a flipper I would suggest staying with AM dealer service. The records on the car become more important especially if you intend to sell it yourself. If you plan to trade it in, it probably won't make much difference.

If you plan on keeping the car, or if your car is over 10 years old, I think you would want to build a relationship with a good independent shop, and only use the dealer if you run into a sticky situation that needs advanced diagnostics or specialty tools.

In my area there is a very reputable independent shop that works on classic British cars: MG and Triumph, Maserati ( the owner of the shop has a Bora), and Jaguars- XK120's to XK8's and XJ's. I have also seen a vintage Rolls in their shop. They helped me get my "barn find" TR4A running strong.

My thinking is to test them out doing some simple maintenance items. First see how they do something simple like changing my door struts. I bought JackPads for the car and will make sure they are used correctly before they ever lift the car. If that goes well, I would consider fluid changes, brake inspections, and visual inspections in the future.

I will also check out my local AM Dealer and give them a chance and see how they perform. My neighbor has a V12VS and likes one of the service advisors and suggested that bringing him cases of Bud Light has helped him save thousands. You need to have the right kind of relationship with the right guy.

I could probably do these things myself and still might, but at 63 its nice to have options.

As a final option, I have a great relationship with my Mercedes Benz Dealer and they have serviced all of my MB's over the last 15 years. I would see if they would work with me on the AM, and would probably be fine for things like fluid changes and things that are fairly straight forward. After all they are now supplying engines for the new models.

Shop for parts, check multiple sources, compare dealers, check for interchangeability with other brands, since Volvo, Jaguar, parts were used over the years.

My 2 cents.

That’s relative. (My 991 911 service cost less than half that). A first service should not cost over $1000 since it’s just an oil change. I don’t even get to see them do it, or be able to confirm all the other “inspections” supposedly included were done. I was mainly upset they put 8 miles on the car - really?!! It’s a new car and I didn’t have any problems! Never happened with any other car I’ve ever owned, at most 1 mile maybe.

Next service they want $400 more to change the brake fluid.

The first service is not just an oil change. They are supposed to treat it like every 12 month service and it's the first opportunity for them to evaluate your car, top off all fluids, did you fry half the brake pads off, be nice to know now because you wouldn't have any left at the 24k, is the timing cover leaking, The pdf is here


www.6speedonline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=172940&d...


And real world this is what I get with the bill, the full evaluation and list of what was done. You just have to trust they actually did their job.

http://www.ibanezrules.com/images/vantage/IMG_5179.JPG
http://www.ibanezrules.com/images/vantage/IMG_5181.JPG

Re commended oil for DB9 is Mobil 1 European formula 0W-40 which is $ 50 for 10 quart , filter and throttle body o-ring will be about $ 48-50, don't have to replace drain bolt ($ 15-20) every time if you use proper torque. I have done 20k on my car, 3 oil changes and even though I have 3 new drain bolts sitting at home I have re used it. I always check my car 1-2 day later to make sure there is no leak.

So total cost would be $ 100-120 at most and you know job is well done.
Plus factor in time you need to take to go to dealers, if you live in big city with dealer in your city then traffic delays, many dealers don't work on weekends , so you may have to take time off, if you live in small town like me then dealer is 2 hours away so atleast 5 hours of work time lost and still dealer may cut corners, leave tools in engine compartment, for get to put some bolts back in , over torques something.

So I give enough love and tender care to my car myself then trusting others to do that to my car.

Inspections done with services are useless, if you know you have worn your brake pads 50% , so what ? You are not going to replace them until you get warning light or till they start making noise. They just creat a huge list of inspection to make it look like they did something.

If ain't broke don't fix it. Tires and fluid level should be inspected by owners periodically them selves anyway.

Inspections are useless? Yes It is a huge list and does mean they did something, and more. The antifreeze is changed on schedule, the brake fluid is changed, gearbox oil changed, etc., There is a schedule for all of it. I'm glad you're happy you change your own oil but if that's the extent of your "service" then I would eagerly avoid your car if it was for sale.

Maintenance is preventative, so nothing gets to the point it breaks and needs to be fixed, and it requires more than kicking the tires and checking some levels, and yes I trust my local tech and have the peace of mind the job was done right. Anybody following the "ain't broke don't fix it" philosophy with an Aston is doing a disservice to their car ;)

2 completely different philosophies on ownership.

These are my service records. Inspections vs preventive maintainence are two different things.
My friends and neighbors joke that I am working on my cars to fix problems and if I don't have problem I brake the car just so I can fix it.

Btw I did rear differential twice at short interval because I did not like how it looked when I removed the fluid first time. So decided to flush it again

That looks like a little more than if it ain't broke. You're servicing your car, you even already did a service in 2104! ;)

Anybody that is happy doing all your own work - more power to you. I haven't had any interest in turning a wrench in 20 years. I'll leave it to the pro, who is 20 miles away, and who I trust far more than I trust myself ;)

Well 2104 wasn't me it was AM ORLANDO.
My point is all those inspections are just listed to fluff up "hey we did so much so now cough up 1000 bucks for oil changed service.

I will post link form my friend in Jacksonville post he had so many issues at AM DELAERS. EVEN THOUGH I KNOW the tech and he is actually really really good and great guy but may be they are making him work on too many cars , over worked.

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...ervice-fl.html

See his other post shows a picture of tool left inside, battery terminal was left loose, screws were not put back together, sticking of trim panel was not realigned properly

That "inspection" shows all the preventative maintenance was done, that all the fluids were changed on schedule, all filters, etc.. It isn't "just" an inspection, but let's not discount a professional doing a complete inspection knowing what to look for is not a good thing for your car.

Also don't know it its on that my list but I vinyl wrapped my car in different color at home too, after taking the car apart to bear bones. Good thing is car got to spend time in my living and family room in AC Environment for like 6 months��

I think the point on both sides was completely missed throughout this exchange on inspections. But first let me add to my earlier Jiffy Lube posting---

1. Jiffy Lube or another place: My point is this--- For $40 or so dollars I will pay someone to get dirty and get rid of the used oil and in a short amount of time.
A. That is me providing ALL working materials, towels to cover quarters etc...
B. They don't jack up the cars, so that is NOT an issue ever. If they did, then I would provide the jack blocks and make sure it was done correctly;
same as I would do for a tire place
C. All this would save an hour of my time, less than what it would take to get done at a AM dealer, and still be done correctly with no difference
along with hundreds saved

Caveat---If I could NOT control the working environment, then that business would not get my money and I would go elsewhere or do it myself. However, if I did not want to deal with it at all, then I would wait till AM offered a deal and have them do it. $100 over my costs=AM doing it; $200 over my costs=another route.

2. Inspections at dealer: not much different than the PPI service the AM dealer provides IMHO. They look over everything and make sure everything works. Then give measurements for brake pads, tires and top off fluids. Then gives the customer the information. VERY useful for people who do not have the time and have the financial resources which is a lot of exotic car buyers. But for me, I have a limit to what I can spend, and doing the work myself is still highly worth it.
A. I look over everything every time I drive it and would notice something out of place faster than a dealer would
B. I check fluids once a month: coolant, oil, brake, air filters, cabin filters once per three months. They cannot tell me anything different than
what I already know and can see myself
C. I have a Excel sheet showing all maintenance and checks that have been done on the vehicle, so don't really care if the dealer tells me something
or not, I already have it beforehand; If I ever sell the car the new owner will have this which will be more comprehensive than a dealer record

Point is this--- Its not wrong to have a AM dealer do all your work. If you don't have time, mechanical knowledge, and have the financial wherewithal then that most likely is the best place to get your work done. For those on a budget, doing what work they can on their own, and get an INDY to do all the other work accomplishes the same exact result most likely and is cheaper for that person. But they have to do some legwork figuring it out. For me---I am between those types of people. I will do what I can myself, or pay REDPANTS Rich to do them :p for me. But, for anything major I would take to AM and have them do the work. For me this allows me to own something that I would not otherwise be able too.


Bottom line, I think Wildcat and HO are both correct, and should accomplish the same goal, albeit in different ways. In the end, both ways are financially advantageous to both.