Just paid the same during the 40k service. I believe they are considered wear items and not covered under service.


2016 Magic Blue XC90 Inscription
2006 Sonic Blue V70R

 

Just paid the same during the 40k service. I believe they are considered wear items and not covered under service.

2016 Magic Blue XC90 Inscription
2006 Sonic Blue V70R

Thanks. Since you are outside of the 3 years/36,000 free scheduled maintenance I would bet you are now paying for all maintenance items, right? I am still within my free maintenance period.

 

Wipers are at your expense. Be lucky you got free brakes for a squeal. That saved you $600+.

 

Thank you for confirming. It has been in the shop over and over again for the brakes, so I think that's why they covered it as an ongoing issue since I first purchased. They've replaced the rears 3 times already (and the fronts once) and can't seem to get the squeal to stop. From what I see on swedespeed, this is a very common problem.

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Hi All,
I just recently had my 2017 XC90 in for its 20k mile service. When I went to pick it up I was charged almost $100 for wiper blade replacements. I was under the impression that those were included in the 3 years of factory scheduled maintenance. Am I incorrect?

They replaced my cabin air filter, oil and oil filter for free. The rear brake pads, rotors and calipers as well as front rotors were also replaced due to complaints of squeal and vibration at no charge, so I found it odd that the wipers were not included. Per the 20k mile interval service it shows that they are supposed to check wipers for correct function and wear, but it doesn't specifically say to replace them. Has anyone else had their covered under the 3 years free scheduled maintenance?

Out of curiosity, did the tell you they were going to replace the wipers for $100 and did you agree to that?

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No, I mentioned that the front windshield was smearing when using the wipers and the rear was not swiping smoothly (chattering) on each swipe. I wasn't quoted a price until I went to pick it up and had a bill for it.

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In many states, a shop must provide an estimate and get approval before doing work.

 

Hi All,
I just recently had my 2017 XC90 in for its 20k mile service. When I went to pick it up I was charged almost $100 for wiper blade replacements. I was under the impression that those were included in the 3 years of factory scheduled maintenance. Am I incorrect?

They replaced my cabin air filter, oil and oil filter for free. The rear brake pads, rotors and calipers as well as front rotors were also replaced due to complaints of squeal and vibration at no charge, so I found it odd that the wipers were not included. Per the 20k mile interval service it shows that they are supposed to check wipers for correct function and wear, but it doesn't specifically say to replace them. Has anyone else had their covered under the 3 years free scheduled maintenance?

No they are not included unless you have a wear policy on the vehicle which then replaces Brakes / Rotors / Wipers. Otherwise, you pay for these items once they require maintenance. Sometimes, if brakes / rotors wear out prematurely, Volvo will do a courtesy replacement. But if it's normal wear and tear, the cost falls upon you without the wear plan.

Such is why your brake pads and rotors were done at no cost. Because there were prior complaints and Volvo addressed these as being a warranty issue instead of a problem due to wear.

 

Some SPA cars did gave Safe and Secure with wear items but I think they stopped offering that. I can run your VIN if you think you have it.

Wipers should be $60 to $70 for the front. Maybe they also replaced the rear. Or charged labor, which would be ridiculous.

 

I tried googling, because I remember Volvo doing that too, but I yielded no results....Off Topic Question:

Did Volvo use to add these items for free in earlier models? Oddly enough I found a wealth of information on 2010, 2011, 2012's...Or was it this dealer only?

https://www.raypricevolvocars.com/safe---secure-coverage-plan.htm

The Volvo Safe + Secure Coverage Plan when purchasing a 2012, 2011 or 2010 model Volvo:

Did Volvo's Warranty use to be 5 years / 60K for 2010 & 11? and 5 yrs / 50K for 2012

Benefit if Purchasing a 2011 or 2010 Model Year Vehicle

5 Years/60,000 miles of Warranty
5 Years/60,000 miles of Wear & Tear Coverage
5 Years/60,000 miles of Complimentary Factory Scheduled Maintenance
5 Years/Unlimited miles of Roadside Assistance

Benefit if Purchasing a 2012 Model Year Vehicle

5 Years/50,000 miles of Warranty
5 Years/50,000 miles of Wear & Tear Coverage
5 Years/50,000 miles of Complimentary Factory Scheduled Maintenance
5 Years/Unlimited miles of Roadside Assistance

 

I don't know if they were free or paid add ons. I'm not in sales. Every RO has a printout attached that shows if it has any free maintenance, recalls, etc. so I just check that when needed.

The base warranty was the same in 2012 or 2013.

 

Unfortunately, we get asked to do stuff for free all too often. Wipers aren't a big deal though, I have no problems doing that while the car is in for other work if they are Volvo wipers. Our advisors know not to page a tech to the service drive just to install wipers though.

 

Honestly, I think wipers and anything of similar ilk should be done as a courtesy (And your Dealer is doing the right thing.) I mean it takes techs all of 5 minutes. And while it is billable work, not charging wins over customers to come back for regular services by building a report. Businesses do this all the time to win people over, by offering a small service that gets people into the door (dealer) and hopefully leads to future work (service, new cars from dealer, etc). So nickel and diming a guy for .1 or .2 hours may be viewed by some as an irritant that drives their business elsewhere.

 

That makes sense. Like I said, I'm not in sales so I don't know the details on when it was or wasn't included for no extra charge. I know many had it but not all of them did and the standard warranty has been 4/50 for as long as I can remember.

 

Sometimes we can tell who is just looking for free stuff.

If a car comes in for an oil change and 3 bulbs and a set of wipers on their front seat and the advisor asks me to install them for free, that's not happening unless I know this customer. If I check history and they always come for an oil change and decline all work because "my mechanic can do that" then they can put their own bulbs in. I love how everyone's "mechanic" can't do oil changes.

If I have a long time customer who always buys stuff and they need a bulb popped in, no problem.

 

Sometimes we can tell who is just looking for free stuff.

If a car comes in for an oil change and 3 bulbs and a set of wipers on their front seat and the advisor asks me to install them for free, that's not happening unless I know this customer. If I check history and the always come for an oil change and decline all work because "my mechanic an do that" then they can put their own bulbs in. I love how everyone's "mechanic" can't do oil changes.

If I have a long time customer who always buys stuff and they need a bulb popped in, no problem.

Well said. I am in the same boat and agree wholeheartedly.

 

Fwiw, I've been in B2B sales for 39 years and have done very well and attribute at least part of it to delivering more than what is expected and certainly more than my competitors. For example, when I was the Yamaha rep in Florida I would visit one of my customers on the day after Thanksgiving just to help out on the floor. Another example is that in a couple of weeks I will be delivering $300k worth of furniture into a building and I heard that the customer was going to be on her own while the old furniture is being removed so I've volunteered to help her supervise the removal crew. I can list scores of other "free" services that I've performed over the years and can humbly say that I think I'm the best in the biz I am in.

I guess my point is that companies are well served by the occasional "lagniappe" that helps build loyalty. It seems like the car business just seems to think if they are not worse than their dealership service department competitors then that is ok. Competence and execution is expected, more than that commands loyalty. JMO


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Calm down. My shop doesn't charge to install wipers.

I said I have a problem with an advisor paging me to the service drive, taking me away from work I am being paid for, to install wipers, which I am not paid for. The advisor can install them (and they do)

 

If that's so, your delivery of your sentiment wasn't on point.

I can see being paid book rate and asked to do that and in that case, you're right. The SA should do it rather than take your book time and screw it up for a freebie he promised. I mean, unless he's buying you a beer or something.

So, my apologies for getting snarky.

 

We've tried to argue that with ownership and have them pay us as part of a menu price for wipers. They weren't having it and we decided it wasn't really worth the fight.

 

On principle alone, I'm curios what's the process on "sending it back" (like a steak at a restaurant) when you don't approve of the stealership work? Do they re-install the used wipers and take the new ones off the bill? LOL.

 

Today I went to Discount Tire to have them rotate the tires, which they do for free. I talked to them about how lout it seems my tires have gotten and they pointed out some slight feathering on the rear tires, suggested I balance them. We then talked about new tires as these were at about 6 and I've been reading about Michelin's. Finally he said " let's balance these, I'll do it for free, and then in 1,000 miles see what you want to do."

I will buy my tires from him!


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That's nice. I don't think the guy doing the work is flat rate though.

 

I think your missing the larger point, one that is somewhat entrepreneurial. Charging for every minute is an employee mentality (nothing wrong with that), but doing some things that may not be profitable in the moment may build business for the long run and end up making everyone more money in the long run. At least that's been my experience.

Just to come full circle, Charging $100 for new wipers may have earned them $100 in revenues but how much will it end up costing them in profits now that the OP feels like he was taken advantage of?

A salesman giving away wiper install charges may piss you off In the moment but it may make you loads more in the medium or long run. Good business owners know this instinctively.

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So where are people getting replacement wiper blades from? Anywhere in particular?

 

RMEuropean.com. OEM Bosch wiper blades are about $25 for the front pair and $9 for the rear (plus about $7 for shipping). These include the arms and blades, BTW so you just snap them right on.

 

I know what you are saying and I agree. But with the way I am paid for my work, it doesn't always work. My advisor sometimes gives stuff out for free to make a sale. If someone is on the fence about buying a lot of items, he might tell them he won't charge for the bulbs or the cabin filter or whatever. He just discounts it off the ticket. I am still paid for my work. I have no problems with this

To be clear, I don't get paid to install wipers. I am not complaining about that. We can't charge for something the kid working at AutoZone does for free (though the way he is paid is different). I get it.

My main problem with customers or advisors trying to get free stuff is when they say "come on, it just pops on" or something similar. Good, then you can pop it on. I'll pop a mirror cover on or a bulb in when I'm working on the car and there is good history there with the customer. Not history of being a freeloader or not when an advisor wants to page me to the service drive to pop on a mirror cover when I'm busy working on paying customers' cars. Sorry if that sounds crappy, but I have bills to pay too and any moment I spend working for free is taking away from time I can be producing hours to support my family.

 

I know what you are saying and I agree. But with the way I am paid for my work, it doesn't always work. My advisor sometimes gives stuff out for free to make a sale. If someone is on the fence about buying a lot of items, he might tell them he won't charge for the bulbs or the cabin filter or whatever. He just discounts it off the ticket. I am still paid for my work. I have no problems with this

To be clear, I don't get paid to install wipers. I am not complaining about that. We can't charge for something the kid working at AutoZone does for free (though the way he is paid is different). I get it.

My main problem with customers or advisors trying to get free stuff is when they say "come on, it just pops on" or something similar. Good, then you can pop it on. I'll pop a mirror cover on or a bulb in when I'm working on the car and there is good history there with the customer. Not history of being a freeloader or not when an advisor wants to page me to the service drive to pop on a mirror cover when I'm busy working on paying customers' cars. Sorry if that sounds crappy, but I have bills to pay too and any moment I spend working for free is taking away from time I can be producing hours to support my family.

I think sticking with a dealer you like also helps. If you're a repeat customer, doing all your services there, then they are more apt to "make exceptions" or do a courtesy. I drive 80 miles each way to my dealer to have any and all services + warranty work. And I'm sure under my basic warranty (CPO kicks in next month) I've had a few thousand dollars. Replacing Backup Camera, Wiring Harness, Seal, Software updates probably wasn't cheap. Mirror Assembly died in my driver's side mirror. Rearview Mirror clouded up and had to be replaced.

And then services.. Coming up on 50K soon. Got a few other warranty things to raise. Think I got a bad door seal. Stupid windows keep fogging. Long story short, they've got my business so when it comes time for "Paid Services" they cut me a break. I.E. I do an alignment every 10K. Had my rear glass repaired when damn tinter broke the lines. Etc etc.

 

rubber is not included

 

When I was on the maintenance plan, wipers were included. Now that I pay for them the $7 Costco wipers work perfect.

 

Thanks for the info on the wipers. The yearly maintenance on my MB includes new wiper blades, whether I need them or not. But then I bought the 3 year maintenance plan from MB and the Volvo's plan is "free" (i.e. built into the sale price)….

 

A ''wear'' item ? One could say that everything is a wear and tear item .. This is a reason why I trust all dealers NOT ! The wipers are rather expensive , about $30-35 at Walmart, depending on how ''name brand'' conscious one is ...And YES the wipers are only good for a certain time, depending on the sun ….

 

Has anyone done replacement wipers that are not OEM and yet are not the cheapo ones that require adapters? I used Bosch ICON on my Audi and they worked better than the originals but it replaces the whole wiper head which I don't think would work on the XC90 with the integrated spray?

 

Not that anyone asked and also might be a bit :OT: here but might be a good solution for people trying to make their wipers last longer and avoid the replacement cost.

My wipers still clean as brand-new and are thousands of driving miles away from needing replacement. I'm at 32500 miles currently and have never replaced them. I hardly ever use them as my windscreen has the Aquapel coating and the water just beads over the glass without any visibility issues. It's better the higher your speed. The coating is still holding strong even after almost a year of application. Cost me around $15 on Amazon for a bunch of applicators enough to cover all exterior surfaces of my Volvo + my other car.

 

Rather disappointed by Volvo. When I take my wife's BMW for service, wipers etc. gets replaced at no charge without me asking. Volvo nickel and dimes you even on $80K+ car. I swear Mercedes, Porsche, and BMW (cars I owned) in service treat you better. Jaguar... yeah no. You pay for everything, like Volvo.