Mazda service overcharging

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Are Mazda dealers deliberately charging customers for unnecessary extras when servicing their cars? Two dealers I have used recently to service my 2013 Mazda automatically added a charge for the "optional" premium motor oil. Challenged, both tried to explain it away with reasons like, best for your car, that's the only oil we stock. I reminded both this was an optional extra and customers must be asked. Both removed the charge. Additionally, one dealer attempted to charge me for tyre rotation (included service). I was advised that the rotation was free, but the charge was for wheel balancing. It was sold to me as  "essential". Strange no previous Mazda dealer had "suggested" this "essential" charge when they rotated my car's tyres. If I hadn't challenged these extras I would have incurred an additional 12.8 percent cost over my "fixed price" service charge. I suspect most customers would just go with the dealer on these. A nice little earner for the dealers.

You’re right to challenge the charges dealer claim, and good on you for getting them to drop those charges that are clearly unwarranted. First, dealers should get the permission of owners before going ahead and doing work on their cars, something your dealer didn’t do when using the so-called “premium” oil. So too when they balanced the tyres when doing the rotation. Both were unnecessary, and certainly not acceptable when they haven’t got the go-ahead from the owner. Your advice to others to check the charges when having their cars serviced is good.

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