Sunday, August 14, 2005

Repair new cars at distributor workshops?

Someone asked me, "Why can't NTUC Income discuss with the distributor workshop to repair new cars at their workshop and protect the warranty? "

My answer is:

- we are prepared to work with the distributor workshop
- we have approached them on many occasions in the past
- some are willing to agree with us on a price that is 150% of our quality workshop
- other distributors insist on their repair charges, ie 250% of our quality workshop.

We suspect that the distributors discriminate against us on their pricing. They are willing to give discounts to their tied up insurer, but not to us.

We suggest that the motorist register with us, and come to us after the first year. You can enjoy a 10% discount on our competitive premiums.
Posted by at

3 comments:

Eastman said...

Shordy workmanship is a concern of many motorists.

Car owners expect their damaged cars returned in mint condition, that is why many prefers their new cars to be repaired at the manufacturers'authorised distributors workshops. These workshops adhere to manufacturers repair and replacement standards and comes with warranty. The parts replaced are genuine parts.

These workshops come fully equipped and staffed with trained technicians.

How can you assure the public that your appointed worshops meet the quality standards of repair and that imitation parts are not used.

You mentioned that your wish to tie up with the authorised agent workshops but backed out because these workshops cannot acceed to your benchmark price and that they have their own preferred insurers.

There were some 25,000 Toyota new cars registered and on the road in 2004. How many of these cars are insured by your company? Are you loosing out on the new car business? If so, what's your strategy to capture this market?

August 27, 2005 1:04 PM
Tan Kin Lian said...

For cars less than 3 years old, our quality workshop use new genuine parts.

They are able to provide the same quality of repair.

The distributor workshop has a high markup to make excessive profit. We do not wish to pay their exorbitant price.

They also charge high prices for the servicing of the car - and owner have to pay these high price in order to protect the warranty.

We hope that motorists will work with us to bring down the repair cost of the distributor workshop.

If we repair the car, we will take over the warranty (in case the distributor voids it).

August 27, 2005 10:58 PM
Freddy said...

Some distributor workshops replace parts that may not even be damaged in the accident. The repair costs for a comparable repair is much higher than that charged by a quality workshop, as much as 300% more. Good for the individual motorist but ultimately somebody has to pay for the bigger bill and it is all motorists in the form of higher premiums across the board.

If all motorists co-operate and go to the distributor workshops only when proprietary equipment/knowhow is involved (for which the quality workshops do not possess), claim cost can be contained. All of us can be assured of not having to pay a higher premium at the next insurance renewal.

September 04, 2005 11:24 PM

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Blog Archive