Another "Heard at the Audi Dealer" story

[Dave Conner <conner@cfm.ohio-state.edu>]

Replacing the fuel pump on my 86 4kq caused me to drop by the Audi dealer's
parts dept for sealing washers.  In the past I've always paid over $1
apiece for these important bits which can't be found anywhere else.

Since I knew I'd need the same size for other things at some point I asked
for ten of the washers and a fuel fiter, and provided the part numbers.

The parts guy, a new face, rings these up and looks at the printout, looks
at me and mutters something like ..."This is outrageous!"
I agree as he asks for $28, and disappears to get my change.

Then he returns, hands me my change, says "That's disgusting", asks me to
wait while he does something with the computer, asks me to give him back
the change while he re-figures the bill.  Magically the sealing washers are
all reduced in cost by $1.00 each.  So instead of $12, they now cost $2.  
It took him about 15 minutes of typing, printing, walking back and forth,
etc to make the change, all accompanied by lots of muttering.

Imagine my shock and amazement.
I ask why, and he says something like "they have an accelerator on the cost
of these parts", and implies the purpose of this "accelerator" is to make
PITA customers go away.  But if the customer complains too loudly, or if
someone determines the customer is one they want to encourage to come back
again they can override the feature.  

This is a dealership which normally marks up Audi's list prices by 20%

I always wondered where Phil Payne got these washers for pennies when I had
to pay over a dollar each.  Now I guess I know...UK Audi dealers either
like him or haven't heard of this nifty "accelerator".

Dave C.


Columbus, OH 

87 5KS 
89 100E 
86 4KQ