Maryland Service Center Warning

[Greg I]

Never use Miller Automotive in Beltsville, MD as a Workhorse Service Center. I had a problem with the ignition switch and had to get the Ignition Protection Kit, Workhorse Part W8002085. Since the part can only be obtained through a Workhorse Service Center I contacted the local service center Miller Automotive. They ordered the part and it was drop shipped from Workhorse in Chicago to me. Miller Automotive charged me $222.57 for the part plus $8.00 to ship it. When the part came the the Workhorse invoice was for $141.33 and $4.71 in shipping. That means that the Workhorse Service Center charged me $84.53 to charge my credit card and order a part, that they never touched,all because Workhorse makes them a sole source and they can.

Forgot to add thanks to Driver for getting me the part number he was most helpful.

[Greg I]

Never use Miller Automotive in Beltsville, MD as a Workhorse Service Center. I had a problem with the ignition switch and had to get the Ignition Protection Kit, Workhorse Part W8002085. Since the part can only be obtained through a Workhorse Service Center I contacted the local service center Miller Automotive. They ordered the part and it was drop shipped from Workhorse in Chicago to me. Miller Automotive charged me $222.57 for the part plus $8.00 to ship it. When the part came the the Workhorse invoice was for $141.33 and $4.71 in shipping. That means that the Workhorse Service Center charged me $84.53 to charge my credit card and order a part, that they never touched,all because Workhorse makes them a sole source and they can.

Forgot to add thanks to Driver for getting me the part number he was most helpful.

[Tom N]

How was their work???

[CharlieM]

Wow, a 36% markup for a part they didn't handle or stock. Workhorse should consider direct sales for parts not under waranty.

[TandW]

Greg I; the switch is a common GM ignition switch available at NAPA. Echlin part #KS6622. It was $28.00 about 24 months ago. Be sure to get one for the tilt wheel. Mine was changed out at C. Harper Chevrolet-Buick-Kia, Inc. @ rtes.51 & 70 Belle Vernon,Pa. Total charge for their repair was $85.00 for labor and $33.85 for the switch. My unit had just 14,010 miles on it at the time. As neither Tiffin nor Workhorse offered to provide the ignition protection kit when I later complained I chose to remove Tiffin's accessories from the switch.

[Greg I]

Tom - I don't know how there work is I just ordered the part. Did the install myself. Simple matter of cutting off the connector and puting on the new AC Delco connector in the kit. Move one wire to the supplied relay and running a hot wire to the terminal block.

T&W - The kit comes with a new switch but the problem with mine was the connector on the harness. The switch was replaced by Workhorse when it melted down under warranty but the protection kit was not put on. Also, the service center put the wrong connector on which only had one of the two locking luggs so the connector was loose and arking.

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Greg I:
Also, the service center put the wrong connector on which only had one of the two locking luggs so the connector was loose and arking. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Greg I., That will do it everytime. Good eye!

[TomHinMd]

Greg,
Have you talked to Mr. Miller since you found out these prices? If so, what did they have to say?
I have only dealt with them one time, but they seamed to be very professional and very fair to me. I would take my mh back to them again if the need arises.

[Greg I]

Tom,

Don't know who I talked to. At first it was a female who spoke broken English who just kept telling me that Workhorse was not to have given me an invoice withthe price on it and she would have to check on it. Was called back by a white male who was verbally abusive. I will not go back and have since heard that Bill's Truck in Ellicott City is a really good place and an authorized service center.

[campercat]

Greg How do you know the guy is a White male!
36% isn't that much of a mark-up.

[Bucky1]

I guess I was thinking that 36% wasn't out of line either. If the middle man isn't needed by the customer or supplier, then there shouldn't be one. That is pretty standard mark up in a lot of industries.

[Greg I]

Try a 57% mark-up. The $84 mark-up is 57% of the $146 cost of the parts. I understand a middle man profit if they are puting their money out to stock a part but in this case they used my money to pay buy the part since they do not stock the part and I had t o pay in advance. Local NAPA does not have near that mark-up. Problem is Workhorse forces you to buy only through their autorized centers.

Can't be totally sure it was a white male but after 26 years in law enforcement you get pretty good at educated guesses by the voice.

[Bucky1]

Well, that is pretty steep! Especially if you had to pay that much to get treated poorly!

[Brazels RV Performance]

I've been watching this deal & I would like to give my opinion.As a Workhorse service center we get charged by a draft from our bank account EVERY wednesday for the parts we order.Workhorse pays us for warranty repair's exactly six weeks after the job is completed.You most likely used a credit card which charged a 2% service fee also.Our local napa store sells a 2.00 oil filter for 4.92 which is a 60% gross profit margin,or a 168% mark-up.Since they are a parts store they dont usually make any money on labor,so to keep the light's on,pay employee's,business expenses & turn a profit to get your Return on investment they must charge this.In a repair shop we make money two ways parts and labor,so the 36% gross profit or 57% mark up is not that huge in the grand scheme of things.Another thing Workhorse does is charge a 30.00 handling fee if only one part number is ordered,which I'm sure is the case here.Again this is just my Opinion.