Service Offered: DIS Supply and Fit

As said contentious. Not taking anything away from Tom, undoubtedly this club would suffer if it were not for his and others services. All I am suggesting is that there COULD be a list showing the minimum / basic price. To get the final price the member and Tom would work that out between them with the proviso that if additional work is found or requested then the total could change. The outcome of these PM's would then become a "contract" between parties to provide protection both ways. This would also help prevent issues if the parties were forced into using Market.

If I have touched a nerve or upset anyone with this "suggestion" then I apologise here and now as that was never my intention. Feel free to PM me if you feel then need.
 
The fact that Tom has a long queue for his work would indicate that he's pricing his product correctly.

Pricing of products has many variables; in my own case my relationship with the person has a big influence on what I charge.

I don't really see how this is anyone's business other than Tom and his customer in a particular transaction.
 
I would like to add my bit if that's OK, people need to remember that @timmus has perfected his A2 skills over a considerable number years and everything he does for people on this forum is always with a smile and detail explanation that even I understand. His knowledge is second to none and you maybe need to think about what the alternatives are to have these items retro fitted, your local Audi dealership, I don't think so.
So his pricing structure maybe a little hit and miss but isn't every trades person like that, if they are having a good day the total is rounded down or if they in a foul mood £50 here and there is added.
I have nothing but admiration for the man and just wish all trades people were such perfectionist and take the amount of pride in their work that Tom does.
Keep up the good work, be in touch soon
 
Hello folks,

Goodness me, I never imagined that one public enquiry would lead to so much discussion.

Many points have been raised, but I'd firstly like to thank those who have left kind comments about my work and my attitude. I try to meet everyone's A2 needs with flexibility, honesty, transparency, perfectionism, fairness, kindness, generosity and good value.

I appreciate that some people would like to have a menu of prices alongside the menu of my offerings. This is something I've been asked about by many individuals over the years, but unfortunately it's not so straightforward, for many reasons, including some that have already been mentioned by others.

Let's look at a few examples...
  • I regularly install cruise control on a supply-and-fit basis, using brand new, genuine Audi parts. I am, however, also happy to offer good condition, second hand parts that have been fully tested; this is popular among those needing to keep costs to a minimum. Some people supply their own parts, but need me to do the complete installation. Others get partway through the installation before running into difficulties and asking me to finish the job. Others are perfectly capable of doing the physical installation, but require me to do the software work. Then there's the matter of clutch and brake pedal switches. These switches must be working perfectly in order for cruise control to operate correctly. Sometimes (though irregularly) I complete a cruise control installation but find that it doesn't work correctly due to a faulty clutch pedal switch. If I can fix the clutch pedal switch, I do it free of charge. Sometimes, though, a new switch is required; I charge for the switch, but not for the time taken to replace it. Prices vary massively depending on the exact scenario, but start from £0.
  • The cost of Colour DIS depends on whether the car already has DIS or whether it's just got a basic instrument cluster. Prices also vary depending on the exact model year of the car, for techie reasons that aren't immediately relevant. The price of the parts that I buy in order to perform the Colour DIS upgrade also vary depending on currency exchange rates and whether or not import charges have been incurred. In doing the Colour DIS conversion, I sometimes find faults in the instrument cluster that need to be repaired. Depending on the nature of the fault, this sometimes adds to the final cost, though I frequently do small repairs free of charge.
  • The price that I charge for retrofitting Bose obviously depends on who is supplying the Bose kit. If the kit is being supplied by the vehicle's owner, does the kit come with a Bose wiring loom, or do I need to manufacture a loom in advance? The number of parts required, and the complexity of the retrofit, is also dependent upon whether or not the A2 has factory-fitted rear speakers. If a previous owner has fitted an aftermarket head unit and/or door speakers, the complexity of the job increases yet further, as I usually have to undo damage before I can start the Bose installation in earnest.
  • When I'm asked how much I charge to install RNS-E SatNav, my reply begins with a raft of questions... Who is supplying the RNS-E unit? Has it already been shaped for the A2's dashboard, or do I need to do that as well? Is it a mk1 or mk2 RNS-E unit? Which variant of mk2 unit is being supplied? Does the supplied RNS-E unit come with any necessary adapters and antennas, or do I need to supply those? What's the model year of the recipient A2? Does the recipient A2 already have a double-DIN dashboard, or does that upgrade need to be done first? If the car has a single-DIN dashboard, who is supplying the double-DIN dash? Is the supplied double-DIN dash a complete dashboard or just the central metal cage? The variables are endless.
  • I fix central locking issues almost more than I do anything else. Our A2s are between 16 and 21 years old, and the complete central locking system is complicated; there's a lot to go wrong! People who bring their A2s to me for repairs rarely know what the source of the problem is; they just know that it's not working in the way that it should. Until I get my hands on the car, I can only make educated guesses about where I'll find the fault. The total cost of repair will always depend upon the amount of time I have invested and the number of replacement parts required (if any). Whilst I can't give a fixed price for repair work, I believe that my work is beyond the standard of Audi dealerships and at a price that makes backstreet garages seem expensive.
I believe that the five examples above illustrate why I cannot provide a public fixed price list. However, once I have a complete understanding of the job, I'm happy to quote a fixed price, and I'll honour it. Once I know the existing specification of an A2 and what its owner would like to achieve, I am never reticent about providing an accurate quote.

Beyond the variables associated with individual jobs, there are other factors at play, too. For example, some upgrades are much easier if they're done in combination with other upgrades. If there's a massive time-saving to be had by doing two or more upgrades at once, then I'll obviously do a package deal. Occasionally, I'll do work in exchange for parts that I need. I'll also take into account my relationship with the A2's owner. For example, in recent time, @terrywindy1 got up at 4am in order to drive me to the airport. Hours of his time, and his diesel, were spent helping me. When his car needed central locking repairs, I feel it's only right to return the generosity. There are few A2 owners who leave my company without having something done free of charge. My work on A2s is a major part of my livelihood, but I am also a stalwart member of this club and always work within the community spirit.

He’s not a business
My desire to conduct myself on a very personal, member-to-member basis does sometimes lead to this misapprehension. However, I most definitely am an HMRC-registered business. My business is based around two core services: Audi A2s and professional audio systems. Depending on the demand from both sides, I move my attention backwards and forwards between recording studios, broadcast systems, live music venues and the model of car that I love. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the music industry is financially on its knees, meaning that I am, at present, an Audi A2 specialist 98% of the time. I am hugely grateful to the broader A2 community for placing its trust in me and supporting me during these times.

Warm regards to all,

Tom
 
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