Replace Cobra key remote Toyota for cheaper price

johnkwchan — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 17:01:54 +0800

Today i had wanted to replace the a key remote (casing only) for Toyota Vios which has since cracked due to wear and tear and went to the Cobra alarm shop in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (same row with CIMB Bank).

He staff there told me that a replacement will be RM80. He explained to me that the casing is sold together with the key and refabricating the key to the key to the new casing cost me RM80. I had pointed out that it was quite expensive and he assured me that it was "cheap" as toyota will charge more as they break down the cost into 3 components (ie RM30 for the remote casing only + RM30 for the fabrication of the key + RM30 for additional labour charges) and the overall cost is RM90 and is higher than than his "all in" cost of RM80.

I had agreed and he commenced to fix my key.

After my new key remote was ready and as i was paying, another customer walked in and spoke to the person who i think was the "boss" at the Cobra alarm shop. And he mentioned that he has the same problem as me and wanted a new key remote refabricated. He had brought along the key remote which he purchased from Toyota which cost RM30. The "boss" mentioned that the charge is RM15 to refabricate the key.

I immediately demanded an explaination on why i was charged RM80 "all in" when they other customer would have paid only for i) RM30 key he purchased from TOYOTA; and ii) RM15 key fabrication charge at Cobra (total RM45) whilst mine was charged at RM80 (a whopping difference of RM35!!!!!!!!!!)

To cut the long story short, I had gotten a load of seemingly rediculous answers from the Cobra "boss" why for the EXACTLY SAME thing, i was paying RM35 extra. In any event i had honoured the full amount since i had prior to that agreed to the RM80 price.

HOWEVER, THIS POST IS A WARNING SO OTHERS CAN BE AWARE OF THIS. COBRA IS UNSCRUPULOUS AND IT IS CHARGING CUSTOMERS EXCESSIVELY.

It is chearper to :
a) Buy the key remote casing from toyota (RM30) and fabricate it at CObra (RM15) = TOTAL RM45; compared with
b) Buying the new key remote and fabricating the key at CObra for "all in" fee of RM80.

Please do take note.

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Replace Cobra key remote Toyota for cheaper price