[AT] OT: Dealerships

[Louis]

It isn't just the dealerships.  It is the locally owned chains also.  In
about a span of 3 months my wife's minivan had 3 flats. With each one of the
flats, the tire needed to be replaced (2 blow-outs).  I put the same type of
tire back on as original equipment. I figured I would beat the fourth tire
to the punch.  I called around and found what I needed at a tire store about
two miles from my house.  I have never done business with this company
before, and after this incident I will never do business with them again.

I had my wife take the minivan there and told her which tire needed to be
replaced.  She called me while she was there and told me the service manager
couldn't let the van go, because the other three tires were dangerously worn
and also needed to be replaced, mind you, the other three tires were all new
within the past three months.  I told her to put him on the phone with me.
I chewed his a@# from one end to the other. I also told him if they hadn't
already mounted the new tire, my wife would have been leaving without it.  I
told him that he should be ashamed of himself for trying to take advantage
of women who he thought didn't know any better. I also told him if I have to
come down there to get things taken care of, I would be bringing the police
with me.  He offered to change the oil and some other things.  I told him to
leave the vehicle alone, other than the one tire.  

That incident happened about 5 years ago, and I had forgot about it till the
other day.  My sister in law went to that same tire store to get her oil
changed.  She is young, single, and pretty.  They figured they had a good
one on the hook.  They told her that her transmission was in really bad
shape and that it was to dangerous to drive her car.  She told them that she
would have someone else look at it, paid them for oil change and left.  

Lou

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Phil Vorwerk
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2012 6:59 PM
To: 'Antique tractor email discussion group'
Subject: Re: [AT] OT: Dealerships


I used to be a controller at a multi-line GM dealership in Southern
Minnesota for a couple years.  They dealt with everyone pretty straight up
in the service shop and the parts department, but I'm not so sure about the
front end.  The game that was getting started at that time was to nick car
buyers in the finance and insurance department.  It was already common
practice in the metro area, to the point that the dealers would offer great
prices on cars with the knowledge that they could more than make it up in
the "F&I" dept.  We were getting pushed to follow suit to help margins.  I
couldn't stomach that and a few other practices, and it didn't take long for
me to start looking for an exit, even though it was pretty good job to hold.

Our local GM dealer runs a clean operation from the best I can tell; maybe
I've had good experiences because they know my history with their
competition and it cuts out some of the BS.

The local Ford dealer, however, I will never again set foot in.  I was
grossly overcharged on labor and parts on a Ford Aerostar repair.  When I
started going over the bill with the service manager he finally started
getting embarrassed, then told me that this was the way that the ownership
wanted it done, and I should go talk to them.  One of the items was $35.00
labor to change out the "bad battery" that I had just replaced myself the
winter before.  It had taken me 3 minutes to change it out in the Kwik Trip
parking lot.  Literally.  But the book said .7 hours, so that's what I got
charged.  I told him he wouldn't like it either if he was in my shoes, but
I'll pay it, and they'll never see me in there again.

Taking advantage of people that don't have much mechanical knowledge and are
at the mercy of "knowledgeable" people in service department is just
stealing, plain and simple.

Rant done.

Phil
Sunny Minnesota

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Mike Meulenberg
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2012 4:16 PM
To: at
Subject: Re: [AT] OT: Dealerships

I too hate going to dealerships, the trend around here at least is to make
into mini luxury day spas. There is a chevy Buick/GMC/ Caddy dealer near us
that has a place for the ladies to get there hair and nails done, a fancy
coffee shop, wirelesss internet etc. I can't help but think while I'm
leaning on the granite counter top explaining the problem to the service
writer that someone, namely me. is paying for all this. 
Mike M


----- Receiving the following content ----- 
From: Mattias_Kess? 
Receiver: Antique tractor email discussion group 
Time: 2012-07-09, 16:13:45
Subject: Re: [AT] OT: Check the grounds


What kind of Volvo was it?

Mattias in Volvo country
Den 9 jul 2012 22:09 skrev <weeksh at att.net>:

> In Georgia, at least 19 out of 20 of them are rip off artists. Same 
> goes for most of the chain operated repair places around here as well. 
> I assume they are rip offs until proven otherwise.
>
> I have enough experience to spot them almost instantly so do not get 
> taken very often. However, I do not understand how people that do not 
> know better can afford to use them for anything.
>
> I will not buy buy parts from them unless there is no other source.
>
> Howrd in GA
>
> On 8 Jul 2012 at 22:16, Dean VP wrote:
>
> > Roy,
> >
> > That is quite amazing. Who would have thought of that particular 
> > current
> path? You need to
> > tip the Maintenance Super! Sometimes dealers try to get you to fix
> things that are not
> > needed so they can sell more parts and labor. I wonder if this issue 
> > is
> written up in a
> > Technical Service Bulletin within the Volvo organization?
> >
> > I had a Ford dealer in AZ tell me my truck transmission oil was
> discolored and had a
> > burned smell. And that my differential case was leaking. At the time 
> > I
> had just changed
> > the transmission fluid about 2,000 mile earlier and the whole truck 
> > had
> been thoroughly
> > inspected before our trip to AZ. . I just flat didn't believe them 
> > so I
> didn't follow
> > their recommendations. I checked the transmission fluid myself and 
> > it
> was so clear it was
> > hard to see on the dipstick and no burned smell confirmed by 5 of my
> neighbors in AZ. Had
> > the engine oil changed at the standard interval and was told the 
> > same
> thing for the second
> > time at the same dealer. Transmission oil needs to be changed 
> > because
> it is dark and has
> > a burned smell and differential leaking. About a $400 service bill 
> > if I
> followed their
> > recommendation. I didn't. Drove back home and put another 3,000 
> > miles
> on the truck and
> > had it serviced back at my Ford dealer here in WA that I trust.
> Transmission oil is fine,
> > no burned smell and no leak in the differential case. It is really 
> > hard
> to find a dealer
> > than can be trusted. I will never ever do business with that Ford
> dealer in AZ again.
> > Horne Ford in Apache Junction, AZ. Not an honest service department. 
> > http://www.roberthorneford.com/
> >
> > Dean VP
> > Snohomish, WA
> >
> > "Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no 
> > path
> and leave a trail."
> > - Ralph Waldo Emerson
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com [mailto:
> at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com]
> > On Behalf Of Roy Morgan
> > Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2012 9:43 PM
> > To: Antique tractor email discussion group
> > Subject: Re: [AT] OT: Check the grounds
> >
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> AT mailing list http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>
_______________________________________________
AT mailing list http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
_______________________________________________
AT mailing list http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at

_______________________________________________
AT mailing list http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at