Auto Service: What Would You Do?

posted by ernest_t_bass

It's a Chevy dealer.  But, before you bitch me out.  They own a Ford dealership 1 mile down the road, and they are basically the same business entity.  I used this particular dealership shop because it is next door to work.  I just parked my car, gave them the keys, and walked into work.  But I still may do the same.

My buddy took his 2 year old Tahoe back to dealer for an issue with the sun/moon roof. They gave him the runaround and wanted to charge him a huge amount to fix....he griped on FB and a slew of people jumped on their website, told his story in their review and gave them a terrible review (I think close to 20 did this)....dealership got ticked their overall rating went down a good bit and finally made it work.

posted by ernest_t_bass

Everything is verbal.

So no actual contract exist between the customer and the business.  

I don't think that "reasonable amount of time" could exist without a contract, that is not to say that customer service and reputation is not a factor

I had a minivan that started having trouble with the coils and fouling spark plugs. The mechanic thought it might have had a bad head gasket so I traded that pos in. 

The truck will be out of commission until next Thursday.  They are replacing a catalytic converter (their dime).  That will mark 2 weeks I have been without my truck.  Daughter's fair is coming up (horses/goats) and we will need it for that.  Fuck them hard.

Legally, I know that I am bound to the $1400 bill for the agreed upon work (I'm an idiot, it's been noted).  But FFS, you should eat this whole fucking bill for being fucking stupid fucks. 

posted by ernest_t_bass

The truck will be out of commission until next Thursday.  They are replacing a catalytic converter (their dime).  

If this is legit, maybe your truck is that rare lemon.  Problem is, you never really know - you could easily get another 100k miles without any more repairs.

But if they replaced your catalytic converter for free (if they actually are doing this, and not using it as an excuse), I'd be pretty forgiving of them.  That's probably a $1000 repair they gifted you for their service issues.

Zero issues with the catalytic converter until they started fucking with it.  Hell, zero issues with the car until they got ahold of it.  I have not one ounce sympathy for them.  

posted by ernest_t_bass

For the record, I am not a mechanic.  I'll start this story off with some facts:

Dumb

1. Me
2. I take my truck to a local Ford and/or Chevy dealer b/c I know the service manager
3. Bought my truck with 75K on it, 3.5 years ago.  I've put 40k on it (Maths = 115k)
4. I've  never had to do anything serious to my truck, ever
5. Last service they suggested new spark plugs, transmission flush... I said no
6. Been working a summer job (I'm a teacher), so I now have extra cash to take care of #5
7. Take it to dealer... 

The saga... 

The question - What do I do about this bill?  They have not charged me a dime on top of the original bill.  Should I pay the full $1400 b/c it is for services rendered that were agreed upon?  We're looking at $400 labor, $1000 parts.  

What would YOU do?

I wouldn't fucking pay.

Worst experience I had was took my car that had a Mitsubishi engine in to a local spot. They had it 10 days.   Finally done, and within one block the same thing happened so I brought it back, it cost nearly a grand.    They basically fessed up they had no idea how to fix it.  Then sent the bill. I sent it back with a note I was not paying it. Never heard back from them again.

I will feel comfortable (honest) paying for: coolant flush, trans flush, oil change, spark plug change, and 1 coil (#3) change.  With a 15% discount that I had going in.  After I OK'd the 1st coil to be replaced, that is when everything went to fucking hell, and I lost my truck for 2 weeks (or more).

posted by thavoice

I wouldn't fucking pay.

Worst experience I had was took my car that had a Mitsubishi engine in to a local spot. They had it 10 days.   Finally done, and within one block the same thing happened so I brought it back, it cost nearly a grand.    They basically fessed up they had no idea how to fix it.  Then sent the bill. I sent it back with a note I was not paying it. Never heard back from them again.

They probably sent it to collections which is why you can’t get approved for a credit card. 

To answer the title question., I walk next door and drop an upper decker every day.  

posted by SportsAndLady

They probably sent it to collections which is why you can’t get approved for a credit card. 

Huh?

posted by superman

To answer the title question., I walk next door and drop an upper decker every day.  

I was thinking this was an obvious answer, surprised it took this long.

Picked it up today.  Running fine.  Service writer said they fixed the catalytic converter, and "he paid for it out of his own pocket... because he valued me as a customer."  

I said, "Why would you do that?  That makes zero sense. It has nothing to do with you.  You didn't touch the car."

SW "Well [manager] didn't sound like he was going to be willing to take care of it."

ETB, "That's bullshit.  If you are, indeed, telling the truth, that makes no sense.  I'll be setting up a meeting with him, as well as the owner."

SW, "No, no, don't do that.  I'll talk to the owner tomorrow."

I smell a ton of bullshit.  I'm under the full assumption that he wants to get all of his ducks in a row, and his story straight before I talk to the manager and owner.  I also requested a bill from the muffler place they took the truck to, to get the catalytic converter fixed.

posted by ernest_t_bass

I also requested a bill from the muffler place they took the truck to, to get the catalytic converter fixed.

That's pretty smart.  You're going to end-up with nothing other than being more pissed off, but well played.

It is settled.  Total bill was $1395, plus service tech paid $650ish for a new cat. converter, as mentioned.  I talked to the service manager today, and I will be paying $695 and the dealership will be covering $700 (plus covering their employee for the cat. he paid for).  He DID pay for it out of his own pocket, but he acted on his own, and the dealership didn't make him do it, as that was not their suggestion.

posted by ernest_t_bass

It is settled.  Total bill was $1395, plus service tech paid $650ish for a new cat. converter, as mentioned.  I talked to the service manager today, and I will be paying $695 and the dealership will be covering $700 (plus covering their employee for the cat. he paid for).  He DID pay for it out of his own pocket, but he acted on his own, and the dealership didn't make him do it, as that was not their suggestion.

I'm impressed.  I would not have expected them to eat $700.  Still shitty service, but at least they took care of you on the bill.

Aaaaaaaaand... the truck is misfiring again.

posted by ernest_t_bass

Aaaaaaaaand... the truck is misfiring again.

At some point it would be great if they would just say....sorry, but we can’t fix it. We apologize for all these inconveniences and we’ll direct you to a higher quality shop that can actually fix your truck.

posted by ernest_t_bass

Aaaaaaaaand... the truck is misfiring again.

You've got a lemon.  Time to sell the truck and move on.  Don't dump any more money into it.

posted by gut

You've got a lemon.  Time to sell the truck and move on.  Don't dump any more money into it.

I've driven it for 3.5 years without issue.  This is all related to this visit.  I don't think this is a "lemon."