Some Stealership [censored]

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted By: meangreen01
Your GF? Why not change the oil for her?


If she bought the car there, it's probably cheaper than doing it at home! The dealer sent me LOF coupons when I had my Magnum: oil and filter change for about $26 ($21.99 plus tax & disposal), and that was with 5W-20 synthetic blend...even included a free loaner (usually a Caravan) to get to work. I couldn't change the oil & filter myself for $26!

 

[Cutehumor]

I was reading autotrader ads last night. some stealership used car lot said the 250 dollar doc fee was nonnegotiable. they put that all in caps in their ad.

here it is:

THERE IS A $250.00 DOCUMENTATION FEE ON ALL TRANSACTIONS. THIS FEE IS NOT NEGOTIABLE AND CANNOT BE WAIVED FOR ANY REASON. IF YOU ARE IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE WE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO COLLECT ALL APPLICABLE STATE AND LOCAL TAXES AND FEES AT THE TIME OF SALE, WITHOUT WHICH YOUR VEHICLE CANNOT BE LEGALLY REGISTERED OR TITLED. Out of state buyers are responsible for all state, county, city taxes and fees, as well as title/registration fees in the state that the vehicle will be registered.

 

[sciphi]

Typical. A service writer tried to do that to me at a local Honda dealer. The dealer changed their tune really quickly after faxing the details of what happened to American Honda.

 

[clarkflower]

Originally Posted By: Cutehumor
I was reading autotrader ads last night. some stealership used car lot said the 250 dollar doc fee was nonnegotiable. they put that all in caps in their ad.

here it is:

THERE IS A $250.00 DOCUMENTATION FEE ON ALL TRANSACTIONS. THIS FEE IS NOT NEGOTIABLE AND CANNOT BE WAIVED FOR ANY REASON. IF YOU ARE IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE WE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO COLLECT ALL APPLICABLE STATE AND LOCAL TAXES AND FEES AT THE TIME OF SALE, WITHOUT WHICH YOUR VEHICLE CANNOT BE LEGALLY REGISTERED OR TITLED. Out of state buyers are responsible for all state, county, city taxes and fees, as well as title/registration fees in the state that the vehicle will be registered.


People forget or don't think of it but they do!! It adds up huge 300 cars a month times 250 is 75 grand a month "extra" and they pay some girl 8 bucks an hour.

They are big money panhandlers

 

[antiqueshell]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Typical. A service writer tried to do that to me at a local Honda dealer. The dealer changed their tune really quickly after faxing the details of what happened to American Honda.


Exactly, although I don't know about other makes I worked for a Honda store some years ago and there were a few times when the dealer management was doing some crooked things to pad the sales numbers so that they could get more inventory, seeing this and actually being sent (as most of the dealership employees were ) customer satisfaction surveys with VINs for vehicles we didn't own I contacted AHM. A few weeks later the heads at our store rolled, including the salesmanager and a few people in accounting. BAM! Gotcha. I love it when shady people get nailed, especially when they are so brazen with their actions.

 

[meangreen01]

Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
. I couldn't change the oil & filter myself for $26!


BITOG foul!


J/K. I know there are many circumstances that thwart or deter the DIY'er at heart. But, what about the OP? Maybe he hasn't experienced the aphrodisiac-like qualities that remnant motor oil scent has on the fairer sex. It's powerful. Better and more authentic than that AXE stuff, for sure.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
Call the manufacturer for help. When a dealer tries to pull a quick one and tarnish the brand, the brand is very serious in finding it out and act accordingly.


I have found this particular manufacturer to be pretty disinterested in making it right. I would constantly get notices in the mail from our local Chrysler dealer urging us to come in for ATF exchanges and spark plug changes. The "estimated miles" are printed right on the postcards, and we weren't close to the miles in the book for those services.

I called both the dealership and the corporate office, and asked them both the same question: "Why are these services being suggested/pushed when my vehicle is clearly at half the recommended mileage or less." I already knew the answer, but I wanted to hear what the party line was I guess.

Dealer's answer: "In our experience, these services help prolong the life of the vehicle and although they're above and beyond those recommended by Chrysler, we feel that they're beneficial."

Corporate's answer: "The dealer is making those recommendations in error; we suggest you try a different dealer."

In this particular case, I do suspect they legitimately made a mistake, assuming that the Jeep was a 4WD Jeep. I'm still sure that, even if it was a 4WD Jeep, they were recommending unnecessary work. To be sure, this is nothing out of the ordinary in the industry, but the manufacturer's "5 star" awards don't mean much in my experience.

 

[exranger06]

I once brought my Ranger in to a Ford dealer to have a transfer case seal fixed under warranty. The service writer was getting the info from me, asking year, model, etc of the truck, and he asked if it was 2wd or 4wd.

I almost said it was 2wd just to mess with him.

 

[Dave Sherman]

Tire shops like to play this game too. I have to call them out when they try to slap on "valve stem fee" in their quote. Surprise! My valve stems are part of the TPMS sensor. I had one insist they couldn't remove the standard fee, but they agreed to change the valve core out, which is replaceable. Okay, fair enough. Good thing I had put a paint mark on all the valve cores, because the marks were still there when the work was done.

They figured out quickly how to refund those standard valve stem fees and I got a very apologetic call from the district manager, insisting it was all just an honest mistake.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Nothing new here. They're not called stealerships for nothing.

I've hardly got one good story in over 40 years of car ownership.

 

[clarkflower]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Nothing new here. They're not called stealerships for nothing.

I've hardly got one good story in over 40 years of car ownership.


Funny. This just out http://zautos.com/customer-satisfaction-higher-at-dealerships-than-at-independent-shops/
Customer Satisfaction Higher at Dealerships Than at Independent Shops

 

[antiqueshell]

Originally Posted By: Dave Sherman
Tire shops like to play this game too. I have to call them out when they try to slap on "valve stem fee" in their quote. Surprise! My valve stems are part of the TPMS sensor. I had one insist they couldn't remove the standard fee, but they agreed to change the valve core out, which is replaceable. Okay, fair enough. Good thing I had put a paint mark on all the valve cores, because the marks were still there when the work was done.

They figured out quickly how to refund those standard valve stem fees and I got a very apologetic call from the district manager, insisting it was all just an honest mistake.


The part that is even WORSE than shoddy, dishonest, or incomplete work is that when you have to go back to get things straightened out you have to think about the possibility of anger or retaliation if they touch the car under these circumstances. It DOES HAPPEN MORE OFTEN THAN MOST PEOPLE THINK!

 

[Cutehumor]

Originally Posted By: Dave Sherman
Tire shops like to play this game too. I have to call them out when they try to slap on "valve stem fee" in their quote. Surprise! My valve stems are part of the TPMS sensor. I had one insist they couldn't remove the standard fee, but they agreed to change the valve core out, which is replaceable. Okay, fair enough. Good thing I had put a paint mark on all the valve cores, because the marks were still there when the work was done.

They figured out quickly how to refund those standard valve stem fees and I got a very apologetic call from the district manager, insisting it was all just an honest mistake.


I didn't think about the valve stem fee. my first TPSM car was our 09 vibe, bought four tires last summer at Discount Tire. luckily, valve stems are free there, so they didn't scam us on that. but they charge 8 bucks per tire for new TPSM for each wheel.

 

[Joseph_S37]

Ok ok, bash the BITOG'er who didn't do the oil change himself, yeah yeah yeah

Truth is, she paid good money for an extended warranty, and doesn't want to give them any possible reason to decline it if a problem arises.

I told her to simply keep good records, she doesn't believe its enough. Until she's my wife, she makes the call on her vehicle. I told her how much $$ she can save coming to me... this got her interested, so we'll see how it goes when its time for her next OC

 

[crinkles]

In all honesty we should be able to let the specialists do their work honestly and economically. There is no reason Joseph should have to change his GF's oil. Unless he really wants to.

Fact is we can't trust dealerships because they do not have the car owner's best interests in mind. Kind of like Financial Planners giving advice and getting an everlasting trailing commission that eats up any performance for their client.

Each time I do it myself I think geez that was a PITA, next time to the dealer. as my OCI comes up I start getting dealership fear and romanticise the whole DIY thin again so I end up doing it again myself.

 

[clarkflower]

It's always the same. http://zautos.com/ftc-targets-deceptive-promises-of-auto-loan-payoffs/

FTC Targets Deceptive Promises of Auto Loan Payoffs

by Auto News on March 17, 2012
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In an unprecedented move, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has stepped in to protect unsuspecting consumers from being ripped off by deceitful auto ads that pledge to pay off vehicle loans upon trade-in.

The five targeted car dealerships in four states have agreed to a settlement that includes pulling all misleading ads from television, YouTube, and their company websites. The settlement, which does not include any fines, must receive final approval from a special commission, which is accepting public comments for the next 30 days.

Charges were filed against the Frank Myers AutoMaxx dealership in Winston-Salem, N.C. for requiring customers to pay the remaining balance before releasing the newly purchased car. The FTC also accused Key Hyundai of Manchester in Vernon, Conn.; Billion Auto in Sioux Falls, S.D.; as well as Hyundai of Milford in Milford, Conn., and Ramey Motors in Princeton, W.Va., which shared advertising campaigns, of rolling old car loans into new loans, despite written and verbal promises to completely pay off the previous debt.

The FTC notes that selling customers on monthly payments rather than on the final price is a common strategy in the auto industry. While the practice is not illegal, the recent FTC charges sent a clear message that it will no longer tolerate dealerships duping customers by burying the loan extension in paperwork. Customers must be clearly notified that their loan is being lengthened due to the previous debt.

This common scam ends up costing Americans millions in higher interest rates and fees because the loans are often extended past the average four or five years to six or seven years. This is causing more Americans to drive around town with negative equity. Because the owner will always owe more than the car is worth, it creates a never-ending cycle of debt.

Consumer advocacy groups recommend paying off a car loan before jumping into a new one because cars depreciate at such a rapid pace that it is difficult to recapture any money from the investment.