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better to buy where you intend to get it serviced?
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Comments
I don't like the concept, but it keeps the lemon law attorneys in business and pays my wages, so in that sense, I hope the trend continues.
You've got it backwards. My car was in the independent's shop 4 times for the same problem, not the dealer's shop. Maybe it is just luck, but all my dealer service over the years has been pretty good, except one time, while I was travelling far from home. And a lot of my independents' service has been good, too, but their batting average is not as good as the dealers'.
It is pretty obvious that our experiences are different. And your employer lawyers go after the dealers (sometimes warranted, I'm sure), so you would you have a different mind-set than I do.
And about those senior techs, the ones you didn't use a disparaging name for, don't you think some of them started out as "oil change monkeys", as you feel you have the liberty to call the low-wage guys? And if my vehicle is only in the dealer's shop for an oil change, I don't need to take up the senior tech's time. It's just smart business, and I'm okay with that, as long as the dealer stands behind the work.
I believe you and I are never going to see this issue the same way. And that's fine.
It simply reflects poorly on the Service Manager who does not have checks in place to ensure techs of all levels do the job right.
Even a good senior tech can have a bad day. Who is checking up on this work.
When it is small independent shop with the owners name on it, in many cases, this guy wants to protect his name. (Not always, but generally speaking yes.)
I don't care if it is a Jr Tech or a Sr Tech, I just want the job done right, and that is the Service Managers job. It shouldn't take more than two visits in 99% of cases to do the job right.
TB
Unfortunately, some dealers have more monkeys than techncians.
Tboner: I couldn't agree with you more. I have no problem with a junior tech working on my vehicle for routine repairs but, if he can't find the problem, it is TOTALLY unacceptable to pull the "Could Not Duplicate" and move on to the next job. I fault the service manager, service writer and senior tech for allowing that. Like I've said before, it has happened to me at Chevy, Olds and VW.
In a post a while back, I wrote that my Father used to say, "If you want it fixed right, take it to the dealer". This was the case 20 to 30 years ago. Like I've said before, things have really changed since then.
Ron
In that case, it's understandable that a dealer would not want to pay a top tech for 3 hours of diagnosis to repair a $100 warranty problem.
It's not good for the consumer but that's why it happens.
Every other manufacturer allows diag time on areas where diag is necessary. ie, if you're diagnosing a broken engine mount, its either broken or not - no diag time.
A check engine light and the car runs rough - every mfr has diag time.
I don't buy the "they don't pay us" line.
Computers are meant to help us think, not think for us. No matter how good the computer, you still need an experienced tech who can figure things out for himself without an electronic brain.
The kicker was, when I had previously told the tech how impressive his diagnostic computer was (this was in 1972), he told me, in his recently- mustered-out-of-the-military vocal style (this was near Fort Dix), "A computer is only as good as the man using it." He was right about that much, at least.
I figured he would not appreciate the irony, so I didn't go back to his shop. Ever.
The reason I am asking is because the local Subaru dealer in San Antonio isn't offering the best deal on the vehicle I want (a 2004 WRX wagon). Two dealerships in Austin have better over all pricing and better perks/ incentives. I may end up buying from one of them but I am concerned about any possible ramifications or repercussions with my local dealer at service time. (e.g. fudging on the scope or price of repairs)
I'm not worried about the local *Subaru* dealer... I would be concerned about any dealer in a similar situation.
Thanks for your input!
I'd ask the service guy at the dealer you plan to use for service.
Why not just drop the Austin dealer's numbers at the SA dealer and make your deal?
PS - spent a lot of time in SA (former AF) and my best friend lives there. I'm from TX, moving back next year maybe (to SA).
Know other Subie owners who use the dealer and can tell you what they think?
The other concept is one of business survival. A dealer friend of mine in Lake Jackson, TX refuses to let his service department work on vehicles that were bought at mega-dealers in Houston. He figures if you won't even give him a shot at the business and you go to Houston to save a couple hundred bucks, you can get your car fixed in Houston. And he has the right to refuse the service.
Brady, my experience has been the new dealer was happy to have a new service customer and was better about warranty work than the dealer from whom I bought.
My thought is still to check with someone who uses the dealer you plan/hope to use for service and maybe even check with the service writer he/she uses.
I guess it is possible that a dealer might turn away business, as nonsensical as that sounds.
"That's the first place auditors look - VINs of vehicles not sold by that dealer."
I cannot quote any stats on this and I do not know how it works in more rural areas, but I would think that in major metro areas lots of people buy from dealers that are not their closest dealer. Especially from the makes that have a lot of stores, like Ford, Chevy, Chrysler.
As for your friend in Lake Jackson, I have to go with river on that one. If I bought my car in Houston (for whatever reason) then brought it in for service in Lake Jackson and the dealer refused me service because I did not buy there, guess where I will never be buying a car or getting service in the future? (I'll give you a hint, the answer is not Houston).
I would love to see one of those conversations with the service writer. The manufacturer may not have any authority in that decision by the dealer, but there is a consumer expectation that their make can be serviced by any dealer of that make.
That's his attitude and his right - none of us are in a place to argue with him.
Each technician does a certain amount of low-paying warranty work in exchange for some better-paying customer pay work. If the tech is swamped with warranty work, especially nitnoid dash rattle stuff, you'll have a tech who'll go somewhere else - major problem. You have to keep techs happy to keep them, and if turning away extra warranty work is what you have to do, then you do it.
Bear in mind there's the issue of dealing with the type of person who would drive to Houston to save $50 - that's not the type of person you WANT in your service drive - overly picky, grinding for time and place in line, etc.
massspector - 20th v 21st...you're not telling the auditors anything. They make IRS folks look like wimps.
When you have 40 techs, and you're handling 200 jobs a day, 5-6 extra (non-dealership) customers a day make no real difference. With 5-6 techs, you're only handling 25-30 jobs a day - 5-6 extra customers make a huge difference.
The San Antonio area is unique, too that there are 4 major Air Force bases and 2 Army bases in twon. Lots of military folks (military guys HAVE to have those new cars) with newer cars, coming in from all over the nation. Maybe the "you didn't buy it here" issue isn't an issue there.
I personally have never needed warranty work, but I really like the service department at my local Honda dealer. I take my two Accords and even my 02 Miata there for oil changes, etc. If their service department were a bunch of jerks or they turned my away b/c I bought a Miata instead of an s2000, I would be far less likely to buy a car from them.
Please let us know these things to better answer your questions.
So yes I'm servicing my car at the closest dealer and not the one I bought my car from. Am I treated good there? you bet! Should I consider myself inconsiderate? hell no!
BTW - this discussion, from my perspective, has NOTHING to do with maintenance - I'm talking about warranty work.
I went to my closest Honda Dealer for service. All maintenance and 2-3 recalls. The washed my vehicle every time I had it in, even if just for an oil change. They always had it ready at the promised time an at the quoted price. I gave them top marks on everything they did.
I traded in the Odyssey on a Toyota 4 Runner. I have had one oil change at the Toyota dealer where I bought it. It took 2 hours because they don't schedule oil changes. It's first come first serve. They didn't even put paper floor mats and plastic seat protectors in my new truck. Honda always did that. No wash either. I told them the Toyota service manager that I was not happy with my service and wanted a form to fill out. I said they slopped up the inside of my truck, and an oil change took 2 hours and I want the dealer to know I see some areas for improvement.
He said they have no such service rating forms. I found out it was true. Honda had a bulletin board full of rating forms with all outstanding ratings. some were mine.
I am going to see if the Honda dealer will do my service on my Toyota. It may make an interesting advertisement for Honda service. .
My overriding question is that I always understood that warranty work was very profiable, and in fact most dealers maker far more money in the repair bays than the selling floor. If this is true, I would think it would be in a dealers self-interest to accept as much warranty work as they can. Some edealers actually advertise that they will serivce your car even if you did not buy it there, so there must be profit in it.
I can understand that a dealer will give priority in appointments to people who bought there, but there is no reason why other epople should be treated poorly. Obviously there could be many reaons why the car was not bought there; sometimes due to price/availability, and sometimes because they just moved 1000 miles. The buyer should not be penalized for this.
Obviously manufactures have different policies that the dealers follow. For example, I own an Infiniti (never again), and they give loaners to anyone who is in warranty. I have a friend would bought a used Caddy Deville, and goes to another dealer for service and he loves them..loaner and all.
Ive been thinking about buying a new Ford, and there is a dealer who is quite close to me, and another one 10 miles away. THe latter dealer has the car I want, and I will probalbe get a better price from them, as this particular car has sat on their lot since last september..so Im hoping they will want to dump it. But since its a Ford, I know I will have to bring it in for service a lot (ive owned two fords already), so the closer dealer works for me. I am trying to figure out how to get the best servoce from them, even thinking of going to the owner (who I know), and seeing if can get me the car cheap (which I doubt). I may buy an ESP warranty maybe that will help!
Rich
Ed
mass - you're right - I was never talking about oil changes and a vacuum - I'm talking about warranty work only.
Some dealers, including carmax i believe, advertise that they will do work on any car. Why bother to promote it?
Carmax doesn't do warranty work, except for their own in-house warranties.