My local Ford dealership cheesed me off

[Yorkie Man]

The fact that the owner disputed this with you in the manner that he did speaks volumes about his conflict resolution skills, he is a putz.

It's not only the car dealerships that you have to watch but the big truck dealerships also. I was a diesel mechanic for 35 years and have worked for dealers and independent shops and have seen both try to tkae advantage of customers. I would as one person suggested contact the regional rep.

 

[Old Corp]

I could have written a very similar story dealing with a big Ford dealership in my area. Absolutely crooked as far as service is concerned.

I'm not a rocket scientist, but have figured out that the only reason that dealerships HAVE service departments is because they HAVE to. They're really all about selling cars/trucks and nothing else. The 'service department' is just a required sideline.

 

[rwsmith]

I'll bet everybody.....

I'll bet everybody that comes in the door gets this line. The old, "MY GOD HOW DID YOU DRIVE THIS THING HERE!" ploy. The answer is simple, go someplace else. Really a bunch of crooks. I'll bet they are the kind that wipe the parts off without replacing them. This is not rare. You gotta watch your butt.

 

[H Richard]

Car dealerships are the same world over, they are in business to SELL CARS. That's why I never take my cars to a dealership for repair work.

 

[P&R Fan]

I think most dealerships are used to dealing with people who know nothing about how a car works. They are also geared towards people who are intimidated in dealing with car salesmen and service advisers. This is why you see lots with a "Bottom Line Price" tags on the windshield. People think "oh, good, I don't have to haggle".

Most people hate confrontation, and will avoid it at any cost. Like you, I actually enjoy it when I know I am right.

I think you did good. Now, when you buy your next car, from another dealer, send them a copy of your sales receipt, and tell them that dealership got your business because of this encounter.
Jim

 

[Old TexMex]

Fords are real popular around here. There's a lot of $$$ around here, so the Ford truck dealers work pretty hard at doing the right thing. Competition has helped here, I rekon.

(My attitude on new (modern) vehicles: When it's going out of warranty, it's going back as a trade in.)

 

[jumbeaux]

My wife drives 2004 Honda Accord that she bought new from the local dealership. Third Honda bought from the same place. They were the only place to do any and all service/repairs. Dealership changes hands...the AC was blowing cold on the passengers side and hot on the drivers side. Make an appointment for repair. I had looked on the net and it appeared to be a blend door issue. Sit in the lobby and service lady walks up with a list about 2 feet long of required service/repairs including over $1000 to fix the AC...I inquire about the blend door and she stated they had to fix A...B...C...before they knew for sure. Well I said bring the car back out. They charged a diagnostic fee which I protested to no avail...drive the car to the local shade tree auto AC guy. He comes out and says blend door cable is screwed up and I have to order one. So about $75 and a day later AC is blowing fine...btw shade tree checked the other issues out and pronounced everything okay. So I call their Honda service manager and get the song & dance about following Honda guidelines. Call the GM then and he basically tells me that my shade tree mechanic is off base and that he cannot make me happy so goodbye...well AC still doing great 18 months later...no new Honda's for us...

rick

 

[Vulcan Bob]

When you get caught with your hand in the cookie jar, at least pull your mitt out without a cookie in it. They got caught stealing and went on the offensive. The dealers don't make their money selling cars, the thief at the service desk makes their profit. The wrench's out in the bays only do what the service managers tell them to do. I know several technicians who sought employment elsewhere rather than be the hit man for a profit grubbing service manager.

 

[rwsmith]

Saw an expose....

Saw an expose on 'Jiffy Lube' where they went to several stores for repairs (usually requiring dropping the gas tank where nobody looks) They marked the parts and when they looked for themselves, the part was still there. They confronted the managers and they were pretty red faced. They go put it on a rack and leave it there for a few hours to look like somebody is working on it.

 

[Rule3]

I learned this lesson years ago.

If by chance I have to I mean have to go to a dealership and they jerk me around, I report the issue direct to Corporate. I do not bother with the dealership.

Happened with a Honda Dealer ripped me off for a rear trans axle fluid flush and refill while the vehicle was under warranty.

Called Honda USA and got my money refunded.

For the OP I would not provide them with any information from the other service place. If you reported everything correctly (I am sure you did) then they can, as you say "pound sand"
They are trying to gig you for some false statement.

 

[GaryS]

Jiffy Lube destroyed a friends Camry back about 15 years ago. He had a very nice 1989 Camry with a V6. For some reason (OK, he's cheap) he took it to Jiffy Lube for an oil change. They didn't have the right oil filter, so they put one that "was close" on. Of course they didn't tell him that part. He drove home and when he got there and turned off the engine, it seized up. He complained, but they told him that his car was old and not worth more than a couple of hundred dollars.

He got a "free" lawyer, who was actually a customer of his. He did computer work in exchange for them pursuing the case. Only they didn't bother to and when he asked them about that, they said, "Oh, thanks for the free computer work, don't bother us again."

He's really too trusting a guy, which drives me crazy.

In the end, I think he got $150.00 from Jiffy Lube. Of course he had to buy another car. Too bad, because at 164,000 miles that Camry was still in great shape.

Which is why I'll never go to any of those quick lube places. They all use guys that couldn't qualify for jobs with the TSA.

Saw an expose on 'Jiffy Lube' where they went to several stores for repairs (usually requiring dropping the gas tank where nobody looks) They marked the parts and when they looked for themselves, the part was still there. They confronted the managers and they were pretty red faced. They go put it on a rack and leave it there for a few hours to look like somebody is working on it.

 

[JJEH]

Happened with a Honda Dealer ripped me off for a rear trans axle fluid flush and refill while the vehicle was under warranty.

Called Honda USA and got my money refunded.

Honda paid for your service?

 

[zzzippper]

I had a '94 Ford Ranger 4X4...a piece of ****. Three sets of tires in 30,000 miles (one was the Bridgestone recall, not their fault). The tires were cupping and the dealer tried to blame it on me not doing maintenance. I showed the service manager my log and proof that they had done all of the maintenance including tire balancing and rotation. He got off his *** and found that it was a 4 wheel drive built on a two wheel drive suspension. So they shimmed the suspension and replaced the tires. So much for buying a new truck.

By 45,000 the front hubs had gone out twice and the heater box as well. I could not wait to get rid of that ***.

Henry Ford will have to crawl out of his grave and perform a sex act on me before I buy another Ford. American vehicles are suspect by association. Once bitten, twice shy.

Edit: I forgot to add that I called an 800 number that I found in the phone book for "Ford Customer Satisfaction". It turned out to be anoyhrt dealer that offered to sell me a different truck!

 

[Rule3]

Honda paid for your service?

It was not a regular service. Rear trans was whining (4 wheel drive) vehicle is under warranty maybe 24, 000 miles. Fluid change is not required until like 60 thousand. Debate over is this a drive train issue or a replacement fluid, I claim drive train as it is not even close to recommended replacement,

Honda USA agrees.

I also need to add I had a scheduled appointment. I was at the dealership for over 4 freaking hours, The flush took 10 minutes.( i watched him)

Honda calls their service guys and gals "concierges"

 

[JJEH]

It was not a regular service. Rear trans was whining (4 wheel drive) vehicle is under warranty maybe 24, 000 miles. Fluid change is not required until like 60 thousand. Debate over is this a drive train issue or a replacement fluid, I claim drive train as it is not even close to recommended replacement,

Honda USA agrees.

I also need to add I had a scheduled appointment. I was at the dealership for over 4 freaking hours, The flush took 10 minutes.( i watched him)

Honda calls their service guys and gals "concierges"

Okay, if the oil change was due to repair than they should have known better.

 

[Krell1]

I recently found out that the service reps work on commission. I wondered why they always try to get additional work done. I always refuse because I usually only go in for an oil change when I have a discount coupon. (I'm pretty cheap) I'll get some other things done as well if I find their prices are good (seldom).

Buying or leasing a new car is a whole different story. If I go to a store to buy groceries, I pay what they ask. If I buy clothing, I pay what they ask. I can wait and see if the items go on sale then I can get a break on the price. NOT A CAR! MSRP is a joke. Invoice price is also a joke. You have to be prepared to spend the day haggling as if you were at a foreign bazaar. Even when you end up buying, you know you probably didn't get the best deal. The internet makes it easier but it's still mind boggling and frustrating. Now I lease my cars and still have to haggle. I know all the facts before hand and still, the salesman is throwing out numbers I know are wrong. There has to be a better way!

 

[Ματθιας]

I recently found out that the service reps work on commission. I wondered why they always try to get additional work done.

I'm curious. If not commission, how did you think the service reps got paid?

Buying or leasing a new car is a whole different story. If I go to a store to buy groceries, I pay what they ask. If I buy clothing, I pay what they ask. I can wait and see if the items go on sale then I can get a break on the price. NOT A CAR! MSRP is a joke. Invoice price is also a joke. You have to be prepared to spend the day haggling as if you were at a foreign bazaar. Even when you end up buying, you know you probably didn't get the best deal. The internet makes it easier but it's still mind boggling and frustrating. Now I lease my cars and still have to haggle. I know all the facts before hand and still, the salesman is throwing out numbers I know are wrong. There has to be a better way!

Haggling is the best part of the experience! I made a killing!

The dealership is going to make money, either at the back or the front - but they're going to make money.

And, no the consumer isn't going to know all the facts. There's no way because the numbers can be played with at multiple points during the transaction - especially in the finance office.

 

[roarindan]

Dave,,
Was the dealership right at exit 15???

 

[Old Seabee]

Car

Dealers can only handle 20% of car repair period, excluding warranty, The rest is done by Independent repair facilities . So please stop beating the DEALER DRUM ,when 80% of the work is done by Independents . Go to a trusted place like Fords for S&W OldSeabee

 

[TheHobbyist]

One of my farmer friends said it best, ain't no truck that can't be repaired like a tractor.