Auto repair cost

[RT44nut]

I know car dealers, appliance dealers, and most everyone that has to deal with us on a business end will be glad when we're gone (especially me). In Nov 21, a message came up on wife's car auxiliary battery needs replacing. Googled it, found out what it does, then replaced it. 3 months later wife takes the 2015 car to the dealer for warranty air bag replacement. The service mgr calls and says they tested my cranking battery and it is going to fail. First question I had was how much? He said $400 and change. I asked would he mind telling me what kind of instrument they used to predict my battery going bad? After a long pause, he said batteries usually fail after several years. Told him I'd replace it with a $200 battery when it fails. Still cranking with no issues. A new battery might have already failed. Some batteries are like people, just last longer than others.

My latest run in was at the bank on 5 July. Had a CD mature on 1 July. Went to the bank and the mgr says it automatically renewed before they closed for the 4th. I asked at what interest? She looks and says 4.85. I said what about the 5% you're advertising? Her response was it was already renewed and if she changed it, I would be penalized 3 months. I pulled the letter out that said I had 10 days from the day of maturity to act and asked her exactly what that meant. She went to typing and printed out my cd at 5% with no penalty. She acted like she had done me a favor!

We as customers should not have to do this and what's bad, a lot of customers do not say anything.

 

[NYlakesider]

I know car dealers, appliance dealers, and most everyone that has to deal with us on a business end will be glad when we're gone (especially me). In Nov 21, a message came up on wife's car auxiliary battery needs replacing. Googled it, found out what it does, then replaced it. 3 months later wife takes the 2015 car to the dealer for warranty air bag replacement. The service mgr calls and says they tested my cranking battery and it is going to fail. First question I had was how much? He said $400 and change. I asked would he mind telling me what kind of instrument they used to predict my battery going bad? After a long pause, he said batteries usually fail after several years. Told him I'd replace it with a $200 battery when it fails. Still cranking with no issues. A new battery might have already failed. Some batteries are like people, just last longer than others.

My latest run in was at the bank on 5 July. Had a CD mature on 1 July. Went to the bank and the mgr says it automatically renewed before they closed for the 4th. I asked at what interest? She looks and says 4.85. I said what about the 5% you're advertising? Her response was it was already renewed and if she changed it, I would be penalized 3 months. I pulled the letter out that said I had 10 days from the day of maturity to act and asked her exactly what that meant. She went to typing and printed out my cd at 5% with no penalty. She acted like she had done me a favor!

We as customers should not have to do this and what's bad, a lot of customers do not say anything.

Outfits like you mentioned above do much better with people that do not have the right kinds of mindset!

Good work sir!

 

[Narragansett]

I too am not one of the people they like to deal with. I went into bank the other day and wanted to get my money market rate increased. They told me they had a special on, and if I added 50K, I could have this new rate. I said i was not going to do that. She said well, the " back office " said there is nothing they can do. I said OK, why don't you tell the back office that if they do not give me your best rate as a long standing customer, I will move my money tomorrow to a money market I have at the bank next door for the same offer. They gave me the rate.

I have told my primary bank that they are just a service, and I feel no special loyalty to them. Every week, there are new tellers, and new people in the cube farm every couple weeks. They have had 6 managers in 2 years. That does not foster a relationship

 

[NYlakesider]

I too am not one of the people they like to deal with. I went into bank the other day and wanted to get my money market rate increased. They told me they had a special on, and if I added 50K, I could have this new rate. I said i was not going to do that. She said well, the " back office " said there is nothing they can do. I said OK, why don't you tell the back office that if they do not give me your best rate as a long standing customer, I will move my money tomorrow to a money market I have at the bank next door for the same offer. They gave me the rate.

I have told my primary bank that they are just a service, and I feel no special loyalty to them. Every week, there are new tellers, and new people in the cube farm every couple weeks. They have had 6 managers in 2 years. That does not foster a relationship

Makes you wonder of how good of a outfit to work with they really are. Sounds like the bank has a revolving door policy of hirings and RIF working.-

 

[Gamecock]

Why does Coke sell more than Pepsi?

Prior franchise. They were first.

Service departments at dealerships have prior franchise. Car owners WANT to go to their dealership for service. It's natural.

Service departments at dealerships have completely screwed it. It is a trillion dollar screw up. Perhaps the greatest mistake in the world history of business.

They incent service writers to sell as much as possible. So every time you go in, they tell you you need a fuel filter, or whatever. People who read their owners manuals know what the service intervals are. When lied to, they take their business elsewhere.

To whit, I say that virtually the entire independent car service business EXISTS because the car dealers killed the golden goose. They trick you into buying things you don't need, thinking that's a good business move. They kill trust for a few bucks.

I trust the independent service company I go to now with my wallet.

In fact, you do the same when you go to the dealer for service.