I hate my dealer!!!

05SilverTRD

05SilverTRD

New member
I took my Volvo in for service (oil change and stuff like that). I instructed them to not wash the car. I had to leave it over night due it being done late and I was not available. I was at work the next day and my wife went to pick it up with my mom. When she got there she went to the service manager and he said that he would get the car. He came back and said that since it got dusty last night, they are going to wash it off. She told him that I didn't want the car washed. He said that they washed it yesterday and today they were just hosing it off. They went out to see the car and she said that the service ported just sprayed it with water and then used a chamois to dry it. I flipped when I heard this. She made the service manager look at the car and told him of the countless hours I spend on it. He offered to detail the car, but she said that there is no way they could get it asbeautiful as I do.

One good thing I learned from this, my wife does pay attention to how good the car looks when I am done.
 
I have a lot of people tell me of this same issue. Here's what I do and what I tell others to do..........

Take a 2' x 2' piece of cardboard (or something like that) and take a black marker and write "DO NOT WASH THIS CAR". When you get to the dealer, place it on your vehicles dash with your service writer present.......... he won't forget.

They may snicker or laugh about you behind your back......... but I bet they won't wash your car. If they do, ask them if they have a problem "READING or UNDERSTANING ENGLISH"!
 
Yeah might have to add: DO NOT WASH OR HOSE DOWN THIS CAR

Griots ought to sell such a sign with the same message repeated in all of the world's major languages.
 
I just do all of the service myself. The maint. manager knows my quirks really well by now. If I go into the dealership to get a part changed out, like the jack cover that broke, he will give me a space in the garage and ask me what tools I want. He then gives them to me and lets me change it out myself. I try to let them touch the car as little as possible.
 
Bill D said:
Yeah might have to add: DO NOT WASH OR HOSE DOWN THIS CAR

Griots ought to sell such a sign with the same message repeated in all of the world's major languages.
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Bill,

That's probably true! :lmfao

It's amazing.......... you tell the service writer NOT TO WASH THE CAR. You also tell the Service Manager NOT TO WASH THE CAR. You tell them to put it on the work order.......... nobody reads it. Then, after all that, some "clown" who just parks the cars when the service is done......... takes it to the "car wash guys" to wash it........ because he takes ALL the cars to get washed.

Anyhow, with the sign............ there's no doubt in anybodys mind! :D
 
audiboy said:
I just do all of the service myself. The maint. manager knows my quirks really well by now. If I go into the dealership to get a part changed out, like the jack cover that broke, he will give me a space in the garage and ask me what tools I want. He then gives them to me and lets me change it out myself. I try to let them touch the car as little as possible.
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Now that's the kind of dealer I like!! I thought they didn't exist!! I sure would like to be involved in the entire dealer visit process even if it's only me watching everything the mechanics do.
 
Bill D said:
Now that's the kind of dealer I like!! I thought they didn't exist!! I sure would like to be involved in the entire dealer visit process even if it's only me watching everything the mechanics do.
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Yeah. Most of his mechanics know me by name now. But, he also knows that I am a mechanic also, so I think that helps.
 
audiboy said:
Yeah. Most of his mechanics know me by name now. But, he also knows that I am a mechanic also, so I think that helps.
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audiboy,

That would be great to able to work on your own vehicle. I do a lot of my own routine maintenance......... oil changes, filters........ stuff like that. I only take them to the dealer for warranty work, or stuff that I just can do on my own anymore............. very high tech vehicles.

Anyhow, I hope your dealers insurance company doesn't find out what they are doing........... they won't be real happy!
 
Boss_429 said:
audiboy,

That would be great to able to work on your own vehicle. I do a lot of my own routine maintenance......... oil changes, filters........ stuff like that. I only take them to the dealer for warranty work, or stuff that I just can do on my own anymore............. very high tech vehicles.

Anyhow, I hope your dealers insurance company doesn't find out what they are doing........... they won't be real happy!
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I've been doing some of the warrantied work also. Their head mechanic usually gives me a hand if it's something I'm a little unsure of. The manager first found out of my insanity when I told him that I would be doing the scheduled maintenance out of my pocket even though I could have them do it for free. Since then, he's been really cool to me and he said that he doesn't mind me working on my own vehicle there.
 
Sorry about your dealer experience. My dealer has these magnetic "hats" they put on the car that say "DO NOT WASH" and it seems to be working thus far since they haven't washed my car. But, I don't really like the hat since it sits right on the paint. I guess having it on one tiny spot of the car is a small price to pay to avoid the damage they might do to the ENTIRE car
 
Yikes! Why can't they just have a sign on the dashboard? Seems like we never can win when it comes to the dealer huh? :(
 
tkr,

Oh man....... you've got to be kidding...... a magnet! Jeezzzzz........ why don't they just take a screwdriver and etch "Don't Wash" on the paint. If that were me, your dealer would have a "Wild Man" on his hands......... they would have to call the cops! :lmfao

Seriously, why not ask them if you can just put a sign on the dash or something? Explain to them that "you" pay for the vehicle and it's maintenance and "you" want to keep it in the best condition possible!
 
Boss_429 said:
I have a lot of people tell me of this same issue. Here's what I do and what I tell others to do..........

Take a 2' x 2' piece of cardboard (or something like that) and take a black marker and write "DO NOT WASH THIS CAR". When you get to the dealer, place it on your vehicles dash with your service writer present.......... he won't forget.

They may snicker or laugh about you behind your back......... but I bet they won't wash your car. If they do, ask them if they have a problem "READING or UNDERSTANING ENGLISH"!
Click to expand...

Good idea. :lol

I refuse to go to the dealer anymore though.
 
at a toyota dealership i saw them placing small rubber cones on the hoods to mark cars. and when i came back to pick up my gf's corola that i took in for service that day, the car wash rinsed off without drying... lol.. unforetunately the waterspots didnt bug her at all. go figure
 
Hey Boss,

I would...but they stick at least one of those hats on every car so they can number the cars as they're coming in. They do way too many cars to really keep track, I was #179 at 7AM the last time I was there and I saw more than one 4Runner that looked like mine. I haven't really noticed any damage resulting from them, they just make me uncomfortable. Like I said, it's a small price to pay in avoiding damage to the entire car. I guess I'm becoming less anal about my car as this would've freaked me out a couple years ago.
 
tkr128 said:
Hey Boss,

Like I said, it's a small price to pay in avoiding damage to the entire car. I guess I'm becoming less anal about my car as this would've freaked me out a couple years ago.
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I don't know, when it comes to your car, often one of the most expensive investments people own, you shouldn't have to worry about "paying any kind of small price". Just my humble opinion.
 
The only reason I took the dealer is that with Volvos the scheduled maintenance is free. I hate the thought of them taouching. I noticed they charge 149.95 for a "Full Service Detail". If they hose my car off and them dry it with a chamois, I would hate to see their detail. It probably involves using a Hershey Bar and some sandpaper.
 
There is always the Preventive maintence way of going about things (although I like Boss 429's 2x2 sign idea)

On you way to the dealer ship pick up 1-2 dozzen bagels (depending on the size of your dealership) and give them the run down of what needs to be attended to on the car! Chances are that they will start replacing stuff for free! or tossing in a free oil change ect ...Plus .. the Tech that fixes your car ... will be that much happier!

The other option is that You can usually watch your car get repaired! Its always a fun thing to do (although the tech's hate it)
 
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